Red Ransom (foaled 1987 in
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
, died 2009) is an American
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 ...
. In his 2006 book ''Designing Speed in the Racehorse'', author Ken McLean wrote that Red Ransom "was a sensationally fast juvenile."
Bred by
Paul Mellon
Paul Mellon (June 11, 1907 – February 1, 1999) was an American philanthropist and an owner/breeder of thoroughbred racehorses. He is one of only five people ever designated an "Exemplar of Racing" by the National Museum of Racing and Hall ...
and raced under his
Rokeby Stables
Rokeby Stables was an American thoroughbred racehorse breeding farm in Upperville, Virginia, involved with both steeplechase and flat racing. The operation was established in the late 1940s by Paul Mellon (1907–1999) who won the Eclipse Award f ...
banner, he was sired by the 1972
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, also known as the Epsom Derby or the Derby, and as the Cazoo Derby for sponsorship reasons, is a Group 1 flat horse race in England open to three-year-old colts and fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey o ...
winner,
Roberto
The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...
. His dam was Arabia, a daughter of
U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee,
Damascus
)), is an adjective which means "spacious".
, motto =
, image_flag = Flag of Damascus.svg
, image_seal = Emblem of Damascus.svg
, seal_type = Seal
, map_caption =
, ...
.
Conditioned for racing by Hall of Fame trainer,
MacKenzie Miller
MacKenzie "Mack" Todd Miller (October 16, 1921 – December 10, 2010) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer and owner/breeder. During his forty-six-year career, he conditioned seventy-two stakes winners, including four Eclipse Award cha ...
, on August 3, 1989 the two-year-old Red Ransom won his debut race while setting a new
Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track located on Union Avenue in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. Opened in 1863, it is often considered to be the oldest major sporting venue of any kind in the country, but is actua ...
record for five furlongs. He made his second start in early September at
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse racing facility in the northeastern United States, located in Elmont, New York, just east of the New York City limits. It was opened on May 4, 1905.
It is operated by the non-profit New York Racin ...
, scoring another win in a six furlong allowance race. However, the colt suffered an injury to a shin that kept him out of racing until early March 1990.
Considered a strong contender for the 1990
U.S. Triple Crown series, Red Ransom made his return with a second-place finish at
Florida's Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park, owned by The Stronach Group, is a Thoroughbred race track, casino and outdoor entertainment and shopping destination in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Thoroughbred horse racing occurs year-round, defined by three distinct race meets ...
. Six days later while training he suffered a torn tendon sheath that ended his racing career.
As a sire
Retired to
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 bar ...
for the 1991 season, Red Ransom stood in the United States until 1999 when owner Paul Mellon died and he was sold to a breeding syndicate. The horse was sent to stand at stud in
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
and as at 2008 stands at
Dalham Hall Stud
Darley Stud is located at Dalham Hall, the global breeding operation owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai and vice-president of the United Arab Emirates. It is on the outskirts of Newmarket, Suffolk, the internat ...
in
Newmarket,
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
.
During his stud career to date, Red Ransom has sired more than seventy stakes winners including:
*
Casual Look
Casual Look (foaled May 10, 2000 in Kentucky) was the winning racehorse in The Oaks in 2003. Owned and bred by William S. Farish III, she was out of the mare Style Setter, a daughter of Manila, the 1986 Breeders' Cup Turf winner and that year's ...
- winner of the 2003
British Classic,
The Oaks
*
Electrocutionist
Electrocutionist (February 24, 2001 - September 9, 2006) was a Thoroughbred racehorse. Electrocutionist won eight of his 12 career starts, including three Grade I's, and won more than $5.6 million. Racing four times for the operation based in bo ...
- won three
Group One
Group One, Group 1, Grade I or G1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. In Europe, the level of races for Thoroughbred racing is determined using the Pattern races, Pattern race sys ...
races:
Gran Premio di Milano
The Gran Premio di Milano is a Group 2 flat horse race in Italy open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Milan over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.
The event w ...
(2005),
Juddmonte International
The International Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 56 yards (2,0 ...
(2005) and
Dubai World Cup
The Dubai World Cup (Arabic: كأس دبي العالمي) is a Thoroughbred horse race held annually since 1996 and contested at the Meydan Racecourse (Arabic: ميدان) which in Arabic suggests a place wher ...
(2006) with career earnings of £3,160,432
*
Perfect Sting - winner of the 2000
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf
The Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for fillies and mares, three years old and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championship ...
*
Typhoon Tracy
Typhoon Tracy (5 September 2005 – 13 August 2012) was an outstanding Australian Thoroughbred racemare who won six group one (G1) races and was crowned Australian Racehorse of the Year for 2009/10.
Breeding
She was bred and is raced by Hutchi ...
, won six group one (G1) races and Australian Racehorse of the Year for 2009/10.
*
Red Clubs,
European Champion Sprinter, sire of
Sky Lantern
A sky lantern (), also known as Kǒngmíng lantern (), or Chinese lantern, is a small hot air balloon made of paper, with an opening at the bottom where a small fire is suspended.
In Asia and elsewhere around the world, sky lanterns have bee ...
In addition, Red Ransom sired millionaires
Charge Forward (Australia),
Ekraar
Ekraar (foaled February 13, 1997) is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse.
Racing career
Ekraar was sired by Red Ransom, who was standing stud in the United States at the time. His dam was Sacahuista, who won the 1987 Breeders' Cup Distaf ...
(England), plus two in
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
,
Juno Pentagon and
Roc de Cambes. He also sired a few unknown horses like King Raedwald and Somerset Falls. He died in 2009 after undergoing surgery.
References
Red Ransom's pedigree and partial racing stats* McLean, Ken. ''Designing Speed in the Racehorse''.
Russell Meerdink Co. Ltd. {{ISBN, 978-0-929346-80-9
''New York Times'' article on Red RansomRed Ransom's detailed profile at Vinery, Inc
1987 racehorse births
2009 racehorse deaths
Racehorses bred in Virginia
Racehorses trained in the United States
Thoroughbred family 6-b