Sickle (horse)

Sickle (8 February 1924 – 26 December 1943) was a British-bred thoroughbred racehorse who was later exported to the US where he was twice the leading sire in North America. He was bred by Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby.

Sickle
SirePhalaris
GrandsirePolymelus
DamSelene
DamsireChaucer
SexStallion
Foaled8 February 1924
CountryEngland
ColourBrown
BreederEdward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby
Owner1) 17th Earl of Derby
2) Joseph E. Widener (at stud)
TrainerGeorge Lambton
Record10: 3–4–2
EarningsUS$24,122
Major wins
Mersey Stakes (1926)
Goodwood Prince of Wales's Stakes (1926)
Boscawen Post Stakes (1926)
Awards
Leading sire in North America (1936, 1938)

Sickle was a full brother to Pharamond, who also was a successful sire in the US[1] Their sire Phalaris, was twice the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland and a three-time leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland. His dam Selene produced 16 named foals including the leading Argentine and Brazilian sire Hunter's Moon, and Hyperion, the 1933 Epsom Derby and St Leger Stakes winner and a six-time leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland as well as a four-time leading broodmare sire in Great Britain and Ireland. Pharamond and Sickle were inbred to Cyllene in the third and fourth generation (3Sx4D) and St. Simon in the third and fourth generation (4Sx3D).

Sickle was raced by Lord Derby and trained by George Lambton. The colt met with some success in racing, winning three of his ten starts and notably finishing third in a field of 23 in the 2,000 Guineas Stakes in 1927.

Stud record

Retired to Lord Derby's stud for the 1929 breeding season, in a three-year lease agreement with American Joseph E. Widener that included a USD $100,000 option to purchase, Sickle was sent to the US in time for the 1930 breeding season at Widener's Elmendorf Farm. In England, Sickle's first crop produced three stakes winners and in 1932 Widener exercised his option and purchased the horse. His first offspring in the US also met with racing success and Sickle went on to become a two-time leading sire in the US during his stud career, in 1936 and again in 1938. He was the sire of 297 foals, including 45 stakes winners. His progeny includes:

Foaled Name Sex Major Wins/Achievements
1931 Hindu Queen Mare Multiple stakes winner
1931 Jabot Mare Multiple stakes winner
1933 Brevity Stallion Multiple stakes winner
1934 Reaping Reward Stallion Multiple stakes winner
1935 Cravat Stallion
1935 Sickle T Gelding Multiple stakes winner
1935 Silver Spear Stallion Durban July Handicap (1937)
1935 Stagehand Stallion American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse (1938)
1938 Minty Isle Mare Multiple stakes winner
1941 Director J E Stallion Multiple stakes winner
1942 Chief Barker Stallion Multiple stakes winner
1942 Concordian Stallion Multiple stakes winner
1942 Price Level Mare Multiple stakes winner
1943 Star Pilot Stalllion American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt (1945)
1944 Brownian Mare Multiple stakes winner

Sickle's bloodline legacy came through his son Unbreakable who sired the 1945 Preakness Stakes winner and the 1947 American Champion Sprint Horse, Polynesian. Polynesian in turn sired the US Racing Hall of Fame inductee Native Dancer who was rated No.7 in the Blood-Horse Magazine List of the Top 100 US Racehorses of the 20th Century. Native Dancer sired Raise A Native, and was the damsire of Northern Dancer. Polynesian also sired the 1956 American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt, Barbizon, plus Imbros, a multiple stakes winner who set or equalled five track records including a world record for 7 furlongs, and the very good runner and important broodmare, Alanesian. Because of Polynesian, Sickle's sireline includes Sea Bird, the 1965 Epsom Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner whose Timeform rating is the second highest ever awarded in flat racing, and the very influential Mr. Prospector, a two-time leading sire in North America and nine-time leading broodmare sire in North America.[2]

Sickle was the damsire of Kersala, the 1958 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, as well as the damsire of these four Champions:

Foaled Name Sex Major Wins/Achievements
1944 But Why Not Mare American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly (1947), American Champion Older Female Horse (1947)
1946 Oedipus Stallion American Champion Steeplechase Horse (1950, 1951, 1952)
1948 Counterpoint Stallion Belmont Stakes (1951), American Horse of the Year (1951), American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse (1951)
Bornastar Mare American Champion Older Female Horse (1958)

[3] [4] [5]

At age nineteen, Sickle died unexpectedly on 26 December 1943 and was buried in the Elmendorf equine cemetery on acreage that was later subdivided and is now known as Normandy Farm.[6]

Pedigree
Pedigree of Sickle (GB), brown stallion, 1924
Sire
Phalaris (GB)
1913		 Polymelus (GB)
1902		 Cyllene Bona Vista
Arcadia
Maid Marian Hampton
Quiver
Bromus (GB)
1905		 Sainfoin Springfield
Sanda
Cheery St. Simon
Sunrise
Dam
Selene (GB)
1919		 Chaucer
1900		 St. Simon Galopin
St. Angela
Canterbury Pilgrim Tristan
Pilgrimage
Serenissima
1913		 Minoru Cyllene
Mother Siegel
Gondolette Loved One
Dongola

References
  1. Pharamond at Thoroughbred Heritage
  2. Sickle's full biography at Thoroughbred Heritage
  3. The News and Courier (Charleston, South Carolina) – November 29, 1947
  4. Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Utah) – December 20,1951
  5. Thoroughbred Heritage – American Champion Steeplechasers
  6. Normandy Farm at Thoroughbred Heritage
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