2025 Thoroughbred Inductee
A champion on the racetrack, Storm Bird passed on his impeccable bloodlines and talent to his progeny and to the offspring of his daughters. Foaled in 1978 at E.P. Taylor‘s Windfields Farm in Oshawa, Ontario, Storm Bird was a handsome bay colt by rising star, Northern Dancer. Storm Bird’s full sister, Northerner, was a champion in two previous years and a Grade 1 winner in New York.
It wasn’t a surprise when Storm Bird drew a bid of $1 million from Robert Sangster at the 1979 Keeneland July Select Yearling Sale and promptly sent to the yard of celebrated Irish trainer, Vincent O’Brien, who had guided the career of English Triple Crown winner Nijinsky II.
Much like Nijinsky II, Storm Bird flew to victory in some of the notable Irish races for juveniles at the outset of his career including the Group 2 National Stakes. He completed his juvenile season with a gritty victory in windy and wet conditions at Newmarket in England in the Group 1 William Dewhurst Stakes. He was named the Champion 2-year-old colt in England and Ireland.
The sky was the limit when it came to predicting Storm Bird’s 3-year-old campaign in 1981. Sangster, taking advantage of the colt’s value as a racehorse and later as a stallion, sold 75 percent of the colt to Dr. William Lockridge of Ashford Stud in Kentucky who syndicated the colt for $30 million.
Unfortunately, due to injury and illness, Storm Bird would make only one start at age three, before being retired to stud where he was an instant success, siring the talented Storm Cat in his first crop. A Grade 1 winner on the track, Storm Cat left his own legacy in the breeding shed, siring over 120 stakes winners.
Storm Bird sired champions such as Balanchine, Indian Skimmer, Bluebird, among his 63 stakes winners. His daughter produced over 100 stakes winners including 1995 Kentucky Derby winner Thunder Gulch and 2004 Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone.
Storm Bird, who lived until the age of 26, is considered one of the great Canadian bred racehorses and stallions of the 20th century.