Blandford (1919–1935) was an Irish-bred

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are c ...

racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic pr ...

best known as the three-time

Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland The title of champion, or leading, sire of racehorses in Great Britain and Ireland is awarded to the stallion whose offspring have won the most prize money in Britain and Ireland during the flat racing season. The current champion is Frankel, who r ...

who sired eleven

British Classic Race The British Classics are five long-standing Group 1 horse races run during the traditional flat racing season. They are restricted to three-year-old horses and traditionally represent the pinnacle of achievement for racehorses against their own ...

winners including four which won The Derby. He was the

Leading sire in France The list below shows the leading Thoroughbred sire of racehorses in France for each year since 1887. This is determined by the amount of prize money won by the sire's progeny during the season. Due to the huge prize money of the Prix de l'Arc de Tri ...

and also in England in the same year.Ahnert, Rainer L. (editor in chief), “Thoroughbred Breeding of the World”, Pozdun Publishing, Germany, 1970 He was bred by the

Irish National Stud The Irish National Stud (official name: ''Comhlacht Graí Náisiúnta na hÉireann Teo.'') is a Thoroughbred horse breeding facility in Tully, Kildare, County Kildare, Ireland. It was formally established by incorporation on 11 April 1946 ...

at Tully. Blandford had

pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severity ...

as a foal and was not ready for the early sale, but was later offered at the December Newmarket Sale where he sold for 720 guineas ro Messrs. RC & SC Dawson.Leicester, Sir Charles, “Bloodstock Breeding”, J.A. Allen & Co, London, 1969

Race record

Trained by co-owner Dick Dawson, Blandford raced only four times in his career. At age two he ran second in the Windsor Castle Stakes at

Ascot Racecourse Ascot Racecourse ("ascot" pronounced , often pronounced ) is a dual-purpose British racecourse, located in Ascot, Berkshire, England, which is used for thoroughbred horse racing. It hosts 13 of Britain's 36 annual Flat Group 1 horse races and ...

and at three won the

Princess of Wales's Stakes The Princess of Wales's Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlo ...

. Bad forelegs, inherited from his grandsire, John O'Gaunt, limited Blandford's career to four starts.

Stud record

When he was retired to stud he initially stood at a fee of £149 which was later raised to 400 guineas. During 1924 his progeny earned £70,510.Henry, Bill (ed.), "J.J. Miller's Sporting Annual, 1977", Herald & Weekly Times Ltd., Melbourne According to ''

Thoroughbred Heritage The National Sporting Library & Museum or NSLM (formerly the National Sporting Library) is a research library and art museum in Middleburg, Virginia in the United States. History The National Sporting Library was founded in 1954 in the personal ...

'', at

stud Stud may refer to the following terms: Animals * Stud (animal), an animal retained for breeding ** Stud farm, a property where livestock are bred Arts and entertainment * Stud (band), a British progressive rock group * The Stud (bar), a gay ba ...

Blandford proved to be one of the great sires of the English turf. Among his offspring were: Blandford was still successfully breeding at Whatcombe Stables in

Wantage Wantage () is a historic market town and civil parish in Oxfordshire, England. Although within the boundaries of the historic county of Berkshire, it has been administered as part of the Vale of White Horse district of Oxfordshire since 1974. T ...

Oxfordshire Oxfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the north west of South East England. It is a mainly rural county, with its largest settlement being the city of Oxford. The county is a centre of research and development, primarily ...

when he died unexpectedly on 24 April 1935 at age sixteen. He is buried in Whatcombe's equine cemetery. Blandford sired the winners of 308 races worth £327,840 in England, plus overseas winners.

Pedigree

References

{{Reflist

External links

Blandford at ''Thoroughbred Heritage''
1919 racehorse births 1935 racehorse deaths Racehorses bred in Ireland Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom British Champion Thoroughbred Sires Thoroughbred family 3-o Chefs-de-Race

Race record

Stud record

Pedigree

See also

References

External links