Best Horse Not to Win the Derby

[Linny]

Not a bro to Secretariat but Round Table's sire Princequillo was Sec's broodmare sire.

I never saw him run either but I have studied him using various histories, including DRF's Champions which is a wonderful compilation. Round Table was an exceptional racer and a very good sire. He was an outstanding broodmare sire.

Round Table won 43 of 66 starts on the east and west coasts. He won major races on dirt and turf. He was a stakes winning 2yo in 1956 and was second in his final career start, the JCGC at 2 miles in late 1959, to Sword Dancer. At 3 he raced 22 times with 15 wins! One of those wins was the Hollywood Gold Cup on July 13th against his elders. In fact, his first start after his third in the Derby (in front of Bold Ruler) was a close2nd in the Californian against older.

He won from 4 to 13 furlongs and carried weight. He sired 83 stakes winners in an era when 30 or so mares was a full book.