Nureyev (2 May 1977 â 29 October 2001) was an American-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and champion sire. As a racehorse, he was best known as the disqualified "winner" of the 2000 Guineas in 1980.
Nureyev was a small bay horse with a white blaze and white sock on his right hind leg bred in Kentucky by the Claiborne Farm. He was sired by Northern Dancer out of the mare Special. He was bought in 1978 at the Keeneland yearling sale by Stavros Niarchos for US$1.3 million ($ million inflation adjusted), at the time the second-highest paid price ever paid for a yearlingâÂÂbehind only Canadian Bound. Niarchos named the colt in honor of the famous ballet dancer, Rudolf Nureyev. Niarchos sent the colt to race in Europe where he was trained by François Boutin.
In November 1979, Nureyev made his two-year-old racing debut in France. He easily outdistanced the field in the Prix Thomas Bryon at Saint-Cloud Racecourse, winning by six lengths.
The following spring of 1980, he won the Prix Djebel at Maisons-Laffitte Racecourse in his three-year-old debut. He was then sent to Newmarket Racecourse for the British Classic 2000 Guineas. His rider, Philippe Paquet, restrained Nureyev in the early stages before moving through the field to make his challenge in the final quarter mile. He got the better of a brief struggle with Known Fact to win by a neck. Posse, whom Nureyev had interfered with 2.5 furlongs from the winning post, finishing strongly to take third less than a length behind. After an inquiry lasting almost an hour, the stewards disqualified Nureyev, relegated him to last place and awarded the race to Known Fact. Paquet was disqualified from riding for seven days. It was the first time that a winner of the 2,000 Guineas had been disqualified. Nureyev was scheduled to compete in June's Epsom Derby but came down with a virus and never raced again.
Nureyev was sent to stand at stud at his owner's Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard in Neuvy-au-Houlme in Lower Normandy. Renowned French horseman Alec Head recommended Nureyev to Lexington, Kentucky breeder John T. L. Jones Jr. and in mid-1981 put together a syndicate that purchased Nureyev for US$14 million. Nureyev was brought to Jones' Walmac-Warnerton Farm partnership near Lexington and then under Jones' wholly owned Walmac International.
On May 5, 1987, Nureyev suffered a life-threatening fracture to his right hind leg in a paddock accident during breeding season, but veterinary surgeons were able to save his life.
During his breeding career, Nureyev sired 135 stakes winners and more than twenty champions, despite fertility problems. In 1998, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum set a European sales record when he paid three million guineas (about $5.4 million) for yearling colt Abshurr by Nureyev at the Newmarket sales.
Nureyev died at the age of 24 on October 29, 2001. He is buried at Walmac International in Lexington, Kentucky.
c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding
Nureyev is also the damsire of several top international horses, including: