Article

Nijinsky

Published Online November 26, 2008

Last Edited January 22, 2015

Nijinsky, champion colt by Northern Dancer (b 1967; d at Kentucky, US 1992). Bred in Oshawa, Ont, by E.P. Taylor's stables, Nijinsky was sold as a yearling and trained in Ireland.


Nijinsky
Nijinsky & Liam Ward winning the Gladness Stakes at the Curragh from Deep Run and Prince Tenderfoot (4 April 1970).

Nijinsky, champion colt by Northern Dancer (b 1967; d at Kentucky, US 1992). Bred in Oshawa, Ont, by E.P. Taylor's stables, Nijinsky was sold as a yearling and trained in Ireland. Winning 11 of his 13 races, including the Irish Sweeps Derby, he was the first horse in 35 years to win the English triple crown. In 1970 Nijinksy was the subject of a British documentary film, A Horse Called Nijinsky, and in 1976 he was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

Nijinsky has been second only to his father in his role as stud. He was retired to stud in 1970 at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky, subsequently siring winners both in North America and overseas, including the 1986 Kentucky Derby winner, Ferdinand. In 1985 a one-year-old son of Nijinsky (grandson of Northern Dancer) was sold for US$ 13.1 million - a record price for thoroughbreds. The horse was later named Seattle Dancer.

Nijinsky passed away in 1992 at the age of 25. The Nijinsky Stakes are currently held at Toronto's Woodbine Racetrack in his honour.