Dak PrescottCeeDee LambMicah ParsonsTrevon DiggsSauce GardnerGarrett WilsonBreece HallTrevor LawrenceTravis EtienneCalvin RidleyC.J. StroudNico CollinsBrock PurdyDeebo SamuelBrandon AiyukGeorge KittleJordan LoveChristian WatsonAmon-Ra St. BrownAidan HutchinsonJared GoffDrake LondonKyle PittsBijan RobinsonJayden DanielsTerry McLaurinJa'Marr ChaseTee HigginsMark AndrewsDe'Von Achane
DB
Horse Racing Biography

Dancing Brave

“Dancing Brave”

American · England · Born 1 January 1983

Racehorse
10
career wins
1986
arc de triomphe
1986
eclipse win
Guy Harwood
trainer

Advertisement

British-bred racing champion whose brilliant 1986 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Eclipse Stakes victories, combined with his heartbreaking Epsom Derby defeat, produced one of the most controversial racing careers of the modern era.

Dancing Brave is widely considered the finest European-trained thoroughbred of the 20th century, a horse of extraordinary quality who won the 1986 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in what many believe was the greatest performance in that race's history. His dramatic late-finishing style and exceptional acceleration in the Arc produced a display that has never been surpassed on Europe's greatest stage.

Famous For

One of the greatest racehorses of the 1980s, winning the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes

Playing Style

How They Played

Powerful late finisher with exceptional acceleration

Legacy

Lasting Impact

Considered one of the best middle-distance racehorses never to win the Derby despite being arguably the best horse in the race

Career Journey

Timeline

1985 📌 Racing debut at Goodwood
1986 🏆 Won 2000 Guineas at Newmarket
1986 🎯 Finished 2nd in Epsom Derby in controversial tactics
1986 🏆 Won Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park
1986 🏆 Won King George VI Stakes at Ascot
1986 🏆 Won Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp
1986 🥇 European Horse of the Year
1987 📌 Retired to stud
Career Timeline — Dancing Brave
1985
Racing debut at Goodwood
1986
Won 2000 Guineas at Newmarket
1986
Finished 2nd in Epsom Derby in controversial tactics
1986
Won Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park
1986
Won King George VI Stakes at Ascot
1986
Won Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp
1986
European Horse of the Year
1987
Retired to stud