Épinard

:"Épinard" is French for "spinach" and other plants, such as the Algarrobo of tropical America ("Prosopis")."Thoroughbred racehorse infobox
horsename = Épinard


caption =
sire = Badajoz
dam = Épine Blanche
damsire = Rock Sand
sex = Stallion
foaled = 1920
country = France flagicon|France
colour = Chestnut
breeder = Pierre Wertheimer
owner = Pierre Wertheimer
trainer = Eugene Leigh
record = 20:12-?-?
earnings =
race = Prix Yacowlef (1922)
Prix des Coteaux (1922)
Grand Criterium (1922)
Prix de la Forêt (1922)
Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte (1922)
Prix d'Ispahan (1923)
Prix du Gros Chêne (1923)
Stewards' Cup (1923)
awards= Champion 2-Yr-Old of France
U.S. Champion Older Male Horse
honours =
updated= December 18, 2006

Épinard (1920-1942) was a French Thoroughbred racehorse given the French language name for spinach. The grandson of the British Triple Crown champion Rock Sand, Épinard is called a racing legend [http://www.france-galop.com/COURSES/noms1.htm] by the French racing authority, France Galop.

Owned and bred by one of France's leading horsemen, Pierre Wertheimer, Épinard made his racing debut at two, winning the Prix Yacowlef at the Deauville Racecourse. He went on to dominate his age class in France, winning four important Conditions races in impressive fashion and earning 1922 Champion honors. As a three-year-old he continued to win in France before being sent to compete in England. At the Goodwood Racecourse near Chichester, he won the 1923 Stewards' Cup over a strong field that included Pharos. Then, after giving away much weight, he finished second by a neck to Verdict in the Cambridgeshire Handicap.

In October 1923 the Epsom Derby winner Papyrus was sent to the United States to compete in a much ballyhooed match race against the Kentucky Derby winner, Zev. After the American horse easily won, the following year the horseracing world began to talk about Épinard taking on America's best. Following negotiations with leading American horseman August Belmont, Jr., James Shevlin, and Matt Winn, owner Pierre Wertheimer agreed to send Épinard to compete in a series of three American races billed as the International Special.

Épinard arrived at the port of New York on the Cunard Lines' luxury liner, the RMS "Berengaria". The races were to be held at Belmont Park and Aqueduct Racetrack in New York and at Latonia Race Track in Kentucky and it would be the first time Épinard raced on a dirt track. Although he finished second in all three of the International Specials, Épinard's 1924 performances earned him the U.S. Champion Older Male Horse honors.

Retired to stand at stud after his four-year-old season, Épinard had only limited success as a sire. However, among his progeny was Rodosto, winner of 1933's French 2,000 Guineas and the English Classic, the 2,000 Guineas.

References

* [http://www.horseracinghistory.co.uk/hrho/action/viewDocument?id=864 Épinard at the United Kingdom's Nation Horseracing Museum]
* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/epinard Épinard's pedigree and racing stats]