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L'Emigrant (26 April 1980 – c. 1995) was an American-bred French-trained
Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...
racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, 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 bas ...
and
sire Sire is an archaic respectful form of address to reigning kings in Europe. In French and other languages it is less archaic and relatively more current. In Belgium, the king is addressed as "Sire..." in both Dutch and French. The words "sire" an ...
who was one of the best horses of his generation in Europe at two and three years of age. He won five of his twelve races and never finished worse than third in a racing career which lasted from August 1982 until September 1983. He won the Prix La Rochette and
Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte The Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Chantilly over a distance of 1,200 metres (about 6 furlongs), and it is ...
as two-year-old and went on to win the
Prix Djebel The Prix Djebel is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run over a distance of 1,400 metres (about 7 furlongs) at Deauvi ...
,
Poule d'Essai des Poulains Molof (Ampas, Poule, Powle-Ma) is a poorly documented Papuan languages, Papuan language spoken by about 200 people in :id:Molof, Senggi, Keerom, Molof village, Senggi District, Keerom Regency. Classification Stephen Wurm, Wurm (1975) placed it a ...
and
Prix Lupin The Prix Lupin was a Conditions races, Group 1 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred Colt (horse), colts and Filly, fillies. It was run at Longchamp Racecourse, Longchamp over a distance of 2,100 m ...
in the following year. He was also placed in several major races including the
Grand Critérium Grand may refer to: People with the name * Grand (surname) * Grand L. Bush (born 1955), American actor Places * Grand, Oklahoma, USA * Grand, Vosges, village and commune in France with Gallo-Roman amphitheatre * Grand County (disambiguation), ...
,
Prix du Jockey Club The Prix du Jockey Club, sometimes referred to as the French Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Chantilly ov ...
,
Prix d'Ispahan The Prix d'Ispahan is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,850 metres (about 1 mile and 1¼ furlongs), ...
,
Prix Jacques Le Marois The Prix Jacques Le Marois is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred colts and fillies aged three years or older. It is run in August each year at Deauville over a distance of ...
,
Prix du Moulin The Prix du Moulin de Longchamp is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile), and it is s ...
and
Man o' War Stakes The Man o' War Stakes is a Graded stakes race, Grade II American thoroughbred horse race for horses aged four-years-old and older. It is run over a distance of one and three-eighth miles on grass, turf and is scheduled annually for early May at Be ...
. He was retired from racing at the end of 1983, but had little success a breeding stallion.


Background

L'Emigrant was an exceptionally good-looking brown horse with a narrow white blaze and two white
socks A sock is a piece of clothing worn on the feet and often covering the ankle or some part of the Calf (leg), calf. Some types of shoes or boots are typically worn over socks. In ancient times, socks were made from leather or matted animal hair. ...
bred by Bedford Farms Inc of
Paris, Kentucky Paris is a home rule-class city in Bourbon County, Kentucky, and the county seat. It lies northeast of Lexington on the Stoner Fork of the Licking River. It is part of the Lexington–Fayette Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2020, it ha ...
. He was sired by The Minstrel, a Canadian-bred horse who won The Derby in 1977. As a stallion, The Minstrel alo sired the
Breeders' Cup Mile The Breeders' Cup Mile is a conditions races, Grade 1 Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up, run on a sod, grass course. It has been conducted annually as part of the Breeders' Cup, Breeders' Cup World C ...
winner Opening Verse, the
1000 Guineas The 1000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile ...
winner Musical Bliss and the William Hill Futurity winner Bakharoff as well as
Palace Music Joseph Will Oldham (born January 15, 1970) is an American singer-songwriter and actor. From 1993 to 1997, he performed and recorded in collaboration with dozens of other musicians under variations of Palace (Palace, Palace Brothers, Palace Son ...
, who won the
Champion Stakes The Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile 1 furlong a ...
and sired
Cigar A cigar is a rolled bundle of dried and Fermentation, fermented tobacco leaves made to be Tobacco smoking, smoked. Cigars are produced in a variety of sizes and shapes. Since the 20th century, almost all cigars are made of three distinct comp ...
. L'Emigrant's dam Suprina had previously produced the filly Salpinx, who was beaten a short head by Three Troikas in the
Prix Vermeille The Prix Vermeille is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles) ...
. Suprina was a daughter of Perfecta who was a sister of
Halo HALO, halo, halos or haloes may refer to: Most common meanings * Halo (optical phenomenon) * Halo (religious iconography), a ring of light around the image of a head * ''Halo'' (franchise), a sci-fi video game series (2001–2021) Arts and en ...
, Tosmah and Queen Sucree, the dam of Cannonade. Perfecta was a granddaughter of the influential broodmare Almahmoud, whose other descendants included
Northern Dancer Northern Dancer (May 27, 1961 – November 16, 1990) was a Thoroughbred that, in 1964, became the first Canadian-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby. After being retired from racing, he became one of the most successful Stallion, sires of the 2 ...
, Danehill, Machiavellian and Bago. In July 1981 L'Emigrant was sent to the
Keeneland Keeneland Association, Inc. is an equine business based in Lexington, Kentucky. It includes two distinct divisions: the Keeneland Race Course, a Thoroughbred racing facility, and Keeneland Sales, a horse auction complex. It is also known for ...
Sales where he was bought for $325,000 by Philip Payne-Gallwey of the British Bloodstock Agency (England), acting on behalf of
Stavros Niarchos Stavros Spyrou Niarchos (, ; 3 July 1909 – 15 April 1996) was a Greek billionaire shipping tycoon. Starting in 1952, he had the world's biggest supertankers built for his fleet. Propelled by both the Suez Crisis and increasing demand for oil, ...
. The colt was sent to Europe where he was trained by
François Boutin François Boutin (21 January 1937 – 1 February 1995) was a France, French Thoroughbred horse trainer. The son of a farmer, he was born in the village of Beaunay in the northerly Seine Maritime département. He began riding horses at a young ag ...
.


Racing career


1982: two-year-old season

L'Emigrant made his racecourse debut in a
maiden race In horse racing, a maiden race is an event for horses that have not won a race. Horses that have not won a race are referred to as maidens. Maiden horse races are held over a variety of distances and under conditions with eligibility based on the s ...
over 1200
metres The metre (or meter in US spelling; symbol: m) is the base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI). Since 2019, the metre has been defined as the length of the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time interval of of ...
at Deauville Racecourse in August in which he finished second by a neck to Crystal Glitters, a subsequent
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 ...
winner. In the following month, the colt was moved up in class to contest the Group Three Prix La Rochette over 1600m at
Longchamp Racecourse The Longchamp Racecourse (, ) is a 57 hectare horse-racing facility located on the Route des Tribunes at the Bois de Boulogne in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, 16th arrondissement of Paris, France. It is used for flat racing and is noted for ...
. Ridden by
Lester Piggott Lester Keith Piggott (5 November 1935 – 29 May 2022) was an English professional jockey and horse trainer. With 4,493 career flat racing wins in Britain, including a record nine Epsom Derby victories, he is widely regarded as one of the grea ...
, he took the lead 400m from the finish and won impressively by three lengths from Le Voleur. On 10 October L'Emigrant was ridden by
Cash Asmussen Cash Asmussen (born March 15, 1962, in Agar, South Dakota, Agar, South Dakota) is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. Born Brian Keith Asmussen, in 1977 he legally changed his name to "Cash". From a Texas horse racing family, his paren ...
in France's premier race for two-year-olds, the
Grand Critérium Grand may refer to: People with the name * Grand (surname) * Grand L. Bush (born 1955), American actor Places * Grand, Oklahoma, USA * Grand, Vosges, village and commune in France with Gallo-Roman amphitheatre * Grand County (disambiguation), ...
over 1600m on soft ground at Longchamp. He took the lead in the straight and held off the challenge of Deep Roots (winner of the
Prix Morny The Prix Morny is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,200 metres (about 6 furlongs), and it is schedule ...
and
Prix de la Salamandre The Prix de la Salamandre was a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It was run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,400 metres (about 7 furlongs), and it was scheduled to take place each year in Se ...
) but was overtaken in the closing stages by Saint Cyrien, and finished second by a length. In late October, L'Emigrant ran in the Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte over 1400m in which he was opposed by Crystal Glitters, the Prix Thomas Bryon winner Bal des Fees and three challengers from England. Starting the odds-on favourite he took the lead 300m from the finish and won comfortably by one and a half lengths from Drumalis, who was carrying seven pounds less than the winner.


1983: three-year-old season

L'Emigrant began his three-year-old season in early April, when he recorded an easy three length win over Ginger Brink in the Prix Djebel over 1400m at Maisons-Laffitte. Later that month he started second favourite behind Saint Cyrien in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains over 1600m at Longchamp. Asmussen sent the colt into the lead on the turn ito the straight and he turned back several challengers to win comfortably from Crystal Glitters, Margouzed and the British-trained Sackford, with Saint Cyrien in sixth. L'Emigrant was then aimed at the Prix du Jockey Club and prepared for the race by running in the Group One
Prix Lupin The Prix Lupin was a Conditions races, Group 1 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred Colt (horse), colts and Filly, fillies. It was run at Longchamp Racecourse, Longchamp over a distance of 2,100 m ...
over 2100m at Longchamp on 15 May. Starting the 7/10 favourite on extremely heavy ground he won the race, but was not particularly impressive: he took the lead in the straight but appeared to be tiring in the closing stages and had to be ridden out by Asmusen to win narrowly from Lovely Dancer and Pluralisme. In the Prix du Jockey Club over 2400m at
Chantilly Racecourse Chantilly Racecourse (In French: "Hippodrome de Chantilly") is a Thoroughbred grass, turf race track, racecourse for flat racing in Chantilly, Oise, France, about north of the centre of the city of Paris. Chantilly Racecourse is located in the ...
on 5 June, L'Emigrant started joint-favourite with the Irish-trained
Caerleon Caerleon ( ; ) is a town and Community (Wales), community in Newport, Wales. Situated on the River Usk, it lies northeast of Newport city centre, and southeast of Cwmbran. Caerleon is of archaeological importance, being the site of a notable ...
. Asmussen restrained the colt in the early stages before producing him with a late run in the straight, but he was never able to get close enough to mount a serious challenge to Caerleon and was beaten three lengths. There was some criticism of Asmussen after the race from commentators who felt that he had given the horse too much ground to make up, while other pointed to L'Emigrant's demanding spring campaign as the reason for his failure. Asmussen, however, said that the colt failed to stay the distance and was "beaten by a better horse that day". Following his defeat at Chantilly, L'Emigrant was brought back in distance for his next three races. On 28 June he was matched against older horses for the first time when he started odds-on favourite for the
Prix d'Ispahan The Prix d'Ispahan is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,850 metres (about 1 mile and 1¼ furlongs), ...
over 1900m. He finished third behind Crystal Glitters and Darly, having been given an indifferent ride by Asmussen, who again employed exaggerated waiting tactics. L'Emigrant's next race was the
Prix Jacques Le Marois The Prix Jacques Le Marois is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred colts and fillies aged three years or older. It is run in August each year at Deauville over a distance of ...
over 1600m at Deauville Racecourse in August. Starting favourite at odds of 11/4 he got the better of a sustained struggle with the British challenger Noalcoholic but was overtaken in the closing stages and beaten one and a half lengths by the improving filly
Luth Enchantee Luth Enchantee (foaled 1980) was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who was named the best horse in Europe over one mile in 1983. Her early career was undistinguished, as she won one minor event in her first eight races. In the summer ...
. The unplaced horses included
Ma Biche Ma Biche (foaled 1980) was an American-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse and broodmare who won the British Classic Races, classic 1000 Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse in 1983. The filly was the best racehorse of her age a ...
, Crystal Glitters and Deep Roots. On 4 September L'Emigrant and Luth Enchantee met again in the
Prix du Moulin The Prix du Moulin de Longchamp is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile), and it is s ...
at Longchamp. On this occasion, L'Emigrant was retrained by Asmussen in the early stages before accelerating clear of the field in the straight. He looked almost certain to win, but was caught by Luth Enchantee in the closing stages and was beaten half a length. The pair finished eight lengths clear of the rest of the field, which included Wassl (
Irish 2000 Guineas The Irish 2,000 Guineas is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and i ...
), L'Attrayante (
Poule d'Essai des Pouliches The Poule d'Essai des Pouliches is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) ...
), Horage and Crystal Glitters. On his final appearance, L'Emigrant was sent to the United States and moved up in distance for the
Man o' War Stakes The Man o' War Stakes is a Graded stakes race, Grade II American thoroughbred horse race for horses aged four-years-old and older. It is run over a distance of one and three-eighth miles on grass, turf and is scheduled annually for early May at Be ...
over eleven furlongs at
Belmont Park Belmont Park is a thoroughbred racing, thoroughbred horse racetrack in Elmont, New York, just east of New York City limits best known for hosting the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the American Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (United Stat ...
. He made the running for a mile, but faded in the straight and finished third behind Majesty's Prince and Erin's Isle.


Assessment

In the official International Classification for 1982, L'Emigrant was rated the seventh-best two-year-old in Europe. The independent Timeform organisation gave him a rating of 125, eight pounds below their top-rated two-year-old
Diesis In classical music from Western culture, a diesis ( or enharmonic diesis, plural dieses ( , or "difference"; Greek: "leak" or "escape" is either an accidental (see sharp), or a very small musical interval, usually defined as the differe ...
. In 1983 the International Classification rated L'Emigrant the best three-year-old colt in France, the third best three-year-old colt in Europe behind Shareef Dancer and Caerleon and the fifth best horse of any age. Timeform gave him a rating of 129, seven pounds behind their highest-rated horse Habibti.


Stud record

L'Emigrant was retired from racing to become a breeding stallion at the
Gainesway Farm Gainesway Farm is an American Thoroughbred horse breeding business in Lexington, Kentucky. It was originally called Greentree Stables, Greentree Farms. The 1,500-acre (6 km2) property has been home to stallions such as Youth (horse), Youth a ...
with a valuation of $13 million. He was not a success at stud, but sired a few good winners including Mary Linoa (
Prix Marcel Boussac The Prix Marcel Boussac is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile), and it is s ...
) and Summer Trip (
Prix de Royallieu The Prix de Royallieu is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,800 metres (about 1 mile ...
). One of his sons, Grey Duster became a successful competitor in equestrian competitions in China, winning an event at the National Games in 2001. His last recorded foals were born in 1995.


Pedigree


References

{{reflist 1980 racehorse births Racehorses bred in Kentucky Racehorses trained in France Thoroughbred family 2-d