Shenanigans (horse)
Encyclopedia
Shenanigans was an American thoroughbred
mare
born in Kentucky. She was sired by Native Dancer
and out of the Locust Hill foundation mare Bold Irish. Owner Janney once recalled, "Shenanigans was meant to be a good mare, she had speed and she was second to Miss Spin in the Maryland Futurity, but she developed a little calcium in a knee. She raced a little bit at three, but we decided she wasn't going to be able to win a stakes, so we stopped with her." The Janneys considered sending her to Bold Ruler
for her first season, but she was sent to Knightly Manner instead and failed to conceive. The next breeding was with Neartic. This resulted in the gray Icecapade, who was a successful stakes racer and sire. In 1970, Shenanigans foaled another gray (this time by Bold Ruler), a filly named Laughter who like her mother excelled in the breeding shed when she beget horses like Private Terms
but was at best mediocre on the track. In 1971, Shenanigans was bred to a son of Bold Ruler, Bold Lad
, which resulted in a colt, On To Glory, who was a winner but not a stakes performer. He did, however, produce a couple of graded stakes winners while at stud.
In 1972, Shenanigans foaled her most famous progeny: a brown filly by Reviewer
named Ruffian
. This tall, almost jet black filly destroyed track and stakes records for two seasons before she broke down in a match race against Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure. Many claim that Ruffian’s tragic end was a product of her breeding. Her sire broke down four times during the course of his life: three times while racing and the last time in a paddock accident where he re-broke a fracture he had sustained a few weeks earlier in another barn accident. Her dam sire, Native Dancer, along with her grandsire, Bold Ruler, were both known for their weak bones. After Ruffian, Shenanigans had two more foals: a stakes winner and sire in 1974 called Buckfinder, by Buckpasser
, and one more winner in 1977 named Near East, by Damascus
.
On May 21, 1977 Shenanigans befell a fate similar to her daughter’s when she awoke from anesthesia after intestinal surgery and (like Ruffian) began to thrash wildly; she broke two of her legs. Shenanigans could not endure another surgery and had to be put down. Despite whatever weak genes she might have carried, Shenanigans had a marvelous producing record. She attained a 100% winner rate and a 50% graded stakes winner rate during her years at stud.
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...
mare
Mare
Female horses are called mares.Mare is the Latin word for "sea".The word may also refer to:-People:* Ahmed Marzooq, also known as Mare, a footballer and Secretary General of Maldives Olympic Committee* Mare Winningham, American actress and singer...
born in Kentucky. She was sired by Native Dancer
Native Dancer
Native Dancer , nicknamed the Grey Ghost, was one of the most celebrated and accomplished Thoroughbred racehorses in history, the first horse made famous through the medium of television. He was one of the best horses produced in USA after the war...
and out of the Locust Hill foundation mare Bold Irish. Owner Janney once recalled, "Shenanigans was meant to be a good mare, she had speed and she was second to Miss Spin in the Maryland Futurity, but she developed a little calcium in a knee. She raced a little bit at three, but we decided she wasn't going to be able to win a stakes, so we stopped with her." The Janneys considered sending her to Bold Ruler
Bold Ruler
Bold Ruler was an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse.Bred by the Wheatley Stable of Gladys Mills Phipps, Bold Ruler was foaled on April 6, 1954 at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky to Nasrullah and Miss Disco by Discovery...
for her first season, but she was sent to Knightly Manner instead and failed to conceive. The next breeding was with Neartic. This resulted in the gray Icecapade, who was a successful stakes racer and sire. In 1970, Shenanigans foaled another gray (this time by Bold Ruler), a filly named Laughter who like her mother excelled in the breeding shed when she beget horses like Private Terms
Private Terms
Private Terms was a millionaire American Thoroughbred racehorse and successful stallion. He was the son of Private Account, who in turn was the son of the great Damascus. Bred in Kentucky by Stuart Janney, Jr., he finished racing with a record of 13-0-0 in 17 starts with career earnings of...
but was at best mediocre on the track. In 1971, Shenanigans was bred to a son of Bold Ruler, Bold Lad
Bold Lad
Bold Lad was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred and raced by Gladys Phipps and her brother Ogden L. Mills under their Wheatley Stable banner. His sire was eight time Leading sire in North America, Bold Ruler and his dam was the racing mare Misty Morn,Trained by Bill Winfrey,...
, which resulted in a colt, On To Glory, who was a winner but not a stakes performer. He did, however, produce a couple of graded stakes winners while at stud.
In 1972, Shenanigans foaled her most famous progeny: a brown filly by Reviewer
Reviewer (horse)
Reviewer was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known as the sire of the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame filly, Ruffian.Foaled in Kentucky, the dark bay colt was owned and bred by Ogden Phipps. A son of Bold Ruler, the very important Champion sire, his damsire Hasty Road won the 1954 Preakness...
named Ruffian
Ruffian (horse)
Ruffian was an American champion thoroughbred racehorse. Ruffian is considered by many to be the greatest female racehorse in history. Ruffian is among the greatest U.S. racehorses of all time. Her story was told in 2007 film Ruffian.- Career :An almost coal black filly of 16 and a half hands,...
. This tall, almost jet black filly destroyed track and stakes records for two seasons before she broke down in a match race against Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure. Many claim that Ruffian’s tragic end was a product of her breeding. Her sire broke down four times during the course of his life: three times while racing and the last time in a paddock accident where he re-broke a fracture he had sustained a few weeks earlier in another barn accident. Her dam sire, Native Dancer, along with her grandsire, Bold Ruler, were both known for their weak bones. After Ruffian, Shenanigans had two more foals: a stakes winner and sire in 1974 called Buckfinder, by Buckpasser
Buckpasser
Buckpasser was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who won he won nine of his eleven race starts for international record winnings for a two-year-old of $586,090. Buckpasser was leading broodmare sire in 1983, 1984 and 1989....
, and one more winner in 1977 named Near East, by Damascus
Damascus (horse)
Damascus was a thoroughbred race horse sired by Sword Dancer out of Kerala foaled at the Jonabell Farm in Lexington, Kentucky...
.
On May 21, 1977 Shenanigans befell a fate similar to her daughter’s when she awoke from anesthesia after intestinal surgery and (like Ruffian) began to thrash wildly; she broke two of her legs. Shenanigans could not endure another surgery and had to be put down. Despite whatever weak genes she might have carried, Shenanigans had a marvelous producing record. She attained a 100% winner rate and a 50% graded stakes winner rate during her years at stud.