| Royal Heroine | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Lypheor |
| Grandsire | Lyphard |
| Dam | My Sierra Leone |
| Damsire | Relko |
| Sex | Mare |
| Foaled | 1980 |
| Country | Ireland |
| Colour | Dark Bay/Brown |
| Breeder | B. Larry Ryan |
| Owner | Robert Sangster |
| Trainer | Mick Ryan (Europe) Sir Michael Stoute (Europe) John Gosden (United States) |
| Record | 21: 10-5-1 |
| Earnings | $1,299,449 (equivalent)[1] |
| Major wins | |
| Princess Margaret Stakes (1982) Child Stakes (1983) Prix de l'Opéra (1983) Beverly Hills Handicap (1984) Matriarch Stakes (1984) Inglewood Handicap (1984) Breeders' Cup wins: Breeders' Cup Mile (1984) | |
| Awards | |
| American Champion Female Turf Horse (1984) | |
| Honours | |
| US National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame (2022) Grade IIRoyal Heroine Stakes atSanta Anita Park (1998–2005 & 2009– ) | |
| Last updated on 6 August 2021 | |
Royal Heroine (1980–2002) was aHall of FameThoroughbredChampionracehorse foaled inIreland who raced inEngland andFrance and then in theUnited States where she set aNorth American record for a mile onturf while winning the inaugural running of theBreeders' Cup Mile in 1984. Royal Heroine was inducted into theUS National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2022.[2]
Bred by Robert Ryan,Ballymorris Stud, Royal Heroine was out of the mare My Sierra Leone, a daughter of the 1963Epsom Derby winner,Relko. Her sire, Lypheor, was a son ofLyphard who twice had been theLeading sire in France. Raced by one of theUnited Kingdom's most prominent horsemen,Robert Sangster, her trainers inEurope wereMick Ryan andSir Michael Stoute.
Racing at age two, Royal Heroine won two of four starts including a victory in thePrincess Margaret Stakes atAscot Racecourse. At age three, she won England'sChild Stakes at theNewmarket Racecourse and thePrix de l'Opéra atLongchamp Racecourse inParis,France.
Royal Heroine was sent to race on theWest Coast of the United States where she was conditioned by trainerJohn Gosden. At age four, her career almost ended when she was the third horse in a three-horse accident during the running of theSanta Ana Handicap. Although two horses died and Royal Heroine's jockeyFernando Toro was hospitalized, she came out of the accident with only minor scratches. Recovered, she went on win four major races plus she won thePalomar Handicap but was disqualified to third.[3]
In winning the inaugural running of theBreeders' Cup Mile atHollywood Park Racetrack, Royal Heroine defeated a field of nine male horses. Ridden by Fernando Toro, she set a track andNorth American record for a mile on turf.
Her performances in 1984 earned herAmerican Champion Female Turf Horse honors.
Hollywood Park Racetrack named astakes race in Royal Heroine's honor which was changed in 2006 to theCashCall Mile Invitational Stakes and in 2009 reverted to honor Royal Heroine.
Retired for breeding, Royal Heroine produced seven foals. Although bred to notablesires such asSadler's Wells andAmerican Triple Crown winner,Affirmed, none achieved success in racing. However, her daughter Castilian Queen (Diesis) did produce the French Grade 1 Prix de l'Abbaye winner Carmine Lake (Royal Academy).
According to the BritishRacing Post, Royal Heroine died at age twenty-two.