THE TEDDY FAMILY
In the Teddy family we begin to observe some individuals who are, in terms of both conformation and athletic capabilities, closely similar to Quarter Horses.
Sir Gallahad III 1920 (by Teddy out of Plucky Liege, a Touchstone-line mare with both Matchem and Herod in tail-female). This stallion shows the “rounded” conformation typical of Teddy-line horses but with enough bone to support the mass above. A full brother to Bull Dog, he sired no less than three Kentucky Derby winners: Gallant Fox (1927), Gallahadion (1937) and Hoop Jr. (1942).
Bull Lea 1935 (by Bull Dog out of Rose Leaves, a Touchstone-line mare that also traces to Eclipse in tail-female). In this horse we get the first taste of what “Eclipse on Eclipse” looks like: a massively muscular body above, fortunately supported by excellent bone below. These horses resemble Quarter Horses not only in muscularity but because they stand relatively short on the leg and have noticeable “downhill” balance. Retired sound to stud at age 5 after a respectable 27 starts, Bull Lea went on to sire 58 stakes winners.
Citation 1945 (by Bull Lea out of Hydroplane, a Hyperion-Bay Ronald line mare with multiple crosses to Lexington and Herod in the tail-female). This is the smart way to breed Eclipse— by guaranteeing that there is enough “stayer” blood in the mare to preserve a balance between the weight of the body above and the construction and toughness of the limbs below. Enough positives simply cannot be uttered about this horse, who has been voted one of the top 10 flat-track racers of all time. Citation compiled 32 wins in 45 career starts. A Triple Crown winner, he continued racing until age 6 and was one of only three horses to win 16 straight races. He was the first racehorse to earn $1 million.