Vanlandingham (USA)
April 28, 1981 – 1997?
Cox’s Ridge (USA) x Populi (USA), by Star Envoy (USA)
Family 4-f
April 28, 1981 – 1997?
Cox’s Ridge (USA) x Populi (USA), by Star Envoy (USA)
Family 4-f
Initially seen as a promising candidate for the American Triple Crown races following two track record performances at Oaklawn Park, Vanlandingham instead spent 13 months on the sidelines after fracturing his right fore pastern while running unplaced in the 1984 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1). He came back at 4 to win Grade 1 races on both dirt and turf, earning a title as American champion older male, but was forced out of racing for good by injury after a promising start to his 5-year-old season. He was a much better racehorse than sire.
Race record
19 starts, 10 wins, 3 seconds, 3 thirds, US$1,409,476
1984:
1985:
1986:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 113 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1984, 16 pounds below champion Swale.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American older males of 1985, 2 pounds below highweighted Precisionist (the American champion sprinter of that year) but tied with Gate Dancer, Lord At War, and Track Barron for second.
Rated at 120 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf males of 1986, 4 pounds below co-highweights Manila (the official divisional champion; a 3-year-old) and Dahar.
As an individual
A bay horse standing 16.2 hands, Vanlandingham had natural speed and generally preferred to control his races from the front end, using his high cruising speed to gallop his rivals into the ground; he did not perform as well when hooked early or asked to sit behind other horses, leading trainer Shug McGaughey to suspect that he lacked heart for situations where he could not have things his own way. He was a good mover but had thin-walled, tender feet that required careful management; nonetheless, he handled fast dirt, slop, and turf with equal success so long as the surface was not too hard. He was forced into retirement as a 5-year-old after injuring his left front pastern during the running of the 1986 Razorback Handicap.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Vanlandingham sired 151 winners and three stakes winners from 332 named foals. His best runner in North America was probably Totemic, winner of the 1992 Honeybee Stakes (USA-G3).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky at Darby Dan Farm, Vanlandingham was bred and owned by John Anthony’s Loblolly Stable. He was trained by Claude “Shug” McGaughey. He was retired to stud in Kentucky at Claiborne Farm in 1987 but was moved to Oklahoma following the 1992 breeding season. He was exported to Saudi Arabia in 1996 and sired at least one crop there.
Pedigree notes
Vanlandingham’s pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to Grade 1-placed listed stakes winner Jenkins Ferry (by True Colors), and to multiple stakes winner Popular Tune (by Stop the Music), dam of Grade 3 winner Top Hit (by Twining) and multiple restricted stakes winner Crafty Star (by Crafty Prospector) and third dam of multiple Grade/Group 2 winner Second Summer. Vanlandingham is also a half brother to Fun Crowd (by Easy Goer), dam of 2009 Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1) winner Funny Moon (by Malibu Moon) and multiple stakes winner Throng (by Silver Deputy). In addition, Vanlandingham is a half brother to Kamkova (by Northern Dancer), dam of multiple Grade/Group 2 winner Kirkwall (by Selkirk) and second dam of 2009 Moyglare Stud Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Termagant. Finally, Vanladingham is a half brother to Musicanti (by Nijinsky II), dam of 1999 Dewhurst Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Distant Music (by Distant View); second dam of 2008 Sprint Cup Stakes (ENG-G1) winner African Rose, French Group 2 winner Canticum, and French Group 3 winner Helleborine; and third dam of 2021 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Native Trail, English Group 2 winner Calyx, and English Group 3 winner Fair Eva.
Vanlandingham and his siblings were produced from Populi (by 1972 Bougainvillea Handicap and Manhattan Handicap winner Star Envoy). A winner on the track, Populi is a half sister to 1980 American champion 3-year-old male Temperence Hill (by Stop the Music) and to Canadian stakes winner Across the Channel (by Jean-Pierre). Populi is also a half sister to Andover College (by Affiliate), dam of stakes winners Saxon Cottage (by Our Native) and Well Aware (by Inverness Drive).
Populi is out of the winner Sister Shannon, a daughter of the stakes-placed Owen Tudor horse Etonian and a full sister to juvenile stakes winner Shannon Run. Also a half sister to 1967 Hutcheson Stakes winner Glengary (by Dead Ahead) and juvenile stakes winner Patsy's Girl (by Crimson Satan), Sister Shannon was produced from the Princely Gift mare Idaliza, a daughter of the Fair Copy mare Pearl Fishing. The female line traces back to Althea (by Hurry On; a three-quarters sister to 1926 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes winner Coronach), who also had important descendants in France and Italy.
Fun facts
Last updated: May 30, 2023
Race record
19 starts, 10 wins, 3 seconds, 3 thirds, US$1,409,476
1984:
- Won Rebel Stakes (USA-L, 8.5FD, Oaklawn Park; new track record 1:41)
- Also equaled the Oaklawn Park track record of 1:35-1/5 for a mile on dirt
1985:
- Won Suburban Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
- Won Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (USA-G1, 12FT, Belmont)
- Won Washington, D. C., International Stakes (USA-G1, 12FT, Laurel)
- Won Stephen Foster Handicap (USA-L, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Woodward Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Hollywood Turf Cup Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 12FT, Hollywood)
- 3rd Whitney Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
1986:
- Won Canadian Turf Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FT, Gulfstream Park; equaled course record 1:41)
- 2nd Razorback Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Oaklawn Park)
Honors
- Eclipse Award, American champion older male (1985)
- Eclipse Award finalist, American Horse of the Year (1985)
Assessments
Rated at 113 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1984, 16 pounds below champion Swale.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American older males of 1985, 2 pounds below highweighted Precisionist (the American champion sprinter of that year) but tied with Gate Dancer, Lord At War, and Track Barron for second.
Rated at 120 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf males of 1986, 4 pounds below co-highweights Manila (the official divisional champion; a 3-year-old) and Dahar.
As an individual
A bay horse standing 16.2 hands, Vanlandingham had natural speed and generally preferred to control his races from the front end, using his high cruising speed to gallop his rivals into the ground; he did not perform as well when hooked early or asked to sit behind other horses, leading trainer Shug McGaughey to suspect that he lacked heart for situations where he could not have things his own way. He was a good mover but had thin-walled, tender feet that required careful management; nonetheless, he handled fast dirt, slop, and turf with equal success so long as the surface was not too hard. He was forced into retirement as a 5-year-old after injuring his left front pastern during the running of the 1986 Razorback Handicap.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Vanlandingham sired 151 winners and three stakes winners from 332 named foals. His best runner in North America was probably Totemic, winner of the 1992 Honeybee Stakes (USA-G3).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky at Darby Dan Farm, Vanlandingham was bred and owned by John Anthony’s Loblolly Stable. He was trained by Claude “Shug” McGaughey. He was retired to stud in Kentucky at Claiborne Farm in 1987 but was moved to Oklahoma following the 1992 breeding season. He was exported to Saudi Arabia in 1996 and sired at least one crop there.
Pedigree notes
Vanlandingham’s pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to Grade 1-placed listed stakes winner Jenkins Ferry (by True Colors), and to multiple stakes winner Popular Tune (by Stop the Music), dam of Grade 3 winner Top Hit (by Twining) and multiple restricted stakes winner Crafty Star (by Crafty Prospector) and third dam of multiple Grade/Group 2 winner Second Summer. Vanlandingham is also a half brother to Fun Crowd (by Easy Goer), dam of 2009 Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1) winner Funny Moon (by Malibu Moon) and multiple stakes winner Throng (by Silver Deputy). In addition, Vanlandingham is a half brother to Kamkova (by Northern Dancer), dam of multiple Grade/Group 2 winner Kirkwall (by Selkirk) and second dam of 2009 Moyglare Stud Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Termagant. Finally, Vanladingham is a half brother to Musicanti (by Nijinsky II), dam of 1999 Dewhurst Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Distant Music (by Distant View); second dam of 2008 Sprint Cup Stakes (ENG-G1) winner African Rose, French Group 2 winner Canticum, and French Group 3 winner Helleborine; and third dam of 2021 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Native Trail, English Group 2 winner Calyx, and English Group 3 winner Fair Eva.
Vanlandingham and his siblings were produced from Populi (by 1972 Bougainvillea Handicap and Manhattan Handicap winner Star Envoy). A winner on the track, Populi is a half sister to 1980 American champion 3-year-old male Temperence Hill (by Stop the Music) and to Canadian stakes winner Across the Channel (by Jean-Pierre). Populi is also a half sister to Andover College (by Affiliate), dam of stakes winners Saxon Cottage (by Our Native) and Well Aware (by Inverness Drive).
Populi is out of the winner Sister Shannon, a daughter of the stakes-placed Owen Tudor horse Etonian and a full sister to juvenile stakes winner Shannon Run. Also a half sister to 1967 Hutcheson Stakes winner Glengary (by Dead Ahead) and juvenile stakes winner Patsy's Girl (by Crimson Satan), Sister Shannon was produced from the Princely Gift mare Idaliza, a daughter of the Fair Copy mare Pearl Fishing. The female line traces back to Althea (by Hurry On; a three-quarters sister to 1926 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes winner Coronach), who also had important descendants in France and Italy.
Fun facts
- Vanlandingham was named for Charles Vanlandingham, an acquaintance of John Anthony’s who was the lone person residing atop Cox’s Ridge, a landmark in the Ouachita Valley where Anthony had lumbering interests.
- Probably because of the sensitivity of his feet, Vanlandingham was afraid of farriers and would get upset at the mere sight of a farrier’s apron and equipment box.
- Jockey Pat Day thought Vanlandingham was such a sure thing for the 1984 Arkansas Derby (USA-G1) that he brought a bottle of champagne to Shug McGaughey the night before, telling him that it was for the post-race victory celebration. Instead of celebrating, McGaughey spent the next evening nursing the colt, who had been forced to miss the race because he had spiked a fever. After that, McGaughey eschewed champagne where Vanlandingham was concerned, feeling it might be a jinx.
- John Anthony had to pay a US$360,000 supplementary fee to enter Vanlandingham in the 1985 Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1) because he had forgotten to include the colt on a list of homebreds he was nominating back when Vanlandingham was an unnamed youngster. It proved an expensive mistake as the colt ran seventh behind Proud Truth and failed to recoup any of the supplementary fee.
- Vanlandingham was the namesake for a stakes race for older males at Belmont Park.
Last updated: May 30, 2023