Committed was a Virginia-bred Thoroughbred racehorse born, born at the Hickory Tree Farm on 26 February 1980. She was a powerfully built bay mare, sporting white socks on her hind legs and with a white star adorning her forehead.
As a specialist sprinter, Committed won 17 of the 30 races between 1982 and 1986, and she competed in four different countries. As a four-year-old, she was one of the leading sprinters in Europe, winning the Cork and Orrery Stakes and Nunthorpe Stakes in England and the Prix de l’Abbaye in France.
As a five-year-old, she came in first at the Flying Five Stakes and the Ballyogan Stakes, before achieving her second Prix de l’Abbaye victory – a feat completed by no more than two horses before her.
After retiring from the race track, Committed became a broodmare in the United States, producing several notable offspring.
On 3 May, 2009, the 29-year old Committed was euthanized due to infirmities associated with her old age.
Short facts about Committed
| Foaled | 02/26/80 |
| Sex | Mare |
| Color | Bay |
| Country | United States |
| Breeder | Hickory Tree Farm |
| Sire | Hagley |
| Grandsire | Olden Times |
| Dam | Minstinguette |
| Damsire | Boldnesian |
| Owner | Robert Sangster (until 1985) Allen Paulson (1985-2000)Diamond A Farm (2000-2009) |
| Trainer | Dermot Weld Ron McAnally |
|
Record |
|
|
30:17-4-3 |
|
Major wins |
|
Cork and Orrery Stakes (1984) |
|
Awards |
|
Top-rated older sprinter in Europe (1984) |
Background
Committed was born to the dame Minstinguette at the Hickory Tree Farm in Virginia. The sire was Hagley, a top-notch racehorse chiefly famous for winning the Whiters Stakes in 1970. Minstinguette was the granddaughter of Leading Home, a half-sister of the Belmont Stakes winner Bounding Home.
Her pedigree
|
Sire: Hagley (USA) |
Olden Times
(USA) |
Relic | War Relic |
| Bridal Colors | |||
| Djenn | Djebel | ||
| Teza | |||
| Teo Pepi
(USA) |
Jet Action | Jet Pilot | |
| Busher | |||
| Sherry L | Occupation | ||
| Unmask | |||
|
Dam: Minstinguette (USA) |
Boldnesian
(USA) |
Bold Ruler | Nasrullah |
| Miss Disco | |||
| Alanesian | Polynesian | ||
| Anablue | |||
| Royal Warrant (USA) 1955 |
Hill Prince | Princequillo | |
| Hildene | |||
| Leading Home | Bull Lea | ||
| Marching Home |
Committed moves to Ireland
As a yearling, Committed was offered for sale, but didn’t attract much interest. She was purchased for 52,000 USD by representatives of a British businessman named Robert Sangster. Sangster arranged for Committed to move to Ireland where she could be trained by Dermont Weld in County Kildare (Irish: Contae Chill Dara).
First season (1982)
Committed had her racetrack debut in 1982. She didn’t place in her first race, but won her second race – a seven furlong maiden race at Galway Racecourse.
After winning another event at Leopardstown Racecourse, Committed was moved up in class for the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes and finished third.
Second season (1983)
Committed started her three-year-old season by being beaten in her first two races, but followed this with a win at Phoenix Park Racecourse and another one at Dundalk Racecourse. She also took the July Scurry Handicap at the Curragh, and won the Hardwicke Cup over seven furlongs, the Orchardstown Stud Stakes over six and the Swordlestown Stud Stakes over six.
Third season (1984)
After finishing second in two races as a four-year-old, Committed participated in her very first race outside Ireland; the Cork and Orrey Stakes at Royal Ascot. Ridden by Brent Thomson from Australia, Committed took the lead two furlongs from the finish line and won by a comfortable two and a half length over Celestial Dancer.
Her performance was strong enough to move her up to Group One class, after which she finished third in the July Cup at the Newmarket Racecourse – defeated by the formidable Chief Singer and Never So Bold.
Other notable events during Committed’s four-year-old season:
- Won the Hardwicke Cup (her second Hardwicke Cup win)
- In August, she ran over the minimum distance of five furlongs for the first time in her career. She did this in the Group One William Hill Sprint Championship at York Racecourse. Ridden by Thomson, Committed took the lead as she approached the fifth furlong and she elegantly won the race by four lengths.
- In her last race of the season, she took lead at half way, shot away from the rest of the group and won by two and half lengths. This was the Group One Prix de l’Abbaye and her jockey was Steve Cauthen from the United States.
Fourth season (1985)
For her five-year-old season, Committed did not participate in any races until June. Her first race for the season was the Group Three Ballyogan Stakes over five furlongs at Leopardtwon, a race that she won. She followed up this victory with a third place in the King’s Stand Stakes two weeks later.
After the King’s Stand Stakes, Committed was bought by Allen Paulson, a businessman from the United States.
Her first race under Paulson’s ownership was the July Cup, where she finished second. In August, she finished second in the Prix Maurice de Gheest over 1300 meter, after being beaten a neck by Spectacular Joke.
More wins from her fourth season:
- Swordlestown Stud Stakes at the Phoenix Park
- The Flying Five Stakes at Phoenix Park
Committed wins her second Prix de l’Abbaye
In October 1985, Committed won the Prix de l’Abbaye again. She was the third horse ever to win the race a second time (Texanita won in 1963 and 1964, and Gentilhombre won in 1976 (dead heat) and in 1977).
In the 1985 Prix de l’Abbaye, Committed was ridden by Mick Kinane, and as so many times before, she was up against her formidable foe Never So Bold who was made 2/5 favorite before the race.
Committed took the lead 200 meter from the finish line and eventually won by a head, with Vilikaia coming in second and Never So Bold settling for a fourth place.
The 1985 Prix de l’Abbaye became Committed’s last race in Europe.
Committed goes back to the U.S.
In November 1985, Committed traveled to the USA to participate in the second running of the Breeder’s Cup Spring on dirt at the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens. After fading in the closing stages, she finished seven, with Steve Caulthen on her back.
After the race in New York, Committed was sent across the country to California where she became a part of Ron McAnally’s stable. In December, she scored her first victory on U.S. soil by winning the Matching Handicap over six furlongs on turf at Hollywood Park Racetrack in California.
Committed’s last race took place on January 15, 1986, when she participated in the Santa Monica Handicap over seven furlongs at Santa Anita Park in California and ending in eight place. After this race, Committed was retired from racing and became a broodmare for Ron McAnally’s organization.
Assessments & Awards (selected)
| Rating | When? | Info |
| 97 | 1982 | Timeform rating |
| 111 lbs (21 lbs below the top-rated horse) | 1982 | Irish Free Handicap rating for 2-year-olds |
| 116 | 1983 | Timeform rating |
| 128 | 1984 | Timeform |
International Classification
Committed was the highest-rated older sprinter in the International Classification for 1984, and the third highest-rated older female racehorse in Europe (behind Cormorant Wood and Time Charter).
For 1985, Committed was the second-highest sprinter in Europe in the International Classification – only the horse Never So Bold was rated higher in Europe.
Gilbey Award
Committed was named Champion Sprinter of 1984 in the Gilbey Champion Racehorses Awards (based on points due to excellent performances in major races).
Committed becomes a broodmare
Committed was a successful broodmare and all of her first seven foals became winners, including two that won at Graded level in the U.S.
| Name of the foal | Foaled in | Info | Sired by | Results |
| Committed Dancer | 1987 | Bay colt | Nijinsky | Won 6 races in Ireland |
| Dobie | 1988 | Bay colt | Lyphard | Won 3 races in Ireland |
| Young
Freeman |
1989 | Bay colt | Nijinsky | Won 4 races in the United Kingdom |
| Viage | 1990 | Bay colt | Alydar | Won 2 races in the USA |
| Pharma | 1991 | Bay mare | Theatrical | Won 7 races in the USA, including Santa Ana Handicap and Wilshire Handicap |
| Nicklaus | 1992 | Bay colt | Theatrical | Won 2 races in the USA |
| Hap | 1996 | Bay colt | Theatrical | Won 10 races in the USA, including the Bernard Baruch Handicap twice and the Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes, Fourstardave Handicap, and Dixie Stakes. |
| Olivia M | 1997 | Bay mare | Theatrical | Unraced |
| Belva | 1998 | Bay mare | Theatrical | Unraced, dam of English Channel |
After Allen Paulson
Paulson died in the year 2000, and Committed was subsequently sold at Keeneland. The buyer – who paid 300,000 USD for her – was the Kentucky-based Diamond A Farm. In 2001, Committed foaled Committed Actress, sired by Theatrical. Committed Actress did two starts, but didn’t win any of them.