Known Fact (USA)
March 17, 1977 – July 12, 2000
In Reality (USA) x Tamerett (USA), by Tim Tam (USA)
Family 2-f
March 17, 1977 – July 12, 2000
In Reality (USA) x Tamerett (USA), by Tim Tam (USA)
Family 2-f
Known Fact was a lucky horse to become a Classic winner, as he inherited the victory in the 1980 Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) after first-place finisher Nureyev was disqualified for interference with third-place Posse. He was more than lucky, however; he was a first-rate miler with enough talent to defeat two-time English champion Kris over his favorite trip. Following his retirement from racing, Known Fact was quite useful as a sire and left a successor in his brilliant son Warning.
Race record
11 starts, 6 wins, 1 second, 1 third, £134,664
1979:
1980:
Honors
English champion miler (1980)
Assessments
Earned a Timeform rating of 135 pounds as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
A well-balanced near-black horse standing 15.3 ½ hands, Known Fact was short-coupled with high withers, a well laid shoulder, and a strong hip. He was somewhat upright in his pasterns and had offset knees. Tough, honest, and consistent as a racer, he was a hard puller and difficult to restrain if not covered up but had a sharp turn of foot and was a good mover.
As a stallion
At his best, Known Fact sired horses with plenty of speed, but his progeny were often faulted for having bad knees. According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, he sired 450 winners (57.8%) and 53 stakes winners (6.8%) from 778 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Markofdistinction (IRE), Matter of Fact (GB), Oath (USA), So Factual (USA), Warning (GB)
Notable progeny of daughters
Data Link (USA), Hymn Book (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Florida, Known Fact was bred by Dr. William O. Reed. He was owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms after being purchased for US$225,000 from the 1978 Keeneland July sale as a yearling. He was trained by Jeremy Tree. He entered stud in 1982 at Juddmonte Farms’ Berkshire stud, moving to Whitbury Manor Stud in 1985. Following the 1987 season, Known Fact was transferred to Juddmonte’s Kentucky division. He died in July 2000 after becoming ill earlier in the month and was buried behind the farm office at Juddmonte, next to the grave of Grade 1 winner Exbourne.
Pedigree notes
Known Fact is inbred 5x5x5 to 1943 American champion sire Bull Dog. He is a full brother to Taminette, dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Tappiano (by Fappiano), Japanese listed stakes winner A. P Jet (by Fappiano), and stakes winner My Earl (by Chieftain); second dam of two stakes winners; and third dam of Grade 3 winner Atticus Kristy and 2011 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Oatsee. He is a half brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Tentam (by Intentionally; a good sire), to 1975 Cinema Handicap (USA-G2) winner Terete (by Boldnesian), to 1970 Tremont Stakes winner Tamtent (by Intentionally), and to Grade 2-placed stakes winner Secrettame (by Secretariat). The last-named mare is the dam of 1987 Dwyer Stakes (USA-G1) winner Gone West (by Mr. Prospector; an important sire), Grade 2 winner Lion Cavern (by Mr. Prospector), and Japanese listed stakes winner Lord Ultima (by Seeking the Gold) and is the second dam of multiple Japanese Group 3 winner Sakura Orion.
Tamerett, the dam of Known Fact and his siblings, is a winning half sister to Atan (by Native Dancer), who gained himself a placed in modern pedigrees by siring Group 1 winner and important sire Sharpen Up. The two were produced from the Tudor Minstrel mare Mixed Marriage, a half sister to multiple English stakes winner Birthday Present (by Precipitation). Mixed Marriage is also a half sister to Book of Verse (by One Count), dam of two-time Delaware Handicap winner Obeah (by Cyane) and Grade 2 winner Targa (by Cannonade); second dam of two-time American champion filly Go for Wand and Grade 2 winners Dance Spell, Discorama, and Garden Verse, as well as multiple Grade 3 winner Mamselle Bebette and the good Maryland sire Carnivalay; and third dam of 1986 Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1) winner Garthorn and Grade 3 winner Overpeer.
In addition to Birthday Present and Book of Verse, Mixed Marriage is a half sister to Rapide (by Bimelech), dam of restricted stakes winner Rapid Repeater (by Mr. Tal), and to Dark Complexion (by Summer Tan), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Legion (by Roman Line) and 1967 Nellie Morse Handicap winner Manya (by Reneged) and second dam of 1982/1983 Argentine Mare of the Year Miss Keats, 1991 Matron Stakes (USA-G1) winner Anh Duong, and Argentine Group 2 winner Bumi Bay. Finally, Mixed Marriage is a half sister to Helosian (by Helioscope, second dam of 1974 Oaks d’Italia (ITY-G1) winner Red Girl; to Isfahan (by King of the Tudors), dam of Venezuelan Group 3 winner Islamic (by Guapo) and second dam of 1985 Venezuelan Horse of the Year Iraqui; and to Ian Maid (by Determine), dam of stakes winner Sans Critique (by Reviewer) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Tax Affair.
Mixed Marriage and her siblings were produced from Persian Maid, a daughter of 1944 St. Leger Stakes winner Tehran. The female family traces back to Altoviscar and is a branch of one of the most important English lineages of the 20th century.
Books and media
Known Fact is one of 75 Thoroughbreds profiled in Tony Morris’ The Stallions (1990, The Crowood Press).
Fun facts
Last updated: November 13, 2024
Race record
11 starts, 6 wins, 1 second, 1 third, £134,664
1979:
- Won Middle Park Stakes (ENG-G1, 6FT, Newmarket)
- 2nd New Ham Stakes (ENG, 6FT, Goodwood)
- 3rd Mill Reef Stakes (ENG-G2, 6FT, Newbury)
1980:
- Won Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1, 8FT, Newmarket; by disqualification)
- Won Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (ENG-G2, 8FT, Ascot)
- Won Waterford Crystal Mile (ENG-G2, 8FT, Goodwood)
- Won Kiveton Park Steel Stakes (ENG, 7FT, Doncaster)
Honors
English champion miler (1980)
Assessments
Earned a Timeform rating of 135 pounds as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
A well-balanced near-black horse standing 15.3 ½ hands, Known Fact was short-coupled with high withers, a well laid shoulder, and a strong hip. He was somewhat upright in his pasterns and had offset knees. Tough, honest, and consistent as a racer, he was a hard puller and difficult to restrain if not covered up but had a sharp turn of foot and was a good mover.
As a stallion
At his best, Known Fact sired horses with plenty of speed, but his progeny were often faulted for having bad knees. According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, he sired 450 winners (57.8%) and 53 stakes winners (6.8%) from 778 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 6th on the English/Irish general sire list in 1988; 9th in 1989 and 1990.
Notable progeny
Markofdistinction (IRE), Matter of Fact (GB), Oath (USA), So Factual (USA), Warning (GB)
Notable progeny of daughters
Data Link (USA), Hymn Book (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Florida, Known Fact was bred by Dr. William O. Reed. He was owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms after being purchased for US$225,000 from the 1978 Keeneland July sale as a yearling. He was trained by Jeremy Tree. He entered stud in 1982 at Juddmonte Farms’ Berkshire stud, moving to Whitbury Manor Stud in 1985. Following the 1987 season, Known Fact was transferred to Juddmonte’s Kentucky division. He died in July 2000 after becoming ill earlier in the month and was buried behind the farm office at Juddmonte, next to the grave of Grade 1 winner Exbourne.
Pedigree notes
Known Fact is inbred 5x5x5 to 1943 American champion sire Bull Dog. He is a full brother to Taminette, dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Tappiano (by Fappiano), Japanese listed stakes winner A. P Jet (by Fappiano), and stakes winner My Earl (by Chieftain); second dam of two stakes winners; and third dam of Grade 3 winner Atticus Kristy and 2011 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Oatsee. He is a half brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Tentam (by Intentionally; a good sire), to 1975 Cinema Handicap (USA-G2) winner Terete (by Boldnesian), to 1970 Tremont Stakes winner Tamtent (by Intentionally), and to Grade 2-placed stakes winner Secrettame (by Secretariat). The last-named mare is the dam of 1987 Dwyer Stakes (USA-G1) winner Gone West (by Mr. Prospector; an important sire), Grade 2 winner Lion Cavern (by Mr. Prospector), and Japanese listed stakes winner Lord Ultima (by Seeking the Gold) and is the second dam of multiple Japanese Group 3 winner Sakura Orion.
Tamerett, the dam of Known Fact and his siblings, is a winning half sister to Atan (by Native Dancer), who gained himself a placed in modern pedigrees by siring Group 1 winner and important sire Sharpen Up. The two were produced from the Tudor Minstrel mare Mixed Marriage, a half sister to multiple English stakes winner Birthday Present (by Precipitation). Mixed Marriage is also a half sister to Book of Verse (by One Count), dam of two-time Delaware Handicap winner Obeah (by Cyane) and Grade 2 winner Targa (by Cannonade); second dam of two-time American champion filly Go for Wand and Grade 2 winners Dance Spell, Discorama, and Garden Verse, as well as multiple Grade 3 winner Mamselle Bebette and the good Maryland sire Carnivalay; and third dam of 1986 Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1) winner Garthorn and Grade 3 winner Overpeer.
In addition to Birthday Present and Book of Verse, Mixed Marriage is a half sister to Rapide (by Bimelech), dam of restricted stakes winner Rapid Repeater (by Mr. Tal), and to Dark Complexion (by Summer Tan), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Legion (by Roman Line) and 1967 Nellie Morse Handicap winner Manya (by Reneged) and second dam of 1982/1983 Argentine Mare of the Year Miss Keats, 1991 Matron Stakes (USA-G1) winner Anh Duong, and Argentine Group 2 winner Bumi Bay. Finally, Mixed Marriage is a half sister to Helosian (by Helioscope, second dam of 1974 Oaks d’Italia (ITY-G1) winner Red Girl; to Isfahan (by King of the Tudors), dam of Venezuelan Group 3 winner Islamic (by Guapo) and second dam of 1985 Venezuelan Horse of the Year Iraqui; and to Ian Maid (by Determine), dam of stakes winner Sans Critique (by Reviewer) and second dam of Grade 3 winner Tax Affair.
Mixed Marriage and her siblings were produced from Persian Maid, a daughter of 1944 St. Leger Stakes winner Tehran. The female family traces back to Altoviscar and is a branch of one of the most important English lineages of the 20th century.
Books and media
Known Fact is one of 75 Thoroughbreds profiled in Tony Morris’ The Stallions (1990, The Crowood Press).
Fun facts
- Known Fact was the first stallion to stand at Juddmonte Farms’ Kentucky division.
Last updated: November 13, 2024