Halo (USA)
February 7, 1969 – November 28, 2000
Hail to Reason (USA) x Cosmah (USA), by Cosmic Bomb (USA)
Family 2-d
February 7, 1969 – November 28, 2000
Hail to Reason (USA) x Cosmah (USA), by Cosmic Bomb (USA)
Family 2-d
A mean, not particularly attractive near-black horse, Halo nonetheless matured into a good turf runner. He was still better as a sire, leading the American general list twice and founding his own branch of the Hail to Reason sire line.
Race record
31 starts, 9 wins, 8 seconds, 5 thirds, US$259,553
1972:
1973:
1974:
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1972, 10 pounds below co-highweights Key to the Mint (the official divisional champion) and Riva Ridge (winner of that year's Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes).
Rated at 107 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf males of 1973, 21 pounds below highweighted Cougar II. (The official American champion turf horse of 1973, Secretariat, was rated at 136 pounds on the Free Handicap for 3-year-old males.)
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf males of 1974, 4 pounds below highweighted London Company. (The American champion turf horse of 1974, Dahlia, was rated at 128 pounds on the Free Handicap for female turfers.)
As an individual
Registered as a dark bay or brown, Halo stood 15.3 hands. He had good bone and a rugged make but was not very correct in front. He also had a nasty and cunning disposition that did not improve with age and was quite studdish while still a racehorse. To add to his sins, he had the habit of regularly dumping exercise riders and running off. Because he had a history of attacking human beings, he was generally kept muzzled when not in his stall.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Halo sired 465 winners (62.1%) and 62 stakes winners (8.3%) from 749 named foals; The Blood-Horse credits him with 63 stakes winners (8.4%). He tended to pass on good bone and stamina, but his progeny were typically plain and had their sire's foreleg faults; they also needed time to mature and often had a dose of their sire's temperament as well. Halo is a Brilliant/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 Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Per Thoroughbred Times (previously Thoroughbred Record):
Notable progeny
Coup de Folie (USA), Devil's Bag (USA), Dont's Say Halo (USA), Glorious Song (CAN), Goodbye Halo (USA), Jolie's Halo (USA), Lively One (USA), Misty Gallore (USA), Rainbow Connection (CAN), Saint Ballado (CAN), Southern Halo (USA), Sunday Silence (USA), Sunny's Halo (USA), Tilt My Halo (CAN)
Notable progeny of daughters
Basqueian (CAN), Catch the Ring (CAN), Coup de Genie (USA), Demons Begone (USA), Exit to Nowhere (USA), Hailsham (CAN), Halo America (USA), Harlan (USA), Machiavellian (USA), Nadja (USA), Pine Bluff (USA), Rahy (USA), Rainbows for Life (CAN), Ringaskiddy (USA), Singspiel (IRE), Sligo Bay (IRE), Valley of Gold (FR)
Connections
Halo was bred in Kentucky by John R. Gaines. He was sold to Charles Engelhard for US$100,000 at the 1970 Keeneland summer yearling sale and was placed in the care of Mack Miller, who remained his trainer throughout his racing career. After Engelhard died in 1971, Halo became the property of his widow, the former Jane Mannheimer, and raced for her Cragwood Stable. He was to have been sold to England for US$600,000 as a 4-year-old, but the deal fell through after the buyer, Irving Allen, learned that the horse was a cribber. Halo returned to racing as a 5-year-old under the ownership of Cragwood Stable. Following his victory in the Tidal Handicap on July 6, Halo was sold to E. P. Taylor for US$1 million. Halo initially stood at the Maryland division of Taylor's Windfields Farm, entering stud in 1975. He later moved to Arthur Hancock III's Stone Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, after Tom Tatham purchased a controlling interest in the stallion in a deal that set the horse's valuation at US$36 million. Halo was pensioned in 1997 and died at Stone Farm in 2000.
Pedigree notes
Halo is inbred 4x4 to Blue Larkspur. He is a half brother to multiple American champion Tosmah (by Tim Tam; dam of stakes winner La Guidecca, by Royal I. J.); to Maribeau (by Ribot), winner of the 1965 Fountain of Youth Stakes; and to Fathers Image (by Swaps), a minor stakes winner. Halo is also a half brother to Queen Sucree (by Ribot), dam of 1974 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Cannonade and multiple Grade 3 winner Circle Home (both by Bold Bidder) and second dam of Grade 1 winners Stephan's Odyssey and Lotka, Australian Group 2 winner Rasheek, and English Group 3 winner Burooj. Another half sister to Halo, Perfecta (by Swaps), is the second dam of 1983 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (FR-G1) winner L'Emigrant and French Group 2 winner Salpinx. In addition, La Dame du Lac, a Round Table half sister to Halo, produced five stakes winners including Irish Group 3 winners Lake Como and Single Combat (both by Nijinsky II) and is the second dam of two-time American champion turf female Flawlessly, 2001 Prix Saint-Alary (FR-G1) winner Nadia, multiple English Group 2 winner Zindabad, and Grade 3 winner Perfect.
Halo's dam Cosmah won the 1955 Astarita Stakes and is the 1974 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. Produced from the stakes-winning Mahmoud mare Almahmoud, she is a half sister to Canadian stakes winner Folk Dancer (by Native Dancer) and to stakes-placed Natalma (by Native Dancer), dam of four stakes winners including the multiple Classic winner and great sire Northern Dancer. Another half sister to Cosmah, Bubbling Beauty (by Hasty Road), produced 1977 Prix Ganay (FR-G1) winner and 1986 French champion sire Arctic Tern (by Sea-Bird).
Books and media
Last updated: November 17, 2021
Race record
31 starts, 9 wins, 8 seconds, 5 thirds, US$259,553
1972:
- Won Lawrence Realization Stakes (USA, 12FT, Belmont)
- Won Voters Handicap (USA, 8FD, Laurel)
- 2nd Lamplighter Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Monmouth)
- 3rd Jersey Derby (USA, 9FD, Garden State)
- 3rd Dwyer Handicap (USA, 10FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Jim Dandy Stakes (USA, 9FD, Saratoga)
1973:
- 3rd Oceanport Handicap (first division) (USA-G3, 8.5FT, Monmouth)
1974:
- Won United Nations Handicap (USA-G1, 9.5FT, Atlantic City)
- Won Tidal Handicap (USA-G2, 9.5FT, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Bernard Baruch Handicap (USA-G3, 9FT, Saratoga)
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1972, 10 pounds below co-highweights Key to the Mint (the official divisional champion) and Riva Ridge (winner of that year's Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes).
Rated at 107 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf males of 1973, 21 pounds below highweighted Cougar II. (The official American champion turf horse of 1973, Secretariat, was rated at 136 pounds on the Free Handicap for 3-year-old males.)
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf males of 1974, 4 pounds below highweighted London Company. (The American champion turf horse of 1974, Dahlia, was rated at 128 pounds on the Free Handicap for female turfers.)
As an individual
Registered as a dark bay or brown, Halo stood 15.3 hands. He had good bone and a rugged make but was not very correct in front. He also had a nasty and cunning disposition that did not improve with age and was quite studdish while still a racehorse. To add to his sins, he had the habit of regularly dumping exercise riders and running off. Because he had a history of attacking human beings, he was generally kept muzzled when not in his stall.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Halo sired 465 winners (62.1%) and 62 stakes winners (8.3%) from 749 named foals; The Blood-Horse credits him with 63 stakes winners (8.4%). He tended to pass on good bone and stamina, but his progeny were typically plain and had their sire's foreleg faults; they also needed time to mature and often had a dose of their sire's temperament as well. Halo is a Brilliant/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 1983 and 1989.
- 6th on the American broodmare sire list in 1994; 8th in 1992 and 2000
Per The Blood-Horse:
- Led the American general sire list in 1983 and 1989.
- 5th on the American broodmare sire list in 2002.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the American general sire list in 1983 and 1989.
- 2nd on the American broodmare sire list in 1997; 5th in 2002; 7th in 1992; 8th in 1995; 9th in 1996; 10th in 1998.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the American general sire list in 1983 and 1989.
Per Thoroughbred Times (previously Thoroughbred Record):
- Led the American general sire list in 1983 and 1989.
Notable progeny
Coup de Folie (USA), Devil's Bag (USA), Dont's Say Halo (USA), Glorious Song (CAN), Goodbye Halo (USA), Jolie's Halo (USA), Lively One (USA), Misty Gallore (USA), Rainbow Connection (CAN), Saint Ballado (CAN), Southern Halo (USA), Sunday Silence (USA), Sunny's Halo (USA), Tilt My Halo (CAN)
Notable progeny of daughters
Basqueian (CAN), Catch the Ring (CAN), Coup de Genie (USA), Demons Begone (USA), Exit to Nowhere (USA), Hailsham (CAN), Halo America (USA), Harlan (USA), Machiavellian (USA), Nadja (USA), Pine Bluff (USA), Rahy (USA), Rainbows for Life (CAN), Ringaskiddy (USA), Singspiel (IRE), Sligo Bay (IRE), Valley of Gold (FR)
Connections
Halo was bred in Kentucky by John R. Gaines. He was sold to Charles Engelhard for US$100,000 at the 1970 Keeneland summer yearling sale and was placed in the care of Mack Miller, who remained his trainer throughout his racing career. After Engelhard died in 1971, Halo became the property of his widow, the former Jane Mannheimer, and raced for her Cragwood Stable. He was to have been sold to England for US$600,000 as a 4-year-old, but the deal fell through after the buyer, Irving Allen, learned that the horse was a cribber. Halo returned to racing as a 5-year-old under the ownership of Cragwood Stable. Following his victory in the Tidal Handicap on July 6, Halo was sold to E. P. Taylor for US$1 million. Halo initially stood at the Maryland division of Taylor's Windfields Farm, entering stud in 1975. He later moved to Arthur Hancock III's Stone Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, after Tom Tatham purchased a controlling interest in the stallion in a deal that set the horse's valuation at US$36 million. Halo was pensioned in 1997 and died at Stone Farm in 2000.
Pedigree notes
Halo is inbred 4x4 to Blue Larkspur. He is a half brother to multiple American champion Tosmah (by Tim Tam; dam of stakes winner La Guidecca, by Royal I. J.); to Maribeau (by Ribot), winner of the 1965 Fountain of Youth Stakes; and to Fathers Image (by Swaps), a minor stakes winner. Halo is also a half brother to Queen Sucree (by Ribot), dam of 1974 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Cannonade and multiple Grade 3 winner Circle Home (both by Bold Bidder) and second dam of Grade 1 winners Stephan's Odyssey and Lotka, Australian Group 2 winner Rasheek, and English Group 3 winner Burooj. Another half sister to Halo, Perfecta (by Swaps), is the second dam of 1983 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (FR-G1) winner L'Emigrant and French Group 2 winner Salpinx. In addition, La Dame du Lac, a Round Table half sister to Halo, produced five stakes winners including Irish Group 3 winners Lake Como and Single Combat (both by Nijinsky II) and is the second dam of two-time American champion turf female Flawlessly, 2001 Prix Saint-Alary (FR-G1) winner Nadia, multiple English Group 2 winner Zindabad, and Grade 3 winner Perfect.
Halo's dam Cosmah won the 1955 Astarita Stakes and is the 1974 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. Produced from the stakes-winning Mahmoud mare Almahmoud, she is a half sister to Canadian stakes winner Folk Dancer (by Native Dancer) and to stakes-placed Natalma (by Native Dancer), dam of four stakes winners including the multiple Classic winner and great sire Northern Dancer. Another half sister to Cosmah, Bubbling Beauty (by Hasty Road), produced 1977 Prix Ganay (FR-G1) winner and 1986 French champion sire Arctic Tern (by Sea-Bird).
Books and media
- Halo is one of 75 stallions profiled in Tony Morris' Thoroughbred Stallions (1990, The Crowood Press).
- Halo 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.
- Halo 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.).
Last updated: November 17, 2021