Elegant Prince

Elegant Prince (foaled 15 March 1974) was a Thoroughbred racehorse who was sold for a world-record $715,000 ($3.1 million inflation adjusted) in 1975. He never contested a race and had little success as a breeding stallion.

Background

Elegant Prince was a chestnut horse with a white blaze^[2] bred in Kentucky by Leslie Combs II of Spendhrift Farm & Frank M McMahon. He was sired by Raise A Native, an American racehorse who was unbeaten in four races and was named American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt by Turf and Sports Digest in 1963. Elegant Prince's dam Gay Hostess was a highly-successful broodmare, having produced Majestic Prince and Crowned Prince (Dewhurst Stakes) from two previous coverings by Raise A Native. Her other descendants have included Real Quiet, Caracolero and the Epsom Derby winner Secreto.^[3]

At the Keeneland Sales in July 1975 the yearling was sold for a then world-recond price of $715,000, with Franklin Groves winning the auction ahead of the Canadian Ted Burnett.^[4] He broke the record set a year earlier by another Spendthrift graduate Kentucky Gold.^[5] Both Majestic Prince and Crowned Prince had previously held the record.^[6]

Racing career

Elegant Prince was trained in the United States and was later transferred to Ireland. He did not race in either country.^[6]

Stud record

Elegant Prince was retired to stud in 1979 but had little success as a sire of winners. He died in 2000.^[5]

Pedigree

References