Northern Dancer Is Retired From Stud at Age 26 After Siring 123 Stakes Winners

Northern Dancer, the greatest stallion in the history of thoroughbred racing, has been retired from the breeding shed at the age of 26.

He has only one mare in foal from the 25 bred to him this year, after getting 85% of the mares bred to him in foal over the years. The reason for retirement apparently was impotence as a result of old age. Most stallions have been retired long before the age of 26.

He has sired 123 stakes winners, more than any other thoroughbred.

Northern Dancer entered stud in Canada at a cost of $10,000 for a live foal. He was moved to Maryland in 1969, and in the heyday of his stud duty a one-year single service would cost as much as $1 million with no guarantee.

He sired 579 registered foals of racing age, and 21% were stakes winners. Twenty-three of them were voted champions.

“Nothing will change for him, except he won’t breed to mares anymore,” said Joe Hickey, Windfields Farm general manager.

One son, Snaafi Dancer, was sold for $10.2 million. Another, Nijinsky II, won the 1970 English Triple Crown.

Charles Taylor, whose family heads the syndicate that owns Northern Dancer, made the decision Wednesday and sent notices of the retirement to 21 shareholders.

Northern Dancer, who won the 1964 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, entered stud in 1965. E.P. Taylor, who bred and raced Northern Dancer, originally offered the stallion for sale as a yearling for $25,000, but there were no takers.