Home > The Minstrel

Born at E. P. Taylor's Windfields Farm in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, The Minstrel was the son of legendary sire Northern Dancer out of the mare Fleur, who was a daughter of Victoria Park. He was a half-brother to the 1970 English Triple Crown champion, Nijinsky II.

A powerfully built and beautiful chestnut colt with four white-stockings and a gentle disposition, The Minstrel was purchased at the 1975 Keeneland yearling auction by a group headed by the flamboyant British racing enthusiast Robert Sangster (1936-2004). Shipped to England, under trainer Vincent O'Brien and ridden by champion jockey Lester PiggottLester Keith Piggott ( 1935-) is an English jockey, considered to be the best of his generation. Piggott won his first race in 1948. During the course of his career, he won nine Derbies. After he retired from riding horses, he became a racehorse trainer., the horse entered only three races as a two year old, but won them all.

In 1977, The Minstrel won major races at racetracks in England and IrelandThe island of Ireland ire in Irish, Airlann in Ulster Scots) is the third-largest island in Europe. It lies on the west side of the Irish Sea, close to the island of Great Britain. It is composed of the Republic of Ireland in the south and Northern Irelan. His win in the Epsom DerbyThe Derby Stakes known colloquially as The Derby and internationally as the Epsom Derby, is considered one the most prestigious flat thoroughbred horse races in the world. The race takes place each year in June at Epsom Downs, Epsom, Surrey, England., the most prestigious race in the United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a state in Western Europe, usually known simply as the United Kingdom the UK Britain or less accurately as Great Britain . The UK was formed by a series of Acts of Union which united the formerly, brought Sangster and his partners into the racing limelight and he soon became one of the world's leading racehorse owners. In addition to the Epsom Derby, The Minstrel won the Irish Derby StakesThe Irish Derby Stakes have been held annually at The Curragh in County Kildare, Ireland since 1866. The ancient Gaelic name " Curragh, " actually means racecourse and the Derby is Ireland's most important event in thoroughbred horse racing. The race for and the Ascot Two Thousand Guineas Trial and in his most impressive race against the best horses around, he won the grueling one and a half mile King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond StakesThe King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes is a Group 1 United Kingdom flat racing horse race for three year old and above horses run over a distance of 1 mile 4 furlongs at Ascot Racecourse during July. worth £750,000 in 2004).. His performances earned him England's Horse-of-the Year honors for 1977.

After owner Robert Sangster's affair with Jerry HallJerry Hall (born July 2, 1956) is a Texas-born model and actress best known for being Mick Jagger's wife. She married Jagger after dumping Bryan Ferry, about which Ferry wrote the song "Cry, Cry, Cry". In 1990 she joined many other guests for Roger Waters, the wife of Rolling Stones lead singer, Mick Jagger, he claimed that Jagger had threatened to do what The Godfather had done in the film and put The Minstrel's head in its owner's bed.

By the end of his brilliant career, out of his nine starts, The Minstrel won seven races, and finished second and third one time. He was re-acquired by Windfields Farm and syndicated for $9 million to stand at stud in Maryland. After the sale of Windfields Farm's Maryland division in 1988, The Minstrel was sent to Overbrook Farm, in Lexington, Kentucky.

The Minstrel died in 1990 and was buried in Overbrook Farm's equine cemetery in Lexington.