Barn Swallow (USA)
1930 – 1948
Black Servant (USA) x Blue Warbler (USA), by North Star III (GB)
Family 3-j
1930 – 1948
Black Servant (USA) x Blue Warbler (USA), by North Star III (GB)
Family 3-j
The American foal crop of 1930 was not a vintage one for fillies, and Barn Swallow was generally acknowledged as the champion of her division at 3 based on only two major wins: the Kentucky Oaks and the Alabama Stakes. She had also been among the better members of her class as a juvenile, but her form tailed off after her 3-year-old season. She failed to make any significant mark as a producer.
Race record
43 starts, 10 wins, 9 seconds, 4 thirds, US$51,735
1932:
1933:
1934:
Honors
American champion 3-year-old filly (1933)
As an individual
A long-bodied brown mare of elegant make, Barn Swallow had an excellent shoulder but had her hocks out behind her.
As a producer
Barn Swallow produced eight named foals; all started and seven won. She was a disappointing producer with no stakes winners and only one stakes producer, Brine (by War Admiral) among her progeny. Brine's only foal of any significance was 1958 West Virginia Derby winner Sea Hymn (by Greek Song).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Barn Swallow was bred and owned by Colonel Edward Riley Bradley's Idle Hour Stock Farm. She was trained by Herbert “Derby Dick” Thompson. After Bradley's death in 1946, Barn Swallow became the property of Circle M. Farm. She died in 1948.
Pedigree notes
Barn Swallow is inbred 5x5 to 1875 Derby Stakes winner Galopin, a three-time champion sire in England. She is a half sister to 1934 American champion 2-year-old male Balladier (by Black Servant's sire Black Toney).
Barn Swallow's dam Blue Warbler won the 1924 Spinaway Stakes and Matron Stakes and is a half sister to stakes winner Buckeye Poet (by Black Toney). Blue Warbler, in turn, was produced from the English import May Bird (by the speedy runner but bad sire Thrush), who was unplaced in her only start in England and failed to win in nine starts after her importation to the United States. May Bird's dam May Bruce (by May Duke) won only at the selling handicap level but produced a better runner in Wolfe Land (by St. Frusquin), winner of the Duke of York Stakes.
Books and media
Barn Swallow is profiled in Chapter 6 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: November 12, 2022
Race record
43 starts, 10 wins, 9 seconds, 4 thirds, US$51,735
1932:
- Won Tomboy Stakes (USA, Belmont)
- Won Matron Stakes (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Spinaway Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
1933:
- Won Kentucky Oaks (USA, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Alabama Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Coaching Club American Oaks (USA, 11FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Potomac Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Havre de Grace)
- 2nd Test Stakes (USA, 7FD, Saratoga)
1934:
- 2nd Clark Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
Honors
American champion 3-year-old filly (1933)
As an individual
A long-bodied brown mare of elegant make, Barn Swallow had an excellent shoulder but had her hocks out behind her.
As a producer
Barn Swallow produced eight named foals; all started and seven won. She was a disappointing producer with no stakes winners and only one stakes producer, Brine (by War Admiral) among her progeny. Brine's only foal of any significance was 1958 West Virginia Derby winner Sea Hymn (by Greek Song).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Barn Swallow was bred and owned by Colonel Edward Riley Bradley's Idle Hour Stock Farm. She was trained by Herbert “Derby Dick” Thompson. After Bradley's death in 1946, Barn Swallow became the property of Circle M. Farm. She died in 1948.
Pedigree notes
Barn Swallow is inbred 5x5 to 1875 Derby Stakes winner Galopin, a three-time champion sire in England. She is a half sister to 1934 American champion 2-year-old male Balladier (by Black Servant's sire Black Toney).
Barn Swallow's dam Blue Warbler won the 1924 Spinaway Stakes and Matron Stakes and is a half sister to stakes winner Buckeye Poet (by Black Toney). Blue Warbler, in turn, was produced from the English import May Bird (by the speedy runner but bad sire Thrush), who was unplaced in her only start in England and failed to win in nine starts after her importation to the United States. May Bird's dam May Bruce (by May Duke) won only at the selling handicap level but produced a better runner in Wolfe Land (by St. Frusquin), winner of the Duke of York Stakes.
Books and media
Barn Swallow is profiled in Chapter 6 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- In ornithology, the barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) is the most common and widespread member of the swallow family. An agile, graceful flier, it commonly nests in barns and other man-made structures and benefits people by eating flies and other harmful insects.
- Although Colonel Bradley won the Kentucky Derby four times, Barn Swallow was his only Kentucky Oaks winner. Her win made him the first owner to win the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks in the same year, as he had won the 1933 Kentucky Derby with Brokers Tip.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: November 12, 2022