User Friendly (horse)
Encyclopedia
User Friendly is a European Champion Thoroughbred
racehorse
.
, East Cambridgeshire
, she was out of the mare Rostova and a descendant of the great Nearco
through her sire, the 1985 Epsom Derby
winner, Slip Anchor
.
, User Friendly made her racing debut on April 24, 1992 in England with a win in the Forte Airport Service Fillies Maiden Stakes at Sandown Park Racecourse. She followed up with a win in the Lingfield Oaks Trial
then on June 6 won the Group One
Classic, the Epsom Oaks
. On July 11, User Friendly won her second straight Group One event, taking the Irish Oaks
at the Curragh
. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing-friendly-win-completes-an-oaks-double-robert-wright-reports-on-a-british-win-in-the-irish-oaks-1532635.html On August 19 she won the Yorkshire Oaks
at York Racecourse
and then on September 12 at Doncaster Racecourse
she made it four Group Ones in a row and her second English Classic win by defeating her male counterparts in the St. Leger Stakes
. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8LgTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VJADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6813,1118934&dq=user-friendly+st+leger&hl=en On October 4, User Friendly was sent to Longchamp Racecourse in Paris
for the prestigious Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
where she finished second to Subotica
. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing-lessons-of-another-lost-arc-for-britain-1555801.html In her last start of 1992, User Friendly was sent to Tokyo
, Japan
to compete in the Japan Cup
in which she finished sixth to winner, Tokai Teio
.
User Friendly's 1992 performances earned her two Cartier Racing Award
s for, one for European Champion Three-Year-Old Filly
and the other as the European Horse of the Year
.
. She returned to her winning form on July 4 with a victory in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
at Saint-Cloud Racecourse
in France. On July 24 she ran fourth behind winner Opera House
in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot Racecourse
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing-roberts-tops-bill-on-opera-house-1486961.html and then was third as the returning champion in the Yorkshire Oaks. On October 3 User Friendly returned to Longchamp Racecourse in Paris for the 1993 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. This time, she finished twenty-second in a field of twenty-three behind winner, Urban Sea
.
, on July 29 she made her first start of the year winning a 1 1/16-mile Allowance race on grass at Del Mar Racetrack
in California
. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sandiego/access/1245101441.html?dids=1245101441:1245101441&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+30%2C+1994&author=HANK+WESCH&pub=The+San+Diego+Union+-+Tribune&desc=User+Friendly+lives+up+to+billing%2C+not+to+name&pqatl=google Her next race, and the last of her career, came on August 29 at Arlington Park
in Chicago
. In a field of eight fillies and mares, she ran last in the Grade 1
Beverly D. Stakes
behind fellow European filly Hatoof
.
, Kazuo Nakamura of Japan paid US$2.5 million for User Friendly who was already in foal to Mr. Prospector
. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LH&s_site=kentucky&p_multi=LH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB7401B80F904F0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM She stood in Kentucky
where she produced three more foals http://www.pedigreequery.com/progeny/user+friendly before being sold again at Keeneland's November 1999 breeding stock sale for US$1.7 million to David Nagel who brought her to stand at his Barronstown Stud in County Wexford
, Ireland
.
User Friendly produced eleven foals between 1996 and 2007 from the world's top sires such as Mr. Prospector
, Danehill
, Deputy Minister
, Kingmambo
, Sadler's Wells
, Storm Cat
, and Danehill Dancer. To date, her offspring have met with limited success in racing.
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...
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...
.
Background
Bred by Stetchworth Park Stud Ltd. in StetchworthStetchworth
Stetchworth is a small village and civil parish in East Cambridgeshire, England, to the south of the horse-racing centre of Newmarket and around east of Cambridge.-History:...
, East Cambridgeshire
East Cambridgeshire
East Cambridgeshire is a local government district in Cambridgeshire, England. Its council is based in Ely....
, she was out of the mare Rostova and a descendant of the great Nearco
Nearco
Nearco was an Italian bred Thoroughbred racehorse described by Thoroughbred Heritage as "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century" and "one of the most important sires of the century." He was not only unbeaten, winning 14 races at distances from 5 furlongs to 1 mile 7 furlongs ,...
through her sire, the 1985 Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
winner, Slip Anchor
Slip Anchor
Slip Anchor was a Thoroughbred racehorse. He was sired by Shirley Heights and out oCategory:2011 racehorse deathsf Sayonara . He won the 1985 Lingfield Derby Trial by ten lengths and then the Epsom Derby...
.
1992: three-year-old season
Trained by Clive BrittainClive Brittain
Clive Brittain is a British race-horse trainer. He began training as an apprentice in 1949, and on his own as a licensed trainer in the early 1970s. He currently trains at Carlburg Stables in Newmarket, Suffolk...
, User Friendly made her racing debut on April 24, 1992 in England with a win in the Forte Airport Service Fillies Maiden Stakes at Sandown Park Racecourse. She followed up with a win in the Lingfield Oaks Trial
Lingfield Oaks Trial
The Lingfield Oaks Trial is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Lingfield Park over a distance 1 mile, 3 furlongs and 106 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
then on June 6 won the Group One
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
Classic, the Epsom Oaks
Epsom Oaks
The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early June....
. On July 11, User Friendly won her second straight Group One event, taking the Irish Oaks
Irish Oaks
The Irish Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
at the Curragh
Curragh Racecourse
The Curragh Racecourse, usually abbreviated to The Curragh, is Ireland's most important Thoroughbred race track. It is situated on the Curragh plain near Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland.- History :...
. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing-friendly-win-completes-an-oaks-double-robert-wright-reports-on-a-british-win-in-the-irish-oaks-1532635.html On August 19 she won the Yorkshire Oaks
Yorkshire Oaks
The Yorkshire Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
at York Racecourse
York Racecourse
York Racecourse is a horse racing track in the southwest of the city of York in North Yorkshire, England with a spectator capacity of 60,000. The most famous race to be held at York on an annual basis is the Ebor Handicap, which is run during the Ebor Festival meeting in August...
and then on September 12 at Doncaster Racecourse
Doncaster Racecourse
Doncaster Racecourse is a racecourse in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It hosts two of Great Britain's 31 Group 1 flat races, the St Leger Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy.- History :...
she made it four Group Ones in a row and her second English Classic win by defeating her male counterparts in the St. Leger Stakes
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8LgTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VJADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6813,1118934&dq=user-friendly+st+leger&hl=en On October 4, User Friendly was sent to Longchamp Racecourse in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
for the prestigious Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
where she finished second to Subotica
Subotica (horse)
Subotica is a French Thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred by Paul de Moussac at his Haras du Mezeray in Lower Normandy. Through his sire Pampabird, owned by de Moussac, Subotica is a descendant of the great Nearco...
. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing-lessons-of-another-lost-arc-for-britain-1555801.html In her last start of 1992, User Friendly was sent to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
to compete in the Japan Cup
Japan Cup
The is the most prestigious horse race run in Japan. It is contested at the end of November at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, Tokyo at a distance of 2400 meters over the grass. With a purse of ¥476 million , the Japan Cup is one of the richest races in the world.The Japan Cup is an invitational event...
in which she finished sixth to winner, Tokai Teio
Tokai Teio
Tokai Teio was a Japanese thoroughbred racehorse, sired by Symboli Rudolf, a son of Partholon, out of Tokai Natural, a daughter of Nice Dancer...
.
User Friendly's 1992 performances earned her two Cartier Racing Award
Cartier Racing Award
The Cartier Racing Awards are awards in European horse racing, founded in 1991, and sponsored by Cartier jewelers. The award winners are decided by points earned in group races plus the votes cast by British racing journalists and readers of the Racing Post and Daily Telegraph newspapers.Eight...
s for, one for European Champion Three-Year-Old Filly
Cartier Racing Award
The Cartier Racing Awards are awards in European horse racing, founded in 1991, and sponsored by Cartier jewelers. The award winners are decided by points earned in group races plus the votes cast by British racing journalists and readers of the Racing Post and Daily Telegraph newspapers.Eight...
and the other as the European Horse of the Year
Cartier Racing Award
The Cartier Racing Awards are awards in European horse racing, founded in 1991, and sponsored by Cartier jewelers. The award winners are decided by points earned in group races plus the votes cast by British racing journalists and readers of the Racing Post and Daily Telegraph newspapers.Eight...
.
1993: four-year-old season
User Friendly made her first start at age four on June 3, 1993 at Epsom Downs, finishing fourth in the Coronation CupCoronation Cup
The Coronation Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
. She returned to her winning form on July 4 with a victory in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
The Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Saint-Cloud over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June.-History:...
at Saint-Cloud Racecourse
Saint-Cloud Racecourse
Hippodrome de Saint-Cloud is a grass race course for Thoroughbred flat horse racing opened in 1901 at 1 rue du Camp Canadien in Saint-Cloud near Paris, France...
in France. On July 24 she ran fourth behind winner Opera House
Opera House (horse)
Opera House is a retired British thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. As a racehorse, he is best known for his performances as a five-year-old in 1993, when he won three Group One races and was named European Champion Older Horse...
in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races...
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing-roberts-tops-bill-on-opera-house-1486961.html and then was third as the returning champion in the Yorkshire Oaks. On October 3 User Friendly returned to Longchamp Racecourse in Paris for the 1993 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. This time, she finished twenty-second in a field of twenty-three behind winner, Urban Sea
Urban Sea
Urban Sea was a French Thoroughbred racemare best known for winning France's most prestigious race in 1993 and for her importance as a world class broodmare. She is one of only two mares to ever produce two Epsom Derby winners, namely Galileo and Sea the Stars...
.
1994: five-year-old season
In 1994, User Friendly's handlers decided to send her to compete in the United States. For trainer Rodney RashRodney Rash
Rodney R. Rash was an American trainer of Thoroughbred racehorses.Born in Frederick, Maryland, Rash grew up on a dairy farm and was exposed to the sights and sounds of Thoroughbred horse racing when he helped his father deliver hay to horse farms and racetracks...
, on July 29 she made her first start of the year winning a 1 1/16-mile Allowance race on grass at 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...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sandiego/access/1245101441.html?dids=1245101441:1245101441&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+30%2C+1994&author=HANK+WESCH&pub=The+San+Diego+Union+-+Tribune&desc=User+Friendly+lives+up+to+billing%2C+not+to+name&pqatl=google Her next race, and the last of her career, came on August 29 at Arlington Park
Arlington Park
Arlington Park is a horse race track in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Horse racing in the Chicago region has been a popular sport since the early days of the city in the 1830s, and at one time Chicago had more horse racing tracks than any other major metropolitan area...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. In a field of eight fillies and mares, she ran last in the Grade 1
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...
Beverly D. Stakes
Beverly D. Stakes
The Beverly D. Stakes is a Grade 1 flat horse race in the United States for thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three-years-old and upward.The Beverly D. Stakes is the fillies' counterpart of the Arlington Million and is raced on the same day and on the same turf course at Arlington Park, Arlington...
behind fellow European filly Hatoof
Hatoof
Hatoof is a Thoroughbred Champion racehorse who competed internationally out of a base in Chantilly, France under trainer Criquette Head for owner Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Racing at age 2 in France, Hatoof started three times, winning once and placing second on two occasions...
.
Stud career
Retired to broodmare duty, at the November 1995 Keeneland breeding stock saleKeeneland Sales
The Keeneland Sales is an American Thoroughbred auction house in Lexington, Kentucky founded in 1935 as a nonprofit racing/auction entity on 147 acres of farmland west of Lexington, which had been owned by Jack O. Keene...
, Kazuo Nakamura of Japan paid US$2.5 million for User Friendly who was already in foal to Mr. Prospector
Mr. Prospector
Mr. Prospector was a thoroughbred racehorse foaled in Kentucky, whose descendants have been dominant in the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. He won half of his 14 career races.-Background:...
. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LH&s_site=kentucky&p_multi=LH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB7401B80F904F0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM She stood in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
where she produced three more foals http://www.pedigreequery.com/progeny/user+friendly before being sold again at Keeneland's November 1999 breeding stock sale for US$1.7 million to David Nagel who brought her to stand at his Barronstown Stud in County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
User Friendly produced eleven foals between 1996 and 2007 from the world's top sires such as Mr. Prospector
Mr. Prospector
Mr. Prospector was a thoroughbred racehorse foaled in Kentucky, whose descendants have been dominant in the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. He won half of his 14 career races.-Background:...
, Danehill
Danehill (horse)
Danehill was a Thoroughbred racehorse who was bred in the United States. During his phenomenal stud career Danehill became a champion sire on both sides of the Equator...
, Deputy Minister
Deputy Minister (horse)
Deputy Minister was a Canadian-bred Thoroughbred horse racing Champion. At age two, he won eight out of his nine starts and was voted the 1981 Sovereign and Eclipse Award winner as North American Champion 2-Yr-Old, and was also voted Canada's Sovereign Award for Horse of the Year...
, Kingmambo
Kingmambo
Kingmambo is an American thoroughbred stallion racehorse.-Background:He was sired by the leading stud, Mr...
, Sadler's Wells
Sadler's Wells (horse)
Sadler's Wells was a Thoroughbred racehorse that was later a leading sire in France, Great Britain & Ireland and North America during the 1990s. He was foaled in 1981 in the United States, but achieved most of his racing and breeding fame in Europe....
, Storm Cat
Storm Cat
Storm Cat was an American Thoroughbred stallion whose breeding fee during the peak of his stud career was $500,000, the highest in the world. As such, he was one of the few horses with a 24-hour armed guard....
, and Danehill Dancer. To date, her offspring have met with limited success in racing.