Article

Shenanigans: Top Thoroughbred Dams from Racing Heritage

Topic: SportsPublished February 25, 2012
No ratings yet2,249 viewsSign in to rate
Of the most impressive progeny any mare has produced in her lifetime, Shenanigans by far ranks amongst the best ever dams in racing history. Foaled in 1963, followed by a limited success in racing career, Shenanigans went on to become one of the most known and remembered dams bred to a handful of racing legends leading to a progeny that would earn her massive success and the title of Kentucky Broodmare of the Year (1975). rnBorn in Kentucky, Shenanigans was sired by Native Dancer. Her dam was Fighting Fox mare, Bold Irish. She performed satisfactory on the racing track winning only 3 of her 22 starts, finishing runner up in one and placing six. Owners and breeders Stuart and Barbara Janney had witnessed Shenanigans limited response in racing so moved her to broodmare duties soon after her 22nd start of her sophomore. After a failed pregnancy with Knightly Manner, Shenanigans was bred to Nearctic and foaling in 1969 she produced Icecapade. rnIcecapede faired considerably well on the racing front winning multiple stakes such as the Grade 3 Nassau County Handicap and the Grade 2 William Du Pont, Jr Handicap. He also won the Kelso Handicap and the Saranac Stakes. rnIn 1970, Shenanigans produced a grey filly, Laughter by Bold Ruler. Despite such an impressive sire to inherit pedigree from, Laughter brought little success though she faired fine on the broodmare front. rnCome 1971 and Shenanigans again gave birth to another colt, On To Glory, though each of them failed to make a solid reputation in the racing arena as an established racing contender. Laughter retired from racing with not more than a mere $17,000 in career earnings. Though Shenanigans suffered from calcium deposits in her knees that became an impediment to her career but the issue compounded when Shenanigans was bred to Reviewer and the great Ruffian foaled in 1972. rnRuffian was by far the greatest among Shenanigans foals and went on to obliterate records one after the other during her racing career. Ruffian’s racing aura won her the number one rank amongst the top 100 female horses but the inherited bone disorder similar to that of her sire Reviewer and his sire Native Dancer. The inherited bone weakness was so critical that not only Ruffian but her dam Shenanigans and sire Reviewer were met with a similar death caused by aftermaths of bone fracture. rnAfter Ruffian, Shenanigans also produced stakes winners Buckfinder by Buckpasser and Near East by Damascus. Eerily Shenanigans death was exceptionally reminiscent of her daughter Ruffian’s death and occurred with a few years of Ruffian’s death. However, the limited racing calibre never impeded Shenanigans from excelling at her progeny. She still is ranked amongst the top few mares American thoroughbred racing has seen till date. rnIf you want to catch the same excitement of racing the legends as the real racing fanatics do, check out the world of online virtual thoroughbred racing on www.horseracegame.com. The 3D racing games here have been developed after decades of research and analysis of meticulous details of the sport and simulated using hi-end 3D graphics. In an attempt to provide the players a complete racing experience none less than real, the game designers promise flawless graphics, every aspect of the game simulated and made available on the virtual platform. The game can be downloaded for free and the access to thousands of racing thoroughbreds and free game prizes are let loose.

Article author

About the Author

An ardent fan of horse racing for years, I am extremely passionate about writing articles on adventurous topics on the lines of new developments in sports, online games as well as other fields. You can find articles regarding Horse racing industries and interesting facts about the understanding of 3D racing games . To know more about horse racing games online and related information log on to www.horseracegame.com

Further reading

Further Reading

4 total

Article

Sports play a powerful role in personal growth. Beyond physical fitness, they develop discipline, consistency, and the ability to make thoughtful decisions under pressure. Athletes—professional or amateur—rely heavily on structured planning and data awareness to improve performance and stay focused on long-term goals. This article explains how sports encourage responsible planning , data-driven thinking , and self-control , all of which are essential life skills. Discipli

January 15, 2026

Article

Sports have entered a new era. It is no longer just about physical strength or raw talent — it is about strategy, analytics, and precision. Teams and athletes that use data intelligently are redefining what it means to win. Smarter Strategies in Modern Football Football clubs today operate like data-driven ecosystems. Every pass, sprint, and recovery is tracked, analyzed, and optimized. Coaches use predictive tools to plan substitutions, manage workloads, and design flexibl

October 31, 2025

Article

rnSports are more than just competition—they’re a reflection of life itself. Whether you’re chasing a ball, crossing a finish line, or setting a personal record, sports teach us lessons that go far beyond the field. Every athlete knows that success doesn’t come overnight; it’s built through persistence, patience, and purpose. How Sports Shape Our Mindset When you train for any sport, your body becomes stronger—but your mind becomes unshakable. You learn to embrace

October 18, 2025

Article

Image source: Unsplash Understanding how the body responds and adapts to physical activity is crucial for optimizing athletic performance. Sports physiology provides a foundation for this knowledge, helping athletes and coaches make informed decisions about training and recovery. As the body undergoes stress from exercise, it experiences immediate and long-term changes, from increased heart rate to improved muscular strength and endurance. According to Quentin Geczy , monitor

July 31, 2025