Hail To Reason

Hail To Reason (April 18, 1958 – February 24, 1976) was an American thoroughbred racehorse and an influential sire.

Background

Hail To Reason was bred in Kentucky by the Bieber-Jacobs Stable, a partnership of prominent horsemen, Isadore Bieber and Hirsch Jacobs. He was sired by the English stakes winner Turn-To, a grandson of the very influential sire Nearco. Hail To Reason was out of the mare Nothirdchance, whose sire, Blue Swords, came in second in both the 1943 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.^[1]

Hail to Reason was a big homebred. His dam, Nothirdchance, was named by National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame owner/trainer Hirsch Jacobs as a warning to the Allies to not allow Germany to start another war. Hail to Reason was named in response to his fulfilled hopes.^[2]

Racing career

Starting in January of his second year, Hail To Reason raced 18 times in nine months, winning nine times and setting a new track record in the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga Race Course with jockey Bobby Ussery aboard.

During a morning workout in September, he lost a shoe and broke both sesamoid bones in his near front leg, ending his career. However, he was still named 1960 American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt.^[3]

Stud record

Retired to stud at Hagyard Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, Hail To Reason was an outstanding stallion and earned Leading sire in North America honors for 1970.^[4] His progeny includes Halo, English and Irish Champion Roberto, Bold Reason, Kentucky Derby winner Proud Clarion, Belmont Stakes winner, Hail To All, Preakness Stakes winner and American Horse of the Year, Personality, Stop The Music, the 1979 American Champion Female Turf Horse, Trillion, and the multiple Grade 1 winning filly Cum Laude Laurie.^[5]

Hail to Reason was also a very successful broodmare sire whose daughters have produced more than one hundred stakes winners, including Allez France and Triptych. Another daughter, Reason to Earn, is the dam of Bold Reasoning, sire of 1977 U.S. Triple Crown Champion Seattle Slew.

At 18, Hail To Reason was humanely put down on February 24, 1976, and is buried at Hagyard Farm.^[6]

References