Hail to Reason (April 18, 1958 – February 24, 1976) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and an influential sire. In a racing career cut short by injury, he was named the American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt of 1960 after winning seven stakes races including the Hopeful Stakes. He later became a leading sire whose offspring included 1972 Epsom Derby winner Roberto and leading sire Halo, who in turn sired 1989 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Sunday Silence.
Background Hail to Reason was bred in Kentucky by the Bieber-Jacobs Stable, a partnership of prominent horsemen, Isadore Bieber and Hirsch Jacobs. He was sired by the English stakes winner Turn-To, a grandson of the very influential sire Nearco. Hail to Reason was out of the mare Nothirdchance, a stakes winning daughter of Blue Swords. She was named by Jacobs as a warning to the Allies to not allow Germany to start another war. Hail to Reason was named in response to his fulfilled hopes.Reines-de-course.com Hail To Reason profile at Reines-de-course.com
Racing career Starting in January 1958, Hail to Reason raced 18 times as a two-year-old in nine months, winning nine times. He set a track record of :58 for 5 furlongs in his debut at Aqueduct, followed up by wins in the Youthful, Great American and Tremont at the same track. He also won the Sapling Stakes at Monmouth, the World's Playground Stakes at Atlantic City and the Sanford Stakes at Saratoga. The highlight of his campaign was winning the prestigious Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga while setting a new track record of 1:16 for furlongs.
During a morning workout on September 18, he lost a shoe and broke both sesamoid bones in his left front leg, ending his career. However, he was still named 1960 American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt.The Bloodhorse.com Champion's history charts
Stud record Retired to stud at Hagyard Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, Hail to Reason earned Leading sire in North America honors for 1970.American leading sires at Thoroughbred Heritage Known as a source of soundness, bone and stamina among his progeny, Hail to Reason sired 218 winners (68.3%) and 43 stakes winners (13.5%) from 319 named foals. Hail to Reason is a Classic chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system. His progeny includes:Reines-de-course.com Hail to Reason profile at Reines-de-course.com +FoaledNameSexMajor Wins/Achievements1962Hail To AllStallionBelmont Stakes1964Proud ClarionStallionKentucky Derby1967PersonalityStallionPreakness Stakes, American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse, American Horse of the Year1968Bold ReasonStallionTravers Stakes, Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain and Ireland1969HaloStallionLeading sire in North America1969RobertoStallionEpsom Derby1970Stop The MusicStallionChampagne Stakes1974Cum Laude LaurieMareMultiple Grade 1 winner1974TrillionMareAmerican Champion Female Turf Horse Hail to Reason was also a broodmare sire whose daughters have produced more than 100 stakes winners, including Allez France and Triptych. Another daughter, Reason to Earn, is the dam of Bold Reasoning, sire of 1977 U.S. Triple Crown Champion Seattle Slew.
At 18, Hail to Reason was humanely put down on February 24, 1976, and is buried at Hagyard Farm.Thoroughbred Heritage.com Hagyard Farm
Pedigree
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