Noor (IRE)
1945 – November 16, 1974
Nasrullah (IRE) x Queen of Baghdad (GB), by Bahram (GB)
Family 16-h
1945 – November 16, 1974
Nasrullah (IRE) x Queen of Baghdad (GB), by Bahram (GB)
Family 16-h
A moderately successful racer in Europe, Noor blossomed as a 5-year-old in the United States. His series of epic duels with Citation in early 1950 earned him national attention. A trip to New York to take on the best of the Eastern cracks went awry, but Noor's California form was good enough to earn championship honors in the handicap division. He proved a disappointing sire.
Race record
31 starts, 12 wins, 6 seconds, 6 thirds, US$383,968
1947:
1948:
1949:
1950:
Honors
Assessments
Noor was rated #69 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).
As an individual
According to turf writer Evan Shipman's description of Noor in the 1951 American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form), Noor was "very long-striding with smooth action" and "rangy, with a fine sloping shoulder, deep in the chest." Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form described Noor as standing something over 16 hands with a short barrel and well-sprung ribs. Like many of the progeny of his sire, Noor could be temperamental.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Noor sired 139 winners (54.7%) and 13 stakes winners (5.1%) from 254 named foals.
Notable progeny of daughters
Dancer's Image (USA), Delta Judge (USA)
Connections
Noor was bred and owned by the Aga Khan. He was purchased by Charles S. Howard in a package deal with the 1948 Irish Derby winner, Nathoo, and imported to the US after his 3-year-old season. Noor was trained in the USA by Burley Parke. He initially entered stud in California in 1951 at Howard's Ridgewood Ranch, moving to Howard Stock Farm (formerly Binglin Stock Farm) near Moorpark, California, in 1956. In 1964, he moved to Loma Rica Ranch near Grass Valley, California, where he was humanely destroyed in 1974 due to the infirmities of old age.
Pedigree notes
Noor is inbred 4x3 to Blandford. He is a half brother to Nahar II (by Stardust), a stakes winner in England and France. He is also a half brother to Queen of Basrah (by Fair Trial), whose three stakes winners include 1959 Two Thousand Guineas winner Taboun (by Tabriz). His dam Queen of Baghdad is a half sister to stakes winners Queen of Simla (by Blenheim II), Cama (by Nearco) and Usumbura (by Umidwar) and is out of the Dark Legend mare Queen of Scots.
Books and media
Noor: A Champion Thoroughbred's Unlikely Journey From California to Kentucky was written by Milton C. Toby and released by The History Press in 2012.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown; taken when Noor was winning the 1950 American Handicap. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: June 9, 2021
Race record
31 starts, 12 wins, 6 seconds, 6 thirds, US$383,968
1947:
- Won Bradgate Park Nursery Handicap (ENG, 6FD, Doncaster)
- 3rd Woodcote Stakes (ENG, 6FT, Epsom Downs)
1948:
- Won Great Foal Stakes (ENG, 10FT, Newmarket)
- Won Diomed Stakes (ENG, 12FT, Epsom)
- 3rd Derby Stakes (ENG, 12FT, Epsom)
- 3rd Eclipse Stakes (ENG, 10FT, Sandown)
1949:
- 2nd San Francisco Handicap (USA, 9FD, Tanforan)
- 3rd Tanforan Handicap (USA, 10FD, Tanforan)
- 3rd Marchbank Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Tanforan)
1950:
- Won Hollywood Gold Cup (USA, 10FD, Hollywood Park; new track record 1:59-4/5)
- Won Santa Anita Handicap (USA, 10FD, Santa Anita; new track record 2:00)
- Won Golden Gate Handicap (USA, 10FD, Golden Gate; new world record 1:58-1/5)
- Won American Handicap (USA, 10FD, Hollywood Park)
- Won San Juan Capistrano Handicap (USA, 14FD, Santa Anita; new American record 2:52-4/5)
- Won Forty-Niners Handicap (USA, 9FD, Golden Gate; new world record 1:46-4/5)
- 2nd Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA, 16FD, Belmont Park)
- 2nd San Pasqual Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Manhattan Handicap (USA, 12FD, Belmont Park)
- 3rd San Antonio Handicap (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2002)
- Arcadia Historical Society's Racing Walk of Champions (inducted as part of the inaugural class in 2014)
- American champion handicap male (1950)
Assessments
Noor was rated #69 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).
As an individual
According to turf writer Evan Shipman's description of Noor in the 1951 American Racing Manual (Daily Racing Form), Noor was "very long-striding with smooth action" and "rangy, with a fine sloping shoulder, deep in the chest." Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form described Noor as standing something over 16 hands with a short barrel and well-sprung ribs. Like many of the progeny of his sire, Noor could be temperamental.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Noor sired 139 winners (54.7%) and 13 stakes winners (5.1%) from 254 named foals.
Notable progeny of daughters
Dancer's Image (USA), Delta Judge (USA)
Connections
Noor was bred and owned by the Aga Khan. He was purchased by Charles S. Howard in a package deal with the 1948 Irish Derby winner, Nathoo, and imported to the US after his 3-year-old season. Noor was trained in the USA by Burley Parke. He initially entered stud in California in 1951 at Howard's Ridgewood Ranch, moving to Howard Stock Farm (formerly Binglin Stock Farm) near Moorpark, California, in 1956. In 1964, he moved to Loma Rica Ranch near Grass Valley, California, where he was humanely destroyed in 1974 due to the infirmities of old age.
Pedigree notes
Noor is inbred 4x3 to Blandford. He is a half brother to Nahar II (by Stardust), a stakes winner in England and France. He is also a half brother to Queen of Basrah (by Fair Trial), whose three stakes winners include 1959 Two Thousand Guineas winner Taboun (by Tabriz). His dam Queen of Baghdad is a half sister to stakes winners Queen of Simla (by Blenheim II), Cama (by Nearco) and Usumbura (by Umidwar) and is out of the Dark Legend mare Queen of Scots.
Books and media
Noor: A Champion Thoroughbred's Unlikely Journey From California to Kentucky was written by Milton C. Toby and released by The History Press in 2012.
Fun facts
- Noor became the first horse to defeat two American Triple Crown winners in 1950, defeating both Citation and Assault in that year.
- Noor's remains were originally buried in an unmarked grave on Loma Rica Ranch. In 2011, they were exhumed prior to the development of the ranch for residential and business use and reburied at the Old Friends Thoroughbred retirement facility in Georgetown, Kentucky, thanks to the efforts of Charlotte Farmer.
- Noor's name is the Arabic word for “light.”
Photo credit
Photographer unknown; taken when Noor was winning the 1950 American Handicap. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: June 9, 2021