Straight Flush, half-brother to Secretariat
Straight Flush was foaled in 1975 at Meadow Stable in Virginia, the same place Secretariat was born five years earlier. Hopes were high for the bay colt, though Straight Flush didn’t live up to his famous half-brother’s success. His first win was at Santa Anita with legendary jockey Bill Shoemaker, but no other significant wins followed. He stood at stud in Louisiana and Texas and ultimately sired 176 purebred Thoroughbred foals.
Straight Flush with Neal Arave, who cared for the stallion in his retirement
By horse-breeding standards, only those horses that have the same dam are considered half-siblings. Straight Flush and Secretariat were out of the same mare, so they were half-brothers. However, Secretariat and other horses sired by Bold Ruler are not called siblings.
Up next… Kentucky Derby trivia.
Photos by Caught in the Act Photography
Late 1960’s and early 1970’s: During my childhood, my grandfather (and later, my uncle) worked on a ranch in Moses Lake, WA. The ranch, and the horses on it, were owned by Mr. and Mrs. Bob Edwards. The beautiful stud on the ranch was “Balance of Power”, or “Power”, as I knew him. He was a magnificent horse! A handsome horse, by all standards! Tall, dark, graceful… He was the half brother to Secretariat, sharing lineage thru “Bold Ruler”. “Power” was not able to race, due to a problem with his leg or foot – I do not recall if he was born with the problem, or if it was the result of an injury. Is there anywhere I would have access to bloodlines that would show the connection between “Power” and “Secretariat”?
Hi Connie! Thanks for your comment 🙂 Check out this link: http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/balance+of+power That site doesn’t have every horse in the world, but you can find the pedigree of many influential horses there. Interestingly, Balance Of Power was a full brother to Bold Bidder, the sire of Spectacular Bid, winner of the 1979 Kentucky Derby and Preakness and 1980 Horse of the Year.