Nijinsky (horse)

Nijinsky
Nijinsky (Liam Ward) winning the Gladness Stakes at the Curragh in 1970
Sire	Northern Dancer
Grandsire	Nearctic
Dam	Flaming Page
Damsire	Bull Page
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	21 February 1967
Country	Canada
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Windfields Farm
Owner	Charles W. Engelhard Jr.
Trainer	Vincent O'Brien
Record	13: 11–2–0
Earnings	$677,177
Major wins
Railway Stakes (1969) Anglesey Stakes (1969) Beresford Stakes (1969) Dewhurst Stakes (1969) Gladness Stakes (1970) 2,000 Guineas (1970) Epsom Derby (1970) Irish Derby (1970) King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1970) St. Leger Stakes (1970)
Awards
15th UK Triple Crown Champion (1970) Timeform Horse of the Year (1970) British Horse of the Year (1970) Leading sire in GB & Ireland (1986) North American leading broodmare sire (1993 & 1994)
Honours
1970 Motion Picture – A Horse Called Nijinsky Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame (1976) Nijinsky Stakes (Canada) Nijinsky Stakes (Ireland) Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Timeform rating: 138
Last updated on 28 March 2022

Nijinsky (21 February 1967 – 15 April 1992) was a Canadian-bred, Irish-trained champion Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was the outstanding two-year-old in Europe in 1969 when he was unbeaten in five races. In the following season, he became the first horse for thirty-five years to win the English Triple Crown, a feat that has not been repeated as of 2023. He is regarded as one of the greatest European flat racehorses of the 20th century.^[1][2]

He was also historically important for establishing the international reputation of his sire Northern Dancer, though Nijinsky was atypical of Northern Dancer progeny in size and conformation. Retired to stud, he became the leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland and the leading broodmare sire in North America. As a winner of top-class races from 6-14 furlongs, Nijinsky is also considered to be among the most versatile of the great horses of the 20th century.^[3]