Medaille d'Or (CAN)
May 23, 1976 – May 25, 1986
Secretariat (USA) x Fanfreluche (CAN), by Northern Dancer (CAN)
Family 4-g
May 23, 1976 – May 25, 1986
Secretariat (USA) x Fanfreluche (CAN), by Northern Dancer (CAN)
Family 4-g
The last-born of three Canadian champions produced by 1970 Canadian Horse of the Year Fanfreluche, Medaille d'Or had the least impressive race record of the three but managed to seize a title in a subpar year based on a victory in Canada's most important race for juveniles, the Coronation Futurity. That was the sole highlight of his racing career, as he was injured and retired partway through his 3-year-old season, and Medaille d'Or failed to pass on the regal heritage of his parents with any consistency as a stallion.
Race record
17 starts, 3 wins, 5 seconds, 4 thirds, US$148,750 (includes Canadian earnings)
1978:
Honors
Sovereign Award, Canadian champion 2-year-old male (1978)
Assessments
Highweighted at 122 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for juveniles of 1978, 2 pounds above second-rated Nonparrell.
Rated at 115 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1978, 11 pounds below champion Spectacular Bid.
As an individual
A handsome chestnut horse, Medaille d'Or had the strong hindquarter and straight hind leg of his sire.
As a stallion
The Jockey Club credits Medaille d'Or with 130 winners (65.0%) and eight stakes winners (4.0%) from 200 named foals. His most important runner was probably Tour d'Or, a listed stakes winner who became a useful regional sire in Florida.
Connections
Medaille d'Or was bred and owned by Jean-Louis Lévesque. He was trained by Joseph “Yonnie” Starr. He stood at Windfields Farm's Maryland division, where he died in 1986.
Pedigree notes
Medaille d'Or is inbred 4x4 to two-time English champion sire Nearco, an unbeaten champion on the race course. He is a full brother to 1981 Breeders' Futurity (USA-G2) winner D'Accord. He is a half-brother to two-time Canadian Horse of the Year L'Enjoleur (by Buckpasser) and three-time Canadian champion La Voyageuse (by Tentam; dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Time Bandit, by Time for a Change). He is also a half brother to multiple stakes winner Grand Luxe (by Sir Ivor), dam of stakes winner Smackover Creek (by Mr. Prospector) and 2005 Argentine champion sire Lode (by Mr. Prospector), second dam of seven stakes winners including multiple Australian Group 1 winner and champion sire Flying Spur, and third dam of Australian Group 1 winner and champion sire Encosta de Lago. In addition, Medaille d'Or is a half brother to the important producers L'On Vite (by Secretariat), L'Extravagante (by Le Fabuleux), Slew and Easy (by Slew o' Gold), and La Pepite (by Mr. Prospector).
The dam of Medaille d'Or, Fanfreluche, is a full sister to stakes winner Barachois and to Night Shift, a successful sire in Europe. She is also a half sister to stakes winner Coco La Terreur (by Northern Dancer's sire Nearctic) and to stakes-placed Somfas (by What a Pleasure), dam of three Group stakes winners in Europe. Fanfreluche's dam Ciboulette (by Chop Chop) is a stakes winner and a half sister to 1966 Canadian champion 2-year-old male Cool Reception (by Nearctic) and stakes winner Breezy Answer (by Bull Page; dam of Arctic Blizzard, a top Canadian juvenile of 1967).
Fun facts
Last updated: September 2, 2022
Race record
17 starts, 3 wins, 5 seconds, 4 thirds, US$148,750 (includes Canadian earnings)
1978:
- Won Coronation Futurity (CAN, 9FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Cup and Saucer Stakes (CAN, 9FT, Woodbine)
- 2nd Clarendon Stakes (CAN, 6FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Winnipeg Futurity (CAN, 6FD, Assiniboia Downs)
- 3rd Colin Stakes (CAN, 6.5FD, Woodbine)
- 3rd Summer Stakes (CAN, 8FT, Fort Erie)
Honors
Sovereign Award, Canadian champion 2-year-old male (1978)
Assessments
Highweighted at 122 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for juveniles of 1978, 2 pounds above second-rated Nonparrell.
Rated at 115 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1978, 11 pounds below champion Spectacular Bid.
As an individual
A handsome chestnut horse, Medaille d'Or had the strong hindquarter and straight hind leg of his sire.
As a stallion
The Jockey Club credits Medaille d'Or with 130 winners (65.0%) and eight stakes winners (4.0%) from 200 named foals. His most important runner was probably Tour d'Or, a listed stakes winner who became a useful regional sire in Florida.
Connections
Medaille d'Or was bred and owned by Jean-Louis Lévesque. He was trained by Joseph “Yonnie” Starr. He stood at Windfields Farm's Maryland division, where he died in 1986.
Pedigree notes
Medaille d'Or is inbred 4x4 to two-time English champion sire Nearco, an unbeaten champion on the race course. He is a full brother to 1981 Breeders' Futurity (USA-G2) winner D'Accord. He is a half-brother to two-time Canadian Horse of the Year L'Enjoleur (by Buckpasser) and three-time Canadian champion La Voyageuse (by Tentam; dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Time Bandit, by Time for a Change). He is also a half brother to multiple stakes winner Grand Luxe (by Sir Ivor), dam of stakes winner Smackover Creek (by Mr. Prospector) and 2005 Argentine champion sire Lode (by Mr. Prospector), second dam of seven stakes winners including multiple Australian Group 1 winner and champion sire Flying Spur, and third dam of Australian Group 1 winner and champion sire Encosta de Lago. In addition, Medaille d'Or is a half brother to the important producers L'On Vite (by Secretariat), L'Extravagante (by Le Fabuleux), Slew and Easy (by Slew o' Gold), and La Pepite (by Mr. Prospector).
The dam of Medaille d'Or, Fanfreluche, is a full sister to stakes winner Barachois and to Night Shift, a successful sire in Europe. She is also a half sister to stakes winner Coco La Terreur (by Northern Dancer's sire Nearctic) and to stakes-placed Somfas (by What a Pleasure), dam of three Group stakes winners in Europe. Fanfreluche's dam Ciboulette (by Chop Chop) is a stakes winner and a half sister to 1966 Canadian champion 2-year-old male Cool Reception (by Nearctic) and stakes winner Breezy Answer (by Bull Page; dam of Arctic Blizzard, a top Canadian juvenile of 1967).
Fun facts
- “Medaille d'Or” means “gold medal” in French.
Last updated: September 2, 2022