Chateaugay (USA)
February 29, 1960 – June 1985
Swaps (USA) x Banquet Bell (USA), by Polynesian (USA)
Family 16-h
February 29, 1960 – June 1985
Swaps (USA) x Banquet Bell (USA), by Polynesian (USA)
Family 16-h
A full brother to 1962 American champion handicap mare Primonetta, Chateaugay lacked both her generosity and her early speed but was a better stayer. He did not do very well as a sire in Kentucky but was a moderate success in Japan.
Race record
24 starts, 11 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, $360,722
1963:
1964:
Honors
American champion 3-year-old male (1963)
Assessments
Rated at 112 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1962, 14 pounds below champion Never Bend.
Highweighted at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1963, 1 pound above Preakness Stakes winner Candy Spots.
As an individual
A well-balanced golden chestnut horse who appeared smaller than he actually was, Chateaugay stood 16.1 hands. He had a shorter back and more close-coupled build than his sire Swaps. His legs were correct except for a slight tendency toward tied-in tendons, but he had a rather mulish head. He had an excellent shoulder, short cannons, good feet and good length from hip to hock, affording him considerable leverage in his stride. He was not always inclined to give his best on the racetrack and was not an easy ride. He did his best running from off the pace. His temperament issues may have been related to his numerous physical problems: he was hampered by respiratory issues that delayed his entry to racing until fall of his 2-year-old season, and he was also troubled by a splint between his juvenile and 3-year-old seasons and at 4 and 5 by an ankle injury suffered late in his 3-year-old season.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Chateaugay sired 80 winners (28.1%) and 14 stakes winners (4.9%) from 285 named foals in the United States and Japan. His records may be incomplete with regard to his Japanese-sired progeny. The Australian Bloodhorse Review's reference work Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World credits Chateaugay with 23 stakes winners (8.1%).
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Japan Bloodstock Information Systems (https://www.jbis.jp/ranking/):
Notable progeny
Hokuto Flag (JPN), True Knight (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Buzz My Bell (USA), Fair Salinia (IRE), Henbit (USA), Merry Nice (JPN), Takara Steal (JPN), Tamano Cross (JPN), Zaccio (USA)
Connections
Chateaugay was bred and owned by John Galbreath's Darby Dan Farm. He was trained by James Conway. After racing briefly at 5, he entered stud in Kentucky in 1965 at Darby Dan Farm. He was sold to Japanese interests following the 1971 breeding season and died in Japan in 1985.
Pedigree notes
Chateaugay is inbred 4x5 to two-time English champion Selene, a great 20th-century foundation mare. He is also inbred 5x5 to five-time English champion sire Polymelus. He is a full brother to 1962 American champion handicap female Primonetta, who earned Kentucky Broodmare of the Year honors in 1978 after producing multiple Grade 1 winner Cum Laude Laurie (by Hail to Reason), 1975 Florida Derby (USA-G1) winner Prince Thou Art (by Hail to Reason), 1971 Gallinule Stakes (IRE-G2) winner Grenfall (by Graustark), and 1974 Gazelle Handicap (USA-G2) winner Maud Muller (by Graustark). He is also a half sister to Luiana (by My Babu), dam of 1974 American champion 3-year-old male Little Current (by Sea-Bird), multiple Grade 1 winner Prayers'n Promises (by Foolish Pleasure), and Grade 2-placed stakes winner Water Dance (by Nijinsky II). Luiana is also the second dam of four stakes winners including French Group 2 winner Nabeel Dancer and Australian Group 3 winner Almazyoon and the third dam of 2007 King's Bishop Stakes (USA-G1) winner Hard Spun, Grade 2 winner Magic Storm, and Grade/Group 3 winners Cutting Blade, El Maze, and Buffalo Berry.
Chateaugay and his siblings are out of juvenile stakes winner Banquet Bell, whose half sister Desert (by Heliopolis) is the dam of juvenile stakes winner Never More (by Berseem). Also a half sister to Countess Albie (by Pet Bully), dam of English Group 2 winner Otha (by Ribot), multiple English stakes winner Sky Rocket (by Warfare), and Irish stakes winner Octavo (by Roberto), Banquet Bell is out of the Pot au Feu mare Dinner Horn (out of Tophorn, by Bull Dog), a half sister to 1945 Selima Stakes and 1946 Modesty Stakes winner Athene (by Heliopolis). The last-named mare is, in turn, the dam of 1954 San Juan Capistrano Handicap winner By Zeus (by Count Fleet) and 1956 Camino Real Handicap winner Lychnus (by Ardan).
Books and media
Chateaugay is profiled in Chapter 9 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Last updated: September 19, 2023
Race record
24 starts, 11 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, $360,722
1963:
- Won Blue Grass Stakes (USA, 9FD, Keeneland)
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA, 12FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Jerome Handicap (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Preakness Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- 3rd Dwyer Handicap (USA, 10FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Travers Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
1964:
- 2nd Roseben Handicap (USA, 7FD, Aqueduct)
Honors
American champion 3-year-old male (1963)
Assessments
Rated at 112 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1962, 14 pounds below champion Never Bend.
Highweighted at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1963, 1 pound above Preakness Stakes winner Candy Spots.
As an individual
A well-balanced golden chestnut horse who appeared smaller than he actually was, Chateaugay stood 16.1 hands. He had a shorter back and more close-coupled build than his sire Swaps. His legs were correct except for a slight tendency toward tied-in tendons, but he had a rather mulish head. He had an excellent shoulder, short cannons, good feet and good length from hip to hock, affording him considerable leverage in his stride. He was not always inclined to give his best on the racetrack and was not an easy ride. He did his best running from off the pace. His temperament issues may have been related to his numerous physical problems: he was hampered by respiratory issues that delayed his entry to racing until fall of his 2-year-old season, and he was also troubled by a splint between his juvenile and 3-year-old seasons and at 4 and 5 by an ankle injury suffered late in his 3-year-old season.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Chateaugay sired 80 winners (28.1%) and 14 stakes winners (4.9%) from 285 named foals in the United States and Japan. His records may be incomplete with regard to his Japanese-sired progeny. The Australian Bloodhorse Review's reference work Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World credits Chateaugay with 23 stakes winners (8.1%).
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 3rd on the combined English/Irish broodmare sire list in 1980.
- 6th on the Japanese general sire list in 1978 and 1982; 10th in 1977 and 1981.
- 4th on the Japanese broodmare sire list in 1988; 6th in 1986; 8th in 1989; 10th in 1990
Per Japan Bloodstock Information Systems (https://www.jbis.jp/ranking/):
- 5th on the Japanese general sire list in 1978; 6th in 1982; 10th in 1981.
- 4th on the Japanese broodmare sire list in 1988; 8th in 1986 and 1989; 10th in 1990.
Notable progeny
Hokuto Flag (JPN), True Knight (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Buzz My Bell (USA), Fair Salinia (IRE), Henbit (USA), Merry Nice (JPN), Takara Steal (JPN), Tamano Cross (JPN), Zaccio (USA)
Connections
Chateaugay was bred and owned by John Galbreath's Darby Dan Farm. He was trained by James Conway. After racing briefly at 5, he entered stud in Kentucky in 1965 at Darby Dan Farm. He was sold to Japanese interests following the 1971 breeding season and died in Japan in 1985.
Pedigree notes
Chateaugay is inbred 4x5 to two-time English champion Selene, a great 20th-century foundation mare. He is also inbred 5x5 to five-time English champion sire Polymelus. He is a full brother to 1962 American champion handicap female Primonetta, who earned Kentucky Broodmare of the Year honors in 1978 after producing multiple Grade 1 winner Cum Laude Laurie (by Hail to Reason), 1975 Florida Derby (USA-G1) winner Prince Thou Art (by Hail to Reason), 1971 Gallinule Stakes (IRE-G2) winner Grenfall (by Graustark), and 1974 Gazelle Handicap (USA-G2) winner Maud Muller (by Graustark). He is also a half sister to Luiana (by My Babu), dam of 1974 American champion 3-year-old male Little Current (by Sea-Bird), multiple Grade 1 winner Prayers'n Promises (by Foolish Pleasure), and Grade 2-placed stakes winner Water Dance (by Nijinsky II). Luiana is also the second dam of four stakes winners including French Group 2 winner Nabeel Dancer and Australian Group 3 winner Almazyoon and the third dam of 2007 King's Bishop Stakes (USA-G1) winner Hard Spun, Grade 2 winner Magic Storm, and Grade/Group 3 winners Cutting Blade, El Maze, and Buffalo Berry.
Chateaugay and his siblings are out of juvenile stakes winner Banquet Bell, whose half sister Desert (by Heliopolis) is the dam of juvenile stakes winner Never More (by Berseem). Also a half sister to Countess Albie (by Pet Bully), dam of English Group 2 winner Otha (by Ribot), multiple English stakes winner Sky Rocket (by Warfare), and Irish stakes winner Octavo (by Roberto), Banquet Bell is out of the Pot au Feu mare Dinner Horn (out of Tophorn, by Bull Dog), a half sister to 1945 Selima Stakes and 1946 Modesty Stakes winner Athene (by Heliopolis). The last-named mare is, in turn, the dam of 1954 San Juan Capistrano Handicap winner By Zeus (by Count Fleet) and 1956 Camino Real Handicap winner Lychnus (by Ardan).
Books and media
Chateaugay is profiled in Chapter 9 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Chateaugay is a town in New York located just south of the Canadian border. Its name derives from the French for “cheerful house” or “hospitable house.”
- Chateaugay may have been the first Kentucky Derby winner to undergo surgery to correct a respiratory problem as a youngster.
- In winning the 1963 Kentucky Derby, Chateaugay posted the same winning time (2:01-4/5) as his sire Swaps had in the 1955 edition.
- Panamanian-born Braulio Baeza, who rode Chateaugay throughout 1963 except for the colt's first start of the year, became the first jockey born outside the United States or Canada to win the Kentucky Derby thanks to the son of Swaps.
- Chateaugay raced in the 1963 Triple Crown series with a “lucky” chicken bone tied to his bridle, said to represent owner John Galbreath's attempt to practice “voodoo” on his colt's behalf.
- Whatever luck Chateaugay had going into the Kentucky Derby, it deserted him during the week before the Preakness Stakes, when he managed to get the bit between his teeth during a workout and tore up the track in a much faster work than trainer James Conway had in mind. The effort may have left him a little overdone for the Preakness Stakes, in which he was soundly beaten by Candy Spots.
- Chateaugay became part of a notable double for Galbreath, who became the first man to breed and own both a Kentucky Derby winner and a Derby Stakes winner when his Roberto won the 1972 edition of the latter race.
- Chateaugay was the first Kentucky Derby winner to be exported to Japan.
Last updated: September 19, 2023