Sir Gaylord (USA)
February 12, 1959 – Spring 1981
Turn-to (IRE) x Somethingroyal (USA), by Princequillo (IRE)
Family 2-s
February 12, 1959 – Spring 1981
Turn-to (IRE) x Somethingroyal (USA), by Princequillo (IRE)
Family 2-s
If Somethingroyal had never given birth to Secretariat, she would probably still be remembered as “Sir Gaylord's dam.” A good juvenile, the powerful son of Turn-to went 4-for-4 in 1962 and devastated the best of the Florida-based 3-year-olds, including American co-champion 2-year-old male Ridan and eventual Kentucky Derby winner Decidedly. The pre-race favorite for the Kentucky Derby, he fractured a sesamoid the day before the great race. He never raced again but compiled an excellent stud record in both North American and Europe and left behind several important sire sons.
Race record
18 starts, 10 wins, 0 seconds, 4 thirds, US$237,404
1961:
1962:
Assessments
Ranked 4th among American 2-year-old males of 1961 by The Blood-Horse.
Rated at 121 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1961, 5 pounds below co-champion and highweight Crimson Satan and 4 pounds below the other co-champion, Ridan.
Assigned the top weight of 127 pounds on The Blood-Horse's Free Handicap for American 3-year-olds of 1962, 1 pound above champion Jaipur, who shared second place with Ridan and Admiral's Voyage.
Rated at 127 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1962, 1 pound below champion Jaipur.
As an individual
A dark bay, Sir Gaylord stood 16.1 hands as a mature stallion. (While David Bay's profile of Sir Gaylord in Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World gives his height as 16.2-1/2 as a juvenile, Charles Hatton's profile of him in the 1962 American Racing Manual states that Dr. Manuel Gilman measured him at 15.3-1/2 hands in the fall of his juvenile season.) He was big-boned and strongly made but not coarse with exceptionally powerful hindquarters and a sloping croup similar to that of his granddam, Imperatrice. His head was masculine and clean-cut with a slightly convex profile. His legs were correct and his action was excellent, though he did not have a particularly long stride. His disposition was also good. His one limitation as a racehorse was that he did not handle off going well.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Sir Gaylord sired 284 winners (61.2%) and 60 stakes winners (12.9%) from 464 named foals. His progeny were generally good-sized and strong-bodied but not coarse, although they normally had good bone. Sir Gaylord often passed on the offset knees of his dam Somethingroyal, and a number of his progeny were tied in below the knee. He is an Intermediate/Classic chef-de-race in the Roman dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Delmora (USA), Drone (USA), Gaily (USA), Gay Matelda (USA), Gay Missile (USA), Gay Style (USA), Habitat (USA), His Lordship (GB), Isabella Moretti (ITY), Knightly Dawn (USA), Lord Gayle (USA), Lord Gaylord (USA), Mariella (GB), Marracci (GB), Pelerin (FR), Scorpio (FR), Sir Ivor (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Antheus (USA), French Colonial (USA), Gay Mecene (USA), Laramie Trail (USA), Leading Counsel (USA), Milleverof (SAF), Open Call (USA), Spit Curl (USA), Taisez-Vous (USA), Track Barron (USA)
Connections
Sir Gaylord was bred in Virginia by Christopher Chenery at his Meadow Stud. He raced in the colors of Chenery's Meadow Stable. He was trained by Casey Hayes. He entered stud at in Kentucky at Claiborne Farm in 1963. He was exported to France under lease in 1972. He returned to Claiborne when the lease expired but was then sold to Haras du Quesnay and sent back to France, where he died of renal failure in 1981.
Pedigree notes
Sir Gaylord is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to Swansea, whose son Chairman Walker (by Buckpasser) became a Classic sire in Chile. He is a half brother to two-time American Horse of the Year Secretariat (by Bold Ruler); to 1966 Gulfstream Park Handicap winner First Family (by Turn-to's champion son First Landing); to Selima Stakes winner Syrian Sea (by Bold Ruler), dam of Grade 2 winner Alada (by Riva Ridge) and third dam of 1992 American champion 3-year-old filly Saratoga Dew; and to Grade 1-placed Somethingfabulous (by Northern Dancer), a useful regional sire in California. Another half sibling to Sir Gaylord, The Bride (by Bold Ruler), produced Argentine Group 2 winner At Ease (by Hoist the Flag) and is the second dam of 1990 John A. Morris Handicap (USA-G1) winner Personal Business and the third dam of three-time Japanese champion Nishino Flower.
Sir Gaylord's dam Somethingroyal (Princequillo x Imperatrice, by Caruso) is the 1973 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. She is a half sister to six stakes winners including 1948 Coaching Club American Oaks winner Scattered (by Whirlaway), dam of 1957 Alabama Stakes winner Here and There (by Middleground).
Books and media
Sir Gaylord 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.
Fun facts
Last updated: August 11, 2021
Race record
18 starts, 10 wins, 0 seconds, 4 thirds, US$237,404
1961:
- Won Sapling Stakes (USA, 6FD, Monmouth)
- Won Great American Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Tyro Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Monmouth)
- Won National Stallion Stakes (Males) (USA, 5.5FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Champagne Stakes (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Hopeful Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Futurity Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Cowdin Stakes (USA, 7FD, Belmont)
1962:
- Won Everglades Stakes (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
- Won Bahamas Stakes (USA, 7FD, Hialeah; equaled track record 1:22)
Assessments
Ranked 4th among American 2-year-old males of 1961 by The Blood-Horse.
Rated at 121 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1961, 5 pounds below co-champion and highweight Crimson Satan and 4 pounds below the other co-champion, Ridan.
Assigned the top weight of 127 pounds on The Blood-Horse's Free Handicap for American 3-year-olds of 1962, 1 pound above champion Jaipur, who shared second place with Ridan and Admiral's Voyage.
Rated at 127 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1962, 1 pound below champion Jaipur.
As an individual
A dark bay, Sir Gaylord stood 16.1 hands as a mature stallion. (While David Bay's profile of Sir Gaylord in Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World gives his height as 16.2-1/2 as a juvenile, Charles Hatton's profile of him in the 1962 American Racing Manual states that Dr. Manuel Gilman measured him at 15.3-1/2 hands in the fall of his juvenile season.) He was big-boned and strongly made but not coarse with exceptionally powerful hindquarters and a sloping croup similar to that of his granddam, Imperatrice. His head was masculine and clean-cut with a slightly convex profile. His legs were correct and his action was excellent, though he did not have a particularly long stride. His disposition was also good. His one limitation as a racehorse was that he did not handle off going well.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Sir Gaylord sired 284 winners (61.2%) and 60 stakes winners (12.9%) from 464 named foals. His progeny were generally good-sized and strong-bodied but not coarse, although they normally had good bone. Sir Gaylord often passed on the offset knees of his dam Somethingroyal, and a number of his progeny were tied in below the knee. He is an Intermediate/Classic chef-de-race in the Roman dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- 6th on the American broodmare sire list in 1981; 7th in 1978.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 4th on the American broodmare sire list in 1981; 7th in 1978.
- 2nd on the combined English/Irish general sire list in 1968.
- 6th on the French general sire list in 1979.
- 4th on the French broodmare sire list in 1986; 7th in 1985; 8th in 1984.
Notable progeny
Delmora (USA), Drone (USA), Gaily (USA), Gay Matelda (USA), Gay Missile (USA), Gay Style (USA), Habitat (USA), His Lordship (GB), Isabella Moretti (ITY), Knightly Dawn (USA), Lord Gayle (USA), Lord Gaylord (USA), Mariella (GB), Marracci (GB), Pelerin (FR), Scorpio (FR), Sir Ivor (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Antheus (USA), French Colonial (USA), Gay Mecene (USA), Laramie Trail (USA), Leading Counsel (USA), Milleverof (SAF), Open Call (USA), Spit Curl (USA), Taisez-Vous (USA), Track Barron (USA)
Connections
Sir Gaylord was bred in Virginia by Christopher Chenery at his Meadow Stud. He raced in the colors of Chenery's Meadow Stable. He was trained by Casey Hayes. He entered stud at in Kentucky at Claiborne Farm in 1963. He was exported to France under lease in 1972. He returned to Claiborne when the lease expired but was then sold to Haras du Quesnay and sent back to France, where he died of renal failure in 1981.
Pedigree notes
Sir Gaylord is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to Swansea, whose son Chairman Walker (by Buckpasser) became a Classic sire in Chile. He is a half brother to two-time American Horse of the Year Secretariat (by Bold Ruler); to 1966 Gulfstream Park Handicap winner First Family (by Turn-to's champion son First Landing); to Selima Stakes winner Syrian Sea (by Bold Ruler), dam of Grade 2 winner Alada (by Riva Ridge) and third dam of 1992 American champion 3-year-old filly Saratoga Dew; and to Grade 1-placed Somethingfabulous (by Northern Dancer), a useful regional sire in California. Another half sibling to Sir Gaylord, The Bride (by Bold Ruler), produced Argentine Group 2 winner At Ease (by Hoist the Flag) and is the second dam of 1990 John A. Morris Handicap (USA-G1) winner Personal Business and the third dam of three-time Japanese champion Nishino Flower.
Sir Gaylord's dam Somethingroyal (Princequillo x Imperatrice, by Caruso) is the 1973 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. She is a half sister to six stakes winners including 1948 Coaching Club American Oaks winner Scattered (by Whirlaway), dam of 1957 Alabama Stakes winner Here and There (by Middleground).
Books and media
Sir Gaylord 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.
Fun facts
- Sir Gaylord's one known foible was an antipathy for stable ponies. According to Daily Racing Form writer Charles Hatton, this was probably because the colt had been slightly injured by one as a yearling.
- Had Sir Gaylord broken down one day earlier, his champion stablemate Cicada would probably have run in the Kentucky Derby rather than the Kentucky Oaks (which she won). In retrospect, it is probably just as well that Chenery and Hayes chose not to interrupt the race-day routine she had already begun as later events showed that she did not stay more than 9 furlongs.
Last updated: August 11, 2021