Palestine (horse)
| Palestine | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Fair Trial |
| Grandsire | Fairway |
| Dam | Una |
| Damsire | Tetratema |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1947 |
| Country | Great Britain |
| Colour | Grey |
| Breeder | Aga Khan III |
| Owner | Aga Khan III |
| Trainer | Marcus Marsh |
| Record | 13: 11-1-0 |
| Earnings | £38,515[1] |
| Major wins | |
| Coventry Stakes (1949) Richmond Stakes (1949) Gimcrack Stakes (1949) Champagne Stakes (1949) 2000 Guineas (1950) St. James's Palace Stakes (1950) Sussex Stakes (1950) | |
| Awards | |
| Champion Irish Sire of Two Year Olds (1964) | |
| Last updated on 23 October 2011 | |
Palestine (1947–1974) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and Stallion. He was owned and bred by Aga Khan III.[2]
He was sired by Fair Trial out of the mare Una.[3][2]
During his racing career, he competed in 13 races and won 11, including the 2,000 Guineas. After retirement, he became a stallion and was named Ireland's leading sire in 1964.
Career
| External Video Link | |
|---|---|
 1950 2,000 Guineas Race Footage Video from the Official British Pathé YouTube Channel |
Palestine was trained by Marcus Marsh and ridden by Charlie Smirke. As a 2-year-old in 1949, he won the Coventry Stakes, Richmond Stakes, Gimcrack Stakes, and Champagne Stakes.[4][5]
In 1950, at age three, he won the 2000 Guineas Stakes, becoming a classic winner; it was known that Palestine and Prince Simon were the strongest horses competing that day. They both ran toward the front of the pack, rushing for first place with all their strength upon entering the final spurt. They momentarily ran unchallenged, approximately 3 lengths ahead of the rest of the competitors. This resulted in a photo finish: in the end, Palestine was declared the victor.[6]
He subsequently won the St James's Palace Stakes and the Sussex Stakes.
Stud Record and Death
Palestine retired to stud in 1951. In 1964, he was the leading sire of two-year-olds in Ireland.
His son Pakistan II, (1958-1972), was the champion stallion sire in New Zealand in the 1969-70, 1971-72, 1972-73 and 1974-75 seasons.[7][8]
Some of his other notable progeny includes:[9]
| Foaled | Name | Sex | Dam | Major Wins |
| 1955 | Pall Mall (IRE) | c | Malapert (GB) | 1958 2000 Guineas |
| 1956 | Palariva (GB) | f | Rivaz (GB) | 1956 King's Stand Stakes |
| 1959 | Escort (GB) | c | Warning (GB) | 1961 Royal Lodge Stakes |
| 1959 | Areopolis | c | Alona (GB) | 1962 Arkansas Derby |
| 1960 | Red Tears | g | Huntress (GB) | 1964 Rosebery Handicap |
| 1961 | Palinda (GB) | f | Clarinda (GB) | |
| 1966 | Flying Legs (GB) | f | Alona (GB) | 1968 Lowther Stakes |
c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding
Palestine was put down due to old age on July 10, 1974.[3]
Pedigree
Phalaris, as a descendant of Polymelus, was related to both Northern Dancer and Secretariat.[3]
| Sire Fair Trial (GB) 1932 |
Fairway 1925 |
Phalaris | Polymelus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bromus | |||
| Scapa Flow | Chaucer | ||
| Anchora | |||
| Lady Juror 1919 |
Son-In-Law | Dark Ronald | |
| Mother-In-Law | |||
| Lady Josephine | Sundridge | ||
| Americus Girl | |||
| Dam Una (IRE) 1930 |
Tetratema 1917 |
The Tetrarch | Roi Herode |
| Vahren | |||
| Scotch Gift | Symington | ||
| Maund | |||
| Uganda (FR) 1921 |
Bridaine | Gorgos | |
| Bitter Orange | |||
| Hush | St. Serf | ||
| Silent Lady |
References
- ↑ Pickering, Martin (1981). Pedigrees of Leading Winners 1960–1980. London: J.A. Allen & Co. Ltd. p. 184. ISBN 0-85131-372-8.
- 1 2 "Horseracing History Online – Person Profile : H H Aga Khan III". Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2008.
- 1 2 3 Palestine Horse Pedigree
- ↑ "Coventry Stakes 1949". greyhoundderby.com. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
- ↑ "Willkommen auf der Seite www.galopp-sieger.de". www.galopp-sieger.de (in German). Retrieved 23 May 2026.
- ↑ "Two Thousand Guineas | British, Thoroughbred, Classic Race | Britannica". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 12 November 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
- ↑ "Pakistan II (GB) 1958 / Breeding / LOVERACING.NZ". loveracing.nz. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
- ↑ "Pakistan II". SporthorseData. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
- ↑ "Record | Stallion Reports | Palestine(GB) | JBIS-Search". www.jbis.jp. Retrieved 23 May 2026.