Pedigree Query

Good day everyone. I'm in the process of looking for a nice regional sire for one of my mares and went to Rockin' River Ranch in Iowa to take a look at a couple of their stallions, Doug Fir and Deerhound. While there the owner pointed out a new stallion they will stand in 2007, Williamstown. I know he comes to Iowa from New York, so I assume he didn't do too well there, but what are anyone's thoughts on how he might work as a breed-to-race sire in the Iowa area? I'm looking to race primarily at Prairie Meadows, and perhaps venture down to Remington Park. Would be interested to know anything you might be able to tell me about Williamstown. Thanks in advance!

Jason

Hello --

I have a Williamstown gelding standing out in my pasture even as I type. Gorgeous, big level-headed guy who won at hunter breeding shows, but never on the track. He's getting ready to become a pony-horse.

I don't know enough about other offspring to know whether mine's unusual or if that's maybe the reason he left New York. This horse is wonderful. He's just not a racehorse.

I was thrilled to see Williamstown come here to Iowa. I have always liked him and am planning on sending both of my mares to him this year. I think he'll do just fine here for Prm. It's getting tougher each year to compete at Prm, but I think his offspring will hold their own. At least I'm betting on it!

He was a usefull sire here in NY but like anyplace else the shine on a stallion only lasts so long. He just was'nt getting any mares. He did very well with Alydar blood and try adding more Bold Ruler. Hopefully he will get some attention out there.

As a broodmare sire he is off to a very good start having two stakes winners including a top horse in Drum Major as well as the good allownace horse Back Door Deal who is running in the Sophmore Sprint Championship Stakes at Mountaineer. Interestingly Drum Major and Back Door Deal are by the 1/2 brothers Dynaformer and Radio Star and second dams are by Saratoga Six and Criminal Type respectively.

fletch621 wrote:I'm in the process of looking for a nice regional sire for one of my mares and went to Rockin' River Ranch in Iowa to take a look at a couple of their stallions, Doug Fir and Deerhound.

How did Doug Fir look? I've seen his foals and they are really nice. Does he have a nice disposition?

Doug Fir was pretty nice looking. I was told that he wouldn't think twice about biting you, but he stood perfectly and wasn't at all hostile while I looked at him. From what I was told a botched throat surgery is what ended his racing career before it had a chance to really begin. I'm still a novice when it comes to determining conformation (except of course for the obvious stuff) but to me he looked like a well put together horse.

Jason

What sort of throat surgery was required?

It's just a small caution, a horse with a malformed airway of course has the genetic propensity to pass on that trait.

Madelyn, I really don't know what kind of throat surgery, but was told it was very common and that the screwup lead to a law suit with a large settlement.... other than that, I don't know.

...and now Deadly Dealer.

Just a caution, flaws in airway conformation can be genetic and can be passed on. So I would be very leery of a stallion who needed tie back throat surgery, or any other surgery designed to correct the shape of his airway.

That said, I have a mare with a paralyzed larynx (no voice at all) caused by an improperly administered sedative shot. Her offspring can be heard loud and clear.

Agreed Madelyn. El Camino's post was in regards to Williamstown's seeming to be off to an above average start as a broodmare sire. Deadly Dealer is out of a Williamstown mare.

I own a stallion by Williamstown, out of a Deposit Ticket daughter. He sold for decent money as a two year old in training, but broke down early. He was lightly raced with 8 starts, one win, and one show, for earnings of $9,816. His knees were showing major arthritic changes and so he was retired as a 3 YO. I gave him 6 months off, and sent him to Utah to cover some mares as he wasn't ready, and may never be, to go into retraining yet. He has an excellent temperment. A bit defensive but not agressive. The hauler who picked him up to bring him to Utah thought he was a gelding, even AFTER we loaded him.

Probably not particularly useful....but, well, there ya go.