Sunday Silence (USA)
March 25, 1986 – August 19, 2002
Halo (USA) x Wishing Well (USA), by Understanding (USA)
Family 3-e
March 25, 1986 – August 19, 2002
Halo (USA) x Wishing Well (USA), by Understanding (USA)
Family 3-e
Consistently underrated throughout his career, Sunday Silence overcame a modest pedigree, crooked legs, severe illness as a weanling, a van accident and a top-class rival named Easy Goer to become a champion. Even then, he could get no respect as a stallion prospect in Kentucky. Sold to Japan, he became the most dominant stallion in the nation's history before his untimely death at the age of 16.
Race record
14 starts, 9 wins, 5 seconds, US$4,968, 554
1989:
1990:
Honors
Assessments
Sunday Silence was rated #31 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by an expert panel assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).
Sunday Silence was highweighted on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1989 with 130 pounds, 1 pound above second-rated Easy Goer.
Sunday Silence was retrospectively awarded a Timeform rating of 137 pounds for his 3-year-old season in 1990, tying him with his arch-rival Easy Goer for the highest rating given to a 20th-century American racehorse to that point. Only Cigar at 138 pounds was rated higher.
Co-highweighted with Easy Goer on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1990, 1 pound above official divisional champion and Horse of the Year Criminal Type.
As an individual
Sunday Silence was a classic ugly duckling. Like many of Halo's progeny, he was a plain dark bay or brown with unattractive leg conformation. Cow-hocked and sickle-hocked behind, he had offset knees and long pasterns in front and lacked overall substance. He also had much of the tough disposition his sire often imparted. This toughness helped him survive a severe attack of diarrhea as a weanling and probably also helped in his recovery when the driver of a van he was riding in suffered a heart attack and tipped the van over. Sunday Silence, then an unraced 2-year-old, got off with cuts and bruises but remained apparently unfazed mentally. Studdish and headstrong as a racehorse, he became more aggressive as a breeding stallion and frequently bit his handlers. His strongest points as an individual were an unusually fluid, agile stride and a strong will to win.
As a stallion
Sunday Silence's prowess as a sire made him a cultural icon in Japan, where his crooked white blaze became as recognizable a symbol as the Rising Sun on the country's flag. He typically passed on his own sickle hocks, cow hocks, offset knees and long pasterns, but these flaws were forgivable in light of his tremendous success. On the positive side, his offspring had good size and scope and a strong will to win. He did particularly well with mares carrying Northern Dancer blood, creating inbreeding to their mutual ancestress Almahmoud. According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Sunday Silence sired 1089 winners (69.9%) and 171 stakes winners (11.0%) from 1558 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Japan Bloodstock Information Systems (https://www.jbis.jp/ranking/):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Admire Vega (JPN), Agnes Flight (JPN), Agnes Gold (JPN). Agnes Tachyon (JPN), Air Shakur (JPN), Bubble Gum Fellow (JPN), Daiwa Major (JPN), Dance in the Dark (JPN), Dance in the Mood (JPN), Dance Partner (JPN), Deep Impact (JPN), Durandal (JPN), Fuji Kiseki (JPN), Genuine (JPN), Hat Trick (JPN), Heart's Cry (JPN), Manhattan Cafe (JPN), Marvelous Sunday (JPN), Neo Universe (JPN), Silence Suzuka (JPN), Special Week (JPN), Stay Gold (JPN), Still in Love (JPN), Matsurida Gogh (JPN), Tayasu Tsuyoshi (JPN), To the Victory (JPN), Zenno Rob Roy (JPN)
Notable progeny of daughters
Gendarme (USA), Karakontie (JPN), More Joyous (NZ), Tale of Ekati (USA)
Connections
Foaled March 25, 1986, Sunday Silence was bred by Oak Cliff Thoroughbreds Ltd. He was owned by Arthur Hancock III, who purchased the colt as a buy-back for US$17,000 after consigning him as agent for Oak Cliff to the 1987 Keeneland July sale. Following the sale, Hancock sold a half-interest in him to Paul Sullivan with the joint intent of selling the colt at the March California Thoroughbred Breeders Association 2-year-olds in training sale at Hollywood Park, but the colt failed to make his US$50,000 reserve and was a buy-back for US$32,000 in the name of World Wide Bloodstock. Sullivan bowed out of the partnership afterward, but trainer Charlie Whittingham agreed to take a half-interest in Sunday Silence in return for the first US$50,000 of the colt's training fees. Whittingham, in turn, sold half his share to Dr. Ernest Gaillard for US$25,000. Japanese horseman Zenya Yoshida bought a quarter-interest in Sunday Silence for US$2.5 million following the colt's 3-year-old season and bought out the rest of the partnership for another US$7.5 million in 1991 after Hancock could not generate enough interest in Kentucky to keep Sunday Silence there following the colt's retirement midway through his 4-year-old season. Hancock afterward credited Sunday Silence's sale with saving Stone Farm. Sunday Silence stood his entire stud career at Shadai Farm on the island of Hokkaido, Japan. He died of complications of a leg infection on August 19, 2002.
Pedigree notes
Sunday Silence is inbred 4x5 to Mahmoud. He is a full brother to Penny Up, second dam of Japanese Group G2 winner Tosen Crown. His dam, 1980 Gamely Handicap (USA-G2) winner Wishing Well (by Understanding), is out of Mountain Flower (by Montparnasse II), a half sister to minor stakes winner Unexpectedly (by Decidedly). Sunday Silence's third dam Edelweiss (by Hillary) never raced and is out of Dowager (by Free France), a half sister to multiple minor stakes winner Jet Speed (by Count Speed).
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: November 15, 2024
Race record
14 starts, 9 wins, 5 seconds, US$4,968, 554
1989:
- Won Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Super Derby (USA-G1, 10FD, Louisiana Downs)
- Won Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1, 10FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won San Felipe Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Swaps Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Hollywood)
1990:
- Won Californian Stakes (USA-G1, Hollywood)
- 2nd Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Hollywood)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1996)
- Arcadia Historical Society's Racing Walk of Champions (inducted as part of the inaugural class in 2014)
- Eclipse Award, American Horse of the Year (1989)
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male (1989)
Assessments
Sunday Silence was rated #31 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by an expert panel assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).
Sunday Silence was highweighted on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1989 with 130 pounds, 1 pound above second-rated Easy Goer.
Sunday Silence was retrospectively awarded a Timeform rating of 137 pounds for his 3-year-old season in 1990, tying him with his arch-rival Easy Goer for the highest rating given to a 20th-century American racehorse to that point. Only Cigar at 138 pounds was rated higher.
Co-highweighted with Easy Goer on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1990, 1 pound above official divisional champion and Horse of the Year Criminal Type.
As an individual
Sunday Silence was a classic ugly duckling. Like many of Halo's progeny, he was a plain dark bay or brown with unattractive leg conformation. Cow-hocked and sickle-hocked behind, he had offset knees and long pasterns in front and lacked overall substance. He also had much of the tough disposition his sire often imparted. This toughness helped him survive a severe attack of diarrhea as a weanling and probably also helped in his recovery when the driver of a van he was riding in suffered a heart attack and tipped the van over. Sunday Silence, then an unraced 2-year-old, got off with cuts and bruises but remained apparently unfazed mentally. Studdish and headstrong as a racehorse, he became more aggressive as a breeding stallion and frequently bit his handlers. His strongest points as an individual were an unusually fluid, agile stride and a strong will to win.
As a stallion
Sunday Silence's prowess as a sire made him a cultural icon in Japan, where his crooked white blaze became as recognizable a symbol as the Rising Sun on the country's flag. He typically passed on his own sickle hocks, cow hocks, offset knees and long pasterns, but these flaws were forgivable in light of his tremendous success. On the positive side, his offspring had good size and scope and a strong will to win. He did particularly well with mares carrying Northern Dancer blood, creating inbreeding to their mutual ancestress Almahmoud. According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Sunday Silence sired 1089 winners (69.9%) and 171 stakes winners (11.0%) from 1558 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
- Led the Japanese broodmare sire list in 2010-2019; 2nd in 2020; 4th in 2022; 5th in 2021.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- Led the American broodmare sire list in 2016 and 2019; 2nd in 2017, 2018, and 2020.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the Japanese general sire list in 1995-2005.
- 2nd on the Japanese broodmare sire list in 2005; 3rd in 2004; 6th in 2003.
Per Japan Bloodstock Information Systems (https://www.jbis.jp/ranking/):
- Led the Japanese general sire list in 1995-2007; 7th in 2008.
- Led the Japanese broodmare sire list in 2007-2019; 2nd in 2005, 2006, and 2020; 4th in 2022; 5th in 2004 and 2021; 10th in 2003.
- Led the Japanese juvenile sire list in 1994, 1995, and 1997-2005.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the Japanese general sire list in 1995-2007.
Notable progeny
Admire Vega (JPN), Agnes Flight (JPN), Agnes Gold (JPN). Agnes Tachyon (JPN), Air Shakur (JPN), Bubble Gum Fellow (JPN), Daiwa Major (JPN), Dance in the Dark (JPN), Dance in the Mood (JPN), Dance Partner (JPN), Deep Impact (JPN), Durandal (JPN), Fuji Kiseki (JPN), Genuine (JPN), Hat Trick (JPN), Heart's Cry (JPN), Manhattan Cafe (JPN), Marvelous Sunday (JPN), Neo Universe (JPN), Silence Suzuka (JPN), Special Week (JPN), Stay Gold (JPN), Still in Love (JPN), Matsurida Gogh (JPN), Tayasu Tsuyoshi (JPN), To the Victory (JPN), Zenno Rob Roy (JPN)
Notable progeny of daughters
Gendarme (USA), Karakontie (JPN), More Joyous (NZ), Tale of Ekati (USA)
Connections
Foaled March 25, 1986, Sunday Silence was bred by Oak Cliff Thoroughbreds Ltd. He was owned by Arthur Hancock III, who purchased the colt as a buy-back for US$17,000 after consigning him as agent for Oak Cliff to the 1987 Keeneland July sale. Following the sale, Hancock sold a half-interest in him to Paul Sullivan with the joint intent of selling the colt at the March California Thoroughbred Breeders Association 2-year-olds in training sale at Hollywood Park, but the colt failed to make his US$50,000 reserve and was a buy-back for US$32,000 in the name of World Wide Bloodstock. Sullivan bowed out of the partnership afterward, but trainer Charlie Whittingham agreed to take a half-interest in Sunday Silence in return for the first US$50,000 of the colt's training fees. Whittingham, in turn, sold half his share to Dr. Ernest Gaillard for US$25,000. Japanese horseman Zenya Yoshida bought a quarter-interest in Sunday Silence for US$2.5 million following the colt's 3-year-old season and bought out the rest of the partnership for another US$7.5 million in 1991 after Hancock could not generate enough interest in Kentucky to keep Sunday Silence there following the colt's retirement midway through his 4-year-old season. Hancock afterward credited Sunday Silence's sale with saving Stone Farm. Sunday Silence stood his entire stud career at Shadai Farm on the island of Hokkaido, Japan. He died of complications of a leg infection on August 19, 2002.
Pedigree notes
Sunday Silence is inbred 4x5 to Mahmoud. He is a full brother to Penny Up, second dam of Japanese Group G2 winner Tosen Crown. His dam, 1980 Gamely Handicap (USA-G2) winner Wishing Well (by Understanding), is out of Mountain Flower (by Montparnasse II), a half sister to minor stakes winner Unexpectedly (by Decidedly). Sunday Silence's third dam Edelweiss (by Hillary) never raced and is out of Dowager (by Free France), a half sister to multiple minor stakes winner Jet Speed (by Count Speed).
Books and media
- Sunday Silence is the 12th book in the Thoroughbred Legends series from Eclipse Press. It was written by Ray Paulick and was published in 2001.
- Sunday Silence's rivalry with Easy Goer was featured as the 17th chapter of Horse Racing's Greatest Rivalries (2008, Eclipse Press), a compilation produced by the staff of The Blood-Horse.
- "A Touch of Derby in the Orient," which followed up on the Japanese stud careers of Dancer's Image, Forward Pass and Sunday Silence, is the ninth chapter in Jim Bolus' Kentucky Derby Stories (1993, Pelican Publishing Company).
- Sunday Silence is profiled in Chapter 11 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
- Sunday Silence is one of 205 stallions whose accomplishments at stud are profiled in Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, The Australian Bloodhorse Review), a massive reference work written by Jennifer Churchill, Andrew Reichard and Byron Rogers.
- Sunday Silence is one of 50 Thoroughbreds profiled in Royal Blood: Fifty Years of Classic Thoroughbreds. Written by racing historian Jim Bolus with illustrations and commentary by noted equine artist Richard Stone Reeves, the book was released by The Blood-Horse, Inc., in 1994.
- Footage of Sunday Silence's dramatic win over Easy Goer in the 1989 Preakness Stakes can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c48c26AJAXY.
Fun facts
- Sunday Silence's Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) win allowed 76-year-old Charlie Whittingham to break his own record as the oldest man to saddle a Derby winner; Whittingham had set the mark at age 73 with 1986 winner Ferdinand. Whittingham maintained his status as the oldest Derby-winning trainer until 77-year-old Art Sherman sent California Chrome out to win the 2014 Derby.
- Sunday Silence's thrilling victory over Easy Goer in the 1989 Preakness Stakes was ranked #70 in Horse Racing's Top 100 Moments, a review of racing in the 20th century compiled by The Blood-Horse and released in 2006.
- Sunday Silence was the only horse to have won two legs of the American Triple Crown and the Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1) in the same year until American Pharoah went him one better in 2015 by sweeping the Triple Crown and the Classic.
- Arthur Hancock released a bluegrass CD titled Sunday Silence in 2000. The album included the title track, an ode to Hancock's champion horse.
- The Sunday Silence Stakes is a 7.5 furlong turf contest for 2-year-olds at Louisiana Downs.
Last updated: November 15, 2024