Rayon d'Or (FR)
1876 – July 15, 1896
Flageolet (FR) x Araucaria (GB), by Ambrose (GB)
Family 3-n
1876 – July 15, 1896
Flageolet (FR) x Araucaria (GB), by Ambrose (GB)
Family 3-n
Rayon d'Or checked off all the boxes for a young stallion when he was imported to the United States in 1882. Quick enough to be a good juvenile, he matured to be the one of the most versatile horses of his day in both England and France. He had size and scope, and his pedigree was equally attractive: A half brother to two other Classic winners, he was out of a half sister to the great stallion Stockwell and the influential sires King Tom and Rataplan. While Rayon d'Or failed to establish a lasting sire line in the United States, he did become a leading sure there and had substantial influence through his daughters.
Race record
30 starts, 17 wins, 6 seconds, 5 thirds
1878:
1879:
1880:
As an individual
A tall, slightly ewe-necked chestnut horse said to stand over 16.3 hands, Rayon d'Or had a high head carriage that gave him the nickname of “The Giraffe.” He had strong shoulders and the flat musculature of a stayer. He was said to have been temperamental as a stallion in America and to have frequently transmitted his disposition to his foals.
As a stallion
Rayon d'Or led the American general sire list in 1889, making him the first French-bred horse to do so. He was also second in 1897 and fourth in 1896. Clio Hogan's Index to Stakes Winners 1865-1967 credits him with 24 stakes winners.
Notable progeny
Banquet (USA), Chaos (USA), Gypsy Queen (USA), Liza (USA), Octagon (USA), Souffle (USA), Tea Tray (USA), Tenny (USA)
Connections
Rayon d'Or was bred and owned by Comte Frédéric de Lagrange. He was trained by Tom Jennings. Following his retirement from racing, Rayon d'Or stood at Lagrange's Haras Dangu for two season but was not well patronized. He was then imported to the United States by William L. Scott as a purchase from the Haras Dangu dispersal in November 1882 at a cost of 150,000 francs, the highest price ever paid to that time for a horse imported to the United States. Rayon d'Or stood at Scott's Algeria Stud in Pennsylvania from 1883 through 1892. Following Scott's death, Rayon d'Or was purchased by August Belmont II from the Algeria Stud dispersal and sent to Belmont's Nursery Stud in Kentucky, where the stallion died in July 1896.
Pedigree notes
Rayon d'Or is inbred 5x3 to four-time English champion sire Touchstone. Sired by the high-class French stayer Flageolet, he is a half brother to 1876 One Thousand Guineas and Oaks Stakes winner Camelia (by Macaroni) and to 1877 Two Thousand Guineas winner Chamant (by Mortemer). He is also a half brother to the important French sire Wellingtonia (by Chattanooga) and to the important Australian sire Apremont (by Mortemer).
Araucaria, the dam of Rayon d'Or, won in good company and is a full sister to Auricula, winner of the 1864 St. Leger Stakes. She is a half sister to Stockwell (by The Baron) who won the 1852 Two Thousand Guineas and St. Leger Stakes and led the English general sire list seven times. She is also a half sister to the good Cup horse and influential sire Rataplan (by The Baron); to King Tom (by Harkaway), a two-time champion sire in England; to stakes winners Knight of St. Patrick (by Knight of St. George) and Automaton (by Ambrose); and to Ayacanora (by Birdcatcher), dam of 1864 Criterion Stakes winner Chattanooga. Araucaria and her siblings were produced from the Glencoe mare Pocahontas, one of the greatest matrons of the 19th century.
Race record
30 starts, 17 wins, 6 seconds, 5 thirds
1878:
- Won Lavant Stakes (ENG, 4FD, Goodwood)
- Won Clearwell Stakes (ENG, Newmarket)
- Won Glasgow Stakes (ENG, 6FD, Newmarket)
- Won a sweepstakes (ENG, 6FD, Doncaster)
- 2nd Corporation Stakes (ENG, Brighton)
- 2nd Priory Stakes (ENG, Lewes)
- 2nd Champagne Stakes (ENG, @5.75FT, Doncaster)
- 2nd Boscawen Stakes (ENG, Newmarket)
- 3rd July Stakes (ENG, 6FT, Newmarket)
- 3rd Criterion Stakes (ENG, Newmarket)
1879:
- Won Sussex Stakes (ENG, 8FT, Goodwood)
- Won St. Leger Stakes (ENG, 14F+132yT, Doncaster)
- Won Zetland Stakes (ENG, Doncaster; walked over)
- Won Great Foal Stakes (Eng, Newmarket)
- Won Select Stakes (ENG, 8FD, Newmarket)
- Won Second Great Challenge Stakes (ENG, 6FD, Newmarket)
- Won Champion Stakes (ENG, 10FD, Newmarket)
- Won St. James's Palace Stakes (ENG, 8FT, Ascot)
- 2nd Newmarket St. Leger (ENG, 16F+105yT, Newmarket)
- 3rd Two Thousand Guineas (ENG, 8FT, Newmarket First Spring)
- 3rd Prince of Wales's Stakes (ENG, 13FT, Ascot)
- 3rd a free handicap sweepstakes (ENG, Newmarket)
1880:
- Won Post Stakes (ENG, 16FT, Newmarket)
- Won Prince of Wales's Stakes (ENG, Newmarket; walked over)
- Won Rous Memorial Stakes (ENG, 8FD, Ascot)
- Won Prix du Cadran (FR, 4000mT, Longchamp)
- Won Prix Rainbow (FR, 5000mT, Longchamp)
- 2nd Hardwicke Stakes (ENG, 12FT, Ascot)
As an individual
A tall, slightly ewe-necked chestnut horse said to stand over 16.3 hands, Rayon d'Or had a high head carriage that gave him the nickname of “The Giraffe.” He had strong shoulders and the flat musculature of a stayer. He was said to have been temperamental as a stallion in America and to have frequently transmitted his disposition to his foals.
As a stallion
Rayon d'Or led the American general sire list in 1889, making him the first French-bred horse to do so. He was also second in 1897 and fourth in 1896. Clio Hogan's Index to Stakes Winners 1865-1967 credits him with 24 stakes winners.
Notable progeny
Banquet (USA), Chaos (USA), Gypsy Queen (USA), Liza (USA), Octagon (USA), Souffle (USA), Tea Tray (USA), Tenny (USA)
Connections
Rayon d'Or was bred and owned by Comte Frédéric de Lagrange. He was trained by Tom Jennings. Following his retirement from racing, Rayon d'Or stood at Lagrange's Haras Dangu for two season but was not well patronized. He was then imported to the United States by William L. Scott as a purchase from the Haras Dangu dispersal in November 1882 at a cost of 150,000 francs, the highest price ever paid to that time for a horse imported to the United States. Rayon d'Or stood at Scott's Algeria Stud in Pennsylvania from 1883 through 1892. Following Scott's death, Rayon d'Or was purchased by August Belmont II from the Algeria Stud dispersal and sent to Belmont's Nursery Stud in Kentucky, where the stallion died in July 1896.
Pedigree notes
Rayon d'Or is inbred 5x3 to four-time English champion sire Touchstone. Sired by the high-class French stayer Flageolet, he is a half brother to 1876 One Thousand Guineas and Oaks Stakes winner Camelia (by Macaroni) and to 1877 Two Thousand Guineas winner Chamant (by Mortemer). He is also a half brother to the important French sire Wellingtonia (by Chattanooga) and to the important Australian sire Apremont (by Mortemer).
Araucaria, the dam of Rayon d'Or, won in good company and is a full sister to Auricula, winner of the 1864 St. Leger Stakes. She is a half sister to Stockwell (by The Baron) who won the 1852 Two Thousand Guineas and St. Leger Stakes and led the English general sire list seven times. She is also a half sister to the good Cup horse and influential sire Rataplan (by The Baron); to King Tom (by Harkaway), a two-time champion sire in England; to stakes winners Knight of St. Patrick (by Knight of St. George) and Automaton (by Ambrose); and to Ayacanora (by Birdcatcher), dam of 1864 Criterion Stakes winner Chattanooga. Araucaria and her siblings were produced from the Glencoe mare Pocahontas, one of the greatest matrons of the 19th century.