Rainbows for Life (CAN)
May 17, 1988 – September 1, 2012
Lyphard (USA) x Rainbow Connection (CAN), by Halo (USA)
Family 14-b
May 17, 1988 – September 1, 2012
Lyphard (USA) x Rainbow Connection (CAN), by Halo (USA)
Family 14-b
A beautifully bred son of a two-time Canadian champion, Rainbows for Life went his dam one better by earning three Sovereign Awards during his four seasons of racing. Also a graded stakes winner in the United Stakes, he was originally slated to go to stud in Kentucky but was sent to Ireland instead. From there, he went on to Central Europe, where (according to The Blood-Horse) he sired six champions in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. His progeny showed ability both on the flat and over jumps.
Race record
36 starts, 15 wins, 5 seconds, 3 thirds, US$1,106,895 (includes converted Canadian earnings)
1990:
1991:
1992:
1993:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 125 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for Canadian juvenile males of 1990, 5 pounds above Arctic Laur, Briartic Romance, and Twanger.
Rated at 114 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf males of 1991, 12 pounds below champion Tight Spot.
Rated at 118 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 3-year-old males of 1991, 7 pounds below Sovereign Award winner Bolulight and Shudanz.
Rated at 119 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for turf runners of 1991, 10 pounds below divisional champion and Canadian Horse of the Year Sky Classic.
Rated at 112 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf males of 1992, 14 pounds below champion Sky Classic.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for older males of 1992, 3 pounds below highweighted Bolulight.
Rated at 125 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for turf runners of 1992, 2 pounds below co-highweights Snurge and Wiorno.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for turf runners of 1993, 2 pounds below highweighted Explosive Red and 1 pound above divisional champion Hero's Love (a mare).
As an individual
A handsome, smoothly-made, well-balanced chestnut horse, Rainbows for Life had a good shoulder and body, powerful hindquarters, and short cannons.
As a stallion
Rainbows for Life is believed to have led the Czech general sire list four times (1999, 2004-06), the Czech juvenile sire list three times (2003-05), and the Slovakian general sire list in 1999. According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Rainbows for Life sired 147 winners (39.6%) and 10 stakes winners (2.7%) from 371 named foals of racing age. It should be noted that many of the Czech and Slovakian stakes races won by his offspring were not considered black-type stakes races by International Catalogue standards.
Notable progeny
Killer Queen (IRE), Monolit (CZE), Ray of Light (IRE), Ready for Life (CZE), Sixteen (FR)
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Rainbows for Life was bred by Sam-Son Farms. He was trained by James E. Day. In 1993 Josephine Abercrombie’s Pin Oak Stud bought into the horse. Rainbows for Life entered stud in Ireland in 1994. He was later sold on to stand in Central Europe. He was euthanized September 1, 2012, due to the infirmities of old age.
Pedigree notes
Rainbows for Life is inbred 4x4 to the important broodmare Almahmoud and 5x5 to six-time English/Irish champion sire Hyperion, winner of the 1933 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes. He is a half brother to 1990 CIGA Prix de l’Opera (FR-G2) winner Colour Chart, dam of 2001 American champion juvenile filly Tempera (by A.P. Indy), multiple French Group 3 winner Equerry (by St. Jovite), and French listed stakes winner Ecole d’Art (by Theatrical); second dam of 2010 Saudi Arabian champion older female Capriv; and third dam of Grade 3 winner Fast Market. Rainbows for Life is also a half brother to 1994 Cup and Saucer Stakes winner Always a Rainbow (by Mr. Prospector) and to Barari by Blushing Groom), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner White Heart (by Green Desert) and listed stakes winner Kind Regards (by Unfuwain). In addition, Rainbows for Life is a half brother to Rainbow’s Classic (by Regal Classic), dam of listed stakes winner Full Spectrum (by Broad Brush).
Rainbows for Life and his siblings are out of two-time Canadian champion Rainbow Connection, whose full sister Rainbow Two is the second dam of multiple Grade 2 winner City to City. Rainbow Connection is also a half sister to Hangin on a Star (by Vice Regent), who won the 1987 Breeders’ Stakes (third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown) and two other stakes races before becoming the dam of 1993 Canadian champion 2-year-old male Comet Shine (by Fappiano) and of Misty Mission (by Miswaki), who took the third leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara, the Wonder Where Stakes, in 2000. Hangin on a Star is also the second dam of two-time Canadian champion Irish Mission and Grade 3 winners French Beret and Patience Game and the third dam of Grade 2 winner Mission of Joy and Grade 3 winner Time to Dazzle.
Returning to Rainbow Connection, she is also a half sister to 1981 King Edward Gold Cup Handicap winner Mr. Macho (by Ruritania) and to Archdeacon (by Dancing Champ), winner of the 1983 Prince of Wales Stakes (second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown). The siblings were produced from 1980 Canadian Broodmare of the Year Hangin Round (Stage Door Johnny x Auburn’s Pride, by Aureole), a half sister to the minor stakes winner New Pride (by Julmar; dam of stakes winner Baldski’s Pride, by Baldski). Hangin Round is also a half sister to All Puffed Up (by Dynastic), dam of the minor stakes winner Dyna Surge (by Plastic Surgeon).
Last updated: November 23, 2025
Race record
36 starts, 15 wins, 5 seconds, 3 thirds, US$1,106,895 (includes converted Canadian earnings)
1990:
- Won Summer Stakes (CAN-G3, 8FT, Woodbine)
- Won Cup and Saucer Stakes (CAN-R, 8.5FT, Woodbine)
- Won Coronation Futurity (CAN-R, 9FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Grey Stakes (CAN-G3, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
1991:
- Won Hawthorne Derby (USA-G3, 9FT, Hawthorne; new course record 1:44.70)
- Won Toronto Cup Handicap (CAN-L, 9FT, Woodbine)
- 3rd Plate Trial Stakes (CAN-R, 9FD, Woodbine)
1992:
- Won New Hampshire Sweepstakes Handicap (USA-G3, about 9FT, Rockingham; new course record 1:46.83)
- Won Dominion Day Handicap (CAN-G3, 10FD, Woodbine)
- Won Riggs Handicap (USA-G3, 8.5FT, Pimlico)
- Won Fair Grounds Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA, about 9FT, Fair Grounds)
- 2nd Connaught Cup Stakes (CAN-R, 8.5FT, Woodbine)
- 3rd Elkhorn Stakes (USA-G2, 9FT, Keeneland)
1993:
- Won Connaught Cup Stakes (CAN-R, 8.5FT, Woodbine)
- 2nd Seagram Cup Handicap (CAN-R, 10FT, Woodbine)
Honors
- Sovereign Award, Canadian champion 2-year-old male (1990)
- Sovereign Award, Canadian champion older male (1992)
- Sovereign Award, Canadian champion turf horse (1992)
Assessments
Rated at 125 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for Canadian juvenile males of 1990, 5 pounds above Arctic Laur, Briartic Romance, and Twanger.
Rated at 114 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf males of 1991, 12 pounds below champion Tight Spot.
Rated at 118 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 3-year-old males of 1991, 7 pounds below Sovereign Award winner Bolulight and Shudanz.
Rated at 119 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for turf runners of 1991, 10 pounds below divisional champion and Canadian Horse of the Year Sky Classic.
Rated at 112 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf males of 1992, 14 pounds below champion Sky Classic.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for older males of 1992, 3 pounds below highweighted Bolulight.
Rated at 125 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for turf runners of 1992, 2 pounds below co-highweights Snurge and Wiorno.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for turf runners of 1993, 2 pounds below highweighted Explosive Red and 1 pound above divisional champion Hero's Love (a mare).
As an individual
A handsome, smoothly-made, well-balanced chestnut horse, Rainbows for Life had a good shoulder and body, powerful hindquarters, and short cannons.
As a stallion
Rainbows for Life is believed to have led the Czech general sire list four times (1999, 2004-06), the Czech juvenile sire list three times (2003-05), and the Slovakian general sire list in 1999. According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Rainbows for Life sired 147 winners (39.6%) and 10 stakes winners (2.7%) from 371 named foals of racing age. It should be noted that many of the Czech and Slovakian stakes races won by his offspring were not considered black-type stakes races by International Catalogue standards.
Notable progeny
Killer Queen (IRE), Monolit (CZE), Ray of Light (IRE), Ready for Life (CZE), Sixteen (FR)
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Rainbows for Life was bred by Sam-Son Farms. He was trained by James E. Day. In 1993 Josephine Abercrombie’s Pin Oak Stud bought into the horse. Rainbows for Life entered stud in Ireland in 1994. He was later sold on to stand in Central Europe. He was euthanized September 1, 2012, due to the infirmities of old age.
Pedigree notes
Rainbows for Life is inbred 4x4 to the important broodmare Almahmoud and 5x5 to six-time English/Irish champion sire Hyperion, winner of the 1933 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes. He is a half brother to 1990 CIGA Prix de l’Opera (FR-G2) winner Colour Chart, dam of 2001 American champion juvenile filly Tempera (by A.P. Indy), multiple French Group 3 winner Equerry (by St. Jovite), and French listed stakes winner Ecole d’Art (by Theatrical); second dam of 2010 Saudi Arabian champion older female Capriv; and third dam of Grade 3 winner Fast Market. Rainbows for Life is also a half brother to 1994 Cup and Saucer Stakes winner Always a Rainbow (by Mr. Prospector) and to Barari by Blushing Groom), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner White Heart (by Green Desert) and listed stakes winner Kind Regards (by Unfuwain). In addition, Rainbows for Life is a half brother to Rainbow’s Classic (by Regal Classic), dam of listed stakes winner Full Spectrum (by Broad Brush).
Rainbows for Life and his siblings are out of two-time Canadian champion Rainbow Connection, whose full sister Rainbow Two is the second dam of multiple Grade 2 winner City to City. Rainbow Connection is also a half sister to Hangin on a Star (by Vice Regent), who won the 1987 Breeders’ Stakes (third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown) and two other stakes races before becoming the dam of 1993 Canadian champion 2-year-old male Comet Shine (by Fappiano) and of Misty Mission (by Miswaki), who took the third leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara, the Wonder Where Stakes, in 2000. Hangin on a Star is also the second dam of two-time Canadian champion Irish Mission and Grade 3 winners French Beret and Patience Game and the third dam of Grade 2 winner Mission of Joy and Grade 3 winner Time to Dazzle.
Returning to Rainbow Connection, she is also a half sister to 1981 King Edward Gold Cup Handicap winner Mr. Macho (by Ruritania) and to Archdeacon (by Dancing Champ), winner of the 1983 Prince of Wales Stakes (second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown). The siblings were produced from 1980 Canadian Broodmare of the Year Hangin Round (Stage Door Johnny x Auburn’s Pride, by Aureole), a half sister to the minor stakes winner New Pride (by Julmar; dam of stakes winner Baldski’s Pride, by Baldski). Hangin Round is also a half sister to All Puffed Up (by Dynastic), dam of the minor stakes winner Dyna Surge (by Plastic Surgeon).
Last updated: November 23, 2025