Wrack (GB)
1909 – October 24, 1935
Robert le Diable (GB) x Samphire (GB), by Isinglass (GB)
Family 1-n
1909 – October 24, 1935
Robert le Diable (GB) x Samphire (GB), by Isinglass (GB)
Family 1-n
Wrack was a stakes winner on the race course but was far from a top-class runner; in fact, he spent part of his racing career as a hurdler. His main attraction was his pedigree, which featured a superb female family. Imported to the United States in late 1915, he became one of the first good stallions to stand at Claiborne Farm, consistently siring tough, hardy winners.
Race record
50 starts, 16 wins, £6,869
1911:
1912:
1913:
1914:
1915:
As an individual
A smallish bay horse, Wrack was tough, sound, athletic and well balanced with a good shoulder.
As a stallion
According to The Blood-Horse Silver Anniversary Edition, Wrack sired 251 winners (61.7%) and 30 stakes winners (7.4%) from 407 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual series:
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers:
Notable progeny
Blazes (USA), Careful (USA), Fair Star (USA), Flambino (USA), Little Chief (USA), Petee-Wrack (USA)
Connections
Wrack was bred and owned by Archibald Philip Primrose, fifth Earl of Rosebery, and was a favorite of his owner because of his gameness and determination. At the end of the 1915 racing season, Wrack was sold to Arthur B. Hancock, Sr., and B. Kenny Nichols for the equivalent of US$8,000 and imported to the United States; Hancock later bought out Nichols's share. Wrack entered stud in Virginia at Hancock's Ellerslie Stud in 1916. He was later transferred to Hancock's Kentucky property, Claiborne Farm. He was moved back to Ellerslie at the conclusion of his stud career and was euthanized there in October 1935.
Pedigree notes
Wrack is inbred 4x5 to 1863 St. Leger Stakes winner Lord Clifden and 5x5 to seven-time English champion sire Stockwell, winner of the 1852 Two Thousand Guineas and St. Leger. He is also inbred 5x5 to the excellent broodmare sire Scottish Chief. His dam Samphire (by 1893 English Triple Crown winner Isinglass) was produced from the great foundation mare Chelandry (by Goldfinch), winner of the 1897 One Thousand Guineas, and is a half sister to 1910 Two Thousand Guineas winner Neil Gow (by Marco) and 1902 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Skyscraper (by Ayrshire). Samphire is also a half sister to stakes winners Traquair (by Ayrshire), Popinjay (by St. Frusquin; an important foundation mare in her own right), and Perdiccas (by Persimmon) and to stakes producers Dark Flight (by Dark Ronald), Bobolink (by Willonyx), and Chersonese (by Cylgad).
Chelandry is out of the Rosicrucian mare Illuminata, making her a half sister to 1894 Two Thousand Guineas and Derby Stakes winner Ladas (by Hampton). She is also a half sister to Gas (by Ayrshire), dam of 1905 Derby Stakes winner Cicero and second dam of 1915 One Thousand Guineas winner Vaucluse.
Fun facts
Last updated: February 3, 2026
Race record
50 starts, 16 wins, £6,869
1911:
- Won Stud Produce Stakes (ENG, Sandown)
- Won Wallington Plate (ENG)
- Won Sportsman Nursery (ENG)
- Won Lancashire Nursery (ENG, Manchester)
- 2nd Fitzwilliam Stakes (ENG, Newmarket)
- 2nd First Spring 2YO Stakes (ENG, Newmarket)
- 2nd Breeders' Stakes (ENG)
1912:
- Won Whitsuntide Plate (ENG, Manchester)
- Won Houghton Handicap (ENG, Newmarket)
- 2nd Imperial Plate (ENG, Lingfield)
- 2nd Cleveland 3YO Handicap (ENG, Doncaster)
- 2nd Bretby Welter Handicap (ENG, Newmarket)
1913:
- Won Biennial Stakes (ENG, Newmarket)
1914:
- Won Newbury Spring Cup (ENG, 8FT, Newbury)
- Won Allestree Plate (ENG, Derby)
- 2nd Liverpool Spring Cup (ENG, Liverpool)
- 2nd Liverpool Autumn Cup (ENG, 11FT, Liverpool)
- 2nd Final Plate (ENG, Liverpool)
1915:
- Won Newbury Spring Cup (ENG, 8FT, Newbury)
- 2nd Great Jubilee Handicap (ENG, 10FT, Kempton)
- 3rd Norwich Handicap (ENG, Newmarket)
As an individual
A smallish bay horse, Wrack was tough, sound, athletic and well balanced with a good shoulder.
As a stallion
According to The Blood-Horse Silver Anniversary Edition, Wrack sired 251 winners (61.7%) and 30 stakes winners (7.4%) from 407 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual series:
- Led the American general sire list by number of winners in 1923, 1930, and 1931.
- 5th on the American broodmare sire list in 1941; 7th in 1940; 8th in 1942; 9th in 1939.
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 1926.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 2nd on the American general sire list in 1922; 3rd in 1924-1926; 4th in 1927; 6th in 1921 and 1923; 8th in 1930 and 1931; 10th in 1920.
- Led the American broodmare sire list in 1935; 4th in 1934; 5th in 1941; 6th in 1938; 7th in 1936; 8th in 1931, 1933, and 1942; 9th in 1932 and 1940.
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 1921 (by number of winners; total earnings not available)
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers:
- 3rd on the American general sire list in 1924-1926; 4th in 1927; 6th in 1921 and 1923; 8th in 1930 and 1931; 10th in 1920.
- Led the American broodmare sire list in 1935; 4th in 1934; 5th in 1941; 6th in 1938; 7th in 1936; 8th in 1931, 1933, and 1942; 9th in 1932 and 1940.
Notable progeny
Blazes (USA), Careful (USA), Fair Star (USA), Flambino (USA), Little Chief (USA), Petee-Wrack (USA)
Connections
Wrack was bred and owned by Archibald Philip Primrose, fifth Earl of Rosebery, and was a favorite of his owner because of his gameness and determination. At the end of the 1915 racing season, Wrack was sold to Arthur B. Hancock, Sr., and B. Kenny Nichols for the equivalent of US$8,000 and imported to the United States; Hancock later bought out Nichols's share. Wrack entered stud in Virginia at Hancock's Ellerslie Stud in 1916. He was later transferred to Hancock's Kentucky property, Claiborne Farm. He was moved back to Ellerslie at the conclusion of his stud career and was euthanized there in October 1935.
Pedigree notes
Wrack is inbred 4x5 to 1863 St. Leger Stakes winner Lord Clifden and 5x5 to seven-time English champion sire Stockwell, winner of the 1852 Two Thousand Guineas and St. Leger. He is also inbred 5x5 to the excellent broodmare sire Scottish Chief. His dam Samphire (by 1893 English Triple Crown winner Isinglass) was produced from the great foundation mare Chelandry (by Goldfinch), winner of the 1897 One Thousand Guineas, and is a half sister to 1910 Two Thousand Guineas winner Neil Gow (by Marco) and 1902 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Skyscraper (by Ayrshire). Samphire is also a half sister to stakes winners Traquair (by Ayrshire), Popinjay (by St. Frusquin; an important foundation mare in her own right), and Perdiccas (by Persimmon) and to stakes producers Dark Flight (by Dark Ronald), Bobolink (by Willonyx), and Chersonese (by Cylgad).
Chelandry is out of the Rosicrucian mare Illuminata, making her a half sister to 1894 Two Thousand Guineas and Derby Stakes winner Ladas (by Hampton). She is also a half sister to Gas (by Ayrshire), dam of 1905 Derby Stakes winner Cicero and second dam of 1915 One Thousand Guineas winner Vaucluse.
Fun facts
- Wrack won six of his seven starts as a hurdler, including the National Hunt Festival hurdle at Cheltenham, and successfully carried up to 175 pounds over the fences.
- Prior to being sold to Hancock and Nichols, Wrack was offered to an Australian breeder, who turned the horse down because of his small size.
- Lord Rosebery used the proceeds from his sale of Wrack to repair the church at his estate, Mentmore.
- According to author Abram S. Hewitt, Claiborne was still being developed at the time of Wrack's transfer there. As the farm did not yet have a stallion barn, Wrack was housed in the same barn with the mares until more conventional facilities were built.
Last updated: February 3, 2026