Ballymoss

Ballymoss (1954–1979) was an Irish Thoroughbred Champion racehorse. The son of Mossborough, his grandsire was the extremely important Nearco. Out of the mare Indian call, the damsire of Ballymoss was Singapore whose sire was the 1918 U.K. Triple Crown winner Gainsborough.

Ballymoss was sold by his breeder at the Doncaster yearling sales. He was bought by American businessman John McShain who operated Barclay Stable in New Jersey plus a racing operation in Ireland where he maintained a home at Killarney. Ballymoss was the first top-flight flat racing horse trained by the successful steeplechase horse trainer, Vincent O'Brien.

Racing at age three, Ballymoss was somewhat slow in developing. He finished second in the 1957 Great Voltigeur Stakes and second to Crepello in the Epsom Derby but won the Irish Derby and the fall's St. Leger Stakes. At age four, Ballymoss was the preeminent horse in European racing. His victories in the United Kingdom included the Eclipse Stakes, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Coronation Cup. Shipped to Laurel Park Racecourse in the United States, Ballymoss was a disappointing third to Australian champion Sailor's Guide in the 1958 Washington, D.C. International, but then went on to win the prestigious Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and was voted 1958 European Horse of the Year.

Ballymoss was retired at the end of the 1958 racing season after setting a new career earnings record of £107,165.

Following the LNER tradition of naming locomotives after winning racehorses,^[2] British Railways "Deltic" Diesel locomotive no. D9018 (later no. 55 018) was named Ballymoss after this horse on 24 November 1961,^[1] and remained in service until 12 October 1981.^[3]

As a sire

Ballymoss was sent to stand at stud at Whitsbury Manor Stud in Fordingbridge, Hampshire. He became successful as a sire of stallions, ranking second on the 1967 General Sires List and third in 1968. Notably, Ballymoss sired Royal Palace, winner of the 1967 Epsom Derby and 2,000 Guineas, plus Ballymoss Nisei (バリモスニセイ) who won in Japan and where he stood at stud.

One of the leading broodmare sires in the United Kingdom, among his other offspring Ballymoss was the:

• grandsire of Dunfermline who won the 1977 Epsom Oaks and defeated the great Alleged to win the St. Leger Stakes
• damsire of Stage Door Johnny, 1968 Belmont Stakes winner and U.S. Champion 3-Yr-Old Colt
• damsire of Northern Sunset, 1995 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year
• damsire of Levmoss who won the 1969 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Prix du Cadran, Ascot Gold Cup
• damsire of Le Moss, the only horse to win the Stayers' Triple Crown twice (Ascot Gold Cup, the Goodwood Cup and the Doncaster Cup)
• damsire of Teenoso whose wins include the Epsom Derby, Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes

References

External links

• Pedigree and racing stats for Ballymoss
• Hagley Museum and Library: John McShain Papers