Timber Country (USA)
April 12, 1992 – February 2016
Woodman (USA) x Fall Aspen (USA), by Pretense (USA)
Family 4-m
April 12, 1992 – February 2016
Woodman (USA) x Fall Aspen (USA), by Pretense (USA)
Family 4-m
A big, strapping colt with a regal pedigree, Timber Country looked the part of a Classic horse and delivered on that impression with a Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) victory. Despite that success, his 3-year-old season was something of a disappointment as more had been expected of him. He was a much better racehorse than stallion, though he did get a few top horses.
Race record
12 starts, 5 wins, 1 second, 4 thirds, US$1,560,400
1994:
1995:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old male (1994)
As an individual
A handsome chestnut horse standing 17 hands, Timber Country was big and strong with a straight hind leg and a long stride but was rather lazy on the track and required vigorous riding. He typically won his races with a strong stretch drive. He had a good disposition. Following his Preakness win, he spiked a temperature that caused him to miss the Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) and suffered a career-ending tendon injury after returning to training.
As a stallion
Timber Country sired 784 winners (54.9%) and 18 stakes winners (1.3%) from 1427 named foals of racing age according to records kept by The Jockey Club.
Notable progeny
Admire Don (JPN), Balletto (UAE), Eremein (AUS)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Timber Country was bred by Lowquest Ltd. He was owned by Overbook Farm, Gainesway Farm and Bob and Beverly Lewis, who formed a partnership to race the colt after trainer D. Wayne Lukas purchased the colt for US$500,000 from the 1993 Keeneland July Sale. Timber Country did not race again after his Preakness victory and was sold to Teruya and Katsumi Yoshida for US$12 million. Timber Country entered stud in 1996 at Japan's Shadai Farm and shuttled to Australia for the 2000 Southern Hemisphere season. He also stood the 2001 Northern Hemisphere season in Dubai under lease to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. After his return to Japan, Timber Country stood at Lex Stallion Station until his death in February 2016.
Pedigree notes
Timber County is inbred 4x3 to Swaps, 5x4 to War Admiral and 5x5 to Case Ace. He is one of nine stakes winners produced by the remarkable matron Fall Aspen, the 1994 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. Among those stakes winners are Northern Aspen (by Northern Dancer), winner of the 1987 Gamely Handicap (USA-G1); 1993 July Cup (ENG-G1) winner Hamas (by Danzig); and 1993 Grand Prix de Paris (FR-G1) winner and South African champion sire Fort Wood (by Sadler's Wells). Timber Country is also a half brother to French Group 2 winner Colorado Dancer (by Shareef Dancer), dam of 2000 UAE Horse of the Year Dubai Millennium (by Seeking the Gold); to French Group 2 winner Elle Seule (by Exclusive Native), dam of Irish One Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) winner Mehthaaf (by Nureyev) and 1998 Darley July Cup (ENG-G1) winner Elnadim (by Danzig) and second dam of multiple French Group 1 winner Occupandiste (by Kaldoun); to Dance of Leaves (by Sadler's Wells), dam of 1996 Racing Post Trophy (ENG-G1) winner Medaaly (by Highest Honor) and English highweight Charnwood Forest (by Warning); and to Sheroog (by Shareef Dancer), second dam of multiple South African Group 1 winner Europa Point.
Herself the winner of the 1978 Matron Stakes (USA-G1), Fall Aspen is a half sister to the top Maryland sire Allen's Prospect (by Mr. Prospector) and to stakes-placed Paintbrush (by Bold Hour), second dam of Grade 2 winner She's Tops. Fall Aspen is also a half sister to Brackish (by Alleged), dam of stakes winners Valses Pour Moi (by Gate Dancer), Merzouk (by Theatrical) and Pacific West (by Gone West), and to River Crossing (by Affirmed), second dam of 2009 Thousand Guineas Stakes (AUS-G1) winner Irish Lights, Grade 2 winner Shadowbdancing and New Zealand Group 2 winner Italia. In addition, Fall Aspen is a half sister to Sweet Cielo (by Conquistador Cielo), dam of multiple Japanese stakes winner Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi (by Symboli Rudolf), and to Existentialist (by Relaunch), dam of listed stakes winner Youbetterbelieve it (by Kris S.).
Change Water (by Swaps), the dam of Fall Aspen and her siblings, is a winning half sister to stakes winners Rainy Lake (by Royal Charger), Pack Trip (by My Babu), Black Mountain (by Tudor Minstrel) and Wyoming Wildcat (by Gallant Man). Produced from the War Admiral mare Carillon, she is also a half sister to Blue Canoe (by Jet Pilot), dam of 1967 Adirondack Stakes winner Wildwook (by Sir Gaylord) and stakes winner Blue Tepee (by Sir Ivor) and the second dam of Grade 2 winner and successful Argentine sire Laramie Trail (by Swaps) and the important broodmare Ride the Trails (by Prince John).
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: November 22, 2023
Race record
12 starts, 5 wins, 1 second, 4 thirds, US$1,560,400
1994:
- Won Breeders' Cup Juvenile (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- Won Moet Champagne Stakes (USA-G1, Belmont)
- Won Balboa Stakes (USA-G3, 6.5FD, Del Mar)
- 3rd Del Mar Futurity (USA-G2, 7FD, Del Mar)
1995:
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd San Felipe Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Kentucky Derby (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- 3rd San Rafael Stakes (USA-G2, 8FD, Santa Anita)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old male (1994)
As an individual
A handsome chestnut horse standing 17 hands, Timber Country was big and strong with a straight hind leg and a long stride but was rather lazy on the track and required vigorous riding. He typically won his races with a strong stretch drive. He had a good disposition. Following his Preakness win, he spiked a temperature that caused him to miss the Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) and suffered a career-ending tendon injury after returning to training.
As a stallion
Timber Country sired 784 winners (54.9%) and 18 stakes winners (1.3%) from 1427 named foals of racing age according to records kept by The Jockey Club.
Notable progeny
Admire Don (JPN), Balletto (UAE), Eremein (AUS)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Timber Country was bred by Lowquest Ltd. He was owned by Overbook Farm, Gainesway Farm and Bob and Beverly Lewis, who formed a partnership to race the colt after trainer D. Wayne Lukas purchased the colt for US$500,000 from the 1993 Keeneland July Sale. Timber Country did not race again after his Preakness victory and was sold to Teruya and Katsumi Yoshida for US$12 million. Timber Country entered stud in 1996 at Japan's Shadai Farm and shuttled to Australia for the 2000 Southern Hemisphere season. He also stood the 2001 Northern Hemisphere season in Dubai under lease to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. After his return to Japan, Timber Country stood at Lex Stallion Station until his death in February 2016.
Pedigree notes
Timber County is inbred 4x3 to Swaps, 5x4 to War Admiral and 5x5 to Case Ace. He is one of nine stakes winners produced by the remarkable matron Fall Aspen, the 1994 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. Among those stakes winners are Northern Aspen (by Northern Dancer), winner of the 1987 Gamely Handicap (USA-G1); 1993 July Cup (ENG-G1) winner Hamas (by Danzig); and 1993 Grand Prix de Paris (FR-G1) winner and South African champion sire Fort Wood (by Sadler's Wells). Timber Country is also a half brother to French Group 2 winner Colorado Dancer (by Shareef Dancer), dam of 2000 UAE Horse of the Year Dubai Millennium (by Seeking the Gold); to French Group 2 winner Elle Seule (by Exclusive Native), dam of Irish One Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) winner Mehthaaf (by Nureyev) and 1998 Darley July Cup (ENG-G1) winner Elnadim (by Danzig) and second dam of multiple French Group 1 winner Occupandiste (by Kaldoun); to Dance of Leaves (by Sadler's Wells), dam of 1996 Racing Post Trophy (ENG-G1) winner Medaaly (by Highest Honor) and English highweight Charnwood Forest (by Warning); and to Sheroog (by Shareef Dancer), second dam of multiple South African Group 1 winner Europa Point.
Herself the winner of the 1978 Matron Stakes (USA-G1), Fall Aspen is a half sister to the top Maryland sire Allen's Prospect (by Mr. Prospector) and to stakes-placed Paintbrush (by Bold Hour), second dam of Grade 2 winner She's Tops. Fall Aspen is also a half sister to Brackish (by Alleged), dam of stakes winners Valses Pour Moi (by Gate Dancer), Merzouk (by Theatrical) and Pacific West (by Gone West), and to River Crossing (by Affirmed), second dam of 2009 Thousand Guineas Stakes (AUS-G1) winner Irish Lights, Grade 2 winner Shadowbdancing and New Zealand Group 2 winner Italia. In addition, Fall Aspen is a half sister to Sweet Cielo (by Conquistador Cielo), dam of multiple Japanese stakes winner Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi (by Symboli Rudolf), and to Existentialist (by Relaunch), dam of listed stakes winner Youbetterbelieve it (by Kris S.).
Change Water (by Swaps), the dam of Fall Aspen and her siblings, is a winning half sister to stakes winners Rainy Lake (by Royal Charger), Pack Trip (by My Babu), Black Mountain (by Tudor Minstrel) and Wyoming Wildcat (by Gallant Man). Produced from the War Admiral mare Carillon, she is also a half sister to Blue Canoe (by Jet Pilot), dam of 1967 Adirondack Stakes winner Wildwook (by Sir Gaylord) and stakes winner Blue Tepee (by Sir Ivor) and the second dam of Grade 2 winner and successful Argentine sire Laramie Trail (by Swaps) and the important broodmare Ride the Trails (by Prince John).
Books and media
- Footage of Timber Country’s win in the 1994 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile can be accessed within Vance Hanson’s article “Juvenile Champ, Preakness Winner Timber Country Dead at 24”, published February 24, 2016 at Twinspires.com (https://www.twinspires.com/edge/racing/juvenile-champ-preakness-winner-timber-country-dead-at-24/).
- Timber Country is profiled in Chapter 12 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Between them, Timber Country and his stablemate Thunder Gulch (who won the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes) made D. Wayne Lukas the first trainer to sweep the American Triple Crown series in a single year with two different horses.
Last updated: November 22, 2023