Botafogo (ARG)
November 7, 1914 – April 21, 1922
Old Man (ARG) x Korea (GB), by Raeburn (GB)
Family 2-s
November 7, 1914 – April 21, 1922
Old Man (ARG) x Korea (GB), by Raeburn (GB)
Family 2-s
Botafogo has sometimes been called the “Man o' War of South America,” but Argentine racing fans might be even better justified in calling Man o' War the “Botafogo of North America.” An even better racehorse than his sire Old Man—high praise indeed—Botafogo won the Argentine Quadruple Crown and defeated every other major runner of his time and country in a manner that suggested that he could have done still more had occasion required it. Like his North American counterpart, he was defeated only once and proved the unquestioned superior of his conqueror when they met again. When he retired to stud, he had every possible credential that a young stallion could boast but unfortunately died young, to the loss of his breed.
Race record
18 starts, 17 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds
1918:
1917:
Honors
As an individual
A chestnut horse, Botafogo was powerful with exceptional strength in his hindquarters but had the scope and reach of a stayer. He had excellent rein length, well-set shoulders, and short coupling. His legs were clean and set well under him. He was surprisingly precocious for a staying horse and won at distances from 1000 to 4000 meters (about 5 furlongs to about 2½ miles). He typically took the lead early and took his opponents out of their rhythm with his high cruising speed but would fight stubbornly if hooked.
As a stallion
Botafogo made a good start at stud but died young. According to the now-defunct Argentine Thoroughbred Gallery website, he ranked three times among the top 10 Argentine broodmare sires.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Juventas (ARG)
Notable progeny of daughters
Cute Eyes (ARG)
Connections
Botafogo was bred at Haras El Moro by Adolfo Luro and Rufino Luro. He raced in the colors of Caballeriza Diego de Alvear. He stood at Haras Chapadmalal, which at that time was owned by Miguel Alfredo Martínez de Hoz and Benito Villaneuva. He was struck by colic on April 18, 1922, and died three days later at Mar del Plata Stables near Buenos Aires.
Pedigree notes
Botafogo is inbred 5x5 to 1852 dual English Classic winner and seven-time English champion sire Stockwell. He is a half brother to Coral (by Ben Strome), whose son Citoyen (by Amsterdam) was the Chilean champion sire of 1933.
Botafogo's dam Korea was produced from Ulla, by unbeaten Barcaldine. Ulla, in turn was produced from Springwell, a daughter of the good stakes winner Coltness (by King Tom) and the Springfield mare Wild Flower.
Fun facts
Last updated: December 26, 2021
Race record
18 starts, 17 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds
1918:
- Won match race with Grey Fox (ARG, Palermo)
- Won Gran Premio de Honor (ARG)
- Won Premio Vicente L. Casares (ARG; by walkover)
- Won Premio Chacabuco (ARG, 3000m; by walkover)
- Won Premio General Pueyrredon (ARG)
- Won Premio General Belgrano (ARG)
- Won Premio America (ARG)
- Won Premio Capital (ARG)
- 2nd Gran Premio International (ARG, 3000m, Palermo)
1917:
- Won Gran Premio Internacional (ARG, 3000m, Palermo)
- Won Gran Premio Nacional (Argentine Derby) (ARG, 2500m, Palermo)
- Won Gran Premio Jockey Club (ARG, 2000m, Palermo)
- Won Polla de Potrillos (Argentine Two Thousand Guineas) (ARG, 1600m, Palermo)
- Won Premio José B. Zubiaurre (ARG, 1600m)
- Won Premio Ramírez (ARG; by walkover)
- Won Premio Salvador J. Boucau (ARG, 1400m)
Honors
- Argentine Horse of the Year (1917/1918, 1918/1919)
- Argentine champion 3-year-old male (1917/1918)
- Argentine champion older male (1918/1919)
As an individual
A chestnut horse, Botafogo was powerful with exceptional strength in his hindquarters but had the scope and reach of a stayer. He had excellent rein length, well-set shoulders, and short coupling. His legs were clean and set well under him. He was surprisingly precocious for a staying horse and won at distances from 1000 to 4000 meters (about 5 furlongs to about 2½ miles). He typically took the lead early and took his opponents out of their rhythm with his high cruising speed but would fight stubbornly if hooked.
As a stallion
Botafogo made a good start at stud but died young. According to the now-defunct Argentine Thoroughbred Gallery website, he ranked three times among the top 10 Argentine broodmare sires.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 3rd on the Argentine general sire list in 1924 and 1925.
- 4th on the Argentine broodmare sire list in 1934.
Notable progeny
Juventas (ARG)
Notable progeny of daughters
Cute Eyes (ARG)
Connections
Botafogo was bred at Haras El Moro by Adolfo Luro and Rufino Luro. He raced in the colors of Caballeriza Diego de Alvear. He stood at Haras Chapadmalal, which at that time was owned by Miguel Alfredo Martínez de Hoz and Benito Villaneuva. He was struck by colic on April 18, 1922, and died three days later at Mar del Plata Stables near Buenos Aires.
Pedigree notes
Botafogo is inbred 5x5 to 1852 dual English Classic winner and seven-time English champion sire Stockwell. He is a half brother to Coral (by Ben Strome), whose son Citoyen (by Amsterdam) was the Chilean champion sire of 1933.
Botafogo's dam Korea was produced from Ulla, by unbeaten Barcaldine. Ulla, in turn was produced from Springwell, a daughter of the good stakes winner Coltness (by King Tom) and the Springfield mare Wild Flower.
Fun facts
- In geography, Botafogo is a beachfront neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In dance, it refers to a samba dance step believed to have originated in the Botafogo neighborhood.
- Botafogo faced only two opponents for the Polla de Potrillos, and only Remanso, the runner-up in the Polla de Potrillos, came out for the Gran Premio Jockey Club. He faced Remanso and five fresh faces in the Gran Premio Nacional, giving him a total of seven opponents for the entire Argentine Triple Crown series—mute testimony to his dominance. (Remanso, considered the second best colt of the 1914 crop off his performances in the Triple Crown series, was third in the Nacional.)
- In the match race with his erstwhile conqueror Grey Fox, Botafogo led his rival home by over 70 meters. The spectators were so excited by their hero's victory that they flooded onto the track to accompany Botafogo back to the weigh-in area.
- Botafogo was so popular that his owner had to make arrangements (including a special horse car) to ship the colt to stud secretly so that he would not be mobbed by adoring fans en route.
- Korea, Botafogo's dam, was initially exported from England to the United States as a suckling in 1902. She was later exported to Argentina in 1910.
- Botafogo is the namesake for an Argentine Group 3 race contested at the San Isidro race course. It is run at 2000 meters on turf.
Last updated: December 26, 2021