By: Blood Horse

Photo Credit: Calumet Farm

Sudden Illness Claims Leading Turf Sire English Channel – BloodHorse

English Channel was North America’s leading turf sire for 2020.

Multiple leading turf sire English Channel   died Nov. 11 after the son of Smart Strike ‘s health rapidly declined over the past 24 hours and while he was under the care of top equine specialists at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, according to Calumet Farm, where the sire stood. He was 19.

“English Channel experienced success in his racing career, which led to a prolific stallion career that is only matched by some of the greats,” read a statement from Calumet. “English Channel certainly went out on top. He was the number one turf sire for the past two years and you could consistently find his progeny on the board in the top turf races across the country.

“English Channel has meant so much to Calumet throughout the years, and we appreciate all the breeders who also supported him. English Channel will be buried in the famed Calumet cemetery alongside many other champions from the farm’s storied history. It is a well-earned and fitting final resting place for such a spectacular horse.”

English Channel was North America’s leading turf sire for 2020 with more than $4.78 million in progeny earnings and five graded stakes winners, including four-time grade 1 winner Channel Maker . The sire currently leads the North American turf sire standings with more than $6.3 million in progeny earnings. His top runner this year is grade 1 winner War Like Goddess , who won the Flower Bowl Stakes (G1T) along with three other graded stakes and most recently was third in the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T).

Bred in Kentucky by Ann Bakhaus’ Keene Ridge Farm, English Channel was the first foal out of the unraced Theatrical mare Belva. The mare didn’t get to prove herself on the track but she possessed strong potential as a producer as the full sister to multiple grade 2 winner and millionaire Hap , who also was second in the 2001 Arlington Million (G1T), and to grade 1 winner Pharma , who won the 1996 Santa Ana Handicap (G1T) and was third in the 1994 Del Mar Invitational Oaks (G1T).

Eaton Sales sold English Channel to the James Scatuorchio for $50,000 at the 2003 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The colt made his only start at 2 a winning one, taking a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on the grass at Saratoga Race Course by a length. At 3, he won his first stakes in the Woodlawn Stakes at Pimlico Race Course and became a graded stakes winner in the Virginia Derby (G3T) two races later. English Channel proved he belonged among the elite runners with two seconds in grade 1 stakes that year.

Already a millionaire entering his 4-year-old year, he solidified his place among the best turf runners by winning the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (G1T), United Nations Stakes (G1T), and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (G1T). A third-place finish in the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) put him in the running for championship honors but he finished a close third by first-place votes there, too, to winner Miesque’s Approval and The Tin Man . No worries because 2007 would be his year with three more grade 1 wins, including a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf and another win in the United Nations in course-record time of 2:12.89 for 1 3/8 miles, which broke the Monmouth Park record he set the previous year. He was the runaway choice for champion turf male with 251 first-place votes. English Channel retired with 13 wins from 23 starts and earned $5,319,028.

English Channel entered stud at Ben Walden Jr.’s Hurricane Hall in 2008 with a fee of $25,000. He stood one season at Hurricane Hall and then the partnership behind the farm dissolved, and English Channel was relocated to Lane’s End, where he stood for seven breeding seasons before getting transferred to Calumet Farm in the summer of 2014. Soon after the horse moved to Calumet, he sired his first grade 1 winner when V. E. Day   captured the 2014 Travers Stakes (G1). His stud fee largely held steady at $25,000 but climbed to a high of $35,000 for the 2020 breeding season.

Calumet announced Nov. 10 that English Channel was unlikely to breed any mares next year due to “multiple health issues.” No specifics were offered on the nature of those issues.

“This is an unfortunate blow for a stallion that was rising to the peak of his career and finally getting the respect he deserved,” said Calumet in a statement Nov. 10. “However we, at Calumet, strive to provide the best care for all our horses and will always put the horse’s health, safety, and well-being first.”

English Channel has sired 62 black-type stakes winners, including 32 graded stakes winners and seven champions as of Nov. 11. His best runners excelled primarily on the turf, accounting for 51 (6%) of his stakes winners, and including U.S. and Canadian champion and Canadian classic winner Channel Maker , Canadian champion 3-year-old male Heart to Heart  , record-setting 2012 Queen’s Plate winner and champion 3-year-old male Strait of Dover , Canadian champion turf male Johnny Bear , Canadian champion grass horse Interpol , and Canadian champion 2-year-old male Admiralty Pier  plus other grade 1 winners The Pizza Man , Channel Cat , Voodoo Song , and Two Emmys , who won this year’s Mr. D. Stakes (G1T).

His runners have earned nearly $63 million and averaged $95,225 per starter.