Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace (25 March 1974 – 6 October 1995) was a French thoroughbred racehorse and sire. After winning one of his two races as a two-year-old he emerged as a top-class middle distance performer in 1977 recording victories in the Prix de Courcelles, Prix du Jockey Club and Prix Niel. He also finished second in the Prix Lupin, fourth in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes and third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. At the end of his racing career he was retired to stud and proved to be a successful breeding stallion in France and Japan. Background Crystal Palace was a grey horse with a white blaze and four white socks bred in France by his owner Guy de Rothschild. Crystal Palace's coat lightened with age, but during his racing career he was a very dark grey. The name Crystal Palace has been used for several other Thoroughbred racehorses including an influential British broodmare. His sire, Caro, was a top-class performer (rated 133 by Timeform), whose wins included the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, Prix Ganay and Prix d'Ispahan, before becoming a very successful breeding stallion. Caro's other progeny included Madelia, Cozzene and Winning Colors. Crystal Palace's dam, Hermieres, won the Prix de Diane in 1961, but had previously had a mediocre record as a broodmare, producing only two minor winners. Hermieres' dam Vieille Pierre, was a half-sister to the Grand Prix de Paris winner Vieux Manoir. Crystal Palace was sent into training with the veteran François Mathet at Chantilly. Racing career 1976: two-year-old season Crystal Palace was not highly tried as a two-year-old, finishing second over 1500 metres on his debut and then winning a minor race over 1600m at Maisons-Laffitte. He did not receive a rating in the 1976 French Free Handicap.