Monarchos (USA)
Foaled February 9, 1998 – October 22, 2016
Maria's Mon (USA) x Regal Band (USA), by Dixieland Band (USA)
Family 4-r
Foaled February 9, 1998 – October 22, 2016
Maria's Mon (USA) x Regal Band (USA), by Dixieland Band (USA)
Family 4-r
Monarchos had only a brief moment in the sun, but at his best he was a formidable racer with a powerful closing run and is remembered as the only horse other than Secretariat to officially clock a time under two minutes in the Kentucky Derby. He sired three champions during his stud career but his overall breeding record was disappointing.
Race record
10 starts, 4 wins, 1 second, 3 thirds, US$1,720,830
2001:
As an individual
A handsome, athletic gray horse with a brilliant turn of foot, Monarchos had a good shoulder, prominent withers and a strong hind leg. He stood 16.1 hands. He had upright pasterns and was perhaps a touch back at the knee. He had a dominant but pleasant disposition and plenty of energy. He was done as a 3-year-old after a hairline fracture was found in his right knee following the Triple Crown series (an injury that his connections believed probably occurred during the Derby, accounting for his dull showings in the other two Triple Crown races) and was forced into retirement following his first race at 4 after he injured a tendon while in training.
As a stallion
According to statistics complied by The Jockey Club, Monarchos sired 268 winners (51.3%) and 16 stakes winners (3.1%) from 522 named foals.
Notable progeny
Aces Star (USA), Estrela Monarchos (USA), Informed Decision (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Baron Rojo (PER), Dream Dancing (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Monarchos was bred by James D. "Jim" Squires, who sold the colt privately to pinhooker Murray Smith as a yearling for US$100,000. After Monarchos failed to make his reserve at the 1999 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, John Oxley purchased him for US$170,000 from the 2000 Fasig-Tipton February sale of 2-year-olds in training. Monarchos was trained by John Ward Jr. and was ridden to his Kentucky Derby win by Jorge Chavez. Monarchos entered stud in 2002 at Claiborne Farm and transferred to Nuckols Farm in 2007. He died on October 22, 2016, following surgery to repair a ruptured intestine.
Pedigree notes
Monarchos is inbred 5x5 to the unbeaten European champion Ribot, a three-time champion sire on the English/Irish list. He is a full brother to Mon Belle, dam of Grade 3-placed stakes winner Supreme (by Empire Maker) and second dam of 2021 Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1) winner Silver State. He is also a half brother to Siphonophora (by Siphon), second dam of 2024 Las Flores Stakes (USA-G3) winner Chismosa.
Monarchos' dam Regal Band, a solid allowance winner, is a half sister to stakes winner Legal Coin (by Key to the Mint). The sisters are out of the non-winner Regal Roberta (by Roberto), whose full sister Maiden Lane is the second dam of multiple Argentine Group 1 winner New Real Deal. Regal Roberta is also a half sister to Grade 1-placed stakes winner Rampart Road (by Dixieland Band) and stakes winner Fappiano Road (by Fappiano). In addition, she is a half sister to Unending Love (by Dixieland Band), second dam of 2011 Grande Prêmio Linneo de Paula Machado (Gavea) (BRZ-G1) winner Energia Davos and Grade 2 winner Two Trail Sioux.
Regal Roberta, in turn, is out of the stakes-winning Graustark mare Regal Road, a half sister to 1982 Top Flight Handicap (USA-G1) winner Andover Way (by His Majesty; dam of multiple Grade 2 winner and important sire Dynaformer, by Roberto) and to Grade 2 winner and useful sire Darby Creek Road (by Roberto). Regal Road's dam On the Trail (by Olympia) is out of Darby Dan Farm foundation mare Golden Trail (by Hasty Road).
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo taken in 2006 by Avalyn Hunter at Claiborne Farm.
Last updated: September 5, 2024
Race record
10 starts, 4 wins, 1 second, 3 thirds, US$1,720,830
2001:
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Florida Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Wood Memorial Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
As an individual
A handsome, athletic gray horse with a brilliant turn of foot, Monarchos had a good shoulder, prominent withers and a strong hind leg. He stood 16.1 hands. He had upright pasterns and was perhaps a touch back at the knee. He had a dominant but pleasant disposition and plenty of energy. He was done as a 3-year-old after a hairline fracture was found in his right knee following the Triple Crown series (an injury that his connections believed probably occurred during the Derby, accounting for his dull showings in the other two Triple Crown races) and was forced into retirement following his first race at 4 after he injured a tendon while in training.
As a stallion
According to statistics complied by The Jockey Club, Monarchos sired 268 winners (51.3%) and 16 stakes winners (3.1%) from 522 named foals.
Notable progeny
Aces Star (USA), Estrela Monarchos (USA), Informed Decision (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Baron Rojo (PER), Dream Dancing (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Monarchos was bred by James D. "Jim" Squires, who sold the colt privately to pinhooker Murray Smith as a yearling for US$100,000. After Monarchos failed to make his reserve at the 1999 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, John Oxley purchased him for US$170,000 from the 2000 Fasig-Tipton February sale of 2-year-olds in training. Monarchos was trained by John Ward Jr. and was ridden to his Kentucky Derby win by Jorge Chavez. Monarchos entered stud in 2002 at Claiborne Farm and transferred to Nuckols Farm in 2007. He died on October 22, 2016, following surgery to repair a ruptured intestine.
Pedigree notes
Monarchos is inbred 5x5 to the unbeaten European champion Ribot, a three-time champion sire on the English/Irish list. He is a full brother to Mon Belle, dam of Grade 3-placed stakes winner Supreme (by Empire Maker) and second dam of 2021 Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1) winner Silver State. He is also a half brother to Siphonophora (by Siphon), second dam of 2024 Las Flores Stakes (USA-G3) winner Chismosa.
Monarchos' dam Regal Band, a solid allowance winner, is a half sister to stakes winner Legal Coin (by Key to the Mint). The sisters are out of the non-winner Regal Roberta (by Roberto), whose full sister Maiden Lane is the second dam of multiple Argentine Group 1 winner New Real Deal. Regal Roberta is also a half sister to Grade 1-placed stakes winner Rampart Road (by Dixieland Band) and stakes winner Fappiano Road (by Fappiano). In addition, she is a half sister to Unending Love (by Dixieland Band), second dam of 2011 Grande Prêmio Linneo de Paula Machado (Gavea) (BRZ-G1) winner Energia Davos and Grade 2 winner Two Trail Sioux.
Regal Roberta, in turn, is out of the stakes-winning Graustark mare Regal Road, a half sister to 1982 Top Flight Handicap (USA-G1) winner Andover Way (by His Majesty; dam of multiple Grade 2 winner and important sire Dynaformer, by Roberto) and to Grade 2 winner and useful sire Darby Creek Road (by Roberto). Regal Road's dam On the Trail (by Olympia) is out of Darby Dan Farm foundation mare Golden Trail (by Hasty Road).
Books and media
- Horse of a Different Color: A Tale of Breeding Geniuses, Dominant Females and the Fastest Kentucky Derby Winner Since Secretariat is Jim Squires' account of how he became involved in the Thoroughbred industry and how that involvement led to the breeding on Monarchos. It was published by PublicAffairs in 2003.
- Monarchos is profiled in Chapter 13 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
- “Operation Derby,” the story of Monarchos' preparation for his Derby victory, is the 14th chapter in Steve Haskin's Tales from the Triple Crown (2008, Blood-Horse Publications).
Fun facts
- Monarchos' barn name was “Sparky.”
- Monarchos' constant companion during his racing days was a stable pony named Mouse.
Photo credit
Photo taken in 2006 by Avalyn Hunter at Claiborne Farm.
Last updated: September 5, 2024