Hippodamia (29 April 1971 – after 1993) was a Kentucky-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old she showed some promise racing over short distances, finishing third in the Prix Robert Papin, before establishing herself as the best juvenile filly in Europe with an emphatic six-length win in the Critérium des Pouliches. She failed to win in 1974, despite being placed in several important races and later won two races after being transferred to the United States. After her retirement from racing she had some success as a broodmare.

Background

Hippodamia was a brown mare with no white markings bred in Kentucky by Tom Gentry. She was sired by Hail To Reason who was named American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse in 1960 before his racing career was ended by injury. He became a very successful breeding stallion, whose other progeny included Halo, Roberto, Bold Reason, Proud Clarion, Hail To All, Personality, Stop The Music and Trillion.^[2] Hippodamia's dam White Lie was of little use as a racehorse but came from a good family: her grand-dam Your Hostess was the ancestor of many important winners including Caracolero, Majestic Prince, Secreto, Daiwa Major and Real Quiet.^[3]

As a yearling, Hippodamia was offered for sale and bought for $42,000 by representatives of Nelson Bunker Hunt. The filly was sent to Europe where she was trained in France by Maurice Zilber.^[4]

Racing career

Assessment

There was no International Classification of European two-year-olds in 1973: the official handicappers of Britain, Ireland and France compiled separate rankings for horses which competed in those countries. In the French Free Handicap, Hippodamia was rated the best filly of her generation, three pounds ahead of Lianga and seven behind the leading colt Mississipian [sic]. The independent Timeform organisation gave her a rating of 130 and described her as "far and away the best staying filly of her age trained in Europe".^[4] In the following year she was given a rating of 116 by Timeform, fifteen pounds behind their top-rated three-year-old filly Comtesse de Loir. In the official French handicap she was rated fourteen pound behind Comtesse de Loir, who was the top-rated three-year-old of either sex.^[5]

Breeding record

Hippodamia was retired from racing to become a broodmare in Kentucky. She produced at least eleven foals and five winners between 1976 and 1993. Her foals included:

• Synclinal, a brown filly, foaled in 1976, sired by Vaguely Noble. Unraced.
• Globe, brown colt, 1977, by Secretariat. Won six races including the Excelsior Handicap and Grey Lag Handicap.^[7]
• Balance, bay filly, 1979, by Youth. Won two races, second in the Prix Imprudence^[8]
• Vaguely Essence, chestnut filly, 1981, by Vaguely Noble. Unraced.
• Petela, bay filly, 1983 by Big Spruce. Unraced.
• Foamflower, grey filly, 1984, by Grey Dawn. Won two races.^[9]
• Hippo, brown colt, 1986, by Riverman. Failed to win in fourteen races.
• Housatonic, brown filly, 1987, by Riverman. Won one race.^[10]
• Hoya, bay filly, 1989, by Secreto. Won four races including the Listed Prix Charles Laffitte.^[11]
• Hiawathas Song, chestnut filly, 1990, by Chief's Crown. Unraced.
• Hymenee, brown filly, 1993, by Chief's Crown. Failed to win in three races.^[12]

Pedigree

References