Worden (horse)


Worden was a Thoroughbred racehorse foaled in France. Bred and raced by American expatriate Ralph Strassburger, Worden was raced in France, England, Italy and the United States.

Background

Worden's French-bed sire Wild Risk was successful in European flat racing as well as over jumps. At stud, Wild Risk was the Leading sire in France in 1961 and 1964. His progeny also included the very good runners Le Fabuleux, Prix du Jockey Club winner and the 1980 Leading Broodmare Sire in France bred and raced by Guy Weisweiller. Le Fabuleux would in turn sire the 1984 Canadian Horse of the Year, Dauphin Fabuleux. Wild Risk also sired Pierre Wertheimer's Vimy that won the 1955 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Prix Noailles.

Racing career

Worden won stakes races in France and Italy, but his most important came in the United States at Laurel Park Racecourse where he won the 1953 edition of the Washington, D.C. International Stakes, forerunner of the Breeders' Cup. Among other performances in Worden's career, in England had run third to Epsom Derby winner Tulyar in the 1952 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and third again in the 1953 edition to Sir Victor Sasoon's colt Pinza. Before being shipped to the United States, on October 4th Worden ran third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp to Paul Duboscq's winning filly La Sorellina.

At stud

As a stallion Worden stood for his owners at his birthplace, the Haras des Monceaux in Les Monceaux in Normandy. In 1959 he was the second Leading sire in France and third on the list in 1960 and 1961. Through his daughter's progeny Worden posthumously became the Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain and Ireland for 1975 and 1976.
Through his daughters, Worden was the damsire of:
Worden's other progeny included the stallion Trevieres who in turn sired the very good racemare, Tizna.

Pedigree