Green Dancer (14 April 1972 – 5 December 2000) was an American-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and stallion. A son of the British Tiple Crown winner Nijinsky, he won the French 2000 Guineas in 1975.

Green Dancer
SireNijinsky
GrandsireNorthern Dancer
DamGreen Valley
DamsireVal de Loir
SexStallion
Foaled1972
CountryUnited States
ColourBay
BreederGermaine Wertheimer
OwnerJacques Wertheimer
TrainerAlec Head
Record8: 4–2–0
EarningsUS$433,052 (equivalent)
Major wins
Observer Gold Cup (1974)
Prix Lupin (1975)
Poule d'Essai des Poulains (1975)
Awards
Leading sire in France (1991)

Background

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A son of the English Triple Crown winner, Nijinsky, he was bred in Kentucky by Germaine Wertheimer of Paris, France who owned his dam, Green Valley.[1]

Racing career

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Green Dancer was raced in France by Germaine Wertheimer's son, Jacques, and trained by Alec Head. He was a winner of a French Classic Race and two other Group One races in France and in England. In the 1975 Epsom Derby Green Dancer started 6/4 favourite but finished only sixth behind Grundy. His poor performance reportedly left Alec Head "dumbfounded".[2]

Stud record

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Retired to stud in France, in 1980 Green Dancer was sent to stand at Gainesway Farm near Lexington, Kentucky. He became the fourth-leading sire in France in 1983 and 1984, and was that country's champion sire in 1991. Green Dancer's daughters produced seven champions that earned Horse of the Year honours in various countries on eight occasions.

Due to declining health, Green Dancer was pensioned near the end of November, 2000[3] but had to be euthanised a short time later.[4] He is buried in the Gainesway Farm cemetery next to Lyphard, another champion sire owned by the Wertheimer family.

Green Dancer sired:

Green Dancer was the damsire of:

References

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  1. ^ http://www.pedigreequery.com/green+dancer Green Dancer's pedigree and partial racing stats
  2. ^ "The Age - Google News Archive Search". The Age. Retrieved 30 August 2014 – via Google News Archive Search.
  3. ^ 'Grren Dancer pensioned at 28' Thoroughbred Times, 29 November 2000
  4. ^ 'Green Dancer dead at 28' Thoroughbred Times, 8 December 2000