Nijinsky's Secret
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| Nijinsky's Secret | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Nijinsky |
| Grandsire | Northern Dancer |
| Dam | Secret Beauty |
| Damsire | Raise a Native |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1978 |
| Country | United States |
| Colour | Chestnut |
| Breeder | Oxford Stable |
| Owner | Ralph C. Wilson (France) Mrs. John A. McDouglad (NA) |
| Trainer | John Cunnington, Jr. Kent Stirling (from age 4) |
| Record | Won 14 |
| Earnings | $787,932 |
| Major Racing Wins, Awards and Honours | |
| Major Racing Wins | |
| Tidal Handicap (1982) Hialeah Turf Cup Handicap (1983, 1984) Bougainvillea Handicap (1983) King Edward Gold Cup Handiacp (1983) Jockey Club Cup Handicap (1983) W. L. McKnight Handicap (1984) |
|
| Honours | |
| Nijinsky's Secret Handicap at Calder Race Course | |
| Infobox last updated on: 02:26, Monday June 9, 2008 (UTC). | |
Nijinsky's Secret (foaled 1978 in Kentucky) is a Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in France, Canada, and the United States. Bred by Oxford Stable, he was a son of the great 1970 English Triple Crown champion, Nijinsky.
Purchased by Ralph C. Wilson, the prominent American owner of the Buffalo Bills National Football League team, Nijinsky's Secret was sent to the training center at Chantilly Racecourse in France where he was conditioned by trainer John Cunnington, Jr. The colt raced at age two and three in France where he was a two-time winner from eight starts.
Sold to Canadian business tycoon Bud McDouglad, Nijinsky's Secret was brought to North America near the end of the 1981 racing season. According to the New York Times, during 1983 and 1984 he was the "scourge of Florida turf racing". In addition to his wins in Florida, Nijinsky's Secret also won important stakes races at Toronto's Woodbine Racetrack.
Campaigning during the second half 1984, Nijinsky's Secret had no wins in four starts and was retired after finishing eighth in October's Rothman's International. Asked by a reporter why the horse had suddenly gone downhill after so much success, trainer Kent Stirling said he thought that that once the regular groom the horse had become very attached to left the job to have her baby, the heartbroken horse seemed to have lost interest in racing.
Retired to stud, Nijinsky's Secret's offspring met with modest success in racing.
