Roi Herode (1904 – June 8, 1931) was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Though not a particularly successful racehorse, he has left a legacy in the stud, particularly in passing on the grey color found in most Thoroughbreds in modern times, due to his offspring The Tetrarch, Royal Canopy, and La Grisette.

Roi Herode
From Le Sport universel illustré (26 October 1913)
SireLe Samaritain
GrandsireLe Sancy
DamRoxelane
DamsireWar Dance
SexStallion
Foaled1904 (1904)
Died1931(1931-00-00) (aged 26–27)
CountryFrance
ColourGrey
BreederMaurice Caillaut
Record24:3-6-1

Background

edit

Roi Herode was bred by Maurice Caillaut and born in 1904. He was purchased in 1909 by Edward Kennedy with the objective of reviving the Herod sire line in Great Britain.[1][2] Roi Herode's name means "King Herod" in French, the ruler of Judea at the time of birth of Jesus.[3]

Racing career

edit
1907

Won the Prix de la Neva, and finished 2nd in the Prix La Rouchette, Prix du Presidente de la Republique, Prix de Rocquencourt, and Prix Royal Oak.

1908

Won the Grand Prix de la Ville de Vichy, and finished 2nd in the Prix de Madrid.

1909

Won the Prix de la Table, finished 2nd in the Doncaster Cup, and 3rd in the Prix Hocquart.

Stud career

edit

Notable progeny include:[2][3][4][5]

  • The Tetrarch (b. 1911): undefeated in seven starts
  • Hari Janos (b. 1912): winner of the Magyar St Legar Stakes
  • Lady Comfey (b. 1913): foaled American Flag, champion 3 year-old horse in the United States
  • Royal Canopy (b. 1914): sired Bonne Ruit, founder of a dynasty of show jumping horses in the United States
  • Judea (b. 1915): winner of the Irish Oaks and foaled Zionist, Irish Derby winner
  • King John (b. 1915): winner of the Irish Derby
  • St Donagh (b. 1922): winner of the Irish 2,000 Guineas
  • Cinq a Sept (b. 1924): winner of the Irish Oaks

Grey color influence

edit

The most common source of grey color Thoroughbred horses is through Roi Herode.[3][6] This influence can be found primarily through his son The Tetrarch and daughter La Grisette (4th dam of Native Dancer).[2] The Tetrarch grey color influence has been most pronounced in modern times due to the stallions Tapit and Unbridled's Song.[7][8] Bonne Nuit, who was grand sire of Roi Herode through his son Royal Canopy, started a dynasty of show jumping horses in the United States, which helps perpetuate the grey color influence through show jumping horses.[4][5]

Sire line tree

edit
  • Roi Herode[9][10][11][12][1][2][3]
    • Bethleham
    • Hari Janos
    • Red King
    • Roi D'Ecosse
    • General Villa
    • Royal Canopy[4][5]
    • Chrysolaus
    • King John
      • Runnymede
      • Gascony
    • Prince Philip
    • Roi Hero
      • King Bird
    • Balthesar
      • Pirat
      • Casanova
    • Grey Monk
    • Herodote
      • Floral King
      • Alexis
    • Leighton
      • Paleta
      • High Comedy
      • Royal Artist
    • Milesius
      • Azucar
    • Norseman
    • Sir Greysteel
      • Khamseen
      • Corsican Blade
    • Boscombe
    • Herodias
    • Lackham
      • Golden Wings
      • Alchemic
    • Roi Soleil
    • Roidore
      • Harmachis
    • St Donagh
    • Tullus Hostilius
      • Lord Tullus
        • Cholm
    • Roigrey
    • The Tetrarch[18][19][20]
      • Arch-Gift
        • Archway
        • Golden Oracle
        • Double Arch
      • Chaud
      • Stefan the Great[21]
        • Chubasco
          • Guernanville
          • Chuchoteur
          • Annibal
        • Agathos
          • Athos
        • Niantic
        • Rosehearty
        • Tolgus
          • Ochiltree
        • Vespasian
        • Damon
        • Kiev
          • Kievex
        • Iron Crown
        • Cap Gris Nez
        • Jean Valjean
        • Silver Cord
        • Bushranger
        • King Kong
      • Viceroy
        • Celliota
      • Caligula
        • Prestissimo
          • Sir Roger
        • Star of Italy
      • Royal Alarm
        • Bacchus Rex
          • Dichato
        • Piamonte
        • Staretz
        • Caballero
      • Sarchedon
        • High Pitch
      • Serment D'Amour
      • Tea Tray
        • Kiosk
        • Bronze Tray
      • Tetrameter
      • Tetratema
        • Rolls Royce
        • Fourth Hand
        • Treat
        • Royal Minstrel[23]
          • Gay Monarch
          • Singing Wood
          • Mr Bones
          • Court Scandal
          • Melodist
          • Time Step
          • First Fiddle
        • Mr Jinks
          • Maltravers
          • Fair William
          • Rogerstone Castle
          • The Jigger
          • Effervescence
        • To You
        • Teacup
        • Tetrarchal
        • Arthos
        • Sherab
        • Tetramite
        • Thyestes
        • Bacteriophage
          • Teleferique
          • Bacchus
          • Irifle
        • Strathcarron
        • Gino
          • American Way
        • Alishah
          • Allison
        • Satyr
        • Turbotin
          • Palatino
        • Theft
          • Hayatake
          • Cymba
          • High Record
          • Takakurayama
          • Issei
          • Tokino Minoru
          • Bostonian
        • Theio
        • Lay Lord
        • Foray
        • Tahir
        • Prometheus
        • Quarteroon
        • Prince Tetra
        • Tetrabar
        • Zalophus
      • Bouleverse
      • Corban
      • Polemarch
        • Hechicero
        • Ilion
        • Vino Puro
      • Precious
      • Syrian Prince
      • Tractor
      • Trash
      • Blue Ensign
        • Navigator
        • Somerset
      • Noblesse Oblige
      • Puttenden
      • Chief Ruler
        • Admiral Drake
        • Supremacy
        • Rulanut
        • Padishah
        • Gold Rod
        • Francis Drake
        • Royal Chief
          • Bruce
          • Royal Raider
          • Royal Tan
      • Synorix
      • Defiance
      • Old Rowley
        • Old Riley
        • Old Reliance
      • Salmon-Trout
        • Salmon Leap
        • Reel
        • King Salmon
          • Jamaica Inn
          • Royal Chaplain
          • King's Abbey
          • Treble Crown
          • Kingstone
          • John Moore
          • Manguari
          • Prosper
          • Quasi
          • Ubi
        • Gipsy George
        • Prawn Curry
      • Dear Herod
      • Ethnarch
        • Archon
        • Ethnos
      • The Satrap
        • Auralia

Pedigree

edit
Pedigree of Roi Herode, grey stallion, 1904
Sire
Le Samaritain
1895
Le Sancy
1884
Atlantic Thormanby*
Hurricane
Gem of Gems Stratchconan
Poinsettia
Clementina
1880
Doncaster Stockwell
Marigold
Clemence Newminster
Eulogy
Dam
Roxelane
1894
War Dance
1887
Galliard Galopin
Mavis
War Paint Uncas
Piracy
Rose of York
1880
Speculum Vedette
Doralice
Rouge Rose Thormanby*
Ellen Horne

* Roi Herode is inbred 4S x 4D to the stallion Thormanby, meaning that he appears fourth generation on the sire side of his pedigree and fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree.

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Portrait: Roi Herode
  2. ^ a b c d Biography: Roi Herode
  3. ^ a b c d American Classic Pedigree: Roi Herode
  4. ^ a b c Image: Royal Canopy
  5. ^ a b c Sire Lines Of International Jumpers The French Grey Line
  6. ^ Herod’s Vanishing Sire Line
  7. ^ ‘Always Bet the Gray:’ The History Behind Derby Favorite Essential Quality’s Silver Coat
  8. ^ Bloodlines Presented By Mishriff: Why Do We Have Gray Thoroughbreds?
  9. ^ "Byerley Turk Line". www.tbheritage.com.
  10. ^ Byerley Turk Jumpsire Line
  11. ^ "Buzzard Sire Line". www.bloodlines.net.
  12. ^ "Biography: Pantaloon". www.bloodlines.net.
  13. ^ a b Bonne Nuit: National Show Hunter Hall of Fame Inductee & One of the Most Influential Sires of Hunters & Jumpers in History
  14. ^ Throwback Thursday: The 1937 National Horse Show At Madison Square Garden
  15. ^ There is no doubt about the influence the Thoroughbred has had in Showjumping
  16. ^ SHOWJUMPING MASTERS: William Steinkraus
  17. ^ HALLOFFAMETHURSDAY: GOOD TWIST
  18. ^ Portrait: The Tetrarch
  19. ^ Biography: The Tetrarch
  20. ^ American Classic Pedigree: The Tetrarch
  21. ^ American Classic Pedigree: Stefan The Great
  22. ^ Biography: Six Wheeler
  23. ^ American Classic Pedigree: Royal Minstrel