Alcibiades (USA)
1927 – 1957
Supremus (USA) x Regal Roman (GB), by Roi Herode (FR)
Family 8-g
"GENETIC GEM"
1927 – 1957
Supremus (USA) x Regal Roman (GB), by Roi Herode (FR)
Family 8-g
"GENETIC GEM"
The best of a rather ordinary crop of fillies, Alcibiades was a two-time champion on the track but was substantially better as a broodmare. The dam of a champion runner and sire in Menow, who continued a male line that culminated in the great Buckpasser, Alcibiades also had substantial influence through her daughters.
Race record
23 starts, 7 wins, 2 seconds, 4 thirds, US$47,860
1929:
1930:
Honors
As an individual
A chestnut mare, Alcibiades was deep-bodied and lengthy with an excellent shoulder. She suffered a tendon injury while racing on the lead in the 1930 Latonia Championship, her final start.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Alcibiades produced eight named foals, of which seven started and won. Her important foals were as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Alcibiades was bred and owned by Hal Price Headley. She was trained by Walter W. Taylor. She was pensioned from broodmare duty after producing her last foal in 1950.
Pedigree notes
Alcibiades is inbred 4x4 to English Triple Crown winner Isinglass; 5x5x5 to Isinglass' sire Isonomy, a two-time Ascot Gold Cup winner; and 5x5 to the great St. Simon. An interesting feature of her pedigree is the presence of the closely related John o' Gaunt (broodmare sire of Supremus) and Ste. Claire II (second dam of Regal Roman) in the third generation; both of these horses were sired by Isinglass out of mares by St. Simon.
Alcibiades is a full sister to Regal Lady, dam of 1937 Alabama Stakes winner Regal Lily and 1939 Diana Handicap winner War Regalia to covers by Man o' War. Regal Lily, in turn, is the second dam of 1952 Alabama Stakes winner Lily White and the good handicapper Talent Show, while War Regalia produced multiple stakes winners Sagittarius (by Teddy's Comet) and Masud (by Mahmoud). War Regalia is also the second dam of multiple stakes winners Ornamento, Battle Dance, and Subahdar and is the third dam of 1985 Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1) winner Proud Truth.
Alcibiades' dam Regal Roman never raced and was imported to the United States after having been sold at the 1923 Newmarket December Sales for 560 guineas. She was produced from Lady Cicero, also unraced but a daughter of 1905 Derby Stakes winner Cicero. The next dam in the tail-female lineage, the Isinglass mare Ste. Claire II, was a minor stakes winner and was one of an excellent brood produced by 1901 Yorkshire Oaks winner Santa Brigida, who proved a notable foundation mare for the stud of the sixteenth and seventeenth Earls of Derby.
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: January 7, 2024
Race record
23 starts, 7 wins, 2 seconds, 4 thirds, US$47,860
1929:
- Won Clipsetta Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Latonia)
- Won Debutante Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (USA, 8FD, Churchill Downs)
1930:
- Won Arlington Oaks (USA, 9FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Kentucky Oaks (USA, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- 3rd Hawthorne Gold Cup (USA, 10FD, Hawthorne)
- 3rd Illinois Oaks (USA, 9FD, Washington Park)
- 3rd Arlington Matron Handicap (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- 3rd Latonia Oaks (USA, 10FD, Latonia)
Honors
- American champion 2-year-old filly (1929)
- American co-champion 3-year-old filly (1930)
As an individual
A chestnut mare, Alcibiades was deep-bodied and lengthy with an excellent shoulder. She suffered a tendon injury while racing on the lead in the 1930 Latonia Championship, her final start.
As a producer
Designated as a Reine-de-Course by pedigree analyst Ellen Parker, Alcibiades produced eight named foals, of which seven started and won. Her important foals were as follow:
- Sparta (1933, by St. Germans) won the 1936 Latonia Oaks and three other stakes races. She is the second dam of 1955 Colonial Handicap winner Royal Fan and 1960 Philadelphia Turf Handicap winner Navy Brass and is the third dam of three stakes winners, the best of which was 1961 Select Handicap winner Hasty Honey.
- Menow (1935, by Pharamond II) was the acknowledged American champion 2-year-old male of 1937. He sired 32 stakes winners from 291 named foals and was the American champion juvenile sire of 1951, when his great son Tom Fool (American Horse of the Year as a 4-year-old) was American champion 2-year-old male.
- Salaminia (1937, by Man o' War) was of near-championship class in 1940, winning the Alabama Stakes from her own division, the Ladies' Handicap from older females and the eventual American 3-year-old champion filly Fairy Chant, and the Gallant Fox Handicap from older males. She produced 1946 Ladies' Handicap winner Athenia (by Pharamond II), dam of 1954 Washington Park Futurity winner Georgian (by Revoked) and second dam of 1968 English Horse of the Year Sir Ivor and 1966 Matron Stakes winner Swiss Cheese. Salaminia also produced stakes winner Libba (by Sir Damion), dam of multiple stakes winner Assemblyman (by Menow); stakes-placed White Cross (by Revoked), dam of 1962 Alabama Stakes winner Firm Policy (by Princequillo); Salamanca (by Revoked), dam of stakes winner Turn to Sal (by Turn-to) and second dam of four stakes winners; and Salvia (by Mr. Trouble), dam of 1971 Suwannee River Handicap winner Delta Sal (by Delta Judge) and multiple stakes winner Hafa Adai (by Hawaii) and second dam of three stakes winners including multiple Grade 2 winner Raise a Man.
- Hipparete (1944, by Pharamond II) produced 1957 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes winner Pillow Talk (by Mr. Trouble), 1960 Spinster Stakes and Delaware Oaks winner Rash Statement (by Ambiorix) and multiple stakes winner Out Talk (by Ambiorix). Her stakes-placed granddaughter Ave Valeque (Bold Ruler—Pillow Talk) is the dam of Ciao (by Silent Screen), a stakes winner and multiple graded/Group stakes producer. Hipparete is also the third dam of 1975 Canadian champion 2-year-old filly Seraphic and Grade 3 winner Revivalist.
- Lithe (1946, by Pharamond II) won six stakes races including two editions of the Arlington Matron Handicap. She produced 1955 Princess Pat stakes winner Supple (by Mr. Trouble) and is the second dam of four stakes winners including multiple Grade 2 winner Gentle King.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Alcibiades was bred and owned by Hal Price Headley. She was trained by Walter W. Taylor. She was pensioned from broodmare duty after producing her last foal in 1950.
Pedigree notes
Alcibiades is inbred 4x4 to English Triple Crown winner Isinglass; 5x5x5 to Isinglass' sire Isonomy, a two-time Ascot Gold Cup winner; and 5x5 to the great St. Simon. An interesting feature of her pedigree is the presence of the closely related John o' Gaunt (broodmare sire of Supremus) and Ste. Claire II (second dam of Regal Roman) in the third generation; both of these horses were sired by Isinglass out of mares by St. Simon.
Alcibiades is a full sister to Regal Lady, dam of 1937 Alabama Stakes winner Regal Lily and 1939 Diana Handicap winner War Regalia to covers by Man o' War. Regal Lily, in turn, is the second dam of 1952 Alabama Stakes winner Lily White and the good handicapper Talent Show, while War Regalia produced multiple stakes winners Sagittarius (by Teddy's Comet) and Masud (by Mahmoud). War Regalia is also the second dam of multiple stakes winners Ornamento, Battle Dance, and Subahdar and is the third dam of 1985 Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1) winner Proud Truth.
Alcibiades' dam Regal Roman never raced and was imported to the United States after having been sold at the 1923 Newmarket December Sales for 560 guineas. She was produced from Lady Cicero, also unraced but a daughter of 1905 Derby Stakes winner Cicero. The next dam in the tail-female lineage, the Isinglass mare Ste. Claire II, was a minor stakes winner and was one of an excellent brood produced by 1901 Yorkshire Oaks winner Santa Brigida, who proved a notable foundation mare for the stud of the sixteenth and seventeenth Earls of Derby.
Books and media
- Alcibiades is one of 24 mares profiled in Edward Bowen's Matriarchs: Great Mares of the 20th Century (1999, 2000, The Blood-Horse, Inc.).
- Alcibiades is profiled in Chapter 6 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- In history, Alcibiades was a prominent Athenian statesman, general and orator during the Peloponnesian War (431-404 B.C.). At various times during his political career, he served his native Athens, Athens' rival Sparta and the Persian Empire. The filly Alcibiades received the name in honor of Hal Price Headley's daughter Alice (later Alice Chandler), whose nickname “Alcie” had become “Alcibiades” in the mouth of one of the Headley household's staff.
- One of the few fillies to run in both the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks (which were two weeks apart in 1930), Alcibiades ran 10th behind Gallant Fox in the colts' classic after leading for the first half mile.
- The Alcibiades Stakes was inaugurated at Keeneland in 1952. It is currently a Grade 1 race for 2-year-old fillies at 8.5 furlongs on the main track.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: January 7, 2024