Northern Dancer has proven to be the most influential sire of thoroughbreds perhaps in the history of the breed. His international success has led to a globalisation of the breed, and changed the racehorse forever.
The stallion was born in Canada in 1961, a produce of champion stallion Nearctic and a Native Dancer mare called Natalma. Northern Dancer was a small colt, with many reports judging his size from 14.2 hands to just over 15 hands in height. No doubt his lack of size, together with hoof problems that may have been evident to astute purchasers, contributed to his failing to sell at auction while a yearling. Northern Dancer went on to race for his breeder, Mr E P Taylor who was also to stand the horse at stud following his racing career.
Northern Dancer raced first as a 2yo, winning his debut by seven lengths. He went on to win the Coronation Futurity Stakes and the Summer Stakes at that age. However, as a 3yo, Northern Dancer stamped himself as a champion racehorse winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes before finishing a gallant third in the final leg of the US Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes. In all, Northern Dancer was to win fourteen of his eighteen career starts, and retired at the end of his 3yo season due to a tendon injury with total earnings of almost US$600,000 and a host of titles as Champion 3yo and Horse of the Year.
It was at stud though that Northern Dancer stamped himself as a truly unique prospect. He sired twenty three crops of 635 foals, a far cry from today’s huge numbers that stallions produce. Of these, 488 raced for 368 winners at an amazing 75.4% winners-to-runners ratio. One hundred and forty eight of these earned black type (30.32%) with his runners earning a total of more than US$31 million in stakes. Among his progeny are numerous champions of the track and the breeding barn including Sadler’s Wells, Fanfreluche, El Gran Senor, Shareef Dancer and Nijinsky.
Northern Dancer’s influence extends to almost every racing country in the world. His son, Danzig proved one of the greatest dirt track influences in modern times. Danzig was renowned for producing largely early maturing sprinter/miler types in the US, yet many of his overseas raced progeny won races in Europe over classic distances. His son, Danehill, who shared some of Danzig’s leg problems, became the most influential stallion in Australia in his generation, and had remarkable success shuttling between Australia and Ireland. Danehill’s European success came only after his prominence in Australia.
Unlike most stallions, Northern Dancer’s main influence has extended through his sire sons, rather than the progeny of his daughters. In Australia, Danehill is the major line extending his influence. In the US, Danzig is one major influence, although perhaps overshadowed by Storm Cat, who is a grandson of Northern Dancer. In Europe, sons of Northern Dancer in Nureyev and Nijinsky have been influential, while Japan and South America have also been heavily influenced by other lines.
Many stallions though would love to have had the influence as a broodmare sire that Northern Dancer has. His influence has certainly not been insignificant, but certainly pales against that of his sons. Daughters of Northern Dancer have produced Arazi, Brief Truce, Ryafan, Noverre, Rhythm and Tap Dance City among a host of Group 1 winners.
Given that Northern Dancer was small with hoof and leg problems, yet his lasting influence belies these perceived flaws. His influence will become one of the most lasting of all within the thoroughbred in future generations.
This yearling carries two lines of Northern Dancer through Zabeel and Danehill.