Theatrical (IRE)
March 13, 1982 – August 31, 2012
Nureyev (USA) x Tree of Knowledge (IRE), by Sassafras (FR)
Family 3-h
March 13, 1982 – August 31, 2012
Nureyev (USA) x Tree of Knowledge (IRE), by Sassafras (FR)
Family 3-h
Bred top and bottom for the turf, Theatrical showed ability in Europe but fared even better in the United States. He reached his peak at age 5, when he won a dramatic showdown with that year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (FR-G1) winner, Trempolino, in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. The best stayer sired by Nureyev, Theatrical became a good stallion. He did not leave a son capable of succeeding him but is the broodmare sire of 2007 American champion turf male English Channel, a successful sire of turf horses.
Race record
22 starts, 10 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$2,940,036
1985:
1986:
1987:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion turf male (1987)
Assessments
Earned a Timeform rating of 128 while racing in Ireland as a 3-year-old.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf males of 1986, 1 pound below co-highweights Manila (the official divisional champion; a 3-year-old) and Dahar.
Co-highweighted at 127 pounds with Manila atop the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf males of 1987, 5 pounds above Dance of Life, Sharrood, and Zoffany.
As an individual
A smoothly-made bay with more leg under him than most of Nureyev’s progeny, Theatrical stood 16.1½ hands and had good scope. Rather high-strung and studdish but very intelligent and with a good turn of foot, he was a difficult horse to train as he was inclined to overdo in the morning. He was a long-striding horse and according to regular pilot Pat Day was a "push-button" horse to ride in a race. He did not care for soft going. As a stallion, he was described as “hot-blooded” and “requiring constant management” by Ted Carr, Allen Paulson’s bloodstock manager.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Theatrical sired 558 winners (53.0%) and 81 stakes winners (7.7%) from 1052 named foals. He was primarily a sire of turf runners and was a consistent influence for stamina. He also tended to pass on his own tendency to be less effective over soft going.
Sire rankings
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Astra (USA), Auntie Mame (USA), Broadway Flyer (USA), Dahlia’s Dreamer (USA), Duda (USA), Geri (USA), Golden Treat (USA), Hishi Amazon (USA), Madeleine’s Dream (USA), Marchand de Sable (USA), Media Puzzle (USA), Mrs. Lindsay (USA), Pharma (USA), Portland Player (NZ), Royal Anthem (USA), Run Man Run (USA), Shakespeare (USA), Startac (USA), Theoretically (USA), Vaudeville (USA), Winchester (USA), Zagreb (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Chiropractor (USA), Dublino (USA), English Channel (USA), Forever Together (IRE), Karelian (USA), Lady Speightspeare (USA), Lord Shanakill (USA), Numerous Times (CAN), Ocean Road (IRE), Oscar Performance (USA), Rosalind (USA), Taris (USA), Together Forever (IRE)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Theatrical was bred by Mr. & Mrs. Bertram. R. Firestone, who owned him while he was racing in Europe. In the North America, Theatrical was owned by the partnership of Bertram Firestone with Allen Paulson, which continued until Firestone’s sale of his 35 percent interest to Paulson on the eve of the 1987 Breeders’ Cup Turf. (The Irish-based business conglomerate Jefferson Smurfitt, which held a 15 percent in the horse, retained is share.) Theatrical was trained by Bill Mott and was ridden by Pat Day throughout his American campaign. He entered stud in Kentucky in 1988 at Paulson’s Brookside Farm. Following Paulson’s death and a feud between his son Michael and his widow Madeleine (Michael’s stepmother) regarding control of the family’s bloodstock assets, Theatrical was moved to Hill 'n' Dale Farms in 2001. He was pensioned on October 13, 2009, and was euthanized August 31, 2012, due to the infirmities of old age.
Pedigree notes
Theatrical is inbred 4x5 to two-time English/Irish champion sire Nearco, an unbeaten champion on the race course. He is a half brother to multiple Japanese stakes winner Taiki Blizzard (by Seattle Slew) and to North of Eden (by Northfields), dam of 1994 American champion turf male Paradise Creek (by Irish River), 2001 Manhattan Handicap (USA-G1) winner Forbidden Apple (by Pleasant Colony, 1999 Early Times Turf Classic Stakes (USA-G1) winner Wild Event (by Wild Again; a five-time champion sire in Brazil), and stakes winner I’m Very Irish (by Pleasant Colony. North of Eden is also the second dam of multiple Group 1 winner David Junior and 2002 Las Virgenes Stakes (USA-G1) winner Eden’s Moon and the third dam of multiple Argentine champion Sixties Song, 2014 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (USA-G1) winner Bobby’s Kitten, multiple Grade 2 winner Camelot Kitten, and Argentine Group 2 winner Celestial Candy. Returning to Theatrical, he is also a half brother to Blue Sage (by Cure the Blues), dam of stakes winner Long Gone Blues (by Sovereign Dancer), second dam of Australian Group 2 winner So Pristine, and third dam of New Zealand Group 2 winner Dijon Bleu.
Theatrical is out of stakes-placed Tree of Knowledge (by 1970 French Horse of the Year Sassafras), who is a half sister to Irish Group 3 winner Beyond the Lake (by Kings Lake) and to multiple listed stakes winner Lake Champlain (by Kings Lake). The last-named mare is the dam of Irish Group 3 winner Saranac Lake (by Smart Strike) and Peruvian listed stakes winner Alashir (by Alysheba) and the third dam of Grade 3 winner Charming Kitten. Tree of Knowledge is also a half sister to Sense of Rhythm (by Cure the Blues), third dam of 2010 Takarazuka Kinen (JPN-G1) winner Nakayama Festa.
Tree of Knowledge and her siblings were produced from the unraced Hail to Reason mare Sensibility, a half sister to 1964 Prix de l‘Arc de Triomphe winner and Italian champion 3-year-old male Prince Royal II (by Ribot) and to Strip Poker (by Bold Bidder), dam of 1982 American champion 2-year-old filly Landaluce (by Seattle Slew) and Grade 3 winner Clout (by Indian Chief II) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Jade Flush. Produced from the King’s Bench mare Pange, Sensibility is also a half sister to Pang (by Prince Chevalier), second dam of 1979 Clásico Jose Antonio Paez-Two Thousand Guineas (VEN-G1) winner Begich; to Spa II (by Saint Crespin III), second dam of French Group 2 winner Patricia; and to Panna II (by Jaddo), dam of Grade 1-placed stakes winner Sir Sir (by Sir Ivor).
Books and media
Footage of Theatrical’s victory in the 1987 Breeders’ Cup Turf can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vax_csQeh8o.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Portrait photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Hill 'n' Dale Farms in 2008. Used by permission.
Last updated: November 17, 2024
Race record
22 starts, 10 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$2,940,036
1985:
- Won Derrinstown Derby Trial Stakes (IRE-G2, 10FT, Leopardstown)
- Won Ballysax Stakes (IRE, 10FT, The Curragh)
- 2nd Joe McGrath Irish Sweeps Derby (IRE-G1, 12FT, The Curragh)
1986:
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Turf (USA-G1T, 12FT, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Oak Tree Invitational Stakes (USA-G1, 12FT, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Grosser Preis von Berlin (GER-G1, 2400mT, Dusseldorf)
- 3rd Hollywood Turf Cup Invitational Stakes (USA-G1, 12FT, Hollywood)
1987:
- Won Breeders' Cup Turf (USA-G1T, 12FT, Hollywood)
- Won Turf Classic Stakes (USA-G1T, 12FT, Belmont)
- Won Man o' War Stakes (USA-G1T, 11FT, Belmont)
- Won Hialeah Turf Cup Handicap (USA-G1T, 12FT, Hialeah)
- Won Bowling Green Handicap (USA-G1, 11FT, Belmont)
- Won Sword Dancer Handicap (USA-G1T, 12FT, Belmont; by disqualification of Dance of Life)
- Won Red Smith Handicap (USA-G2T, 10FT, Belmont)
- 3rd Budweiser-Arlington Million (USA-G1T, 10FT, Arlington Park)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion turf male (1987)
Assessments
Earned a Timeform rating of 128 while racing in Ireland as a 3-year-old.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf males of 1986, 1 pound below co-highweights Manila (the official divisional champion; a 3-year-old) and Dahar.
Co-highweighted at 127 pounds with Manila atop the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf males of 1987, 5 pounds above Dance of Life, Sharrood, and Zoffany.
As an individual
A smoothly-made bay with more leg under him than most of Nureyev’s progeny, Theatrical stood 16.1½ hands and had good scope. Rather high-strung and studdish but very intelligent and with a good turn of foot, he was a difficult horse to train as he was inclined to overdo in the morning. He was a long-striding horse and according to regular pilot Pat Day was a "push-button" horse to ride in a race. He did not care for soft going. As a stallion, he was described as “hot-blooded” and “requiring constant management” by Ted Carr, Allen Paulson’s bloodstock manager.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Theatrical sired 558 winners (53.0%) and 81 stakes winners (7.7%) from 1052 named foals. He was primarily a sire of turf runners and was a consistent influence for stamina. He also tended to pass on his own tendency to be less effective over soft going.
Sire rankings
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 5th on the US broodmare sire list in 2006.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the Irish general sire list in 1996.
Notable progeny
Astra (USA), Auntie Mame (USA), Broadway Flyer (USA), Dahlia’s Dreamer (USA), Duda (USA), Geri (USA), Golden Treat (USA), Hishi Amazon (USA), Madeleine’s Dream (USA), Marchand de Sable (USA), Media Puzzle (USA), Mrs. Lindsay (USA), Pharma (USA), Portland Player (NZ), Royal Anthem (USA), Run Man Run (USA), Shakespeare (USA), Startac (USA), Theoretically (USA), Vaudeville (USA), Winchester (USA), Zagreb (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Chiropractor (USA), Dublino (USA), English Channel (USA), Forever Together (IRE), Karelian (USA), Lady Speightspeare (USA), Lord Shanakill (USA), Numerous Times (CAN), Ocean Road (IRE), Oscar Performance (USA), Rosalind (USA), Taris (USA), Together Forever (IRE)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Theatrical was bred by Mr. & Mrs. Bertram. R. Firestone, who owned him while he was racing in Europe. In the North America, Theatrical was owned by the partnership of Bertram Firestone with Allen Paulson, which continued until Firestone’s sale of his 35 percent interest to Paulson on the eve of the 1987 Breeders’ Cup Turf. (The Irish-based business conglomerate Jefferson Smurfitt, which held a 15 percent in the horse, retained is share.) Theatrical was trained by Bill Mott and was ridden by Pat Day throughout his American campaign. He entered stud in Kentucky in 1988 at Paulson’s Brookside Farm. Following Paulson’s death and a feud between his son Michael and his widow Madeleine (Michael’s stepmother) regarding control of the family’s bloodstock assets, Theatrical was moved to Hill 'n' Dale Farms in 2001. He was pensioned on October 13, 2009, and was euthanized August 31, 2012, due to the infirmities of old age.
Pedigree notes
Theatrical is inbred 4x5 to two-time English/Irish champion sire Nearco, an unbeaten champion on the race course. He is a half brother to multiple Japanese stakes winner Taiki Blizzard (by Seattle Slew) and to North of Eden (by Northfields), dam of 1994 American champion turf male Paradise Creek (by Irish River), 2001 Manhattan Handicap (USA-G1) winner Forbidden Apple (by Pleasant Colony, 1999 Early Times Turf Classic Stakes (USA-G1) winner Wild Event (by Wild Again; a five-time champion sire in Brazil), and stakes winner I’m Very Irish (by Pleasant Colony. North of Eden is also the second dam of multiple Group 1 winner David Junior and 2002 Las Virgenes Stakes (USA-G1) winner Eden’s Moon and the third dam of multiple Argentine champion Sixties Song, 2014 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (USA-G1) winner Bobby’s Kitten, multiple Grade 2 winner Camelot Kitten, and Argentine Group 2 winner Celestial Candy. Returning to Theatrical, he is also a half brother to Blue Sage (by Cure the Blues), dam of stakes winner Long Gone Blues (by Sovereign Dancer), second dam of Australian Group 2 winner So Pristine, and third dam of New Zealand Group 2 winner Dijon Bleu.
Theatrical is out of stakes-placed Tree of Knowledge (by 1970 French Horse of the Year Sassafras), who is a half sister to Irish Group 3 winner Beyond the Lake (by Kings Lake) and to multiple listed stakes winner Lake Champlain (by Kings Lake). The last-named mare is the dam of Irish Group 3 winner Saranac Lake (by Smart Strike) and Peruvian listed stakes winner Alashir (by Alysheba) and the third dam of Grade 3 winner Charming Kitten. Tree of Knowledge is also a half sister to Sense of Rhythm (by Cure the Blues), third dam of 2010 Takarazuka Kinen (JPN-G1) winner Nakayama Festa.
Tree of Knowledge and her siblings were produced from the unraced Hail to Reason mare Sensibility, a half sister to 1964 Prix de l‘Arc de Triomphe winner and Italian champion 3-year-old male Prince Royal II (by Ribot) and to Strip Poker (by Bold Bidder), dam of 1982 American champion 2-year-old filly Landaluce (by Seattle Slew) and Grade 3 winner Clout (by Indian Chief II) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Jade Flush. Produced from the King’s Bench mare Pange, Sensibility is also a half sister to Pang (by Prince Chevalier), second dam of 1979 Clásico Jose Antonio Paez-Two Thousand Guineas (VEN-G1) winner Begich; to Spa II (by Saint Crespin III), second dam of French Group 2 winner Patricia; and to Panna II (by Jaddo), dam of Grade 1-placed stakes winner Sir Sir (by Sir Ivor).
Books and media
Footage of Theatrical’s victory in the 1987 Breeders’ Cup Turf can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vax_csQeh8o.
Fun facts
- When Bertram Firestone sold his interest in Theatrical to Allen Paulson, he did so with the proviso that if the horse won the Eclipse Award as champion turf male, he would receive the award along with Paulson as co-owners. The original squabble between the partners (which was settled by the sale) was said to be over which owner’s silks Theatrical would carry in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Photo credit
Portrait photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Hill 'n' Dale Farms in 2008. Used by permission.
Last updated: November 17, 2024