Sir Ivor

Sir Ivor
Sir Ivor at Claiborne Farm in 1981
Sire	Sir Gaylord
Grandsire	Turn-To
Dam	Attica
Damsire	Mr. Trouble
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1965
Country	United States
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Mill Ridge Farm
Owner	Raymond R. Guest
Trainer	Vincent O'Brien
Record	13: 8–3–1
Earnings	$561,323
Major wins
Grand Criterium (1967) National Stakes (1967) 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes (1968) 2,000 Guineas (1968) Epsom Derby (1968) Champion Stakes (1968) Washington, D.C. International (1968)
Awards
United Kingdom Horse of the Year (1968) Leading broodmare sire in Britain & Ireland (1983) Timeform rating: 135
Last updated on October 4, 2006

Sir Ivor (May 5, 1965 – November 10, 1995) was an American-bred Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. who competed from a base in Ireland. In a career which lasted from July 1967 to October 1968 he ran thirteen times and won eight races. He won major races in four countries: the National Stakes in Ireland, the Grand Criterium in France, the 2000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby in England and the Washington, D.C. International in the United States. he was retired to stud at the end of the 1968 season and became a successful stallion.

Sir Ivor was bred by Alice Headley Bell at the Mill Ridge Farm in Kentucky. He was from the second crop of foals sired by Secretariat's half-brother Sir Gaylord, out of the mare Attica, who produced several other winners. As a yearling the colt was sent to the sales and was bought for $42,000 (equivalent to $310,000 in 2016) by American businessman and U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, Raymond R. Guest, who named the horse after his British grandfather, Sir Ivor Guest, 1st Baron Wimborne. Sir Ivor was sent to Ireland to be trained by Vincent O'Brien at Ballydoyle.

Sir Ivor's first three races were at Curragh. In July, he finished sixth in the Tyros Stakes and then won the Probationers' Stakes. He was then stepped up in class and won the National Stakes. On his final start of the year, he was sent to Paris to contest the Grand Criterium at Longchamp Racecourse. He established himself as one of the best European colts of his generation with a three-length win.