SWORD DANCER an good American Hall of Fame Champion by Allen F. Brewer Jr. - Print size 16" X 21", Image Size 10.5" X 11" - Black & White - SIGNE

Allen Brewer - who was recognized as one of the foremost equine artists of his time – had his life tragically brought to an end in a plane crash September 21, 1967. Among his commissions were such stellar equine stars as Man o' War, Nashua, Carry Back and Kauai King to name just a few. Although most of the original paintings are currently privately owned - occasionally - lithographs become available for sale. The production of these prints ceased shortly after Allen's death - making those still available quite rare.

This print has been in storage since 1967 and has slight discolorations around the print border which does not distract from the beauty of the print and would be easily covered up when matted and framed.

Offered for auction from the Brewer estate, is this rare print of SWORD DANCER an American Hall of Fame Champion. This lithograph is signed by the artist.

Sword Dancer (1956–1984) was an American Hall of Fame Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. He was the leading American colt of his generation and was voted United States Horse of the Year in 1959.

Racing career

Owned by Isabel Dodge Sloane's Brookmeade Stable, the small Sword Dancer won three times in fourteen starts at age two. At age three, he began to develop and in the 1959 Kentucky Derby was beaten by a nose by Tomy Lee in a stretch duel. When Tomy Lee did not compete in the Preakness Stakes, his jockey Bill Shoemaker rode Sword Dancer to a second-place finish behind Royal Orbit. In the Belmont Stakes on June 13, Sword Dancer got the better of what was described as a "bitter stretch duel" with Bagdad to win by three-quarters of a length on a muddy track. The colt also won a number of other major races, including a defeat of Hillsdale in the Woodward Stakes. He also defeated 1958 Horse Of The Year Round Table for a second time (he was third in the Woodward), beating him by seven lengths in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Aqueduct Racetrack. His performance throughout 1959 earned him Horse of the Year honors from all three of the major awarding bodies.

After a slow start at age four, Sword Dancer came on to win four important races out of his twelve starts. In one of his most notable performances, he won a second Woodward Stakes in track record time of 2:01.2 in good September, beating a field that included Bald Eagle and T. V. Lark.

Stud record

An ankle injury in the Man O' War Stakes ended his racing career and he was retired to stand at stud at Darby Dan Farm. Sword Dancer notably sired the Hall of Fame colt Damascus, and the filly Lady Pitt, the 1966 American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly. He was later sent to a breeding farm in France.

Honors

In 1977, Sword Dancer was inducted into the United States' National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. His portrait by equine artist Richard Stone Reeves can be seen in the museum's collection.