Henry of Navarre ch.c. 1891 (Knight of Ellerslie - Moss Rose, by The Ill-Used). Sire Line Pot8os. Family 20.

Bred by Lucien O. Appleby of Shrewsbury, New Jersey, he was described as a "fair-sized chestnut with a star, a flaxy tail, plain head, great length of bridle, low at the withers, good shoulder, light barrel, light in the loin, but with good arms, great power in his quarters, with straight hind legs." His action was said to be perfect.

Sired by the Preakness winner, Knight of Ellerslie (ch.c. 1881), he was a full-brother to The Huguenot (ch.c. 1895) who won the Sapphire, Withers, and Carleton Stakes, and the Brooklyn Derby.

Henry of Navarre won 29 of his 42 starts. At two he won the Dash Stakes and the Golden Rod Stakes, placing third in the Sapling Stakes. At three he won the Belmont Stakes, Travers Stakes, Spindrift Handicap and the Dolphin Stakes, placing second in the Brooklyn Handicap, the Withers Stakes, and the Second Special, and third in the Metropolitan Handicap. At four he won the First Special and the Municipal Handicap, placing second in the Twin City Handicap and third in the Oriental Handicap. At five he won the Suburban Handicap carrying 129 pounds, the highest weight assignment for a Suburban winner up to that time.

Many consider the Grand Special at Morris Park to have been his finest race. He disposed of Domino at seven furlongs, and was immediately challenged by Clifford but Henry gamely held him off. Domino defeated Henry of Navarre the first time they met, in the Withers Stakes, but Henry prevailed in their other four contests. Colonel John Wall said of him: "He had stamina, courage and speed - about all a great horse needs."

He stood mainly at the Nursery Stud of August Belmont in Kentucky, spending the 1909 season at Belmont's farm in France. He was not considered a great a success in the stud, although he sired the stakes winners Anodyne (b.f. 1903) who won the Martha Washington Stakes; Dick Turpin (b.c. 1901) who won the Oakdale Handicap; Don Diego (ch.c. 1903) who won the Neptune Stakes; June Gayle (ch.c. 1898) who won the Harold Stakes; and Silver Dream (b.f. 1901) who won the Rockaway Stakes.

His daughter Grave and Gay (b.f. 1899) won the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot before becoming a tremendous tap root mare in German bloodstock breeding. Among her descendants are Graf Ferry (b.c. 1981), Gradivo (b.c. 1939) and Authaal (b.c. 1983) who won the Irish St. Leger.

Another daughter Bellamia (b.f. 1900) is ancestress to a host of Canadian winners, including Queen's Plate winners Victoria Park (b.c. 1957) and Canadiana (b.f. 1950).

A third daughter became ancestress to Dewhurst Stakes winner Prince Galahad (ch.c. 1917), who in turn sired the Irish Derby winner Knight of the Grail (b.c. 1924) and the Irish Oaks winner Smokeless (b.f. 1932).

Yet another daughter, Orienta (ch.f. 1898), distinguished herself in the stud, her descendants numbering among them Miswaki (ch.c. 1978), winner of the Prix de la Salamandre; Prix de Diane winner Lacovia (b.f. 1983); Manila (b.c. 1983), winner of the Breeders' Cup Turf; and Shut Out (ch.c. 1939) who won both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes.

Henry of Navarre was among six stallions Belmont donated to the Army Remount Depot at Front Royal, in Virginia, and he spent his last days there.

The Portrait

Above, photograph from The Illustrated American, July 4, 1896.