Danzig (USA)
February 12, 1977 – January 3, 2006
Northern Dancer (CAN) x Pas de Nom (USA), by Admiral's Voyage (USA)
Family 7-a
February 12, 1977 – January 3, 2006
Northern Dancer (CAN) x Pas de Nom (USA), by Admiral's Voyage (USA)
Family 7-a
A brilliant but unsound runner, Danzig was unbeaten and unchallenged on the track in three sprint races but did not last long enough to show what he could do in stakes company or over a distance of ground. In the ordinary course of things, he might well have ended up as a regional sire. The difference was Hall of Fame trainer Woody Stephens, who was convinced that his brilliant but fragile colt had far more talent than he had ever been able to show. He persuaded Seth Hancock to give Danzig a chance at stud at Claiborne Farm. and the rest, as they say, is history. Danzig's first crop contained 1984 American champion 2-year-old male Chief's Crown and Grade 1 winners Qualify and Stephan's Odyssey, and the stallion went on from there to become one of Northern Dancer's most successful sons at stud and the head of an increasingly important branch of the Northern Dancer male line.
Race record
3 starts, 3 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds, US$32,400
As an individual
A muscular, well-balanced bay horse who resembled his sire Northern Dancer but had a little more scope, Danzig stood 15.3 hands. He was somewhat light on bone and had offset knees, which he tended to transmit to his progeny. His racing career ended due to repeated knee injuries. He was highly intelligent but tended to be quite territorial about his paddock, though his attitude mellowed with age.
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Danzig sired 687 winners (62.5%) and 198 stakes winners (18.0%) from 1099 named foals; Thoroughbred Times credited him with 202 stakes winners. His tendency to transmit knee issues was offset by his ability to transmit his own excellent balance, muscling and speed. Danzig is an Intermediate/Classic chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Japan Bloodstock Information Systems (https://www.jbis.jp/ranking/):
Per the Korean Studbook (https://studbook.kra.co.kr/neweng/html/eng_sire_list.jsp):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Per Thoroughbred Times (previously Thoroughbred Record):
Notable progeny
Ad Valorem (USA), Adjudicating (USA), Agnes World (USA), Anabaa (USA), Ascot Knight (CAN), Belong to Me (USA), Blue Duster (USA), Chief's Crown (USA), Contredance (USA), Dance Smartly (CAN), Danehill (USA), Danzig Connection (USA), Dayjur (USA), Dispute (USA), Easy Now (USA), Elnadim (USA), Golden Snake (USA), Green Desert (USA), Hamas (IRE), Hard Spun (USA), Honor Grades (USA), Langfuhr (CAN), Lure (USA), Maroof (USA), Military (USA), Mujahid (USA), National Assembly (USA), One of a Klein (USA), Pas de Reponse (USA), Petit Loup (USA), Pine Bluff (USA), Polish Navy (USA), Polish Numbers (USA), Polish Patriot (USA), Polish Precedent (USA), Polonia (USA), Qualify (USA), Shaadi (USA), Stephan's Odyssey (USA), Strolling Along (USA), Tribulation (USA), Versailles Treaty (USA), War Chant (USA), War Front (USA), Yamanin Paradise (USA), Yashmak (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Arch (USA), Believe (JPN), Caller One (USA), Dancethruthedawn (CAN), Distorted Humor (USA), Dramatic Gold (USA), Ecton Park (USA), Festival of Light (USA), Glamour Boy (SAF), Grass Wonder (USA), Full Mast (USA), Fusaichi Pegasus (USA), Hula Angel (USA), Nishiono Flower (JPN), Scatter the Gold (CAN), Soaring Free (CAN), Strategic Choice (USA), Talinga (AUS), The Cliff’s Edge (USA), Tranquility Lake (USA), Voodoo Dancer (USA), Wonder Again (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Pennsylvania, Danzig was bred by Marshall Jenney's Derry Meeting Farm and William S. Farish. He was purchased by Henryk de Kwiatkowski for US$310,000 at the 1978 Saratoga yearling sale. The colt was trained by Woody Stephens. Syndicated for US$80,000 a share, Danzig entered stud in Kentucky in 1981 at Claiborne Farm and remained there for the rest of his life. He was pensioned following the 2004 breeding season due to declining fertility and was humanely destroyed due to the infirmities of old age on January 3, 2006. He was buried in Claiborne's famous equine cemetery.
Pedigree notes
Danzig is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to Dame Margot, dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Lord of the Night (by Lord Avie). He is also a half brother to Ibtihaj (by Raja Baba), second dam of English Group 3 winner Mubhij and Group 3-placed English stakes winner Icesolator and third dam of English Group 3 winner Tell Dad.
Danzig's dam Pas de Nom sold for just US$4,700 as a yearling but won four stakes races and was Grade 3-placed. She is a half sister to Aromanite (by Gallant Romeo), dam of Grade 3 winner All Sold Out (by Full Out) and second dam of listed stakes winner Ahead by a Century and restricted stakes winner A Goodlookin Broad; to Velvec (by Polynesian), dam of Canadian stakes winner Island Commander (by Bosun); and to Plaintiff II (by Ribot), dam of stakes winner Femtastic (by Bolinas Boy) and the stakes-winning steeplechaser Flying Diplomat (by Diplomat Way). Pas de Nom is also a half sister to Any Port (by Sailor), dam of juvenile stakes winner Root Cause (by Exclusive Native) and second dam of listed stakes winner Nordic King, and to Petitio (by Ribot), second dam of Grade 2 winner Polynesienne, Grade 3 winner Piling, and South African Group 3 winner Tantallon. Pas de Nom and her siblings are out of Petitioner (by Petition), whose dam Steady Aim (by Felstead) won the 1946 Oaks Stakes and produced the stakes winners Immortal (by Dante) and Roman Conquest (by Nearco).
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: October 10, 2023
Race record
3 starts, 3 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds, US$32,400
As an individual
A muscular, well-balanced bay horse who resembled his sire Northern Dancer but had a little more scope, Danzig stood 15.3 hands. He was somewhat light on bone and had offset knees, which he tended to transmit to his progeny. His racing career ended due to repeated knee injuries. He was highly intelligent but tended to be quite territorial about his paddock, though his attitude mellowed with age.
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Danzig sired 687 winners (62.5%) and 198 stakes winners (18.0%) from 1099 named foals; Thoroughbred Times credited him with 202 stakes winners. His tendency to transmit knee issues was offset by his ability to transmit his own excellent balance, muscling and speed. Danzig is an Intermediate/Classic chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- Led the American general sire list in 1991 and 1992; 3rd in 1985 and 1986; 7th in 1994.
- 2nd on the American broodmare sire list in 2000; 8th in 2004.
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 1984.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 4th on the American broodmare sire list in 2001; 6th in 2002.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the American general sire list in 1991-1993; 3rd in 1985 and 1986; 4th in 1994; 5th in 1989; 6th in 1990.
- 3rd on the American broodmare sire list in 2000; 4th in 2001; 6th in 2002.
- 4th on the combined English/Irish general sire list in 1989; 7th in 1994.
- 3rd on the Japanese broodmare sire list in 2002; 5th in 2003; 6th in 1999; 8th in 2001.
Per Japan Bloodstock Information Systems (https://www.jbis.jp/ranking/):
- 5th on the Japanese broodmare sire list in 2002; 6th in 1999; 8th in 2001; 9th in 2003.
Per the Korean Studbook (https://studbook.kra.co.kr/neweng/html/eng_sire_list.jsp):
- Led the Korean broodmare sire list in 2005.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the American general sire list in 1991-1993.
Per Thoroughbred Times (previously Thoroughbred Record):
- Led the American general sire list in 1991-1993; 3rd in 1986; 4th in 1994.
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 1984.
- 4th on the English general sire list in 1989; 7th in 1994.
Notable progeny
Ad Valorem (USA), Adjudicating (USA), Agnes World (USA), Anabaa (USA), Ascot Knight (CAN), Belong to Me (USA), Blue Duster (USA), Chief's Crown (USA), Contredance (USA), Dance Smartly (CAN), Danehill (USA), Danzig Connection (USA), Dayjur (USA), Dispute (USA), Easy Now (USA), Elnadim (USA), Golden Snake (USA), Green Desert (USA), Hamas (IRE), Hard Spun (USA), Honor Grades (USA), Langfuhr (CAN), Lure (USA), Maroof (USA), Military (USA), Mujahid (USA), National Assembly (USA), One of a Klein (USA), Pas de Reponse (USA), Petit Loup (USA), Pine Bluff (USA), Polish Navy (USA), Polish Numbers (USA), Polish Patriot (USA), Polish Precedent (USA), Polonia (USA), Qualify (USA), Shaadi (USA), Stephan's Odyssey (USA), Strolling Along (USA), Tribulation (USA), Versailles Treaty (USA), War Chant (USA), War Front (USA), Yamanin Paradise (USA), Yashmak (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Arch (USA), Believe (JPN), Caller One (USA), Dancethruthedawn (CAN), Distorted Humor (USA), Dramatic Gold (USA), Ecton Park (USA), Festival of Light (USA), Glamour Boy (SAF), Grass Wonder (USA), Full Mast (USA), Fusaichi Pegasus (USA), Hula Angel (USA), Nishiono Flower (JPN), Scatter the Gold (CAN), Soaring Free (CAN), Strategic Choice (USA), Talinga (AUS), The Cliff’s Edge (USA), Tranquility Lake (USA), Voodoo Dancer (USA), Wonder Again (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Pennsylvania, Danzig was bred by Marshall Jenney's Derry Meeting Farm and William S. Farish. He was purchased by Henryk de Kwiatkowski for US$310,000 at the 1978 Saratoga yearling sale. The colt was trained by Woody Stephens. Syndicated for US$80,000 a share, Danzig entered stud in Kentucky in 1981 at Claiborne Farm and remained there for the rest of his life. He was pensioned following the 2004 breeding season due to declining fertility and was humanely destroyed due to the infirmities of old age on January 3, 2006. He was buried in Claiborne's famous equine cemetery.
Pedigree notes
Danzig is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to Dame Margot, dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Lord of the Night (by Lord Avie). He is also a half brother to Ibtihaj (by Raja Baba), second dam of English Group 3 winner Mubhij and Group 3-placed English stakes winner Icesolator and third dam of English Group 3 winner Tell Dad.
Danzig's dam Pas de Nom sold for just US$4,700 as a yearling but won four stakes races and was Grade 3-placed. She is a half sister to Aromanite (by Gallant Romeo), dam of Grade 3 winner All Sold Out (by Full Out) and second dam of listed stakes winner Ahead by a Century and restricted stakes winner A Goodlookin Broad; to Velvec (by Polynesian), dam of Canadian stakes winner Island Commander (by Bosun); and to Plaintiff II (by Ribot), dam of stakes winner Femtastic (by Bolinas Boy) and the stakes-winning steeplechaser Flying Diplomat (by Diplomat Way). Pas de Nom is also a half sister to Any Port (by Sailor), dam of juvenile stakes winner Root Cause (by Exclusive Native) and second dam of listed stakes winner Nordic King, and to Petitio (by Ribot), second dam of Grade 2 winner Polynesienne, Grade 3 winner Piling, and South African Group 3 winner Tantallon. Pas de Nom and her siblings are out of Petitioner (by Petition), whose dam Steady Aim (by Felstead) won the 1946 Oaks Stakes and produced the stakes winners Immortal (by Dante) and Roman Conquest (by Nearco).
Books and media
- Danzig is profiled in Part Five of Edward Bowen's Dynasties: Great Thoroughbred Stallions (2000, Eclipse Press).
- Danzig is one of 75 stallions profiled in Tony Morris' Thoroughbred Stallions (1990, The Crowood Press).
- Danzig is one of 205 stallions whose accomplishments at stud are profiled in Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, The Australian Bloodhorse Review), a massive reference work written by Jennifer Churchill, Andrew Reichard and Byron Rogers.
- Danzig is one of 50 Thoroughbreds profiled in Royal Blood: Fifty Years of Classic Thoroughbreds. Written by racing historian Jim Bolus with illustrations and commentary by noted equine artist Richard Stone Reeves, the book was released by The Blood-Horse, Inc., in 1994.
- Danzig is one of the older Thoroughbreds profiled in photographs and essays in Barbara Livingston's Old Friends: Visits With My Favorite Thoroughbreds (2002, The Blood-Horse, Inc.).
Fun facts
- Danzig is named after the German name for the city of Gdańsk, Poland, which is an important port on the Baltic Sea. Many of the names given to Danzig's progeny allude to the history of this city.
- Danzig was a pure dominant bay, meaning that he did not carry the recessive gene responsible for chestnut coloring. As a result, he did not father any chestnut offspring.
- Danzig was the first horse since Bold Ruler in 1963-1969 to lead the American general sire list three or more consecutive times.
- The Danzig Stakes was a race for Pennsylvania-bred 3-year-olds at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.
Last updated: October 10, 2023