By John Berry
James Delahooke, an outstanding horseman who played a key role in the creation of the late Prince Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte empire, died of a heart attack Wednesday morning while grouse hunting in Yorkshire with friends, according to his brother Matthew Delahooke. He was 77.
A large proportion of the greatest horses bred and raced by Juddmonte from the late 1980s onwards have descended from fillies or mares bought by Delahooke on the Prince's behalf. The Juddmonte families which have yielded the likes of Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Zafonic (Gone West), Workforce (GB) (King's Best), Warning (GB) (Known Fact) and the legendary broodmare Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}) all trace to the foundation mares selected by Delahooke; while his yearling purchases for the Prince included Rainbow Quest (Blushing Groom {Fr}) and Dancing Brave (Lyphard), winners of the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1985 and '86 respectively.
Another yearling purchase who played a massive role in the Juddmonte success story was Razyana (His Majesty), from whom the Prince bred Danehill (Danzig); while the Prince's first two home-bred Derby winners, Quest For Fame (GB) (Rainbow Quest) and Commander In Chief (GB) (Dancing Brave), were notable for having both of their parents bought by Delahooke.
Delahooke was not on the Juddmonte team from the very beginning in 1978 but he was recruited shortly afterwards by the Prince's original manager Humphrey Cottrill and soon was both buying the yearlings and breeding prospects and managing the original Juddmonte Farm at Wargave. In these roles he did more than anyone to plant the proverbial acorns from which the mighty Juddmonte oaks have grown. He was obviously working on a large budget, but his genius is even better illustrated by the much less expensive horses whom he bought on behalf of patrons of the Coombelands stable of his friend Guy Harwood (trainer also, of course, of numerous Juddmonte champions including Dancing Brave). Heading the list were the 1979 G1 Derby place-getter Ela-Mana-Mou (Ire) (Pitcairn {Ire}) and the 1981 G1 2,000 Guineas winner To-Agori-Mou (Ire) (Tudor Music {GB}) as well as the 1982 G1 Eclipse S. and G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. winner Kalaglow (Ire) (Kalamoun {Ire}), the 1980 G1 Grand Criterium winner Recitation (Elocutionist), the 1984 G1 Prix Jacques le Marois winner Lear Fan (Roberto) and the 1979 G1 2,000 Guineas place-getter Young Generation (Ire) (Balidar {GB}). These he picked up for 4,500 guineas, 20,000 guineas, 11,500 guineas, $35,000, 64,000 guineas and 9,000 guineas respectively.
While Juddmonte ranks as the most obvious beneficiary of Delahooke's wisdom and judgement, several other great breeders were also recipients of his invaluable assistance.
In particular, the late Gerald Leigh was on record as saying, “James Delahooke has a flair and knowledge. He is an outstanding judge of a horse. He helped lay the foundations of my stud in the early years as a breeder.”
Delahooke also played a big part in the success enjoyed by the late William Barnett, standing High Line (GB) (High Hat {GB}) for him at his Adstock Manor Stud, the stallion covering merely 14 mares in his first year before going on to become one of the most successful sires in Europe, most notably siring four winners in one afternoon at York's Ebor Meeting in 1981, a four-timer which included two Group 1 winners headed by the Barnett home-bred Master Willie (GB), successful that afternoon in the G1 Benson & Hedges Gold Cup (now Juddmonte International S). Adstock Manor was Delahooke's home for 25 years prior to his relocation to Yorkshire in 1992, and while there he owned and trained the 1987 Aintree Foxhunters winner Border Burg (GB) (Perhapsburg {GB}).
James Delahooke played a less conspicuous role in the bloodstock world in recent years but still continued to advise a select band of clients including Bobby Flay, who has paid him a fulsome tribute.
“James's influence on the breed has made an indelible and permanent mark on some of the most important pedigrees in the Western Hemisphere. For the last 15 years I've had the good fortune of employing his knowledge and keen eye to identify my most important bloodstock. I will miss his insight, love of good food and wine and his opinionated teachings. Although James has left us suddenly, his influence will be felt for decades at the highest end of the stud book. I, for one, will do my best to honour his ongoing impact.”
A countryman born and bred who rode over 50 winners in point-to-points or under National Hunt rules in his youth, James Delahooke passed away on the Yorkshire moors on Wednesday and we offer our condolences to the family and friends of a legend of the bloodstock world who was once described by the late Lord Oaksey as “arguably the best judge of yearlings in the world”.
Said his brother, Matthew, “I was fortunate enough to work for him for a few years. He was a mentor for me, a great brother. We had some good times at the sales. He was very well respected and loved and was a good man.”
He is survived by his wife, Angie; his brothers, Matthew and Tom; four children, Amber, Rorie, Holly, and Eve, and nine grandchildren.
Arrangements have not yet been made, but they will be shared as soon as they are available.
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