La Troienne emerges in Thoroughbred breeding history as one of the most influential mares to be imported into the U.S. in the 20th century , and as probably the most famous example of how a seemingly worthless mare, summarily culled from her original owner's broodmare band, can turn out to be a bounteous blessing for the person who next possesses her.
A cull from Marcel Boussac's breeding program, La Troienne never won a race. Further, the Gainsborough filly she was carrying at the time of her importation was humanely destroyed due to an incurable back problem. Years later, Marcel Boussac would refer to La Troienne as his greatest mistake in culling his broodmare band.
It was an ill-omened start to the mare's breeding career, and Colonel Edward Riley Bradley must have wondered about his decision to buy La Troienne after her second foal turned out to be a filly so undersized that she was not nominated to any of... More
