Unlike his full brother Omaha, who raced in England after sweeping the American Triple Crown, Flares spent his entire racing career abroad. He was even slower to mature than Omaha but proved a high-class racehorse at 4 and 5 in England. Succeeding where Omaha had failed, he crowned his career by winning the 1938 Ascot Gold Cup. He returned to North America for stud duty. While only moderately successful as a sire of winners, he did succeed in handing on the male line of Sir Gallahad III, continuing a branch of the Teddy sire line which was never numerous but nonetheless persisted into the late 20th century. Flares also wielded influence through his daughter Shimmer, dam of the good sire Nantallah.
Race record
20 starts, 8 wins, £18,506
1936:
1937:
1938:
As an individual
A tall, rangy bay horse, Flares was similar to his full brother Omaha in build but was more short and upright in the pasterns.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Flares sired 125 winners (67.2%) and 14 stakes winners (7.5%) from 186 named foals.
Notable progeny
Chop Chop (USA), Epigram (CAN)
Notable progeny of daughters
Nantallah (USA)
Connections
Flares was bred and owned by William Woodward, Sr., the master of Belair Stud. He was sent to England as a yearling and was trained by Captain Cecil Boyd-Rochfort in England. He entered stud in 1939 at the Hancock family's Ellerslie Stud in Virginia and stood there through 1944. He was last reported as standing at the National Stud Farm near the Canadian city of Oshawa, Ontario, in 1950. His last registered foals were born in 1951.
Pedigree notes
Flares is inbred 4x4 to 1904 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) winner Ajax and 5x5 to nine-time English leading sire St. Simon, a great racehorse who was unbeaten on the Turf. He is a full brother to 1935 American Triple Crown winner Omaha. He is also a half brother to multiple stakes winner Fleam. Flares' dam Flambino won the 1927 Gazelle Stakes and was third in the Belmont Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks. She is a daughter of 1921 Coaching Club American Oaks winner Flambette (by Durbar II) and is a half sister to La France (by Sir Gallahad III), dam of 1939 dual Classic winner Johnstown (by Jamestown) and 1937 American champion 2-year-old filly Jacola (by Jacopo; dam of 1947 American champion 3-year-old male Phalanx, by Pilate), and to Gallette (by Sir Gallahad III), dam of 1946 American champion handicap female Gallorette (by Challenger II).
Fun facts
Last updated: June 25, 2021
Race record
20 starts, 8 wins, £18,506
1936:
- Won Newmarket Stakes (ENG, 10FT, Newmarket)
- Won Ormonde Plate (ENG)
- 2nd Champion Stakes (ENG, 10FT, Newmarket)
- 2nd Newmarket St. Leger (ENG, Newmarket)
1937:
- Won Princess of Wales's Stakes (ENG, 12FT, Newmarket)
- Won Dullingham Stakes (ENG, 12FT, Newmarket)
- Won Champion Stakes (ENG, 10FT, Newmarket)
- Won Lowther Stakes (ENG, 14FT, Newmarket)
- Won Burwell Stakes (ENG, 12FT, Newmarket)
- 2nd Jockey Club Stakes (ENG, 14FT, Newmarket)
- Also finished third in the Hardwicke Stakes (ENG, 12FT, Ascot) but was disqualified for interference
1938:
- Won Ascot Gold Cup (ENG, 20FT, Ascot)
As an individual
A tall, rangy bay horse, Flares was similar to his full brother Omaha in build but was more short and upright in the pasterns.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Flares sired 125 winners (67.2%) and 14 stakes winners (7.5%) from 186 named foals.
Notable progeny
Chop Chop (USA), Epigram (CAN)
Notable progeny of daughters
Nantallah (USA)
Connections
Flares was bred and owned by William Woodward, Sr., the master of Belair Stud. He was sent to England as a yearling and was trained by Captain Cecil Boyd-Rochfort in England. He entered stud in 1939 at the Hancock family's Ellerslie Stud in Virginia and stood there through 1944. He was last reported as standing at the National Stud Farm near the Canadian city of Oshawa, Ontario, in 1950. His last registered foals were born in 1951.
Pedigree notes
Flares is inbred 4x4 to 1904 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) winner Ajax and 5x5 to nine-time English leading sire St. Simon, a great racehorse who was unbeaten on the Turf. He is a full brother to 1935 American Triple Crown winner Omaha. He is also a half brother to multiple stakes winner Fleam. Flares' dam Flambino won the 1927 Gazelle Stakes and was third in the Belmont Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks. She is a daughter of 1921 Coaching Club American Oaks winner Flambette (by Durbar II) and is a half sister to La France (by Sir Gallahad III), dam of 1939 dual Classic winner Johnstown (by Jamestown) and 1937 American champion 2-year-old filly Jacola (by Jacopo; dam of 1947 American champion 3-year-old male Phalanx, by Pilate), and to Gallette (by Sir Gallahad III), dam of 1946 American champion handicap female Gallorette (by Challenger II).
Fun facts
- Flares was the first American-bred horse to win the Ascot Gold Cup since Foxhall in 1882 and was the first winner of the race to stand in the United States since Prince Palatine, who stood at Xalapa Farm in 1920-1924.
Last updated: June 25, 2021