Ridan (USA)
February 21, 1959 – 1977
Nantallah (USA) x Rough Shod II (GB), by Gold Bridge (FR)
Family 5-h
February 21, 1959 – 1977
Nantallah (USA) x Rough Shod II (GB), by Gold Bridge (FR)
Family 5-h
A tall, strapping colt, Ridan was a gifted athlete but probably could have held a still greater reputation had he not been disinclined to hold a straight course in some of his races. He was a successful sire but did not get any runners who approached his own considerable ability, though he did get the moderate Prix Royal-Oak (French St. Leger, FR-G1) winner Busiris. Nonetheless, he had an indirect impact on Thoroughbred breeding as his success inspired A. B. “Bull” Hancock of Claiborne Farm to keep repeating the mating of Nantallah to Rough Shod II, producing three full siblings who each had significant influence.
Race record
23 starts, 13 wins, 6 seconds, 2 thirds, US$635,074
1961:
1962:
1963:
Honors
American co-champion juvenile male (1961)
Assessments
Rated at 125 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1961, 1 pound below divisional co-champion Crimson Satan.
Rated at 127 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1962, 1 pound below divisional champion Jaipur and tied for second place with Sir Gaylord.
Rated at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1963, 11 pounds below Horse of the Year Kelso but tied for fourth with Carry Back.
As an individual
A bay horse, Ridan stood 16.2 hands in the fall of his 3-year-old season. He was a strong, correct, big-boned horse with a rather coarse head. He had a good shoulder and a long, sloping pelvis tying into an exceptionally straight, strong hind leg with great length from hip to hock. He was retired due to an ankle injury after three starts at 4. Except at full extension, his action was rather high in front, but his stride was measured at 28 feet during a workout at Arlington Park. He was sensible around the barn, saving his idiosyncrasies for the track, but was not an easy horse to train; according to Time magazine, at morning exercise he was "an incorrigible people-hater who ran away with his exercise boys." In spite of his vagaries, he was game and determined when hooked. He was a front runner by preference and did not tolerate rating well.
As a stallion
According to The Jockey Club, Ridan sired 198 winners (57.6%) and 31 stakes winners (9.0%) from 344 named foals.
Notable progeny
Busiris (FR)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Ridan was bred by Claiborne Farm. He was sold to trainer Moody Jolley for US$11,000 as a yearling and was owned by Jolley's wife in partnership with Ernest Woods and John L. Greer, who both bought into the colt after his first two races. Ridan was trained by LeRoy Jolley, son of Moody Jolley. He entered stud in Kentucky in 1963 and was transferred to Ireland in 1973. In 1976 he was sent to Australia, where he died from an intestinal torsion in 1977.
Pedigree notes
Ridan is inbred 5x3 to three-time English leading sire Blandford. He is a full brother to 1965 American champion 2-year-old filly and co-Horse of the Year Moccasin, a great producer whose seven stakes winners include 1971 English and Irish champion 2-year-old male Apalachee (by Round Table) and 1982 Irish champion older male and sprinter Belted Earl (by Damascus). He is also a full brother to the good stakes winner and sire Lt. Stevens and to stakes-placed Thong, dam of 1972 Irish champion juvenile and 1973 English champion miler Thatch (by Forli), multiple Grade 1 winner King Pellinore (by Round Table), 1974 Coronation Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Lisadell (by Forli), and stakes winner Espadrille (by Damascus). Through her daughter Special (by Forli), Thong is the second dam of 1980 French champion miler Nureyev, a first-rate sire, and the third dam of one of the greatest sires of all time, Sadler's Wells, whose full brother Fairy King was the French champion sire of 1996. Thong is also the second dam of 1985 BBA Ireland-Goffs National Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Tate Gallery, 1989 CIGA Grand Criterium (FR-G1) winner Jade Robbery, 1992 Smurfit National Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Fatherland, and 2008 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (HK-G1) winner Archipenko and the third dam of 2010 American champion older male Blame.
Ridan is also a half brother to multiple stakes winner Gambetta (by My Babu), dam of three-time American champion Gamely (by Bold Ruler) and stakes winner Staretta (by Dark Star). Gambetta is the second dam of 1971 Dewhurst Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Cellini, 1973 Observer Gold Cup (ENG-G1) winner Take Your Place, and the top-flight turf mare Drumtop.
Produced from 1934 Yorkshire Oaks winner Dalmary (by Blandford), Ridan's dam Rough Shod II is a half sister to 1948 Leicestershire Oaks winner Corinacy (by Mieuxcé) and to Gold Mary (by Solario), dam of the stakes-winning Nearco fillies Flying Slipper and Nectarine and their multiple stakes-producing full sister Sarie. Gold Mary is also the dam of Spring Light (by Signal Light), dam of 1961 Irish Two Thousand Guineas winner Light Year (by Chamier). Rough Shod II is also a half sister to stakes-placed Jennydang (by Colombo), whose stakes-winning son Pewter Platter (by Owen Tudor) became a good sire in Brazil, and to Miss Know All (by Rhodes Scholar), sire of the good stakes winner Le Sage (by Chamossaire).
Fun facts
Last updated: June 12, 2023
Race record
23 starts, 13 wins, 6 seconds, 2 thirds, US$635,074
1961:
- Won Hyde Park Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Prairie State Stakes (USA, 6FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Arlington Futurity (USA, 6FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Washington Park Futurity (USA, 6.5FD, Arlington Park)
- Also set a new track record of :48-1/5 for 4 furlongs on dirt at Keeneland
1962:
- Won Hibiscus Stakes (USA, 6FD, Hialeah)
- Won Florida Derby (USA, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Blue Grass Stakes (USA, 9FD, Keeneland)
- Won Arlington Classic (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Flamingo Stakes (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
- 2nd Preakness Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd American Derby (USA, 10FD, Arlington Park)
- 2nd Travers Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- 3rd Aqueduct Stakes (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
1963:
- Won Palm Beach Handicap (USA, 7FD, Hialeah)
- 2nd Seminole Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
Honors
American co-champion juvenile male (1961)
Assessments
Rated at 125 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1961, 1 pound below divisional co-champion Crimson Satan.
Rated at 127 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1962, 1 pound below divisional champion Jaipur and tied for second place with Sir Gaylord.
Rated at 125 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1963, 11 pounds below Horse of the Year Kelso but tied for fourth with Carry Back.
As an individual
A bay horse, Ridan stood 16.2 hands in the fall of his 3-year-old season. He was a strong, correct, big-boned horse with a rather coarse head. He had a good shoulder and a long, sloping pelvis tying into an exceptionally straight, strong hind leg with great length from hip to hock. He was retired due to an ankle injury after three starts at 4. Except at full extension, his action was rather high in front, but his stride was measured at 28 feet during a workout at Arlington Park. He was sensible around the barn, saving his idiosyncrasies for the track, but was not an easy horse to train; according to Time magazine, at morning exercise he was "an incorrigible people-hater who ran away with his exercise boys." In spite of his vagaries, he was game and determined when hooked. He was a front runner by preference and did not tolerate rating well.
As a stallion
According to The Jockey Club, Ridan sired 198 winners (57.6%) and 31 stakes winners (9.0%) from 344 named foals.
Notable progeny
Busiris (FR)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Ridan was bred by Claiborne Farm. He was sold to trainer Moody Jolley for US$11,000 as a yearling and was owned by Jolley's wife in partnership with Ernest Woods and John L. Greer, who both bought into the colt after his first two races. Ridan was trained by LeRoy Jolley, son of Moody Jolley. He entered stud in Kentucky in 1963 and was transferred to Ireland in 1973. In 1976 he was sent to Australia, where he died from an intestinal torsion in 1977.
Pedigree notes
Ridan is inbred 5x3 to three-time English leading sire Blandford. He is a full brother to 1965 American champion 2-year-old filly and co-Horse of the Year Moccasin, a great producer whose seven stakes winners include 1971 English and Irish champion 2-year-old male Apalachee (by Round Table) and 1982 Irish champion older male and sprinter Belted Earl (by Damascus). He is also a full brother to the good stakes winner and sire Lt. Stevens and to stakes-placed Thong, dam of 1972 Irish champion juvenile and 1973 English champion miler Thatch (by Forli), multiple Grade 1 winner King Pellinore (by Round Table), 1974 Coronation Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Lisadell (by Forli), and stakes winner Espadrille (by Damascus). Through her daughter Special (by Forli), Thong is the second dam of 1980 French champion miler Nureyev, a first-rate sire, and the third dam of one of the greatest sires of all time, Sadler's Wells, whose full brother Fairy King was the French champion sire of 1996. Thong is also the second dam of 1985 BBA Ireland-Goffs National Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Tate Gallery, 1989 CIGA Grand Criterium (FR-G1) winner Jade Robbery, 1992 Smurfit National Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Fatherland, and 2008 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (HK-G1) winner Archipenko and the third dam of 2010 American champion older male Blame.
Ridan is also a half brother to multiple stakes winner Gambetta (by My Babu), dam of three-time American champion Gamely (by Bold Ruler) and stakes winner Staretta (by Dark Star). Gambetta is the second dam of 1971 Dewhurst Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Cellini, 1973 Observer Gold Cup (ENG-G1) winner Take Your Place, and the top-flight turf mare Drumtop.
Produced from 1934 Yorkshire Oaks winner Dalmary (by Blandford), Ridan's dam Rough Shod II is a half sister to 1948 Leicestershire Oaks winner Corinacy (by Mieuxcé) and to Gold Mary (by Solario), dam of the stakes-winning Nearco fillies Flying Slipper and Nectarine and their multiple stakes-producing full sister Sarie. Gold Mary is also the dam of Spring Light (by Signal Light), dam of 1961 Irish Two Thousand Guineas winner Light Year (by Chamier). Rough Shod II is also a half sister to stakes-placed Jennydang (by Colombo), whose stakes-winning son Pewter Platter (by Owen Tudor) became a good sire in Brazil, and to Miss Know All (by Rhodes Scholar), sire of the good stakes winner Le Sage (by Chamossaire).
Fun facts
- Ridan got his name because of Moody Jolley's perception that he closely resembled 1957 American co-champion 2-year-old male Nadir, a horse Jolley had trained. Ridan is “Nadir” spelled in reverse.
- In spite of handily defeating Crimson Satan both times that they met as a juvenile, Ridan had his 2-year-old season cut short by a leg problem and ended up having to share the championship with his rival. Ridan faced Crimson Satan seven more times later in their careers and beat him easily every time.
- Ridan's Travers duel with Jaipur was ranked #79 in Horse Racing's Top 100 Moments, a review of racing in the 20th century compiled by The Blood-Horse and released in 2006.
Last updated: June 12, 2023