Europejczyk 1982 – 2005 by Jeffrey Wintersteen The name of Europejczyk to Polish enthusiasts conjures up a host of emotions. Certainly Europejczyk’s individual accomplishments alone are sufficient to earn him legendary status and his success as a breeding stallion was certainly exemplary. But he was always something more to those that knew him, an intangible quality that was difficult to put ones finger on. It could be the unblemished race record which will always stand as testament to his ability. But perhaps, it was the quiet gentle dignity that is most memorable, the soft and expressive eyes that made such a lasting impact. Regardless of what made Europejczyk stand apart, all will agree he was the brush with perfection that is so rare. Foaled at Janów Podlaski in 1982, he was the son of the horse that “money could not buy”, El Paso. A moniker that eventually proved false as Armand Hammer finally secured him for one million US dollars in 1981. Before his purchase, El Paso was named US National Champion in 1976 during his four-year lease to Lasma. What led the Poles to change their minds will only be known by a rare few, but certainly the birth of a quality El Paso son in 1982, his last foal crop in Poland, must have produced a collective sigh of relief from the Polish breeders. Out of Europa, full sister to legend Eukaliptus and Polish National Champion Mare in her own right, Europejczyk was the Kuhailan/ Saklawi cross, that, when successful, is nothing short of magical. As all Polish three years old must do, Europejczyk arrived at Słuzewiec track in Warsaw the spring 1985. This came against a background of unprecedented Polish nationalism, which was initially sparked in 1979 by the selection of the first Pole, Jan Pawel (John Paul), as Pope, and the Gdansk strikes which gave rise to Lech Wałęsa and the Solidarity movement. Gorbachev announced his policy of Glasnost and Perestroyka in 1985, which added fuel to this fire of dissent. The Polish communists founds themselves without the backing of the Soviets for the first time, and this, along with pressure from the Solidarity movement, prompted them to lift Marshall law, ushering in the sweet winds of freedom not felt in Poland since 1939. As if responding to a national need to believe in things all Polish, the bay Europejczyk reeled off win after win that summer, including the classic Criterium against older horses, particularly those of Soviet Tersk stud. This left his unblemished record intact coming into his four-year-old year, making him the overwhelming Derby favorite. In 1986 he fulfilled his breeders hopes in winning the Derby, Produce and 3 other stakes races, keeping his perfect record and easy choice for Race Horse of the Year. Europejczyk remains only one of 3 horses to retire undefeated (of 5 or more races) in Polish breeding. Europejczyk was described in 1986 as “Poland’s greatest favorite” (AHW 1986) and his two year run of perfection endeared him to an entire generation. But Europejczyk was not just a national phenomenon. His exploits at the Warsaw track prompted Tim Kelly, racing trainer for Alec Courtelis’ Town and Country Farm in the US as saying, “I’d give Mr. Courtelis’ right arm and both of my arms for that horse. He could go anywhere and be competitive.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Dec 2014 00:20:35 +0000