These bloodlines are, hands down, the most interesting and the most complicated. This is understandable because of the frequency of breakdowns and the amount of inbreeding seen for both sires and dams. Most inbreeding occurs in the 4th or 5th generations, yet Prairie Bayou, Union City, Eight Belles, Pine Island and Old Rosebud do have some inbreeding in the 3rd generation. This is not preferred. The further back the inbreeding occurs, the less likely it is to impact the horse because of more recent generations of non-inbreeding. With sires especially, it is extremely common to see the same name repeated multiple times within many bloodlines. This is even more common for newer horses, such as those born from 1990 until now.
For the sires, it is clear to see some horses are much more popular. Secretariat, Bold Ruler, Northern Dancer, Mr. Prospector and Princequillo are some of these sires with multiple descendants linking together. Some of the most devastating breakdowns are of the horses Barbaro, Eight Belles, and Pine Island, which, surprisingly, are all related to Mr. Prospector. Ruffian, another horse with a devastating breakdown, is descended from Bold Ruler (who happens to be her grand-sire on her sire's side). This is an interesting comparison to make because this means Secretariat is Ruffian's "uncle." It is shocking to see such an incredible racer so closely related to a filly that would have been incredible if not for her breakdown. This would suggest that a "gene" for a flaw that could influence a breakdown may not be as prevalent within the Nasrullah side of the bloodline as it is for the Native Dancer side. It is also important to note that Native Dancer is the grand-sire of Mr. Prospector, also known for his breakdown descendants.
One other very strong relationship is seen between Secretariat and his half-sister Lamb Chop. Both are direct offsprings of Bold Ruler, yet Lamb Chop broke-down and Secretariat won the Triple Crown. Interestingly, Lamb Chop is also descended from Fair Play, a sire we have yet to see pass on many negative traits or possible "genes."
To move onto the dam's bloodline, we can clearly see how many horses are descended from both Gold Digger and Geisha. Gold Digger appears frequently within the bloodline, in the 4th and 5th generations more than once for Union City, Eight Belles and Black Rhino.
For both the sire and dam bloodlines, Old Rosebud does not connect to any of the others horses. This is most likely because he was born in the early 1900's, while the other breakdown horses were born in the late 1900's or even the 2000's.
Black Gold could not be linked into either of the bloodlines, and Dark Mirage and Timely Writer could not be linked into the dam bloodline.
For the sires, it is clear to see some horses are much more popular. Secretariat, Bold Ruler, Northern Dancer, Mr. Prospector and Princequillo are some of these sires with multiple descendants linking together. Some of the most devastating breakdowns are of the horses Barbaro, Eight Belles, and Pine Island, which, surprisingly, are all related to Mr. Prospector. Ruffian, another horse with a devastating breakdown, is descended from Bold Ruler (who happens to be her grand-sire on her sire's side). This is an interesting comparison to make because this means Secretariat is Ruffian's "uncle." It is shocking to see such an incredible racer so closely related to a filly that would have been incredible if not for her breakdown. This would suggest that a "gene" for a flaw that could influence a breakdown may not be as prevalent within the Nasrullah side of the bloodline as it is for the Native Dancer side. It is also important to note that Native Dancer is the grand-sire of Mr. Prospector, also known for his breakdown descendants.
One other very strong relationship is seen between Secretariat and his half-sister Lamb Chop. Both are direct offsprings of Bold Ruler, yet Lamb Chop broke-down and Secretariat won the Triple Crown. Interestingly, Lamb Chop is also descended from Fair Play, a sire we have yet to see pass on many negative traits or possible "genes."
To move onto the dam's bloodline, we can clearly see how many horses are descended from both Gold Digger and Geisha. Gold Digger appears frequently within the bloodline, in the 4th and 5th generations more than once for Union City, Eight Belles and Black Rhino.
For both the sire and dam bloodlines, Old Rosebud does not connect to any of the others horses. This is most likely because he was born in the early 1900's, while the other breakdown horses were born in the late 1900's or even the 2000's.
Black Gold could not be linked into either of the bloodlines, and Dark Mirage and Timely Writer could not be linked into the dam bloodline.