Gay Mecene

Gay Mecene
Sire	Vaguely Noble
Grandsire	Vienna
Dam	Gay Missile
Damsire	Sir Gaylord
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	16 May 1975
Country	United States
Colour	Dark Bay or Brown
Breeder	Jacqueline M. Getty
Owner	Jacques Wertheimer
Trainer	Alec Head
Record	12: 5-2-2
Major wins
Prix de Guiche (1978) Prix Eugene Adam (1978) Prix Niel (1978) Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (1979)
Awards
Top-rated French-trained older horse (1979) Timeform rating 125 (1978), 128 (1979)

Gay Mecene (16 May 1975 – 24 December 1998) was an American-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. After winning his only race as a two-year-old in 1977, he developed into one of the best French-trained colts of his generation when he won the Prix de Guiche, Prix Eugene Adam and Prix Niel. Although he won only once in six races in the following year he showed arguably his best form when easily beating a top-class field in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and running second to Troy in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He later stood as a breeding stallion in France and Japan and had some success as a sire of winners.

Gay Mecene was a dark bay or brown horse with no white markings bred in Kentucky by Jacqueline Getty. His sire, Vaguely Noble, won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1968 before becoming a successful breeding stallion whose best progeny included Dahlia, Exceller and Empery. Gay Mecene's dam Gay Missile was a high-class racemare whose wins included the Ashland Stakes in 1970 before becoming an influential broodmare whose other descendants included Duke of Marmalade, Lemon Drop Kid, A P Indy and Summer Squall.

As a yearling Gay Mecene was sent to Europe and offered for sale at the Newmarket Houghton sales where he was bought for 60,000 guineas by representatives of the French businessman Jacques Wertheimer. He was then sent to France where he was trained by Alec Head at Chantilly.

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