Nearctic (horse) facts for kids

Nearctic (February 11, 1954 – July 27, 1973) was a famous Canadian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. He was so good that he was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

About Nearctic

Nearctic was bred by a well-known person named E. P. Taylor. His mother was an Irish horse called Lady Angela. Her father, Hyperion, was a champion racehorse and a top father horse in Britain. Nearctic's own father was an incredibly important stallion named Nearco.

Racing Career

Nearctic was trained for racing by Gordon J. McCann, who later became a Hall of Fame trainer himself. Nearctic's best year was when he was four years old. That year, he won nine races! Because of his amazing wins, he was named Canadian Horse of the Year.

Life as a Sire

After his racing career, Nearctic became a "sire" at Windfields Farm in Oshawa, Ontario. A sire is a male horse used for breeding. In 1967, he was sold for a lot of money, $1,050,000 (US), and moved to Woodstock Farm in Maryland.

Nearctic became an amazing sire. His most famous son was Northern Dancer, who won the Kentucky Derby. Northern Dancer also became one of the greatest sires of the 20th century. Nearctic also had other successful children like Icecapade, Ice Water, Nonoalco, Northern Queen, and Cool Reception. Cool Reception was also inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame.

Nearctic's influence continued through his grandchildren too. Some of them include Northern Taste, Wild Again, Fanfreluche, Izvestia, and Son of Briartic. He was also the grandfather of Kennedy Road and the famous filly La Prevoyante.

Nearctic passed away at Woodstock Farm when he was nineteen years old, on July 27, 1973. He is buried in the farm's special horse cemetery.