Never Say Die (horse)

Never Say Die
Sire	Nasrullah
Grandsire	Nearco
Dam	Singing Grass
Damsire	War Admiral
Sex	Colt
Foaled	1951
Country	United States
Colour	Chestnut
Breeder	Robert Sterling Clark
Owner	Robert Sterling Clark
Trainer	Joseph Lawson
Record	12: 3-1-3
Earnings	£31,147
Major wins
Epsom Derby (1954) St. Leger Stakes (1954)
Horse (Equus ferus caballus)

Never Say Die (1951-1975) was a Thoroughbred racehorse foaled at Jonabell Farm in the United States and trained in Great Britain who won the Epsom Derby in 1954.

Bred and raced by Robert Sterling Clark, Never Say Die was foaled in Kentucky and sent to England as a yearling. Trained by Joseph Lawson, who had already won eleven Classics [1], even if Never Say Die had achieved nothing else, the colt would be in the racing history books as the first Derby winner ridden by Lester Piggott, who was 18 years old when he rode him to a 33-1 success at Epsom in 1954. But Never Say Die was a great deal more than a one-race wonder. As a two-year-old, he won once and was placed in the Richmond Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes. Although Never Say Die was beaten in a very rough race for the King Edward VII Stakes at Ascot Racecourse (Piggott received a very harsh six months suspension for his riding in the race), he ended his career with a 12-length success at the St. Leger Stakes.

On retirement, his owner, American Robert Sterling Clark, gifted him to the National Stud and he was champion sire in 1962, thanks to Larkspur's Derby victory. He also sired the Epsom Oaks and 1,000 Guineas winner Never Too Late and other good winners in Die Hard and Sostenuto.

Never say Die was put down in 1975, by when his stock had won 309 races worth more than £400,000 in Great Britain.

References

• The Complete Encyclopedia of Horse Racing - written by Bill Mooney and George Ennor
• Never Say Die's pedigree and racing stats
• June 3, 1954 New York Times article on Never say Die's win in the Epsom Derby
• September 12, 1954 Eugene Register-Guard article tilted "U.S. Horse Leger Winner"