Worden (horse)

Worden (1949-1969) was a Thoroughbred racehorse foaled in France. Bred and raced by American expatriate Ralph Strassburger, Worden was raced in France, England, Italy and the United States.

Worden
Sire	Wild Risk
Grandsire	Rialto
Dam	Sans Tares
Damsire	Sind
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1949
Country	France
Color	Chestnut
Breeder	Ralph B. Strassburger
Owner	Ralph B. Strassburger
Trainer	Georges Bridgland
Record	21: 6-3-4
Earnings	$92,970
Major wins
Prix du Conseil Municipal (1952) Premio Roma (1952) Prix du Prince d'Orange (1953) Prix Vermout (1953) Washington, D.C. International Stakes (1953)
Awards
Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain and Ireland (1975, 1976)
Honors
Prix Worden at Saint-Cloud Racecourse

Background

Worden's French-bed sire Wild Risk was successful in European flat racing as well as over jumps. At stud, Wild Risk was the Leading sire in France in 1961 and 1964. His progeny also included the very good runners Le Fabuleux, Prix du Jockey Club winner and the 1980 Leading Broodmare Sire in France bred and raced by Guy Weisweiller. Le Fabuleux would in turn sire the 1984 Canadian Horse of the Year, Dauphin Fabuleux. Wild Risk also sired Pierre Wertheimer's Vimy that won the 1955 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Prix Noailles.

Racing career

Worden won stakes races in France and Italy, but his most important came in the United States at Laurel Park Racecourse where he won the 1953 edition of the Washington, D.C. International Stakes, forerunner of the Breeders' Cup.^[1] Among other performances in Worden's career, in England had run third to Epsom Derby winner Tulyar in the 1952 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and third again in the 1953 edition to Sir Victor Sasoon's colt Pinza.^[2] Before being shipped to the United States, on October 4 Worden ran third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp to Paul Duboscq's winning filly La Sorellina.^[3]

At stud

As a stallion Worden stood for his owners at his birthplace, the Haras des Monceaux in Les Monceaux in Normandy. In 1959 he was the second Leading sire in France and third on the list in 1960 and 1961. Through his daughter's progeny Worden posthumously became the Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain and Ireland for 1975 and 1976.^[4]

Through his daughters, Worden was the damsire of:

• 1965 - Vent du Nord who won races in France and North America including the prestigious Canadian International Championship Stakes in 1969 under future U. S. Triple Crown winner, jockey Ron Turcotte
• 1972 - Grundy, leading British two-year-old of 1974 and Timeform Top-rated Horse in 1975. His career wins included the 1974 Dewhurst and Champagne Stakes, the 1975 Epsom Derby and Irish 2,000 Guineas
• 1973 - La Mer (horse)La Mer, New Zealand horse of the year 1975, 1977
• 1976 - Scintillate, winner of the 1979 Epsom Oaks

Worden's other progeny included the stallion Trevieres who in turn sired the very good racemare, Tizna.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Worden, chestnut colt, 1949

Sire Wild Risk	Rialto	Rabelais	St. Simon
			Satirical
		La Greelee	Helicon
			Grignouse
	Wild Violet	Blandford	Swynford
			Blanche
		Wood Violet	Ksar
			Pervencheres
Dam Sans Tares	Sind	Solario	Gainsborough
			Sun Worship
		Mirawala	Phalaris
			Miranda
	Tara	Teddy	Ajax
			Rondeau
		Jean Gow	Neil Gow
			Jane Shore (family: 13-c)

References

1. "Worden Captures $65,000 International by Six Lengths at Laurel". New York Times. page 40. 1953-11-12. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
2. "The history of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes". Ascot Racecourse. 2020-05-13. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
3. "A Longchamp La " Sorellina " a battu d'une tête son frère " Silnet " dans le prix de l'Arc de triomphe". Le Monde archives. 1953-10-06. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
4. "Ecurie des Monceaux - History". Ecurie des Monceaux. 2020-05-13. Retrieved 2020-05-13.