Broad Brush (USA)
April 16, 1983 – May 15, 2009
Ack Ack (USA) x Hay Patcher (USA), by Hoist the Flag (USA)
Family 21-a
April 16, 1983 – May 15, 2009
Ack Ack (USA) x Hay Patcher (USA), by Hoist the Flag (USA)
Family 21-a
Broad Brush was as erratic and wayward as he was talented, traits he displayed to the fullest in the 1986 Pennsylvania Derby (USA-G2). Racing into the final turn with a 5-length lead, Broad Brush bolted for the outside rail with veteran jockey Angel Cordero hanging on for dear life and seriously considering bailing out. The colt stayed on the track—barely—hit another gear when he was straightened out, and made up the 10 lengths he'd thrown away and then some to win by 1¼ lengths. With that kind of ability and a more sensible disposition, he might be remembered as one of the greats; as he was, he was still one of the best of his crop. He went on to become a good stallion and was the last member of the Domino male line to lead the American general sire list.
Race record
27 starts, 14 wins, 5 seconds, 5 thirds, US$2,656,793
1985:
1986:
1987:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 104 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1985, 22 pounds below co-highweights Tasso (the official divisional champion) and Ogygian.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1986, 3 pounds below champion Snow Chief.
Rated at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1987, 1 pound below champion and American Horse of the Year Ferdinand.
As an individual
A plain but strongly made bay horse with a mind of his own, Broad Brush had a tremendous constitution. He was an enthusiastic worker who became virtually unmanageable if not galloped daily but insisted on having company; he did not like working alone. He didn't like running alone during a race either and was prone to erratic behavior if he found himself alone on the lead. He was a bit back at the knee and toed out in front but remained sound until ankle problems finally ended his racing career in October 1987.
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Broad Brush sired 479 winners (79.0%) and 91 stakes winners (13.3%) from 684 named foals. The Blood-Horse credits him with 93 stakes winners (13.6%). Broad Brush typically passed on his own toughness and durability. He is an Intermediate/Classic chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Per Thoroughbred Times (previously Thoroughbred Record):
Notable progeny
Broad Appeal (USA), Concern (USA), Farda Amiga (USA), Include (USA), Mongoose (USA), Pompeii (USA), Schossberg (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Fort Larned (USA), Richard's Kid (USA), Victory Is Ours (BRZ)
Connections
Foaled in Maryland, Broad Brush was bred and owned by Robert D. Meyerhoff. He was trained by Richard "Dickie" Small. Syndicated for US$4 million following his retirement, he entered stud in Kentucky at Gainesway Farm in 1988. He was pensioned in 2004 and was humanely destroyed due to the infirmities of old age in 2009.
Pedigree notes
Broad Brush is inbred 3x3 to Turn-to. He is a full brother to Miss Sib, dam of stakes winner Not Likely (by Ferdinand) and second dam of listed stakes winner Crossatyourownrisk. He is a half brother to multiple stakes winner Hay Halo (by Halo), a useful regional sire in Maryland. He is also a half brother to stakes-placed Hey Majesty (by His Majesty), dam of multiple listed stakes winner Up an Eighth (by Ferdinand) and second dam of Australian Group 3 winner Lan Kwai Fong; to Hay High (by Highland Blade), dam of multiple stakes winner Higher Strata (by Afleet); to Bob's Dilemma (by Mr. Prospector), dam of Japanese stakes winner Tokai Wild (by Sunday Silence); to Retrospective (by Easy Goer), dam of English Group 2 winner Mull of Kintyre (by Danzig); and to Hey Janie (by Seattle Slew), second dam of Peruvian Group 2 winner Asmarani.
Broad Brush's dam Hay Patcher is the only stakes winner produced by 1966 Pageant Handicap winner Turn to Talent (by Turn-to), a half sister to 1986 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year and multiple stakes winner Too Bald (by Bald Eagle). Aside from her descendants through Hay Patcher, Turn to Talent is the second dam of Grade 2 winner Williamstown and the third dam of multiple Australian Group 2 winner California Dane and Grade 3 winner Eze.
Books and media
Footage of Broad Brush's win in the 1986 Pennsylvania Derby can be accessed in a Bloodhorse.com article of February 16, 2017, "Look Back: Broad Brush's Wild Pennsylvania Derby Win" (https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/219850/look-back-broad-brushs-wild-pennsylvania-derby-win).
Fun facts
Last updated: January 8, 2025
Race record
27 starts, 14 wins, 5 seconds, 5 thirds, US$2,656,793
1985:
- Won Inner Harbor Stakes (USA, 8FD, Laurel)
1986:
- Won Meadowlands Cup Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, The Meadowlands)
- Won Wood Memorial Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Pennsylvania Derby (USA-G2, 9FD, Philadelphia Park)
- Won Ohio Derby (USA-G2, 9FD, Thistledown)
- Won Jim Beam Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Latonia)
- Won Federico Tesio Stakes (USA-L, 8.5, Pimlico)
- Won General George Stakes (USA-L, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Pegasus Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, The Meadowlands)
- 2nd Saint Paul Derby (USA-L, 9FD, Canterbury Downs)
- 2nd Star de Naskra Stakes (USA-R, Laurel)
- 3rd Kentucky Derby (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- 3rd Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
1987:
- Won Santa Anita Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Suburban Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
- Won John B. Campbell Handicap (USA-G3, 10FD, Pimlico)
- Won Trenton Handicap (USA-G3, 10FD, Garden State; equaled track record 2:00-4/5)
- 2nd San Fernando Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Massachusetts Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Suffolk Downs)
- 3rd Charles H. Strub Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Whitney Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga)
Honors
- Maryland Thoroughbred Hall of Fame (inducted in the inaugural class of 2013)
- Maryland-bred Horse of the Year (1986, 1987)
- Maryland-bred champion 3-year-old male (1986)
- Maryland-bred champion older male (1987)
- Eclipse Award finalist, American champion 3-year-old male (1986).
Assessments
Rated at 104 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1985, 22 pounds below co-highweights Tasso (the official divisional champion) and Ogygian.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1986, 3 pounds below champion Snow Chief.
Rated at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1987, 1 pound below champion and American Horse of the Year Ferdinand.
As an individual
A plain but strongly made bay horse with a mind of his own, Broad Brush had a tremendous constitution. He was an enthusiastic worker who became virtually unmanageable if not galloped daily but insisted on having company; he did not like working alone. He didn't like running alone during a race either and was prone to erratic behavior if he found himself alone on the lead. He was a bit back at the knee and toed out in front but remained sound until ankle problems finally ended his racing career in October 1987.
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Broad Brush sired 479 winners (79.0%) and 91 stakes winners (13.3%) from 684 named foals. The Blood-Horse credits him with 93 stakes winners (13.6%). Broad Brush typically passed on his own toughness and durability. He is an Intermediate/Classic chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form) series:
- Led the American general sire list in 1994; 3rd in 1999.
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
- 6th on the North American broodmare sire list in 2012.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- Led the American general sire list in 1994; 6th in 2001; 9th in 2012; 10th in 2002.
- 9th on the American broodmare sire list in 2012.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the American general sire list in 1994; 3rd in 1999; 6th in 2001; 9th in 1998.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the American general sire list in 1994.
Per Thoroughbred Times (previously Thoroughbred Record):
- Led the American general sire list in 1994.
Notable progeny
Broad Appeal (USA), Concern (USA), Farda Amiga (USA), Include (USA), Mongoose (USA), Pompeii (USA), Schossberg (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Fort Larned (USA), Richard's Kid (USA), Victory Is Ours (BRZ)
Connections
Foaled in Maryland, Broad Brush was bred and owned by Robert D. Meyerhoff. He was trained by Richard "Dickie" Small. Syndicated for US$4 million following his retirement, he entered stud in Kentucky at Gainesway Farm in 1988. He was pensioned in 2004 and was humanely destroyed due to the infirmities of old age in 2009.
Pedigree notes
Broad Brush is inbred 3x3 to Turn-to. He is a full brother to Miss Sib, dam of stakes winner Not Likely (by Ferdinand) and second dam of listed stakes winner Crossatyourownrisk. He is a half brother to multiple stakes winner Hay Halo (by Halo), a useful regional sire in Maryland. He is also a half brother to stakes-placed Hey Majesty (by His Majesty), dam of multiple listed stakes winner Up an Eighth (by Ferdinand) and second dam of Australian Group 3 winner Lan Kwai Fong; to Hay High (by Highland Blade), dam of multiple stakes winner Higher Strata (by Afleet); to Bob's Dilemma (by Mr. Prospector), dam of Japanese stakes winner Tokai Wild (by Sunday Silence); to Retrospective (by Easy Goer), dam of English Group 2 winner Mull of Kintyre (by Danzig); and to Hey Janie (by Seattle Slew), second dam of Peruvian Group 2 winner Asmarani.
Broad Brush's dam Hay Patcher is the only stakes winner produced by 1966 Pageant Handicap winner Turn to Talent (by Turn-to), a half sister to 1986 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year and multiple stakes winner Too Bald (by Bald Eagle). Aside from her descendants through Hay Patcher, Turn to Talent is the second dam of Grade 2 winner Williamstown and the third dam of multiple Australian Group 2 winner California Dane and Grade 3 winner Eze.
Books and media
Footage of Broad Brush's win in the 1986 Pennsylvania Derby can be accessed in a Bloodhorse.com article of February 16, 2017, "Look Back: Broad Brush's Wild Pennsylvania Derby Win" (https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/219850/look-back-broad-brushs-wild-pennsylvania-derby-win).
Fun facts
- Broad Brush loved riding in a van so much that his trainer, Dickie Small, would sometimes take him for rides around the Maryland countryside just for the horse's enjoyment.
- Flow and Flux, a 1983 filly by Ecole Etage, became Broad Brush's regular galloping and travel companion as she was the only horse Dickie Small had in the barn with the toughness and stamina to stand up to Broad Brush's training needs. After Broad Brush's retirement, she became a jumps racer and set a two-mile course record at the Grand National meeting. She also produced one foal by Broad Brush, the 1993 filly Cobber, who won three times from 30 starts.
- Following the 1986 Pennsylvania Derby, Cordero admitted that his efforts to get Broad Brush straightened out coming off the turn included administering a wallop to the right side of the colt's head. In the race's video, Broad Brush can be seen jerking his head to the left as the blow landed, then taking off as he saw his rivals to his inside.
- Broad Brush was the leading money winner among Maryland-breds at the time of his retirement and was the first Maryland-bred horse to pass the milestone of US$1 million in earnings during his 3-year-old season.
- Broad Brush has been honored with stakes races named for him at Aqueduct and Laurel Park.
Last updated: January 8, 2025