Hail To Reason

Hail to Reason
SireTurn-to
GrandsireRoyal Charger
DamNothirdchance
DamsireBlue Swords
SexStallion
Foaled(1958-04-18)April 18, 1958
DiedFebruary 24, 1976(1976-02-24) (aged 17)
CountryUnited States
ColourBrown
BreederBieber-Jacobs Stable
OwnerHirsch Jacobs
Harbor View Farm
TrainerHirsch Jacobs
Record18: 9–2–2
Earnings$328,434[1]
Major wins
Youthful Stakes (1960)
Tremont Stakes (1960)
Sanford Stakes (1960)
Great American Stakes (1960)
World's Playground Stakes (1960)
Sapling Stakes (1960)
Hopeful Stakes (1960)
Awards
American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt (1960)
Leading sire in North America (1970)

Hail to Reason (April 18, 1958 – February 24, 1976) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and an influential sire. In a racing career cut short by injury, he was named the American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt of 1960 after winning seven stakes races including the Hopeful Stakes. He later became a leading sire whose offspring included 1972 Epsom Derby winner Roberto and leading sire Halo, who in turn sired 1989 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Sunday Silence.

Background

Hail to Reason was bred in Kentucky by the Bieber-Jacobs Stable, a partnership of prominent horsemen, Isadore Bieber and Hirsch Jacobs. He was sired by the English stakes winner Turn-To, a grandson of the very influential sire Nearco. Hail to Reason was out of the mare Nothirdchance, a stakes winning daughter of Blue Swords.[2] She was named by Jacobs as a warning to the Allies to not allow Germany to start another war. Hail to Reason was named in response to his fulfilled hopes.[3]

Racing career

Starting in January 1958, Hail to Reason raced 18 times as a two-year-old in nine months, winning nine times. He set a track record of :5815 for 5 furlongs is his debut at Aqueduct, followed up by wins in the Youthful, Great American and Tremont at the same track. He also won the Sapling Stakes at Monmouth, the World's Playground Stakes at Atlantic City and the Sanford Stakes at Saratoga. The highlight of his campaign was winning the prestigious Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga while setting a new track record of 1:16 for 6+12 furlongs.[2]

During a morning workout in September, he lost a shoe and broke both sesamoid bones in his near front leg, ending his career. However, he was still named 1960 American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt.[4]

Stud record

Retired to stud at Hagyard Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, Hail to Reason was an outstanding stallion and earned Leading sire in North America honors for 1970.[5] His progeny includes:[2][6]

Foaled Name Sex Major Wins/Achievements
1962 Hail To All Stallion Belmont Stakes
1964 Proud Clarion Stallion Kentucky Derby
1967 Personality Stallion Preakness Stakes, American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse, American Horse of the Year
1968 Bold Reason Stallion Travers Stakes, Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain and Ireland
1969 Halo Stallion Leading sire in North America
1969 Roberto Stallion Epsom Derby
1970 Stop The Music Stallion Champagne Stakes
1974 Cum Laude Laurie Mare Multiple Grade 1 winner
1974 Trillion Mare American Champion Female Turf Horse

Hail to Reason was also a very successful broodmare sire whose daughters have produced more than 100 stakes winners, including Allez France and Triptych. Another daughter, Reason to Earn, is the dam of Bold Reasoning, sire of 1977 U.S. Triple Crown Champion Seattle Slew.

At 18, Hail to Reason was humanely put down on February 24, 1976, and is buried at Hagyard Farm.[7]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Hail to Reason, brown horse, foaled April 18, 1958[8]
Sire
Turn-To
Royal Charger Nearco (ITY) Pharos (GB)
Nogara (ITY)
Sun Princess (GB) Solario (GB)
Mumtaz Begum (FR)
Source Sucree Admiral Drake (FR) Craig an Eran (GB)
Plucky Liege (GB)
Lavendula (FR) Pharos (GB)
Sweet Lavender (GB)
Dam
Nothirdchance
Blue Swords Blue Larkspur Black Servant
Blossom Time
Flaming Swords Man o' War
Exalted
Galla Colors Sir Gallahad III (FR) Teddy
Plucky Liege (GB)
Rouge Et Noir St. Germans
Baton Rouge (family 4-n)[9]

References

  1. ^ "Hail to Reason". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Hail to Reason (horse)". American Classic Pedigrees. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  3. ^ Reines-de-course.com Hail To Reason profile at Reines-de-course.com Archived 2008-05-27 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ The Bloodhorse.com Champion's history charts
  5. ^ American leading sires at Thoroughbred Heritage
  6. ^ Reines-de-course.com Hail to Reason profile at Reines-de-course.com Archived 2008-05-27 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Thoroughbred Heritage.com Hagyard Farm
  8. ^ "Pedigree of Hail to Reason". Equineline. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  9. ^ "Thoroughbred Bloodlines - St. Marguerite - Family 4-n". www.bloodlines.net. Retrieved 15 August 2020.