Bertrando
Encyclopedia
Bertrando is an American
Thoroughbred
Champion
racehorse
. A tall colt, who would grow to 16 hands
2 inches, Bertrando was bred by Ed Nahem, at River Edge Farm in Buellton, California
. He was sired by Skywalker
who won the 1986 Breeders' Cup Classic
.
Ed Nahem began racing Bertrando in a three-way partnership with Marshall Naify's
505 Farms of Lexington, Kentucky
and Gus Headley, son of the horse's trainer, Bruce Headley
. En route to being voted California Champion 2-year-old colt, Bertrando won the important Del Mar Futurity
, and the Grade I
Norfolk Stakes, one of the final prep races for two-year-olds going into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile
. In that race, the most important of the year, Bertrando broke quickly from the starting gate, and took an early lead. But, from the back of the fourteen-horse field, the French
colt Arazi began making a move. In what a 2006 National Thoroughbred Racing Association
(NTRA) article
called "the single-most spectacular performance in Breeders' Cup history," Arazi suddenly turned it on, weaving his way between horses and with a full two furlong
s still to run, swept past Bertrando to win. http://www.ntra.com/content.aspx?type=other&id=19892
Racing in California in 1992, the three-year-old Bertrando won the San Felipe Stakes
, and was second to A.P. Indy
in the Santa Anita Derby
. As a result of a respiratory system
virus
, the colt did not compete in any of the U.S. Triple Crown races. Sidelined for several months, Gus Headley was bought out of the partnership, and Robert J. Frankel took over as Bertrando's trainer. Near the end of the year, Bertrando returned to compete in the Malibu Stakes
, finishing third. Although his 1992 performances were limited, he still earned California Champion 3-year-old colt honors.
At age four, 1993 was Bertrando's best year in racing. He won the San Fernando Stakes
, the Woodward Stakes
by 13½ lengths, and, while winning the Pacific Classic Stakes
, he broke the track record for 1¼ miles at the Del Mar Racetrack
. Bertrando also had strong second place performances in the Hollywood Gold Cup
, Metropolitan Handicap
, and in the Breeders' Cup Classic
. In the Classic, he appeared to have the race won, when longshot Arcangues
came from behind to claim victory. His 1993 performances earned him that year's U.S. Eclipse Award for Outstanding Older Male Horse
, and the California Horse of the Year
title.
Following arthroscopic surgery
on a knee, Bertrando returned to race again at age 5. He won the 1994 Wickerr Stakes
, and Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap
. In his third attempt to win a Breeders' Cup race, he entered the 1994 Classic, where he finished sixth. After two unplaced showings in 1995, Bertrando was retired to River Edge Farm in Buellton, California, where he has been a successful sire
of a number of stakes race winners.
Bertrando is a direct sire-line descendant of Man o' War
through his son War Relic
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Thoroughbred
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...
Champion
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. A tall colt, who would grow to 16 hands
Hand (unit)
The hand is a non-SI unit of measurement of length, now used only for the measurement of the height of horses in some English-speaking countries, including Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA. With origins in ancient Egypt, it was originally based on the breadth of a human hand...
2 inches, Bertrando was bred by Ed Nahem, at River Edge Farm in Buellton, California
Buellton, California
Buellton is a small city in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. The city of Buellton is one of the communities that make up the Santa Ynez Valley...
. He was sired by Skywalker
Skywalker (horse)
Skywalker was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred in Kentucky by Thomas T. Tatham's Oak Cliff Thoroughbreds Ltd., who also bred Sunday Silence, he was foaled and raised at Arthur B. Hancock III's Stone Farm...
who won the 1986 Breeders' Cup Classic
Breeders' Cup Classic
The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships...
.
Ed Nahem began racing Bertrando in a three-way partnership with Marshall Naify's
Marshall Naify
Marshall Naify was a motion picture and media tycoon who was a long-term chairman of the board of United Artists and later became founder and co-chairman of the board of Todd-AO, the largest independent post-production sound studio in the country which worked on Apollo 13 and other major films.Son...
505 Farms of Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
and Gus Headley, son of the horse's trainer, Bruce Headley
Bruce Headley
Bruce Headley is a Thoroughbred horse trainer and owner.Involved with horse racing since his teens, Headley worked as an exercise rider from 1949 until taking out his trainers license in 1959...
. En route to being voted California Champion 2-year-old colt, Bertrando won the important Del Mar Futurity
Del Mar Futurity
The Del Mar Futurity is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. A Grade I event since 2007, the race is open to horses, age two, willing to race seven furlongs on Polytrack synthetic dirt and offers a purse of $250,000.The race is currently...
, and the Grade I
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
Norfolk Stakes, one of the final prep races for two-year-olds going into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile
Breeders' Cup Juvenile
The Breeders' Cup Juvenile is a Thoroughbred horse race for 2-year-old colts and geldings raced on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships....
. In that race, the most important of the year, Bertrando broke quickly from the starting gate, and took an early lead. But, from the back of the fourteen-horse field, the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
colt Arazi began making a move. In what a 2006 National Thoroughbred Racing Association
National Thoroughbred Racing Association
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association is a broad-based coalition of horse racing interests consisting of leading thoroughbred racetracks, owners, breeders, trainers and affiliated horse racing associations, charged with increasing the popularity of horse racing and improving economic...
(NTRA) article
Article (publishing)
An article is a written work published in a print or electronic medium. It may be for the purpose of propagating the news, research results, academic analysis or debate.-News articles:...
called "the single-most spectacular performance in Breeders' Cup history," Arazi suddenly turned it on, weaving his way between horses and with a full two furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
s still to run, swept past Bertrando to win. http://www.ntra.com/content.aspx?type=other&id=19892
Racing in California in 1992, the three-year-old Bertrando won the San Felipe Stakes
San Felipe Stakes
The San Felipe Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The San Felipe is a Grade II event open to three-year-old horses. Normally held in mid-March, it is raced at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on dirt and currently...
, and was second to A.P. Indy
A.P. Indy
A.P. Indy is a champion stallion Thoroughbred racehorse bred in Kentucky, USA, by William Farish III and William Kilroy. He is known for his ancestry, his own record, and his successful progeny. He was sired by Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew through mare Weekend Surprise, who herself was sired...
in the Santa Anita Derby
Santa Anita Derby
The Santa Anita Derby is an American Grade 1 thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run each April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California and carries a purse of $1 million. Inaugurated in 1935, it is considered the most important West Coast stepping-stone to the Kentucky Derby...
. As a result of a respiratory system
Respiratory system
The respiratory system is the anatomical system of an organism that introduces respiratory gases to the interior and performs gas exchange. In humans and other mammals, the anatomical features of the respiratory system include airways, lungs, and the respiratory muscles...
virus
Virus
A virus is a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of organisms. Viruses infect all types of organisms, from animals and plants to bacteria and archaea...
, the colt did not compete in any of the U.S. Triple Crown races. Sidelined for several months, Gus Headley was bought out of the partnership, and Robert J. Frankel took over as Bertrando's trainer. Near the end of the year, Bertrando returned to compete in the Malibu Stakes
Malibu Stakes
The Malibu Stakes is a race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses of either gender held each December at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California...
, finishing third. Although his 1992 performances were limited, he still earned California Champion 3-year-old colt honors.
At age four, 1993 was Bertrando's best year in racing. He won the San Fernando Stakes
San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes
The San Fernando Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid January at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Open to four-year-old horses, it is contested on at a distance of 11/16 miles on Pro-Ride synthetic dirt...
, the Woodward Stakes
Woodward Stakes
The Woodward Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race and is one of the premier races for older thoroughbred horses in the United States. Named for prominent racehorse owner, George Nicholas Woodward, it is run at 1⅛ miles on the dirt for a purse of $750,000.The Woodward was run as a handicap in...
by 13½ lengths, and, while winning the Pacific Classic Stakes
Pacific Classic Stakes
The Pacific Classic Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for runners aged 3-year-old or up run at the classic American distance of a mile and a quarter...
, he broke the track record for 1¼ miles at the Del Mar Racetrack
Del Mar Racetrack
Del Mar Racetrack is an American Thoroughbred horse racing track at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in the seaside city of Del Mar, California, 20 miles north of San Diego. Operated by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, it is known for the slogan: "Where The Turf Meets The Surf." It was built by a partnership...
. Bertrando also had strong second place performances in the Hollywood Gold Cup
Hollywood Gold Cup
The Hollywood Gold Cup is an American Grade I stakes race for thoroughbred horses inaugurated in 1938 at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. It was run as a handicap race until 1997 when it was switched to weight-for-age conditions...
, Metropolitan Handicap
Metropolitan Handicap
The Metropolitan Handicap, frequently called the "Met Mile," is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the last week of May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one mile .The Met Mile was first...
, and in the Breeders' Cup Classic
Breeders' Cup Classic
The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships...
. In the Classic, he appeared to have the race won, when longshot Arcangues
Arcangues (horse)
Arcangues was a Thoroughbred racehorse and sire from France.The son of owner Daniel Wildenstein's 1984 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Sagace, he was given the name of the village of Arcangues in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques departement of the Aquitaine region...
came from behind to claim victory. His 1993 performances earned him that year's U.S. Eclipse Award for Outstanding Older Male Horse
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Older Male Horse
The title of American Champion Older Male Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually to a stallion or gelding, four years old and up. Prior to 1971, this award was referred to as "Champion Handicap Male Horse", and was open to any horse, three years old and up...
, and the California Horse of the Year
California Horse of the Year
The California Horse of the Year is an American horse racing honor awarded annually since 1973 by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association to a Thoroughbred racehorse bred in the state of California.-Winners:...
title.
Following arthroscopic surgery
Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which an examination and sometimes treatment of damage of the interior of a joint is performed using an arthroscope, a type of endoscope that is inserted into the joint through a small incision...
on a knee, Bertrando returned to race again at age 5. He won the 1994 Wickerr Stakes
Wickerr Stakes
The Wickerr Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually near the end of July at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. A non-graded stakes open to horses age three and older, it is contested on turf over a distance of one mile ....
, and Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap
Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap
The Goodwood Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race run annually since 1982 during the Oak Tree Racing Association at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California....
. In his third attempt to win a Breeders' Cup race, he entered the 1994 Classic, where he finished sixth. After two unplaced showings in 1995, Bertrando was retired to River Edge Farm in Buellton, California, where he has been a successful sire
Father
A father, Pop, Dad, or Papa, is defined as a male parent of any type of offspring. The adjective "paternal" refers to father, parallel to "maternal" for mother...
of a number of stakes race winners.
Bertrando is a direct sire-line descendant of Man o' War
Man O' War
Man O' War, man o' war or manowar may refer to:* Man-of-war, a warship* Man of war for uses with this spelling - Places :...
through his son War Relic
War Relic
War Relic was an American Thoroughbred racehorse.A homebred of Samuel D. Riddle, his sire was the great Man o' War who was ranked #1 in the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century...
.