Turkoman (USA)
April 11, 1982 – December 21, 2016
Alydar (USA) x Taba (ARG), by Table Play (USA)
Family 1-s
April 11, 1982 – December 21, 2016
Alydar (USA) x Taba (ARG), by Table Play (USA)
Family 1-s
A classic one-run horse, Turkoman was slow to find his best form but was genuine and consistent. In common with most of Alydar's other top sons, he was not as good a stallion as he was a racehorse but nonetheless was a useful source of stamina. He is perhaps best remembered as the broodmare sire of 2001 American Horse of the Year Point Given.
Race record
22 starts, 8 wins, 8 seconds, 3 thirds, US$2,146,924
1985:
1986:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion older male (1986)
Assessments
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1985, 4 pounds below champion Spend a Buck.
Rated at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1986, 1 pound below highweighted Precisionist.
As an individual
A big, strongly made dark bay or brown horse, Turkoman stood 16.2 hands according to his stallion advertisements; photographer Barbara Livingston gives his height at 17 hands. He was well-balanced with a good shoulder, strong hindquarters and clean legs and was a good mover. He did not start until December of his juvenile year and did not reach his best form until age 4. He typically won his races with a strong stretch run. While no plodder, he lacked the agility and ability to shift gears quickly that marks the very best and was vulnerable to traffic problems and lack of an honest pace up front. He was a good-natured, friendly stallion and enjoyed human attention.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Turkoman sired 394 winners (55.7%) and 25 stakes winners (3.5%) from 707 named foals. The Blood-Horse credits Turkoman with 34 stakes winners (4.8%). His progeny generally improved with age and distance, and many showed a preference for turf racing.
Notable progeny
Captain Garfio (USA), Man From Wicklow (USA), Turk Passer (USA), Turko's Turn (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Colonel John (USA), Mr. Hot Stuff (USA), Point Given (USA), Wiskola (ARG)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Turkoman was bred and owned by Corbin Robertson, who raced the colt in the name of his Saron Stable. He was trained by Gary Jones. He entered stud in Kentucky in 1987 at Darby Dan Farm and remained there through 1998 before moving to Circle H Ranch in California. Turkoman moved to Mira Loma Thoroughbred Farm for the 2004 season and next moved to E. A. Ranches near Ramona, California, where he stood in 2005-2008. He was pensioned after losing enough condition in his hindquarters that he could no longer mount mares. Because some of his shareholders did not want to pay the expense of keeping the stallion as a pensioner at E. A. Ranches, he was moved to a less expensive facility but began losing condition and fretting away from familiar surroundings. After fans learned of his condition, several agreed to provide support for the old horse, who was moved back to E. A. Ranches and lived there as a pensioner until his humane destruction due to the infirmities of old age in December 2016. His remains were cremated and were buried alongside those of his dam at the Our Mims Retirement Haven in Kentucky.
Pedigree notes
Turkoman is inbred 4x4 to Nasrullah. He is a half brother to listed stakes winner Slow Fuse (by Fluorescent Light); to Now Go (by Exclusive Native), dam of listed stakes winner and multiple stakes producer Now Dance (by Sovereign Dancer); and to Thunder Maid (by Alydar), dam of multiple Japanese stakes winner Saga Novel (by Boundary) and third dam of multiple Japanese Group 3 winner Brightline.
Turkoman's dam Taba was the Argentine champion 2-year-old filly in 1975/76 and is a full sister to 1978 Argentine Quadruple Crown winner Telescópico (the 1978/1979 Argentine Horse of the Year) and 1974 Polla de Potrillos (Argentine Two Thousand Guineas, ARG-G1) winner Telefónico. She is also a full sister to Titania, dam of multiple Argentine Group 1 winner Cerbatana (by Cipayo), and to Telescópica, dam of multiple listed stakes winner Ms. Aerosmith (by Skywalker) and Japanese stakes winner Eishin Vincennes (by Relaunch) and second dam of 1998 Gran Premio Provincia de Buenos Aires (ARG-G1) Tifosi, Argentine Group 3 winner Miradita Toss and Grade 3 winner Illiquidity. In addition, Taba is a half sister to Peruvian stakes winner Flower Girl (by Lacydon).
Filipina (by 1957 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini winner Fomento), the dam of Taba, won two races from 11 starts in Argentina. She is out of Rosa Roja, a daughter of 1930 Eclipse Stakes winner Rustom Pasha and the Fox Cub mare Reseda.
Books and media
Turkoman is one of the retired Thoroughbreds profiled by Barbara Livingston in photographs and essays in her More Old Friends: Visits With My Favorite Thoroughbreds (2007, Blood-Horse Publications).
Fun facts
Last updated: October 16, 2021
Race record
22 starts, 8 wins, 8 seconds, 3 thirds, US$2,146,924
1985:
- Won Affirmed Handicap (USA-G3, 8FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Swaps Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Travers Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd California Derby (USA-G2, 9FD, Golden Gate)
- 2nd Gold Rush Stakes (USA-L, 8.5FD, Golden Gate)
- 3rd Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1, 10FD, Aqueduct)
1986:
- Won Widener Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Hialeah; new track record 1:58-3/5)
- Won Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
- Won Oaklawn Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Oaklawn)
- Won Tallahassee Handicap (USA, 6FD, Hialeah)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1, 10FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Forego Handicap (USA-G2, 7FD, Saratoga)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion older male (1986)
Assessments
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1985, 4 pounds below champion Spend a Buck.
Rated at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1986, 1 pound below highweighted Precisionist.
As an individual
A big, strongly made dark bay or brown horse, Turkoman stood 16.2 hands according to his stallion advertisements; photographer Barbara Livingston gives his height at 17 hands. He was well-balanced with a good shoulder, strong hindquarters and clean legs and was a good mover. He did not start until December of his juvenile year and did not reach his best form until age 4. He typically won his races with a strong stretch run. While no plodder, he lacked the agility and ability to shift gears quickly that marks the very best and was vulnerable to traffic problems and lack of an honest pace up front. He was a good-natured, friendly stallion and enjoyed human attention.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Turkoman sired 394 winners (55.7%) and 25 stakes winners (3.5%) from 707 named foals. The Blood-Horse credits Turkoman with 34 stakes winners (4.8%). His progeny generally improved with age and distance, and many showed a preference for turf racing.
Notable progeny
Captain Garfio (USA), Man From Wicklow (USA), Turk Passer (USA), Turko's Turn (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Colonel John (USA), Mr. Hot Stuff (USA), Point Given (USA), Wiskola (ARG)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Turkoman was bred and owned by Corbin Robertson, who raced the colt in the name of his Saron Stable. He was trained by Gary Jones. He entered stud in Kentucky in 1987 at Darby Dan Farm and remained there through 1998 before moving to Circle H Ranch in California. Turkoman moved to Mira Loma Thoroughbred Farm for the 2004 season and next moved to E. A. Ranches near Ramona, California, where he stood in 2005-2008. He was pensioned after losing enough condition in his hindquarters that he could no longer mount mares. Because some of his shareholders did not want to pay the expense of keeping the stallion as a pensioner at E. A. Ranches, he was moved to a less expensive facility but began losing condition and fretting away from familiar surroundings. After fans learned of his condition, several agreed to provide support for the old horse, who was moved back to E. A. Ranches and lived there as a pensioner until his humane destruction due to the infirmities of old age in December 2016. His remains were cremated and were buried alongside those of his dam at the Our Mims Retirement Haven in Kentucky.
Pedigree notes
Turkoman is inbred 4x4 to Nasrullah. He is a half brother to listed stakes winner Slow Fuse (by Fluorescent Light); to Now Go (by Exclusive Native), dam of listed stakes winner and multiple stakes producer Now Dance (by Sovereign Dancer); and to Thunder Maid (by Alydar), dam of multiple Japanese stakes winner Saga Novel (by Boundary) and third dam of multiple Japanese Group 3 winner Brightline.
Turkoman's dam Taba was the Argentine champion 2-year-old filly in 1975/76 and is a full sister to 1978 Argentine Quadruple Crown winner Telescópico (the 1978/1979 Argentine Horse of the Year) and 1974 Polla de Potrillos (Argentine Two Thousand Guineas, ARG-G1) winner Telefónico. She is also a full sister to Titania, dam of multiple Argentine Group 1 winner Cerbatana (by Cipayo), and to Telescópica, dam of multiple listed stakes winner Ms. Aerosmith (by Skywalker) and Japanese stakes winner Eishin Vincennes (by Relaunch) and second dam of 1998 Gran Premio Provincia de Buenos Aires (ARG-G1) Tifosi, Argentine Group 3 winner Miradita Toss and Grade 3 winner Illiquidity. In addition, Taba is a half sister to Peruvian stakes winner Flower Girl (by Lacydon).
Filipina (by 1957 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini winner Fomento), the dam of Taba, won two races from 11 starts in Argentina. She is out of Rosa Roja, a daughter of 1930 Eclipse Stakes winner Rustom Pasha and the Fox Cub mare Reseda.
Books and media
Turkoman is one of the retired Thoroughbreds profiled by Barbara Livingston in photographs and essays in her More Old Friends: Visits With My Favorite Thoroughbreds (2007, Blood-Horse Publications).
Fun facts
- The Turkoman or Turkmene horse is an extinct horse breed from the steppes of Central Asia. It is believed to have played a significant role in the development of the Thoroughbred.
- Jeanne Mirabito, founder of the Our Mims Retirement Haven for pensioned Thoroughbred mares, had been the caretaker of Turkoman's dam Taba during her final years. After learning of Turkoman's plight following his pensioning, she provided needed publicity and fundraising assistance to allow the old horse to be retired at his familiar home.
Last updated: October 16, 2021