Ballet (USA)
1871 – March 1902
Planet (USA) x Balloon (USA), by Yorkshire (GB)
American Family 1
1871 – March 1902
Planet (USA) x Balloon (USA), by Yorkshire (GB)
American Family 1
One of the great American matriarchs of the post-Civil War era, Ballet gained none of the racing laurels attached to her half sister The Banshee, who had the temerity to defeat males in the 1868 Travers Stakes. Ballet was the superior broodmare, however, and her family continued producing top runners and champions well into the 20th century.
Race record
2 starts, 0 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds
1871:
As an individual
A chestnut mare; no other information available.
As a producer
Ballet produced 16 named foals. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Ballet was bred by John M. Clay and raced in the colors of John Walsh. As a broodmare, she was owned by Clay's nephew George H. Clay, master of Balgowan Stud. She was euthanized due to the infirmities of old age in March 1902.
Pedigree notes
Ballet is inbred 5x4 to the important 19th-century Yorkshire stallion Tramp and 5x5x5 to 1815 Derby Stakes winner Whisker. She is a half sister to The Banshee (by Lexington), winner of the 1868 Travers Stakes, and to Buff-and-Blue (by War Dance), dam of 1893 Brooklyn Derby winner Rainbow (by Longfellow), 1895 Lawrence Realization winner Bright Phoebus (by Falsetto) and stakes winner Monita Hardy (by King Ban) and third dam of 1908 Toronto Cup winner Clell Turney and 1910 Latonia Derby winner Joe Morris.
Sired by the great four-mile heat racer Planet, Ballet and her siblings were produced from the Yorkshire mare Balloon, a daughter of the Herald mare Heraldry. The female line traces back to an unnamed daughter of Janus (a paternal grandson of the Godolphin Arabian who also had considerable influence on the early background of the American Quarter Horse) and cannot be linked to any of the Bruce Lowe female families.
Fun facts
Last updated: December 22, 2021
Race record
2 starts, 0 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds
1871:
- 2nd Young America Stakes No. 1 (USA, 8FD, Nashville)
As an individual
A chestnut mare; no other information available.
As a producer
Ballet produced 16 named foals. Her important foals are as follow:
- Vega (1876, by War Dance) produced Saratoga stakes winner The Lioness (by Billet) and is the second dam of five stakes winners including 1900 Carlton Stakes winner Standing.
- Blue Grass Belle (1880, by War Dance) is the second dam of eight stakes winners including 1897 Travers Stakes winner Rensselaer, 1899 Preakness Stakes winner Half Time, 1900 Carter Handicap winner Box, and 1907 September Stakes winner Blue Book. She is also the fourth dam of the great gelding Exterminator, the 1922 American Horse of the Year.
- Modesty (1881, by War Dance) won the 1884 Kentucky Oaks and American Derby and is generally considered the American co-champion 3-year-old filly of 1884. The dam of multiple stakes winner Toah (by Bassetlaw), she is the third dam of 1915 Kentucky Derby winner and American Horse of the Year Regret, 1915 Futurity Stakes winner Thunderer, 1916 Champagne Stakes winner Vivid, and the good Canadian stakes horse Barnegat.
- Peg Woffington (1885, by Longfellow) won the 1888 September Stakes. She is the dam of 1894 Clipsetta Stakes winner Kitty Clive (by Macduff), 1896 American Champion Stakes winner David Garrick (by Hanover) and 1905 Junior Champion Stakes winner Pegasus (by Hamburg). Peg Woffington is also the second dam of 1912 American Horse of the Year The Manager and 1903 Latonia Derby winner Woodlake and the third dam of 1923 California Derby winner Victoire.
- Maid of Balgowan (1889, by Hindoo) produced Prince of Melbourne (by Bramble), whose six stakes wins included the 1900 Lawrence Realization and the 1901 Brighton Cup.
- Elizabeth L. (1890, by Woodlands) produced the minor stakes winner Zuna (by Hamburg) and, through her, is the second dam of 1919 Saratoga Special winner Golden Broom and 1921 Prix Robert Papin winner Zenoia. Elizabeth L. is also the third dam of 1917 King's Plate winner Ladder of Light.
- Cathay (1894, by Onondaga) is the third dam of 1932 Cuban Derby winner Monk's First.
Connections
Ballet was bred by John M. Clay and raced in the colors of John Walsh. As a broodmare, she was owned by Clay's nephew George H. Clay, master of Balgowan Stud. She was euthanized due to the infirmities of old age in March 1902.
Pedigree notes
Ballet is inbred 5x4 to the important 19th-century Yorkshire stallion Tramp and 5x5x5 to 1815 Derby Stakes winner Whisker. She is a half sister to The Banshee (by Lexington), winner of the 1868 Travers Stakes, and to Buff-and-Blue (by War Dance), dam of 1893 Brooklyn Derby winner Rainbow (by Longfellow), 1895 Lawrence Realization winner Bright Phoebus (by Falsetto) and stakes winner Monita Hardy (by King Ban) and third dam of 1908 Toronto Cup winner Clell Turney and 1910 Latonia Derby winner Joe Morris.
Sired by the great four-mile heat racer Planet, Ballet and her siblings were produced from the Yorkshire mare Balloon, a daughter of the Herald mare Heraldry. The female line traces back to an unnamed daughter of Janus (a paternal grandson of the Godolphin Arabian who also had considerable influence on the early background of the American Quarter Horse) and cannot be linked to any of the Bruce Lowe female families.
Fun facts
- At the time of her death, Ballet was said to have been the last remaining foal of Planet.
Last updated: December 22, 2021