Norcliffe (CAN)
1973 – 1984
Buckpasser (USA) x Drama School (CAN), by Northern Dancer (CAN)
Family 10-d
1973 – 1984
Buckpasser (USA) x Drama School (CAN), by Northern Dancer (CAN)
Family 10-d
Bred on the same cross as L’Enjoleur, Norcliffe also became a multiple Canadian champion and a Canadian Horse of the Year. He was sadly short-lived but was a useful sire whose male line continued through his son At the Threshold to 1992 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Lil E. Tee.
Race record
33 starts, 14 wins, 8 seconds, 3 thirds, US$1,346,956
1975:
1976:
1977:
Honors
Assessments
Co-highweighted with Ambassador B. at 122 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for juveniles of 1975, 1 pound above the official divisional champion, Proud Tobin.
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 3-year-old males of 1976, 5 pounds above second-rated Miltary Bearing.
Rated at 115 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for horses 4 and up, 14 pounds below Johnny D. (the American champion turf horse of 1977).
Rated at 118 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American-raced older males of 1977, 18 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year Forego.
As an individual
A handsome, rangy bay horse, Norcliffe was in the mold of his sire Buckpasser. He raced best when he had a target to run at and tended to loaf if he made the lead too soon.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Norcliffe sired 160 winners (61.5%) and 17 stakes winners (6.5%) from 260 named foals.
Notable progeny
At the Threshold (USA), Groovy (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Norcliffe was bred by E. P. Taylor. He was owned by Lieutenant Colonel Charles Baker, who bought Norcliffe for US$80,000 from the 1974 Saratoga yearling sale, and was trained by Roger Attfield. He was ridden to his Canadian Classic victories by Jeffrey Fell. At the end of his 4-year-old season, Norcliffe was syndicated at a valuation of US$900,000. He entered stud in 1978 in Florida at Gateway Farms.
Pedigree notes
Norcliffe is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to Vaguely Dramatic (by Vaguely Noble), second dam of 1994 Argentine champion 2-year-old male El Sultan, and to L’insatiable (by Caveat), dam of 2000 Breeders’ Stakes winner Lodge Hill (by Cozzene), second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Hightap, and third dam of 2020 Fourstardave Handicap (USA-G1) winner Halladay.
Norcliffe was produced from multiple Canadian stakes winner Drama School, a half sister to Canadian stakes winners Sunday Sail (by Alycidon), Cut Steel (by Chop Chop), and Grand Garcon (by Censor). She is also a half sister to stakes-placed Speediness (by Nearctic), dam of 1971 Manitoba Derby and 1972 Canadian Turf Handicap winner Speedy Zephyr (by Restless Wind).
Drama School and her siblings are out of multiple English juvenile stakes winner Stalina (by 1945 Irish Two Thousand Guineas winner Stalino), a half sister to multiple English juvenile stakes winner Dented Bell (by Denturius), dam of English juvenile stakes winners Krakenwake (by Krakatao) and Corsley Bell (by Owen Tudor; dam of 1969 Queen Anne Stakes winner Town Crier, by Sovereign Path). Produced from the Fairford mare Boscabel, Stalina is also a half sister to Belle Noisette (by The Cob), dam of English juvenile stakes winners Light on His Feet (by High Treason) and Blue Butterfly (by Majority Blue), and to Aber Belle (by Abernant), dam of English juvenile stakes winner Polly’s Beau (by Polly’s Jet).
Fun facts
Last updated: October 29, 2021
Race record
33 starts, 14 wins, 8 seconds, 3 thirds, US$1,346,956
1975:
- Won Coronation Futurity Stakes (CAN-R, 9FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Cup and Saucer Stakes (CAN-R, 9FT, Woodbine)
- 3rd Summer Stakes (CAN, 8FT, Fort Erie)
1976:
- Won Queen's Plate Stakes (CAN-R, 10FD, Woodbine)
- Won Carling O'Keefe Invitational Handicap (CAN-R, 12FD, Woodbine)
- Won Prince of Wales Stakes (CAN-R, 12FT, Fort Erie)
- Won Col. R. S. McLaughlin Stakes (CAN, 9.5FD, Woodbine)
- Won Plate Trial Stakes (CAN-R, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
- Won Achievement Handicap (CAN-R, 8.5FD, Fort Erie)
1977:
- Won Carling O'Keefe Invitational Handicap (CAN-R, 12FD, Woodbine; new track record 2:29-1/5)
- Won Canadian Maturity Stakes (CAN-R, 10FT, Woodbine)
- 2nd Mohawk Stakes (CAN, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Vigil Handicap (CAN, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
- 3rd Nassau County Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Eclipse Handicap (CAN-R, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
Honors
- Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2005)
- Sovereign Award, Canadian Horse of the Year (1976)
- Sovereign Award, Canadian champion 3-year-old male (1976)
- Sovereign Award, Canadian champion older male (1977)
Assessments
Co-highweighted with Ambassador B. at 122 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for juveniles of 1975, 1 pound above the official divisional champion, Proud Tobin.
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 3-year-old males of 1976, 5 pounds above second-rated Miltary Bearing.
Rated at 115 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for horses 4 and up, 14 pounds below Johnny D. (the American champion turf horse of 1977).
Rated at 118 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American-raced older males of 1977, 18 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year Forego.
As an individual
A handsome, rangy bay horse, Norcliffe was in the mold of his sire Buckpasser. He raced best when he had a target to run at and tended to loaf if he made the lead too soon.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Norcliffe sired 160 winners (61.5%) and 17 stakes winners (6.5%) from 260 named foals.
Notable progeny
At the Threshold (USA), Groovy (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Norcliffe was bred by E. P. Taylor. He was owned by Lieutenant Colonel Charles Baker, who bought Norcliffe for US$80,000 from the 1974 Saratoga yearling sale, and was trained by Roger Attfield. He was ridden to his Canadian Classic victories by Jeffrey Fell. At the end of his 4-year-old season, Norcliffe was syndicated at a valuation of US$900,000. He entered stud in 1978 in Florida at Gateway Farms.
Pedigree notes
Norcliffe is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to Vaguely Dramatic (by Vaguely Noble), second dam of 1994 Argentine champion 2-year-old male El Sultan, and to L’insatiable (by Caveat), dam of 2000 Breeders’ Stakes winner Lodge Hill (by Cozzene), second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Hightap, and third dam of 2020 Fourstardave Handicap (USA-G1) winner Halladay.
Norcliffe was produced from multiple Canadian stakes winner Drama School, a half sister to Canadian stakes winners Sunday Sail (by Alycidon), Cut Steel (by Chop Chop), and Grand Garcon (by Censor). She is also a half sister to stakes-placed Speediness (by Nearctic), dam of 1971 Manitoba Derby and 1972 Canadian Turf Handicap winner Speedy Zephyr (by Restless Wind).
Drama School and her siblings are out of multiple English juvenile stakes winner Stalina (by 1945 Irish Two Thousand Guineas winner Stalino), a half sister to multiple English juvenile stakes winner Dented Bell (by Denturius), dam of English juvenile stakes winners Krakenwake (by Krakatao) and Corsley Bell (by Owen Tudor; dam of 1969 Queen Anne Stakes winner Town Crier, by Sovereign Path). Produced from the Fairford mare Boscabel, Stalina is also a half sister to Belle Noisette (by The Cob), dam of English juvenile stakes winners Light on His Feet (by High Treason) and Blue Butterfly (by Majority Blue), and to Aber Belle (by Abernant), dam of English juvenile stakes winner Polly’s Beau (by Polly’s Jet).
Fun facts
- Norcliffe became the first horse to win Canada’s richest races for Canadian-breds at 2, 3, and 4 by taking the 1975 Coronation Futurity, the 1976 Queen’s Plate, and the 1977 Canadian Maturity. His feat has never been duplicated; in fact, no horse since him has won both the Coronation Futurity and the Queen’s Plate.
- Norcliffe was one of eight Queen’s Plate winners and six Canadian Horse of the Year champions trained by Roger Attfield.
Last updated: October 29, 2021