Nearctic (February 11, 1954 – 27 July 1973) was a Canadian-bred

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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 ...

Background

Bred by

E. P. Taylor Edward Plunket Taylor, Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, CMG (January 29, 1901 – May 14, 1989) was a Canadians, Canadian business tycoon, investor and philanthropist. He was a famous breeder of Thoroughbred horse racing, race ...

, he was out of the

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

mare Lady Angela, a daughter of the British Champion sire Hyperion. He was sired by the extremely important stallion

Nearco Nearco (January 24, 1935 – June 27, 1957) was an Italian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse described by ''Thoroughbred Heritage'' as "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century" and "one of the most important sires of the century." He ...

Racing career

Conditioned for racing by future Canadian Hall of Fame trainer "Pete" McCann, Nearctic had his most successful season on the track at age four, when he won nine races and was voted

Canadian Horse of the Year The Canadian Horse of the Year is a thoroughbred horse racing honour given annually since 1951 by the Jockey Club of Canada. It is the most prestigious honour in Canadian thoroughbred horse racing. Part of the Sovereign Awards program since 1975, ...

Stud record

Retired to stand 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 ...

Windfields Farm Windfields Farm was a six square kilometre (1,500 acre) Thoroughbred horse breeding farm that was founded by businessman E. P. Taylor in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Origin The first stable and breeding operation of E. P. Taylor originated w ...

Oshawa, Ontario Oshawa ( , also ; 2021 population 175,383; CMA 415,311) is a city in Ontario, Canada, on the Lake Ontario shoreline. It lies in Southern Ontario, approximately east of Downtown Toronto. It is commonly viewed as the eastern anchor of the Gr ...

. In 1967 he was syndicated for $1,050,000(US) and was moved to stand at Allaire du Pont's Woodstock Farm at

Chesapeake City, Maryland Chesapeake City is a town in Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The population was 736 at the 2020 census. The town was originally named by Bohemian colonist Augustine Herman the Village of Bohemia — or Bohemia Manor — but the name was ...

. An outstanding stallion, Nearctic sired

Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby is a horse race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, almost always on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The competition is a Grade I stakes race for three-year ...

winner and the 20th century's greatest sire

Northern Dancer Northern Dancer (May 27, 1961 – November 16, 1990) was a Thoroughbred who, in 1964, became the first Canadian-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby. He then became one of the most successful sires of the 20th century. He is considered a Canad ...

. He also sired Icecapade,

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Nonoalco Nonoalco (1971–1992) was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who raced in France. Background He was out of the mare Seximee, a daughter of the 1954 Preakness Stakes winner Hasty Road. His sire was the very important Nearctic, who also si ...

, Northern Queen, and Canadian Hall of Fame inductee, Cool Reception. Over and above the many highly successful sons of Northern Dancer, Nearctic was the grandsire of

Northern Taste Northern Taste (March 15, 1971 – December 11, 2004) was a Canadian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who raced in France and who became one of the most successful and influential leading sires in Japanese racing history Background Bred by E. P. ...

Wild Again Wild, wild, wilds or wild may refer to: Common meanings * Wild animal * Wilderness, a wild natural environment * Wildness, the quality of being wild or untamed Art, media and entertainment Film and television * ''Wild'' (2014 film), a 2014 A ...

, Fanfreluche,

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, and

Son of Briartic Son of Briartic (1979–2003) was a Canadian Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by Canada's most prominent horseman, E. P. Taylor, he was out of the mare Tabola, a daughter of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Round Table. His sire was the multiple ...

, among others. He was also the damsire of Kennedy Road and the Canadian and U.S. Hall of Fame filly

La Prevoyante La Prevoyante (1970–1974) was a Canadian-bred thoroughbred race horse elected to the Racing Halls of Fame in the United States and Canada. Background La Prevoyante was bred and owned by Jean-Louis Lévesque. Her sire was Buckpasser, a son ...

. Nearctic appears four generations back on both sides (dam and sire) of multiple graded stakes winning including Kentucky Derby champion thoroughbred race horse Big Brown. Nearctic died at Woodstock Farm at age nineteen on July 27, 1973. He is buried in the farm's equine cemetery.

Pedigree

* Nearctic was

inbred Inbreeding is the production of offspring from the mating or breeding of individuals or organisms that are closely related genetically. By analogy, the term is used in human reproduction, but more commonly refers to the genetic disorders and o ...

4 x 4 to the stallion Chaucer, meaning that the latter appears twice in the fourth generation of his pedigree.

References

Bibliography

* Lennox, Muriel Anne, ''Dark Horse : Unravelling The Mystery Of Nearctic'' (1997) Beach House Books

External links

Nearctic's pedigree and partial racing stats
{{Authority control 1954 racehorse births 1973 racehorse deaths Racehorses bred in Ontario Racehorses trained in Canada Du Pont racehorses Canadian Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductees Thoroughbred family 14-c