Narita Brian (Japanese: ナリタブライアン, Hepburn: Narita Buraian; May 3, 1991 – September 27, 1998) was a Japanese racehorse. Until T M Opera O surpassed him in 2000, Narita Brian was the world's top money earner.

Narita Brian
Hanshin Daishōten (March 9, 1996)
SireBrian's Time
GrandsireRoberto
DamPacificus
DamsireNorthern Dancer
SexStallion
FoaledMay 3, 1991
DiedSeptember 27, 1998(1998-09-27) (aged 7)
CountryJapan
ColourDark Bay
BreederHayata Farm
OwnerHidenori Yamaji
TrainerMasaaki Ookubo
Record21: 12-3-1[1]
Earnings1,026,916,000 yen
Major wins
Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes (1993)
Spring Stakes (1994)
Satsuki Sho (1994)
Tokyo Yushun (1994)
Kikuka Sho (1994)
Arima Kinen (1994)
Hanshin Daishōten (1995, 1996)
Awards
Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Colt (1993)
Japanese Horse of the Year (1994)
JRA Award for Best Three-Year-Old Colt (1994)
Honours
Japan Racing Association Hall of Fame (1998)
Last updated on February 2, 2010

Background

edit

Narita Brian was a bay horse sired by the American-bred stallion Brian's Time, out of the mare Pacificus, a daughter of Northern Dancer. He was a brother of Biwa Hayahide, the Champion horse in Japan in 1993.

Racing career

edit

Racing as a two-year-old in 1993, Narita Brian won the Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse. In the following year he completed the Japanese Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing by winning the Satsuki Shō, Tokyo Yūshun and Kikuka Shō[2] before defeating older horses in the Arima Kinen.

He stayed in training for a further two years winning the Hanshin Daishōten in 1995 and 1996. In the latter year he defeated the 1995 Japanese Horse of the Year Mayano Top Gun.

Awards and honours

edit

Narita Brian was voted JRA Award Best Two-year-old Colt in 1993. In 1994 he was voted Best Three-year-old Colt and Japanese Horse of the Year in 1994. He was declared "Horse of the 20th century" in Japan. In 1998 he was elected to the JRA Hall of Fame.

A museum dedicated to Narita Brian named the Narita Brian Memorial Hall [ja]was opened on his death anniversary in 2000, but was closed in 2008. The structure is now the Yushun Memorial Hall, with the exhibits' focus being more oriented around those of Oguri Cap.[3][4][5]

Stud career

edit

Narita Brian's most successful offspring was Daitaku Flag who was 4th in the Japanese 2000 Guineas. He died in 1998 because of a gastric rupture.

Pedigree

edit
Pedigree of Narita Brian (JPN), dark bay, 1991[6]
Sire
Brian's Time (USA)
1985
Roberto (USA)
1969
Hail To Reason Turn-To
Nothirdchance
Bramalea Nashua
Rarelea
Kelly's Day (USA)
1977
Graustark Ribot
Flower Bowl
Golden Trail Hasty Road
Sunny Vale
Dam
Pacificus (USA)
1981
Northern Dancer (CAN)
1981
Nearctic Nearco
Lady Angela
Natalma Native Dancer
Almahmoud
Pacific Princess (USA)
1973
Damascus Sword Dancer
Kerala
Fiji Acropolis
Rififi (Family:13-a)[7]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Narita Brian (JPN)". JBIS. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
  2. ^ "Narita Brian Completes Japanese Triple Crown". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. 1994-11-07. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
  3. ^ "ナリタブライアン記念館が閉館(新冠)". Keiba Book (in Japanese). 2008-09-30. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2023-01-28.
  4. ^ "ナリタブライアン記念館が閉館 | 競馬ニュース". netkeiba.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-01-28.
  5. ^ "優駿記念館が8月末まで開館します". Kyosoba no Furusato Annaijo (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2021-05-12. Retrieved 2023-01-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ^ "Narita Brian". equineline.com. 2013-12-28. Retrieved 2013-12-28.
  7. ^ "Thoroughbred Bloodlines - Woodbine - Family 13-a". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2013-12-28.