Light Brigade (GB)
1910 – 1933
Picton (GB) x Bridge of Sighs (GB), by Isinglass (GB)
Family 8-g
1910 – 1933
Picton (GB) x Bridge of Sighs (GB), by Isinglass (GB)
Family 8-g
Light Brigade's form is difficult to assess as he did not meet any of the English Classic winners of his year when at his best, but he was consistent and versatile enough to be considered one of the best 3-year-old colts of what was admittedly a substandard year in England. He proved a good sire following his export to the United States, but his one long-term claim to fame is as the broodmare sire of the great Discovery.
Race record
16 wins
1912:
1913:
As an individual
A brown horse standing 16 hands, Light Brigade was considered exceptionally good looking; he was also tough and durable.
As a stallion
Light Brigade ranked among the top 10 American general sires seven times, peaking at third in 1929. He was the leading American juvenile sire of 1924 and was among the top 10 American broodmare sires five times including a runner-up finish in 1935. According to The Blood-Horse Silver Anniversary Edition (Blood-Horse), Light Brigade sired 196 winners (59.6%) and 25 stakes winners (7.6%) from 329 named foals.
Notable progeny
Dr. Freeland (USA), Hydromel (USA), Rose of Sharon (USA)
Connections
Light Brigade was bred and owned by the 17th Earl of Derby, who perhaps regretted not nominating the horse to any of the English Classics after Light Brigade won 11 races in a row as a 3-year-old. Imported to the United States by Johnson N. Camden in 1916 at a cost of £10,000 (about US$50,000 at the exchange rates then current), Light Brigade stood at Camden's Hartland Stud near Versailles, Kentucky until he was sold in 1931.
Pedigree notes
Light Brigade is inbred 3x3 to two-time Ascot Gold Cup winner Isonomy and 5x5x5 to dual English Classic winner and seven-time English champion sire Stockwell. His half sister Despondency (by Phalaris) is the third dam of 1935 VRC Melbourne Cup winner Marabou.
Light Brigade's dam Bridge of Sighs was produced from 1901 Yorkshire Oaks winner Santa Brigida (by St. Simon), an excellent broodmare whose produce includes Bridge of Canny (by Love Wisely; a good winner in England and a good sire in Argentina); Newbury Autumn Cup winner Bridge of Earn (by Cyllene; a good sire, particularly of broodmares); Santa Cruz (by Neil Gow; dam of the good staying filly and important broodmare Drift, by Swynford); and Spean Bridge (by Spearmint; second dam of 1937 Derby Stakes winner Mid-day Sun). The next dam in the tail-female line, Bridget (by Master Kildare) is a full sister to 1885 dual English Classic winner Melton but cost the 16th Earl of Derby just 840 guineas when purchased as a 6-year-old in 1894.
Fun facts
Race record
16 wins
1912:
- Won Liverpool Nursery Stakes (ENG, Liverpool)
1913:
- Won Triennial Stakes (ENG, 7FT, Ascot)
- Won Duke of York Stakes (ENG, 10FT, York)
- Won Great Yorkshire Stakes (ENG, 14FT, York)
- Won Column Produce Stakes (ENG, Newmarket)
- Won North Derby (ENG)
As an individual
A brown horse standing 16 hands, Light Brigade was considered exceptionally good looking; he was also tough and durable.
As a stallion
Light Brigade ranked among the top 10 American general sires seven times, peaking at third in 1929. He was the leading American juvenile sire of 1924 and was among the top 10 American broodmare sires five times including a runner-up finish in 1935. According to The Blood-Horse Silver Anniversary Edition (Blood-Horse), Light Brigade sired 196 winners (59.6%) and 25 stakes winners (7.6%) from 329 named foals.
Notable progeny
Dr. Freeland (USA), Hydromel (USA), Rose of Sharon (USA)
Connections
Light Brigade was bred and owned by the 17th Earl of Derby, who perhaps regretted not nominating the horse to any of the English Classics after Light Brigade won 11 races in a row as a 3-year-old. Imported to the United States by Johnson N. Camden in 1916 at a cost of £10,000 (about US$50,000 at the exchange rates then current), Light Brigade stood at Camden's Hartland Stud near Versailles, Kentucky until he was sold in 1931.
Pedigree notes
Light Brigade is inbred 3x3 to two-time Ascot Gold Cup winner Isonomy and 5x5x5 to dual English Classic winner and seven-time English champion sire Stockwell. His half sister Despondency (by Phalaris) is the third dam of 1935 VRC Melbourne Cup winner Marabou.
Light Brigade's dam Bridge of Sighs was produced from 1901 Yorkshire Oaks winner Santa Brigida (by St. Simon), an excellent broodmare whose produce includes Bridge of Canny (by Love Wisely; a good winner in England and a good sire in Argentina); Newbury Autumn Cup winner Bridge of Earn (by Cyllene; a good sire, particularly of broodmares); Santa Cruz (by Neil Gow; dam of the good staying filly and important broodmare Drift, by Swynford); and Spean Bridge (by Spearmint; second dam of 1937 Derby Stakes winner Mid-day Sun). The next dam in the tail-female line, Bridget (by Master Kildare) is a full sister to 1885 dual English Classic winner Melton but cost the 16th Earl of Derby just 840 guineas when purchased as a 6-year-old in 1894.
Fun facts
- “The Charge of the Light Brigade” is a famous poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, commemorating the charge of a light cavalry unit under the command of Lord Cardigan at the battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War. Although courageous, the charge was the result of a communications error that sent the brigade into a frontal assault against a well-defended artillery battery instead of in pursuit of a similar unit that was in retreat. The Light Brigade managed to reach the artillery positions but suffered heavy casualties and was forced to retreat immediately.
- Along with two of Lord Derby's other horses, Light Brigade was given an experimental electrical treatment developed by Mr. Jackson Palmer prior to racing at the 1913 York August meeting. The treatment was intended to stimulate physical development. Two of the three treated horses (Light Brigade included) won at the meeting.