Joe and Danzig
Joe Brocklebank is a recognizable face and name to many in the South African racing industry. A bloodstock agent in North America, Brocklebank runs Erin-American Bloodstock, a Kentucky based company.
He has worked with the Form Organization over many years in selecting potential stallions for this country.
Among the sires Brocklebank has been involved with is the mighty Western Winter (Gone West – Chilly Hostess). Not only has Western Winter been champion sire three times, he also has a number of sons standing at stud here (Argonaut, Lion Tamer, Warm White Night, etc). Western Winter has also become a highly successful broodmare sire, being maternal grandsire of former J&B Met winner Past Master as well as the top-class US 3yo Howe Great.
Joe also assisted Form in finding Trippi, who is currently standing at Drakenstein Stud. A former champion sire in Florida, Trippi (End Sweep – Jealous Appeal) has made a great start to his South African stud career, with his first runner being the stakes winning filly, Agra!
Born in Ireland, Joe has been interested in all things equine from an early age. He was working with horses from the age of eight. Brocklebank served his apprenticeship as a jockey under local trainer, Seamus McGrath, before immigrating to North America in 1963.
While he was riding out for McGrath, Joe sat on the talented miler, Le Levanstell (Le Lavandou – Stellas Sister). Le Levanstell would go on to win both the Queen Elizabeth II and Sussex Stakes (both of which are now classified as G1 races) during an illustrious racing career. Le Levanstell would also leave his mark at stud, siring the brilliant siblings Arc winner Levmoss, dual Gold Cup victor Le Moss and French Oaks winner Sweet Mimosa (granddam of successful South African sire, Casey Tibbs). He also sired Irish St Leger winner Allangrange and champion 2yo My Swallow (one of only two horses ever to defeat the mighty Mill Reef).
Joe arrived in North America in the mid 1960’s. He embarked on a jockeys career, which saw him win over 400 races.
Among his riding highlights was partnering the great stallion Danzig to an easy debut win for trainer Woody Stephens. When asked about that legendary horse, Joe simply says,” He was a horse with superior intelligence. He was a push-button ride, and had many gears. Danzig was a spitting image of his sire, Northern Dancer.”
Brocklebank re-iterates the talent shown by Danzig, by stating,” He was by far the best I ever sat on.”
Danzig went onto head the US general sires list on three occasions, and became a huge influence on the modern day thoroughbred through sons Danehill, Green Desert and Chief’s Crown, to name but a few.
While enjoying plenty of success as a jockey, Joe was eventually forced to retire in 1982. He says,” The weight became too much of an issue, and I was simply not getting enough mounts to make a decent living.”
Becoming a bloodstock agent was a logical choice for Joe, following his retirement from the saddle.
“I have always been involved in the buying and selling of horses,” Joe comments, in his Irish brogue.
Joe formed the Erin-American Bloodstock Company in 1982. He has been involved with a number of top-class racehorses over the years, with past Erin American Bloodstock stars including three Breeders Cup winners, one of which, Black Tie Affair, was named US Horse of the Year in 1991 after he won the Breeder’s Cup Classic.
Shortly after his forming of his company in 1982, Brocklebank and fellow bloodstock agent, Michael Stanley, met both Jehan Malherbe and Charles Faull of Form Bloodstock. They decide to work together to procure likely stallion prospects for South African clients.
The first two stallions Joe and Form collaborated over were Singh (Bold Ruler –Sari’s Song) and Dancing Champ (Nijinsky II – Mrs Peterkin). They stood at Saratoga and Excelsior Studs respectively. Unfortunately Singh died after just four seasons at stud, but he left behind such G1 winners as Coolstar, Bold Chieftain and Bluffing.
Dancing Champ enjoyed great success at stud in South Africa, where he sired seven individual G1 winners, including champions Olympic Duel, Dancing Duel and Golden Taipan. He latter became a superb broodmare sire, with his daughters producing the likes of international G1 winners Perfect Promise and Irridescence, as well as South African Horse of the Year, Yard-Arm to name but a few.
A devoted family man, Joe has been married to Antoinette for 45 years. The couple have three children and two grandchildren. Antoinette also works in the horse racing industry, as she is involved with the making of racing silks. She owns the Thoroughbred Racing Silks company.
Of the current trainers in North America, Brocklebank rates Graham Motion (trainer of the 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom) especially highly. “I think he is the best trainer in the United States.”
Champion at two, Numbered Account won eight of ten as a juvenile. Her wins included romps in the Matron Stakes (by six and a half lengths), Frizette Stakes (by seven) and Selima Stakes (by six).
Having seen a number of outstanding racehorses over the years, both in Ireland and in North America, two fillies stand out for Joe in particular. “I rate Numbered Account (Buckpasser – Intriguing) as the best filly I have seen, with Susan’s Girl (Quadrangle –Qaze) not far behind her.” She went onto enjoy great success at stud, producing world leading sire Private Account among others.
Susan’s Girl, in contrast, improved with age. She won championships at 3,4 and 5 years old. Remarkably, she won or placed in 54 of 63 career outings – and was the first mare ever to win $1 million in prize money.
Brocklebank personally enjoys attending some of North America’s 2yo sales, particularly in Ocala.
Joe has some strong words for anyone potential bloodstock agent,” You must attend all the sales, and gain as much information as possible. It is also important that you work hard and are diligent.”
Joe Brocklebank has amassed plenty of experience and knowledge during his decades in the thoroughbred business. He is a pleasure to listen to and learn from.
