‘I bought at auction a hoof of Galopin – it caused consternation in the family’
Three years ago to mark 300 years of champion sires in Britain and Ireland, Michael Church, the racing author and historian, published a signed and illustrated limited edition lineage chart, showing the male descent of the 125 champion sires to the founding fathers.
Racing Post caught up with their former employee – he was hired as the newspaper’s accountant when launched in 1986 – for a quickfire Q&A.
Above an extract from Michael Church’s lineage chart, showing the 300 years of Champion Sires 1722-2021
Tell us about the lineage chart – when did you come up with the idea and how long did it take?
As part of the original Racing Post team, my chart was first published in 1987, with a slim volume giving the sire’s four-generation pedigrees. This autumn I became aware that if I updated the chart it would cover 300 years. So I set about redesigning it, adding 14 photographs with a brief history of each to accompany it.
In compiling it, what points of interest stood out to you?
When putting the champion sires in a different colour I immediately saw innumerable chains of champion sires, indicating their prepotency. For example, Cyllene (1909) to Mill Reef (1978), eight consecutive generations, then Cyllene to Pitcairn (1980), also eight generations. More recently we have Northern Dancer (1970) to Frankel (2021), four generations.
Do you see any problems of diversity in thoroughbred breeding in the future?
Not really. At present, the Northern Dancer lines are being tempered by Dubawi, who goes back to Native Dancer. Importantly, the stayers’ programme will in time strengthen the breed.
What was the spark that ignited your interest in racing and bloodstock?
Aged nine, when returning from a war-time evacuation in Llandrindod Wells to my home in Woking, the Sunday before the 1945 Derby, I was plunged into a family reunion where the sole topic of conversation was the forthcoming Epsom Classic. And from that day, which I now think of as my annunciation, I took to racing and betting like a duck to water.
While Racing Post bloodstock readers of a certain vintage may be familiar with your work, some might not, so can you outline your other breeding and pedigree publications?
Three Centuries of Leading Sires; The Classic Pedigree; Dams of Classic Winners; Eclipse – The Horse, The Race, The Awards; Champion Sires; Classic Pedigrees; together with various editions of The Derby Chart, three definitive histories of the Derby and the only history of the Oaks.
You are arguably better known for racing works, especially on the Epsom Classics – would you agree or disagree with anyone who calls for the distance of the Derby to be reduced?
I can understand the call for the Derby to be run over ten furlongs, but while the King George and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe are also run over a mile and a half, there seems little point and since many of the great studs stand stallions to win these races, it could undermine the future range of the thoroughbred.
Past or present, do you have any favourite sires or lines?
While at the Racing Post I bought at auction a hoof of Galopin (the 1875 Derby winner, sire of St Simon and a descendant of Hambletonian), encased in silver as an inkwell. This caused consternation in the family as the money came out of the holiday fund!
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To see more on Michael’s books & charts click on Michael’s Books for Sale.
