Ballymoss

Thoroughbred racehorse infobox
horsename = Ballymoss


caption =
sire = Mossborough
grandsire = Nearco
dam = Indian Call
damsire = Singapore
sex = Stallion
foaled = 1954
country = Great Britain flagicon|UK
colour = Chestnut
breeder = Richard Ball
owner = John McShain
trainer = Vincent O'Brien
record = 17: 8-5-1
earnings = £107,165
race = Irish Derby Stakes (1957)
St. Leger Stakes (1957)
Eclipse Stakes (1958)
King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1958)
Coronation Cup (1958)
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (1958)
awards= European Horse of the Year (1958)
honours = Ballymoss Stakes at the Curragh
Deltic locomotive #55018 was named "Ballymoss"
Republic of Ireland postage stamp (1981)
updated= January 26, 2007

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 Stakes 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 & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Coronation Cup. Shipped to Laurel Park Racecourse in the United States, Ballymoss was a disappointing third to Sailor's Guide in the 1958 Washington, D.C. International. He won France's most prestigious race, the 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.

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 & Queen Elizabeth Stakes

References

* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/ballymoss Pedigree and racing stats for Ballymoss]
* Hagley Museum and Library: [http://www.hagley.lib.de.us/a2000.pdf John McShain Papers]