BG’S BUNNY’S LEGACY

A former world champion racehorse at three when recording victory in 1:54.0US (fastest 3yo of 1977) in an elimination heat of the Meadowlands Pace and a siring son of the immortal Albatross, BG’s Bunny is well known as a top broodmare stallion e.g. broodmare sire of USTA Horses of Year Precious Bunny (1991) and Cams Card Shark (1994).

BG’s Bunny earned $215,192 in stakes on the track. He sired over 1,200 winners world-wide, just under 600 in two minutes, 62 in 1.55 for earnings of $51.5m. As a broodmare sire, his 1,811 winners worldwide, 1,155 in 2:0, 339 in 1:55 brought earnings of over $106m. He is well respected and considered one of the all-time great brood mare sires.

BG’s Bunny was purchased in 1992 by Brisbane’s John Geiger (Geiger Bloodstock) and stood at Woodlands Stud, Clevedon. His sudden loss (aged nineteen) together with that of his highly successful son Butler BG within a fortnight of each other in September 1993 from heart attacks were heavy blows to the industry in New Zealand.

Breeding :

A grandson of top pacing line stallion Meadow Skipper, BG’s Bunny was part of super sire Albatross’s first crop (p2, 1:57.4mUS; p3, 1:54.4mUS; p4, 1:54.3fUS; $1,201,470; sire of 1,917 winners, 1,229 in 2:00, 282 in 1:55, 428 $100k winners, earnings of $149,387,437; broodmare sire of 4,502 in 2:00, 1,405 in 1:55, 1,270 $100k winners, earnings of $451.8m from 1,170 dams) out of Brets Romance by Bret Hanover, sire of 528 in 2:00, 47 in 1:55 and over $64m In earnings. Bret Hanover was a champion racehorse in the days of Cardigan Bay in 1960’s in the United States. His record being p2, 1:57.2mUS; p3, 1:55.0mUS; p4, TT1:53.3mUS, $922,616, Triple Crown winner, 1964/1965/1966 USTA Horse of Year, world record winning sequence for a pacer of thirty five.

Brets Romance was a three year old winner in 2:04.3mUS and at four in 2:02.0fUS for earnings of $13,967. She was the dam of seventeen foals, thirteen raced for eleven winners with seven in two minutes including – BG’s Bunny (second foal, first colt); Niatross mare Refreshing Touch p3, 1:54.1mUS, $113,800; Super Bradshaw p4, 1:54.3mUS, $97,430; Banshee Almahurst p3, 1:57.2mUS, $21,802 (stood at stud in Taranaki/five NZ winners; Australia/one winner); Albatross mare Lismore** p3, TT1:57.2mUS, $150,309, full sister to BG’s Bunny; Stew Almahurst p4, 1:57.3fUS, $87,892.

** Lismore is dam of Abercrombie progeny in Albert Albert (p3, 1:52.1mUS, $1,237,070, broodmare sire of Frith, Lennytheshark), Lisheen (p3, 1:52.3mUS, $518,405, dam of Lis Mara) and many others.

BG’s Bunny was an early and classic example of the prized golden cross of Albatross over a Bret Hanover mare.

BG’s Bunny’s breeder was Timothy J Rooney, Yonkers, New Year (member of famed Rooney sports empire); purchased for $15,000 as a yearling at the Old Glory sale by Bob Greenberg, a wealthy New Jersey land developer.

Race Record :

BG’s Bunny raced on twenty six occasions, sixteen of these as a two year old for trainer George Berkner. He recorded nine wins and three seconds including two Pennsylvania Sires Stakes and two Maryland Development Fund Stakes (seconds In Hanover Hempt Stakes at Vernon Downs, Silver Spoon Pace).

As a three year old, he won eliminations of the Cane Pace and Meadowlands Pace (1977 was inaugural year of running) where he set a world record for three year old pacers on a mile track in 1:54.0 (fastest 3yo Pacer of Year). His ten three year old starts produced wins on three occasions, placing second (Battle of Brandywine) and third twice. A sesamoid injury caused him to be retired to the breeding barn at Apt-To-Acres with a career record of 26 : 12 – 5 – 2, $215,192, p3, 1:54.0mUS.

Siring Record :

In North America, BG’s Bunny served large numbers of mares early in his siring career (over 100 in seven of first eight crops). His first five crops consisted of 149 or more foals with a record 209 in 1980. The first two crops both produced lifetime earners in excess of seven million dollars. BG’s Bunny’s stud fee rose to $15,000 for several years before his popularity waned.

In total his 1,682 foals (856 colts, 836 fillies) produced 1,181 pacing winners plus 2 trotters; 586 in two minutes, 61 in 1:55, 129 $100k winners (23 over $250,000) for earnings of $51.5m. In 1987, he was leading sire of winners in USA with 284. A high number of his foals (just over 1,400) produced in the period 1979 – 1993 were starters.

From his first crop came his biggest money winner McKinzie Almahurst (p2, TT1:55m, p3, 1:54.4mUS, $1,532,870, USA 2yo colt pacer of year), winner of Woodrow Wilson, Oliver Weddell Holmes, James Dancer Memorial and a Meadowlands Pace elimination. McKinzie Almahurst stood at stud in both NZ and Australia with WA Oaks winner Pharosan his only Group One success.

Other USA winners with over $500,000 in earnings included :

• Butler BG (p3, 1:54.4fUS, $878,709) stood at stud in NZ before dying of a heart attack aged twelve in the same month as his sire BG’s Bunny. Butler BG was the winner of Canadian Prix d’Ete and several New Jersey Sires Stakes events. He produced 227 winners in NZ, five of whom were trotters (82 in 2:00) with a further 52 in Australia and broodmare credits in NZ of 349 (4 trotters, 184 in 2:00) with 163 in Australia. Among his principal winners were Megeara (Caduceus Club Classic – 2f, 2yo filly of year), Sharp And Telford (VIC/AUS Derbies, Auckland Cup), Surprise Package (Hunter Cup), Tigerish (GN/NZ Oaks, Nevele R Fillies, NZ Breeders), Butlers Love (QLD Oaks, VICSS 3f/4m). Broodmare credits include Another Party, Blatant Lie, Five Card Draw, Gotta Go Cullen, Mr Nickel, Party Party, Tupelo Rose

• Awesome Almahurst, p5, 1:52.4mUS, $578,238, New Jersey Classic
• Stabilizer, p5, 1:54.4mUS, $525,771
• Markims Pride, p3, 1:53.2mUS, $516,974, New Jersey Classic

BG’s Bunny’s fastest NA Progeny in better than 1:53.0 included Joey T (p10, 1:51.2mUS, $483,154), Dome Patrol (p3, 1:52.2mUS, $230,372) and Awesome Almahurst (p5, 1:52.4mUS).

Other BG’s Bunny sires to stand in Australasia included :

• Power Bunny (p5, 1:55.0mUS, $438,443) with 25 NZ winners (23 pacers, 7 in 2:00; 2 trotters, 1 in 2:00) including Kildonnan (Warragul/Yarra Valley/Riverton Cups) and Sidi Slicker (NZ Trotting Stakes – 3) and ten NZ broodmare credits (five pacers, five trotters) and three dams in Australia that left ten broodmare winners including Manifold Bay (WA Derby/Golden Nugget, Chariots Of Fire)
• Native Ruler (p2, 1:59.2fUS, $64,069), American National, left three NZ pacing winners and one broodmare credit
• Scenic Jerlin (p3, 1:56.3mUS, $72,602) left 31 pacers (10 in 2:00; 1 trotter) including Jerlins Choice (Amberley/Cheviot/Reefton Cups) and Yagi (Northern Southland Cup) with sixteen credits (7 in 2:00) as a broodmare sire in NZ
• Flying Down (p3, 2:02.0hUS, $26,941), in NZ twenty winners (17 pacers, 3 trotters) with three NZ Trotting broodmare credits and one in Australia, Juliet Down (Shepparton Trotters Cup) who left two winners

Other NA Group One winners for BG’s Bunny were Armbro Bramble (Fan Hanover), Armbro Hunch (Prix de L’Avenir, Canadian 2yo pacer of year) and William Miller Memorial winner Rabbit Road.

BG’s Bunny Stud Advert

In New Zealand, BG’s Bunny stood his first and only season in 1992/3 breeding season due to his premature death in September 1993. He had 245 mares (second only to Holmes Hanover’s 275) to his court (161 foals, twelve slipped/died, 45 missed, eight mares died, three mares exported, sixteen no returns, foaling percentage 68.8%). Many fine race mares were included in this line-up such as Dels Dream, Excuse Me, Gretna Hanover, Hurriana, Kenwood Rowan, Miss Morven, New Guest, Tempo, Star Nurse, Victoria Star, Believe Me, Happy Hazel, Jovial Jeanie to name a few.

His 161 live foals produced thirty two winners in NZ (four in 2:00) and one in Australia with Scuse Me (Super Smooth, by Smooth Fella; family of Nora by Glencoe, U305) the standout. The winner of eight races (two seconds, six thirds from twenty five starts) including GN Oaks and Taylor Mile in NZ record time of 1:53.5 (4yo, 1998) for stake earnings of $126,841, she was bred by Mark Purdon and raced by Jim Dalgety and Vicki Purdon. Trained throughout her career by Mark Purdon who drove her in five of her victories (Tony Herlihy two, Frank Cooney one). Major placed efforts included thirds in Caduceus Club 2yo Fillies Classic, Ladyship Stakes, Northern Breeders Stakes and Elliott Futurity.

Others with five wins included Matai Gigi (2:03.0, $26,963, Equine Stakes) and Royal Chenal (2:04.6, $29,095; dam of Hugh Hefner, 1:51.3US, Bad Leroy, Life And Soul).

Bred in USA and brought to NZ by National Bloodstock Corporation was 1983 BG’s Bunny mare Spanish Tabella (Armbro Marquita, Bye Bye Byrd/Countess Adios, by Adios) who left two winners including nine win gelding Luchador (1:59.1) for trainer John Lischner

Broodmare Sire Record :

In North America, 522 of BG’s Bunny’s mares produced 2,641 foals resulting in 1,716 pacing and one trotting winner, 1,104 in two minutes, 331 in 1:55, 284 $100k winners for earnings of over $101.7m. His daughters were responsible for several outstanding racehorses and commercial stallions including :

• Precious Bunny, p3, 1:49.4mUS (fastest 3yo of year), $2,281,142, 1991 USA/Canadian Horse of Year, twenty wins including heats/final of Meadowlands Pace, NA Cup, Little Brown Jug, Art Rooney Pace and finals of Windy City Stakes, Adios, Cleveland Classic. Sire of outstanding mare Bunny Lake (p6, 1:49.0sUS, $2.8m, dam of two 1:50 pacers), John Street North (p5, 1:50.2mUS, $895,913, sire in Australia), millionaires Precious Delight (p3, 1:51.1mUS, Stout (p6, 1:49.2mUS) and in Australasia sire of Diamonds N Furs and broodmare sire of Slug Of Jin

• Cams Card Shark, p3, 1:50.0mUS, $2,498,204, 1994 USA Horse of Year, twenty wins including Berry Creek, NA Cup, Art Rooney, Meadowlands Pace, Messenger, Adios, James Dancer/William Miller/Art Rooney Memorials. Sire of world’s leading sire Bettors Delight, Four Starzzz Shark, Holborn Hanover, Roll With Joe, Royalflush Hanover, Shark Gesture, Timesareachanging, Village Jolt and among other sires utilised in Australia Aces N Sevens, Cardmaster Hanover, Million Dollar Cam, Mystical Shark (also NZ), Passmaster Hanover, Riverboat King (also NZ), Shadyshark Hanover. Broodmare sire of A RocknRoll Dance, Follow The Stars, Heston Blue Chip
• Cams Magic Trick, p3, 1:52.4fUS, $469,899, Battle Of Freehold; successful sire mainly in Ohio

• Armbro Operative, p4, 1:50.0mUS, $1,012,712, Little Brown Jug, Breeders Crown 3/open pace, Governor Driscoll; hugely successful stallion in Australasia with over 1,350 winners (999 in Australia) including Ashlees Babe, Awesome Armbro, Beauty Secret, Fleur De Lil, Pullover Brown, Yada Yada Yada and over 670 broodmare credits including Kept For Pleasure, Shadow Sax, Ultimate Machete to mention just a few

• Ok Bye, p3, 1:54.2mUS, $182,898, stood at Nevele R Stud and in Australia; sire of 469 winners including Franco Enforce, Lavros Star, Ok Royal; over 500 broodmare credits including millionaire Washaike, Oaxaca Lass, Ok Rock, Our Sixpence, The Sentry
• WRH, p2, 1:54.1hUS, $179,599, stood at Nevele R Stud and in Australia
• Cams Trickster, p3, 1:52.2mUS, $59,350, stood in NZ and Australia with couple of hundred winners, over 100 broodmare credits including Our Chain Of Command

Among BG’s Bunny’s other NA broodmare credits are Electric Yankee, p3, 1:51.3fUS, $506,752, Adios, James Dancer Memorial, sire and Tooter Scooter, p3, 1:51.1mUS, $567,400, Kentucky Pacing Derby, sire.

BG’s Bunny has eleven broodmare credits in 1:50 with two, both in Australasia in 1:48 – full brother and sister Adore Me/Have Faith In Me. His six millionaire broodmare credits are split evenly between North America and Australasia – Precious Bunny, Armbro Operative, Cams Card Shark – North America; Adore Me, Have Faith In Me, The Falcon Strike – Australasia.

In New Zealand, BG’s Bunny has sixty seven broodmare credits (41 in 2:00, 8 in 1:55, four $100k earner’s and stake earnings of $3.665m). In Australia, he has 27 winners, ten in 2:00, four $100k earners for stakes of just under a million dollars.

The dynasty emanating from Scuse Me has to be his major achievement as a broodmare sire. Scuse Me has had fifteen foals, the first twelve of whom have raced and won, plus her fifteenth foal Stand By Me won in NZ and is now in North America. Amazingly her two best performed foals have been her tenth and twelfth foals respectively. Scuse Me was NZ Broodmare of Year in both 2013 and 2015 and NZ Breeders Association Broodmare of Excellence in 2013. Scuse Me and her descendants have been the standout family over the past decade in NZ. Of her twelve winning foals, eight have been Classic Winners, nine In 2:00, three in 1:55, three in 1:50 and two in 1:48.0 (full brother and sister). In DOB order her key progeny are :

• Megabucks (1999g Life Sign), 1:59.3, five NZ wins, Te Awamutu Cup; p7, 1:49.3zUS, $98,406
• Splendid Dreams (2001f Dream Away), 1:59.3, two wins, $10,800, Pacing Broodmare of Year 2016; dam of twelve foals, seven winners including :

1. Hands Christian, 1:56.5, eleven NZ wins, Easter Cup, Cambridge 4/5yo Futurity; two AUS wins, 1:52.5AUS, Paleface Adios Sprint; $321,556

2. Christen Me, NZ Harness Horse of Year, twice Australasian Grand Circuit champion, 1:51.5, twenty six NZ wins, Taylor Mile, Messenger, Jewels Emerald – 4, NZFFA, Easter/Auckland Cups; 1:49.1AUS, six AUS wins, Chariots Of Fire, Hunter/Victoria Cups, Miracle Mile; now racing in North America, nine wins, p9, 1:49.2fUS; $2,551,341
3. Aliante, 1:55.9, eight wins, Charles Roberts NISBA Stakes, Holmes DG Pace, $103,228

4. Dream About Me, 1:53.3, seventeen NZ wins, NZSS – 2f, Jewels Diamond – 2, NZ Oaks, Nevele R Fillies, Queen Of Hearts, Auckland Cup; 1:53.4AUS, eight AUS wins, Breeders Crown – 2f , NSW Oaks; $1,375,085; won first twelve starts in succession; retired to broodmare paddock in March 2019
5. Splendid Deal, unraced dam of four winners including :

• Splendour, 1:56.2, eight NZ wins; one AUS win, 1:58.5AUS, Gold Coast Oaks; $142,217
• Maxim, 1:56.5, eight NZ wins, NZSS – 2c; four AUS wins, VIC Derby, 1:53.8AUS; $494,436
• Hartofdixie, 1:58.3, six wins, Rotorua Cup, $50,299
• La Filou (2002f In the Pocket), 1:59.0, one win, $7,315; dam of four winners including The Dip,1:52.2AUS, Tas Guineas, $191,503; Hes Lightfingered 1:54.8AUS, Pick My Pocket 1:55.3
• Coca Vicola (2003f Il Vicolo), 2:02.2, one win, $5,477; dam of two winners including Our Bare Knuckle, 1:55.1NZ/1:51.5AUS, one NZ/six AUS wins, Raith Memorial, $72,690
• Imagine Me (2005f Dream Away), 1:56.9, nine NZ wins, NI Breeders Stakes; placed in AUS; $241,972; dam of two winners, Think About Me, Breeders Crown Silver – 3c
• Toledo (2006g Christian Cullen), 1:59.9, seven NZ wins, NZ Yearling Sale Aged Pace; 2:00.0AUS, one win, Bathurst Hondo Grattan Sprint; $88,514
• Abide With Me, (Christian Cullen), 1:57.7, $36,031, four wins, dam of two winners, You Gotta Have Faith, 1:57.3, two NZ/seven WA wins, $94,631

• Adore Me (2009f Bettors Delight), champion race mare, retired following injury sustained when running second in Auckland Cup week after Ladyship Mile victory in 1:47.7AUS, first horse under 1:48 in Australasia. Winner of twenty six of thirty six starts, twenty four in NZ, 1:51.6, NZSS – 3f, GN/NZ Oaks, Nevele R Fillies, Jewels Diamond – 3 and 4, Queen Of Hearts twice, NZ Breeders Stakes, NZ/Easter Cups; 1:47.7AUS, two wins, Ladyship Mile; $1,667,029. Dam of two Sweet Lou fillies, including undefeated two year old filly Sweet On Me, 1:55.2, $63,220, Delightful Lady Classic

• Have Faith In Me (2011g Bettors Delight), second horse under 1:48 in Australasia; 1:52.5, eleven NZ wins, NZSS – 3c, GN/NZ Derby, Jewels Emerald – 3, Auckland Cup; 1:47.5AUS, five AUS wins, Miracle Mile, Chariots Of Fire; $1,501,609; now winner of three in USA

Note – Imagine Me, Adore Me, Have Faith In Me, Hands Christian, Dream About Me trained/driven by Mark Purdon and All Stars Stables. All told Scuse Me’s foals have to date won ninety nine races.

Scuse Me’s other three minor winners are Pardin Me (eleven), Idolise Me (four) and Ohoka Jet (one).

Other notable broodmare credits for BG’s Bunny in Australasia are The Falcon Strike (Falcon Seelster/My Summertime Girl), NZ bred, 1:54.5AUS, $1,224,094, forty one wins from seventy eight starts; WA Pacing Cup three times, Fremantle Cup/AUST Pacing Championship twice, third ID Pacers Grand Final, Australasian Grand Circuit Champion; Vanlo Yorker (New York Motoring/Ararua Angel), NZ bred, 1:55.9AUS, $426,230, twenty seven wins, WA Pacing Cup and Bachelorette (Albert Albert/Gretna’s Girl), 1:56.3, $187,408, ten wins, NZ 4yo mare of year, NZ Yearling Sale Aged Pace.

As can clearly be seen from the information above, BG’s Bunny’s legacy continues today throughout North America and Australasia (stats to end of August 2018). His credentials include many leading pacers of the past three decades in both hemispheres.

Peter Craig

27 March 2019

This is a complete update of the abridged version of this article that first appeared in NZ Breeders Association magazine “Breeding Matters”, January 2019.

Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com

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