Run the Gantlet (USA)
April 10, 1968 – February 28, 1986
Tom Rolfe (USA) x First Feather (USA), by First Landing (USA)
Family 5-g
April 10, 1968 – February 28, 1986
Tom Rolfe (USA) x First Feather (USA), by First Landing (USA)
Family 5-g
The first winner of the Eclipse Award in the turf horse division, Run the Gantlet showed ability on dirt as a juvenile but was far from outstanding when running on that surface during the first half of his 3-year-old season, He proved much better when switched to the grass, especially over softer going, and was the beneficiary of an unusually cool and wet fall in the eastern United States in 1971; of his five consecutive turf wins in the late summer and fall of that year, four were over soft courses. Run the Gantlet became a consistent sire of staying turf horses but was more influential in Europe than in the Americas.
Race record
21 starts, 9 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third, US$559,079
1970:
1971:
1972:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion turf horse (1971)
Assessments
Rated at 124 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1970, 2 pounds below divisional champion Hoist the Flag.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf runners of 1971, 2 pounds below highweighted Drumtop (a 5-year-old mare).
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf males of 1972, 6 pounds below divisional champion Cougar II but third overall.
As an individual
A small, rather plain bay colt (standing no more than 15.3 hands as a 3-year-old, he grew to 16.1 hands at maturity), Run the Gantlet had good rein length, a deep shoulder, a short back, and a reasonably long pelvis. His legs were deerlike and clean, but he did not have the best of feet. His musculature was of the flat staying type. In action, he was agile and capable of quick acceleration. While racing, he showed a fair measure of the temperament associated with his paternal grandsire Ribot, but this may have been related to foot pain as he was said to have been a reasonably sensible stallion.
As a stallion
According to The Jockey Club’s records, Run the Gantlet sired 243 winners (55.2%) and 36 stakes winners (8.2%) from 440 named foals. He is a Solid chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
April Run (IRE), Ardross (IRE), Commanche Run (GB), Panamint (IRE), Providential (IRE), Swiftfoot (GB)
Notable progeny of daughters
Flash of Steel (IRE), Honor Glide (USA), Risk Me (FR)
Connections
Foaled in Virginia, Run the Gantlet was bred by Paul Mellon and raced in the colors of Mellon’s Rokeby Stable. He was trained by Elliott Burch. Sold to Bertram Firestone for US$1.6 million following his racing career, he entered stud in 1973 at Firestone’s Gilltown Stud in County Kildare, Ireland. In 1981, he returned to the United States as the property of a syndicate to stand at Jerry Hoffberger’s Sunset Hill Farm. He died of a ruptured aorta in February 1986.
Pedigree notes
Run the Gantlet is inbred 4x3 to two-time American champion sire and eight-time American champion broodmare sire Princequillo, winner of the 1943 Jockey Club Gold Cup. He is also inbred 5x5 to 1923 Derby Stakes winner Papyrus. He is a full brother to Quilting Bee, dam of restricted stakes winner Royal Jelly (by Magesterial), second dam of South African Group 2 winner Moroccan and Australian Group 3 winner Espinosa, and third dam of 2014 All Aged Stakes (AUS-G1) winner Hana’s Goal, He is a half brother to 1972 Everglades Stakes winner Head of the River (by Crewman), to multiple Grade 3 winner Music of Time (by Northern Dancer), and to listed stakes winner Lightning Leap (by Nijinsky II). He is also a half brother to Grade 1-placed Spring Is Here (by In Reality), 1986 Man o’ War Stakes (USA-G1) winner Dance of Life (by Nijinsky II) and 1986 Prince of Wales’s Stakes (ENG-G2) winner English Spring (by Grey Dawn II); second dam of Group 3 winner Fragrant Hill; and third dam of 1998 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (FR-G1) winner Fragrant Mix, 2006 Queensland Oaks (AUS-G1) winner Allow, 2009 Prix Jean Romanet (FR-G1) winner Alpine Rose, and French Group 3 winner Fracassant. In addition, Run the Gantlet is a half brother to Tripos (by Arts and Letters), dam of Group 3-placed listed stakes winner Silver Tally (by Superbity), and to Winter Words (by Northern Dancer), second dam of Grade 3 winner Timeless Answer and third dam of Peruvian Group 2 winner Sotil.
Run the Gantlet and his siblings are out of the winner First Feather. She is a half sister to 1971 Canadian champion turf horse One for All (by Northern Dancer), to multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Caucasus (by Nijinsky II), and to 1982 Musidora Stakes (ENG-G3) winner Last Feather (by Vaguely Noble), dam of multiple listed stakes winners Ruznama (by Forty Niner) and Precious Feather (by Gone West), second dam of 2010 American champion 2-year-old filly Awesome Feather, and third dam of 2013 Gran Premio Provincia de Buenos Aires (ARG-G1) winner Bajista and multiple Argentine Group 2 winner Belarusa. First Feather is also a half sister to Euryanthe (by Nijinsky II), dam of 1992 Stephen Foster Handicap (USA-G2) winner Barkerville (by Mr. Prospector; a sire of some importance in Chile), 1982 Prix d’Aumale (FR-G3) winner Air Distingue (by Sir Ivor), and 1983 Prix d’Aumale (FR-G3) winner Eastern Dawn (by Damascus); second dam of 1995 Dubai Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, FR-G1) winner Vettori and multiple Grade 2 winner Hero’s Tribute; and third dam of 2007 Uruguayan champion 3-year-old filly Ancona. In addition, First Feather is a half sister to Shill (by Buckpasser), dam of 1976 Japanese champion 2-year-old male Maruzensky (by Nijinsky II) and third dam of Japanese Group 3 winner Let’s Go Kirishima. Finally, First Feather is a half sister to Twill (by Swaps), second dam of 1986 Arlington Classic Stakes (USA-G1) winner Sumptious.
First Feather and her siblings were produced from 1958 American champion 2-year-old filly Quill (Princequillo x Quick Touch, by Count Fleet), whose full sister Quilting is the dam of multiple juvenile stakes winner Hunka Papa (by Dr. Fager) and the second dam of 1990 Donn Handicap (USA-G1) winner Primal. Quill is a half sister to 1961 Narragansett Special Handicap winner Count Amber (by Ambiorix) and to 1956 Frizette Stakes winner Capelet (by Bolero), dam of 1963 Hopeful Stakes winner Traffic (by Traffic Judge) and second dam of 1975 Santa Barbara Handicap (USA-G1) winner Gay Style, 1992 Oak Leaf Stakes (USA-G1) winner Zoonaqua, and Grade 3 winner Royal Suite. Capelet is also the third dam of 1993 Panamanian Horse of the Year El Catedratico; 1983 Alabama Stakes (USA-G1) winner Spit Curl; Group 2 winners Air Marshall, Secret Haunt, and Tokai Trick; and Grade/Group 3 winners Break Bread, Diver, Elegance, and Smart Style. Returning to Quill, she is also a half sister to stakes winner Sorceress (by Slide Rule) and to Noble Touch (by Crafty Admiral), second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Island Charm and third dam of 1983 Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G1) winner Qualique and French Group 2 winner Nerio.
Fun facts
Last updated: November 26, 2021
Race record
21 starts, 9 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third, US$559,079
1970:
- Won Garden State Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Garden State)
1971:
- Won Washington D. C. International (USA, 12FT, Laurel)
- Won Man o' War Stakes (USA, 12FT, Belmont)
- Won United Nations Handicap (USA, 9.5FT, Atlantic City)
- Won Tidal Handicap (USA, 9FT, Aqueduct)
- Won Kelly-Olympic Handicap (USA, 9FT, Atlantic City)
1972:
- Won Bowling Green Handicap (USA, 12FT, Belmont)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion turf horse (1971)
Assessments
Rated at 124 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1970, 2 pounds below divisional champion Hoist the Flag.
Rated at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf runners of 1971, 2 pounds below highweighted Drumtop (a 5-year-old mare).
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf males of 1972, 6 pounds below divisional champion Cougar II but third overall.
As an individual
A small, rather plain bay colt (standing no more than 15.3 hands as a 3-year-old, he grew to 16.1 hands at maturity), Run the Gantlet had good rein length, a deep shoulder, a short back, and a reasonably long pelvis. His legs were deerlike and clean, but he did not have the best of feet. His musculature was of the flat staying type. In action, he was agile and capable of quick acceleration. While racing, he showed a fair measure of the temperament associated with his paternal grandsire Ribot, but this may have been related to foot pain as he was said to have been a reasonably sensible stallion.
As a stallion
According to The Jockey Club’s records, Run the Gantlet sired 243 winners (55.2%) and 36 stakes winners (8.2%) from 440 named foals. He is a Solid chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 7th on the combined English/Irish general sire list in 1982 and 1985.
- 7th on the French general sire list in 1981.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the Irish general sire list in 1985.
Notable progeny
April Run (IRE), Ardross (IRE), Commanche Run (GB), Panamint (IRE), Providential (IRE), Swiftfoot (GB)
Notable progeny of daughters
Flash of Steel (IRE), Honor Glide (USA), Risk Me (FR)
Connections
Foaled in Virginia, Run the Gantlet was bred by Paul Mellon and raced in the colors of Mellon’s Rokeby Stable. He was trained by Elliott Burch. Sold to Bertram Firestone for US$1.6 million following his racing career, he entered stud in 1973 at Firestone’s Gilltown Stud in County Kildare, Ireland. In 1981, he returned to the United States as the property of a syndicate to stand at Jerry Hoffberger’s Sunset Hill Farm. He died of a ruptured aorta in February 1986.
Pedigree notes
Run the Gantlet is inbred 4x3 to two-time American champion sire and eight-time American champion broodmare sire Princequillo, winner of the 1943 Jockey Club Gold Cup. He is also inbred 5x5 to 1923 Derby Stakes winner Papyrus. He is a full brother to Quilting Bee, dam of restricted stakes winner Royal Jelly (by Magesterial), second dam of South African Group 2 winner Moroccan and Australian Group 3 winner Espinosa, and third dam of 2014 All Aged Stakes (AUS-G1) winner Hana’s Goal, He is a half brother to 1972 Everglades Stakes winner Head of the River (by Crewman), to multiple Grade 3 winner Music of Time (by Northern Dancer), and to listed stakes winner Lightning Leap (by Nijinsky II). He is also a half brother to Grade 1-placed Spring Is Here (by In Reality), 1986 Man o’ War Stakes (USA-G1) winner Dance of Life (by Nijinsky II) and 1986 Prince of Wales’s Stakes (ENG-G2) winner English Spring (by Grey Dawn II); second dam of Group 3 winner Fragrant Hill; and third dam of 1998 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (FR-G1) winner Fragrant Mix, 2006 Queensland Oaks (AUS-G1) winner Allow, 2009 Prix Jean Romanet (FR-G1) winner Alpine Rose, and French Group 3 winner Fracassant. In addition, Run the Gantlet is a half brother to Tripos (by Arts and Letters), dam of Group 3-placed listed stakes winner Silver Tally (by Superbity), and to Winter Words (by Northern Dancer), second dam of Grade 3 winner Timeless Answer and third dam of Peruvian Group 2 winner Sotil.
Run the Gantlet and his siblings are out of the winner First Feather. She is a half sister to 1971 Canadian champion turf horse One for All (by Northern Dancer), to multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Caucasus (by Nijinsky II), and to 1982 Musidora Stakes (ENG-G3) winner Last Feather (by Vaguely Noble), dam of multiple listed stakes winners Ruznama (by Forty Niner) and Precious Feather (by Gone West), second dam of 2010 American champion 2-year-old filly Awesome Feather, and third dam of 2013 Gran Premio Provincia de Buenos Aires (ARG-G1) winner Bajista and multiple Argentine Group 2 winner Belarusa. First Feather is also a half sister to Euryanthe (by Nijinsky II), dam of 1992 Stephen Foster Handicap (USA-G2) winner Barkerville (by Mr. Prospector; a sire of some importance in Chile), 1982 Prix d’Aumale (FR-G3) winner Air Distingue (by Sir Ivor), and 1983 Prix d’Aumale (FR-G3) winner Eastern Dawn (by Damascus); second dam of 1995 Dubai Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, FR-G1) winner Vettori and multiple Grade 2 winner Hero’s Tribute; and third dam of 2007 Uruguayan champion 3-year-old filly Ancona. In addition, First Feather is a half sister to Shill (by Buckpasser), dam of 1976 Japanese champion 2-year-old male Maruzensky (by Nijinsky II) and third dam of Japanese Group 3 winner Let’s Go Kirishima. Finally, First Feather is a half sister to Twill (by Swaps), second dam of 1986 Arlington Classic Stakes (USA-G1) winner Sumptious.
First Feather and her siblings were produced from 1958 American champion 2-year-old filly Quill (Princequillo x Quick Touch, by Count Fleet), whose full sister Quilting is the dam of multiple juvenile stakes winner Hunka Papa (by Dr. Fager) and the second dam of 1990 Donn Handicap (USA-G1) winner Primal. Quill is a half sister to 1961 Narragansett Special Handicap winner Count Amber (by Ambiorix) and to 1956 Frizette Stakes winner Capelet (by Bolero), dam of 1963 Hopeful Stakes winner Traffic (by Traffic Judge) and second dam of 1975 Santa Barbara Handicap (USA-G1) winner Gay Style, 1992 Oak Leaf Stakes (USA-G1) winner Zoonaqua, and Grade 3 winner Royal Suite. Capelet is also the third dam of 1993 Panamanian Horse of the Year El Catedratico; 1983 Alabama Stakes (USA-G1) winner Spit Curl; Group 2 winners Air Marshall, Secret Haunt, and Tokai Trick; and Grade/Group 3 winners Break Bread, Diver, Elegance, and Smart Style. Returning to Quill, she is also a half sister to stakes winner Sorceress (by Slide Rule) and to Noble Touch (by Crafty Admiral), second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Island Charm and third dam of 1983 Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G1) winner Qualique and French Group 2 winner Nerio.
Fun facts
- “Running the gantlet” (or gauntlet) was a form of corporal punishment, primarily used by the armies of some European countries up through the 19th century and by some Native American peoples. The man to be punished was made to walk or run between two lines of soldiers or warriors and was subjected to the blows of the men on both sides. The severity of the punishment depended on the length of the lines and how many times the victim had to pass between them, on the weapons (if any) deemed permissible for the men in the lines to use, and on whether or not the victim was permitted to use his arms to shield his head. The phrase “to run the gantlet” has passed into the English language as a metaphor for having to pass through a pubic ordeal or trial.
- Run the Gantlet’s edition of the Washington, D. C., International was the slowest in the race’s history, with a final time of 2:50-3/5 for the mile and a half over a deep, heavy course that actually had standing water on it in places. Only invited to the race because his stablemate, 1970 American champion turf male and co-Horse of the Year Fort Marcy, went wrong and was retired, Run the Gantlet won by six lengths.
- Run the Gantlet was the only International winner to sire an International winner, accomplishing the feat when his son Providential won the race in 1981. His daughter April Run was second in the 1981 International and gave Run the Gantlet back-to-back wins as a sire when she won the 1982 International.
Last updated: November 26, 2021