Black Tarquin (USA)
1945 – 1965
Rhodes Scholar (GB) x Vagrancy (USA), by Sir Gallahad III (USA)
Family 13-c
1945 – 1965
Rhodes Scholar (GB) x Vagrancy (USA), by Sir Gallahad III (USA)
Family 13-c
William Woodward, Sr., the master of Belair Stud, raced a number of his horses in Europe and was an outspoken critic of the Jersey Act, the 1913 ruling of England's Jockey Club that limited registration in the General Stud Book to animals tracing without flaw to horses already so registered. This enactment made “half-breds” of the vast majority of American Thoroughbreds due to the ubiquitous presence of Lexington, a 16-time leading sire but a horse whose bloodlines contained animals of uncertain ancestry on both sides of his pedigree. Ironically, English bloodlines had benefited substantially from the inclusion of American horses imported and registered prior to 1913, and Woodward had the satisfaction of seeing his Black Tarquin (whose pedigree was “tainted” by the presence of the immortal Man o' War and the great matriarch Frizette, both accounted as “half-breds” under the Jersey Act) win the classic St. Leger Stakes. Black Tarquin, in fact, was generally accounted the best English-raced 3-year-old of 1948, and his successes helped put the final nail in the coffin of the Jersey Act. His stud career was far less memorable.
Race record
15 starts, 8 wins, 4 seconds, 0 thirds
1947:
1948:
1949:
Honors
English champion 3-year-old male (1948)
Assessments
Weighted at 131 pounds on the Free Handicap for English-raced juveniles of 1947, 2 pounds below My Babu.
Earned a Timeform rating of 134 pounds as a 3-year old of 1948.
Earned a Timeform rating of 136 pounds as a 4-year-old of 1949.
In their book A Century of Champions (1999, Portway Press Ltd), British experts John Randall and Tony Morris rated Black Tarquin as a “superior” winner of the St. Leger.
As an individual
A dark brown horse standing 16.3 hands, Black Tarquin was heavily built but needed a good deal of work to stay fit, making it a difficult balancing act to keep him sound. He was not the most efficient of runners but made up for this failing with great vigor and energy.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Black Tarquin sired 189 winners (49.2%) and 24 stakes winners (6.3%) from 384 named foals. His progeny were generally slow to mature and needed a distance of ground, and none approached his own talent.
Connections
Black Tarquin was bred and owned by William Woodward, Sr. He was trained by Captain Cecil Boyd-Rochfort. He returned to the United States to begin his stud career in Kentucky at Claiborne Farm in 1950 but was transferred to Ireland in 1954. He died in Ireland in 1965.
Pedigree notes
Black Tarquin is inbred 5x5 to nine-time English champion sire St. Simon and 5x5 to the important English and French sire Bay Ronald. He is a half brother to five-time steeplechase stakes winner Hyvania (by Hypnotist II) and to 1951 Test Stakes and Diana Handicap winner Vulcania (by Firethorn), dam of multiple stakes winner Nascania and stakes winner Firerullah (both by Nasrullah); second dam of the high-class turf horse Fiddle Isle, multiple Grade 1 winner Tallahto, Grade 2 winner Le Cle, and 1987 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Banja Luka; and third dam of 1987 Horse of the Year Ferdinand and multiple Grade 1 winners Prince True and Hidden Light. Black Tarquin is also a half brother to Natasha (by Nasrullah), whose daughter Natashka (by Dedicate) won the 1966 Alabama Stakes and was the 1981 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year.
Black Tarquin and his siblings were produced from 1942 American champion 3-year-old filly Vagrancy, who is one of four stakes winners produced by the Man o' War mare Valkyr. The others are 1946 Alabama Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks winner Hypnotic (by Hypnotist II), 1935 Saratoga Handicap winner Vicar (by Flying Ebony), and 1934 Spinaway Stakes winner Vicaress (by Flying Ebony), second dam of four stakes winners including 1964 Gazelle Handicap winner Face the Facts. In addition, Vagrancy is a full sister to stakes-placed Valse, dam of 1944 Alabama Stakes winner Vienna (by Menow) and second dam of Ambler, winner of the 1954 Craven Stakes in England; 1952 Saranac Handicap winner Golden Gloves; and 1958 Cleopatra Handicap winner Milly K. Vagrancy is also a half sister to War Vixen (by Gallant Fox), dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Warrigan (by Osiris II); to Valkara (by Gallant Fox), dam of 1944 Starlet Stakes winner Post Graduate (by Rhodes Scholar) and second dam of 1962 Governor's Gold Cup winner Daddy R.; and to stakes-placed Bellicose (by Boswell), dam of multiple stakes winner Torch of War (by Bimelech) and second dam of the good stakes filly Sarcastic.
A multiple stakes winner, Valkyr is out of the Prince Palatine mare Princess Palatine, a daughter of the great matriarch Frizette (by Hamburg). In addition to Valkyr, Princess Palatine produced stakes winner Count Palatine (by Under Fire) and Epitine (by Épinard), dam of stakes winner Zacatine (by Zacaweista), second dam of 1958 Fall Highweight Handicap winner Bull Strength, and third dam of 1952 San Luis Rey Stakes winner Dark Count and 1963 Michigan Derby winner Sonny Fleet. Princess Palatine is also the dam of Breathless Moment (by Black Toney), second dam of 1937 Arlington Futurity winner Tiger and third dam of 1944 Walden Stakes winner Rick's Raft, and of Chara, third dam of 1955 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Chingacgook and 1958 Grand Prix de Deauville winner Chippendale.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown; photo shows Black Tarquin winning the 1948 St. Leger Stakes. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: November 11, 2020
Race record
15 starts, 8 wins, 4 seconds, 0 thirds
1947:
- Won Gimcrack Stakes (ENG, 6FT, York; new course record 1:10.3)
- Won Royal Lodge Stakes (ENG, 5FT, Ascot)
- 2nd Richmond Stakes (ENG, 6FT, Goodwood)
1948:
- Won St. Leger Stakes (ENG, 14f+132yT, Doncaster)
- Won St. James's Palace Stakes (ENG, 8FT, Ascot)
- Won Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes (ENG, 11f+133yT, Lingfield)
- 2nd Newmarket Stakes (Eng, 10FT, Newmarket)
- 2nd Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Eng, 12FT, Ascot)
1949:
- Won Burwell Stakes (ENG, 12FT, Newmarket)
- Won Chippenham Stakes (ENG, 12FT, Newmarket)
- Won White Rose Stakes (ENG, 10FT, Hurst)
- 2nd Ascot Gold Cup (ENG, 20FT, Ascot)
Honors
English champion 3-year-old male (1948)
Assessments
Weighted at 131 pounds on the Free Handicap for English-raced juveniles of 1947, 2 pounds below My Babu.
Earned a Timeform rating of 134 pounds as a 3-year old of 1948.
Earned a Timeform rating of 136 pounds as a 4-year-old of 1949.
In their book A Century of Champions (1999, Portway Press Ltd), British experts John Randall and Tony Morris rated Black Tarquin as a “superior” winner of the St. Leger.
As an individual
A dark brown horse standing 16.3 hands, Black Tarquin was heavily built but needed a good deal of work to stay fit, making it a difficult balancing act to keep him sound. He was not the most efficient of runners but made up for this failing with great vigor and energy.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Black Tarquin sired 189 winners (49.2%) and 24 stakes winners (6.3%) from 384 named foals. His progeny were generally slow to mature and needed a distance of ground, and none approached his own talent.
Connections
Black Tarquin was bred and owned by William Woodward, Sr. He was trained by Captain Cecil Boyd-Rochfort. He returned to the United States to begin his stud career in Kentucky at Claiborne Farm in 1950 but was transferred to Ireland in 1954. He died in Ireland in 1965.
Pedigree notes
Black Tarquin is inbred 5x5 to nine-time English champion sire St. Simon and 5x5 to the important English and French sire Bay Ronald. He is a half brother to five-time steeplechase stakes winner Hyvania (by Hypnotist II) and to 1951 Test Stakes and Diana Handicap winner Vulcania (by Firethorn), dam of multiple stakes winner Nascania and stakes winner Firerullah (both by Nasrullah); second dam of the high-class turf horse Fiddle Isle, multiple Grade 1 winner Tallahto, Grade 2 winner Le Cle, and 1987 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Banja Luka; and third dam of 1987 Horse of the Year Ferdinand and multiple Grade 1 winners Prince True and Hidden Light. Black Tarquin is also a half brother to Natasha (by Nasrullah), whose daughter Natashka (by Dedicate) won the 1966 Alabama Stakes and was the 1981 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year.
Black Tarquin and his siblings were produced from 1942 American champion 3-year-old filly Vagrancy, who is one of four stakes winners produced by the Man o' War mare Valkyr. The others are 1946 Alabama Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks winner Hypnotic (by Hypnotist II), 1935 Saratoga Handicap winner Vicar (by Flying Ebony), and 1934 Spinaway Stakes winner Vicaress (by Flying Ebony), second dam of four stakes winners including 1964 Gazelle Handicap winner Face the Facts. In addition, Vagrancy is a full sister to stakes-placed Valse, dam of 1944 Alabama Stakes winner Vienna (by Menow) and second dam of Ambler, winner of the 1954 Craven Stakes in England; 1952 Saranac Handicap winner Golden Gloves; and 1958 Cleopatra Handicap winner Milly K. Vagrancy is also a half sister to War Vixen (by Gallant Fox), dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Warrigan (by Osiris II); to Valkara (by Gallant Fox), dam of 1944 Starlet Stakes winner Post Graduate (by Rhodes Scholar) and second dam of 1962 Governor's Gold Cup winner Daddy R.; and to stakes-placed Bellicose (by Boswell), dam of multiple stakes winner Torch of War (by Bimelech) and second dam of the good stakes filly Sarcastic.
A multiple stakes winner, Valkyr is out of the Prince Palatine mare Princess Palatine, a daughter of the great matriarch Frizette (by Hamburg). In addition to Valkyr, Princess Palatine produced stakes winner Count Palatine (by Under Fire) and Epitine (by Épinard), dam of stakes winner Zacatine (by Zacaweista), second dam of 1958 Fall Highweight Handicap winner Bull Strength, and third dam of 1952 San Luis Rey Stakes winner Dark Count and 1963 Michigan Derby winner Sonny Fleet. Princess Palatine is also the dam of Breathless Moment (by Black Toney), second dam of 1937 Arlington Futurity winner Tiger and third dam of 1944 Walden Stakes winner Rick's Raft, and of Chara, third dam of 1955 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Chingacgook and 1958 Grand Prix de Deauville winner Chippendale.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown; photo shows Black Tarquin winning the 1948 St. Leger Stakes. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: November 11, 2020