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History

Tradition Over 4 Generations

On October 27, 1880, Linneo de Paula Machado was born in Rio Claro, in the State of São Paulo, son of Francisco Vilella de Paula Machado, a respectable doctor, and Sebastiana Augusta Mello Franco de Paula Machado, granddaughter of the 1st Baron of Araraquara and 1st Viscount of Rio Claro.

Since he was seven years old, Linneo watched and liked horse races. It was when he was that age, that his father acquired from Colonel Bento Bicudo, a French thoroughbred horse, son of Ruy Blas and Charlotte, named Carestiamble, for riding and serving the mares at a small farm he owned in Rio Claro. At that time, the São José Estate, founded by his greatgrandfather in 1839, was still owned by the heirs of his grandfather, the Viscount of Rio Claro.

In 1894, Linneo went to Paris where he stayed until 1903. At the age of 16, he studied at Lycée Janson de Sally and later, at École des Études Commerciales.

In The City of Light, during approximately nine years, he didn’t miss one single horse race, either on Sundays or on Thursdays, following the French horse races with great interest and dedication.

When he returned to Brazil, he asked his father, Dr. Francisco Vilella de Paula Machado, by then, owner of the São José Estate, to found a stud-farm. His father, who also loved horse racing, consented, and in 1906, the São José Stud-Farm was started in Rio Claro.

Linneo travelled to Europe and acquired 11 mares and the stallions Flaneur II and Zimpanet, while his father stayed at the Estate providing the installations. Among the mares he imported, were Juracy, Amandine, Flotte Russe, and France, daughter of Xantrailles, a colt which was the leader of its generation in Europe, with the filly Plaisanterie, both of the generation of 1882.

Juracy, born in England in 1900, ended up having very significant importance, since her female line has, for a century, been begetting expressive products for the Stud-Farm. She is from the same female branch line of: West Australian (English Triple Crowned), Vândalo (GP Paulista Derby), Xaveco (leading reproducer in Brazil), Bretagne (GP São Paulo, GP Henrique Possolo), Dimane (GP Diana, and Silver Cup), and mother of the calssic Vacilação, Gentlemen (National Grand Prix, Polla de Potillos and Pimlico Handicap) and Danzig, a very important North American stallion.

The first horse to be born at the Stud-Farm was Aragon, from the womb of Flotte Russe, daughter of Byfleet, half sister of Quintette, winner of the French Derby. Aragon’s great-grandmother, Amanda, was the grandmother of Haeume, winner of two French Triple Crown races.

Right from the first product, Linneo took care to find strictly classic blood in the female lines.

When he moved to Rio de Janeiro in 1909, to set up residence, Linneo started to colaborate strictly with the Fluminense Jockey Club. On August 28, 1910, with Bien Amée’s victory in the “Breeder’s Classic,” the success of his breedings was consolidated and he and his father were honored as esteemed and recognized turfmen. As a matter of fact, this same mare, which they had bred, gave them much joy, since she was the winner of: GP Ipiranga, GP Progresso – Derby Club, GP Expositores and Cl. Henrique Possolo .

After that, they started to win other prizes important to breeders: You You won the GP Diana in 1914; Guatambu (with another owner) won the 1916 Derby; Hurra! won the 1917 Derby; J’Accuse won the 1918 Derby.

On April 24, 1911, Linneo married Celina Guinle, in Rio de Janeiro.

The fight against a great disease called “Cara Inchada” (Swollen Face)

On March 24, 1912, Linneo lost his father, Dr. Francisco Vilella de Paula Machado. On that day of extreme sadness, another loss was also deeply felt: the disease called “Cara Inchada” killed the champion Flaneur. This disease was still completely unknown by the breeders, and no action had been taken against it. For Linneo, its consequences were fatal: in the whole letter “B” generation, only Bien Aimée survived. In the letter “C” generation, none survived, and in letter “D,” only Domination; in letter “E,” only little Expedictus was saved.

Tireless in search for a solution for the disease that was stigmatical to Brazil, and being a man of vision and enterprising, Linneo saw in a young veterinarian, newly arrived in Brazil, Dr. Octávio Dupont, the scientist who could be placed in charge of studying the disease which was devastating the PSI breedings throughout the country.

The great veterinarian investigated the causes of the disease. The Disease of the Swollen Face, also known as chemodystrophic osteopathy or osteodystrophy, presented itself in various manners. According to Dr. Dupont, “the diseases observed were: strained back (tour dês reins) in some mares, signs of rickets in some foals, some of them irregularly developed, growth of the facial bones, in addition to diverse fractures.” In his studies, he discovered that in Indo-China and in Madagascar, the disease was common, due exclusively to the calcium-phosphor relation to the earth. The earth was duly analyzed and corrected with all the elements of fertilization it needed and the pastures were transformed. The problem that didn’t seem resolvable and seemed to be destroying the national breed was resolved – the Swollen Face disappeared completely from the Brazilian breeds.

In 1913, Linneo travelled to Europe with his family to buy horses for racing and reproduction. The colors of a Brazilian stud then started to appear brilliantly on the French tracks with the consecutive victories of Maboul, acquired in Paris.

Always enthusiastic with breeding, Linneo continued his meticulous choice in the importation of horses for reproduction. Thus, Tarpoley (England), by St. Simon and Ruth, winner of the Prince of Wales Stakes and Windsor Castle Stakes, was purchased when he already was a stallion. He came from France and landed in Rio de Janeiro in November, 1913. Together with him were Novelty, five years old, by Kingston and Curiosity, and Thève, two years old, by Tagliamento and Thematta.

Novelty, by Kingston and Curiosity, was born in the United States, where he was the best product of his generation when he was two years old. He won the Futurity Stakes, the Hopeful Stakes, and others in the United States. Imported to France, he won the Handicap de La Tamise, the Prix de l’Escaut, the Danube Prix and others. Already being an excellent runner when he was two years old – a factor which, in the whole world, would only be presented as important after a long time -, Linneo was enchanted and brought him to Brazil. He became an excellent stallion. Once again, Linneo anticipated his evaluation of an English thoroughbred horse, ahead of other breeders. This son of Kingston, whose paternal line is the same as that of Man O’War, left about one hundred sons and daughters, all winners, of which were outstanding with victories on the tracks, the famous Nemo, Santarém and Kitchner, father of Mossoró.

Santarém also became a valued stallion with the triple crowned Funny Boy, with Holkar, Jahú and Luar, classic winners of Group 1, and the brilliant Batuira, who was leader of her generation.

Other successful acquisitions followed:

Sin Rumbo (Argentina), by Val d’Or and Meltona was full brother of Ocurrencia, an excellent Argentinian racer, who in 1915, won the GPs Polla de Potrancas (1,000 Guineas) Seleccion (Oaks), Jockey Club (Derby) and Carlos Pellegrini. In his turn, Sin Rumbo won when he was two, three, four and five years old, being considered one of the best flyers of his time, in Palermo. Among his offspring, Questor, Sem Medo, Vendôme, Xenon, Xyleno and Young, are outstanding.

Bosphore (France), by Colorado and Fiancée d’Abydos, won, in France, the prizes and classics Prix d’lena, and Prix Noailles. He placed 6th in the French Derby (2,400m, 17 competitors), where he was the favorite; 3rd in the Prix Jaques le Marois (1,600m); 2nd in the Grand International d’Ostend (2,200m); 2nd in Prix Royal Oak (3,000m); coming in front of Strip the Willow. His campaign in Brazil was brief. Even so, he obtained three victories. Among his most successful offspring are Amilcar and the triple crowned El Faro.

Another of Linneo’s remarkable antecipations was the purchase of Formastérus (France), by Astérus and Formose, a pedigree which was part of the typical genealogic scheme for Edmond Blanc’s breeding, inherited by Marcel Boussac and that, based on it, the predominance of French breeding was kept during the decades of 1930 to 1950. In France, at two years of age, Formastérus only raced three times, with the following results: 1st in Prix Faucher (1,300m) and 2nd in Prix de Sabionville (1,000m). Afterwards, he obtained [E2] the following results: 1st in Prix Merlin (1,500m); 1st in Prix L’Esplanade (1,700m); 1st in Prix de Rollepot (1,500m); 1st in Prix Edgar-Gilois (2,600m); 2nd in Prix de Chantilly (3,000m); 2nd in Gran Prix de Deauville (2,600m); 3rd in Prix Eugene Adam (2,000m); 1st in GP Jockey Club of Rio de Janeiro (2,400m); 1st in the South American GP (2,800m); 1st in the São Paulo City GP (2,000m); 1st in the São Paulo GP (3,200m); 1st in the Mappin & Webb Cup (2,400m); 1st in the President of Jockey Club GP (1,609m) and 1st in the Governor of State GP.

What can be verified again, is Linneo’s vision, since Formastérus was an exceptional stallion with a great number of offspring winning classics, of which we mention especially: Carducci, Fontaine, Finesse, Goyo, Helíaco, Jabuti, Maki, Quebec, Quadrilha and Rocket.

Trinidad (England) by Phalaris and Love Oil, a brilliant horse bred to race the one mile track, purchased by Linneo, was one of the first descendants of Phalaris imported to South America, prior to the Full Sail branch – Seductor – Sideral, which was enormously important to the Argentinian breeding. Trinidad was Albatroz’s father and Helíaco’s maternal grandfather, both twice winners of the GP Brazil. It was in this way that, in Brazil, Albatroz was begot contemporaneously with Phalaris’great European grandchildren, the illustrious, unconquered champions of the world turf, Nearco and Pharis. When these facts are told, one can note that, once more, Linneo anticipated the course of world breeding. Trinidad ran in England and at the age of two years, placed 2nd in Ham Stakes (1,200m); 2nd in Hurst Park Great 2 Year Old Stakes (1,200m); 5th in National Breeder’s Produce Stakes (1,000m). At the age og three years, he was 1st in Atlantic Cup (2,011m) and 2nd in St. James Palace Stakes. Among his most preeminent progeny, in addition to those already mentioned, are: Biga; the triple crowned Criolan; Carin; L’Antlantide; Tinguá and Veneziano.

One of the most characteristic features of the Paula Machado family’s work in breeding, was that they did not consider themselves self-sufficient, and were aware of what went on around them in the internal market, seeking to capitalize it for their breeding stock. In that way, they bought the Argentinian Gallia, mother of Aprompto, an excellent race horse from another breeding, and the first Brazilian horse to defeat foreign horses in important races. Gallia gave Linneo’s breeding, the classic Thompson and Vendôme. From her, descends today’s extremely florescent branch of Reselá, whose four daughters (Ebrea, Foix, Glad Girl and Hariola) became classic mothers, Ebrea being mother of Siphon, winner in the United States of the Hollywood Gold Cup and the Santa Anita Handicap, two races of Group I run in sand in 2,000m, ground, until then considered invincible by the Americans.

Linneo’s dedication to race horses was not limited only to the developmentof his stud-farm. He constantly sought to bring progress and success to the national turf. Thus, on January 06, 1918, after Linneo had insisted and argued a lot, Venceslau Brás, who was then President of the Republic, sanctioned the law which helps breeders, regulates the activity and establishes the responsibility of the Central Commission of Thoroughbred Horse Breeders, and determines a National Stud Book.

Linneo had enormous prestige and received several titles from the French governmanet. In 1919, France awarded him with the title of Cavalier; Officer in 1923; Commendatary in 1926, and Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor in 1935.

With the intelligence and tact of a fine diplomat, Linneo was able to settle fellowship pacts between Societé d’Encorragement of Paris, the English Jockey Club, and our Jockey Club, becoming the ambassador of Brazilian turf in the great horse racing centers of the world. He made the country known in Europe, and was also able to settle fellowship agreements with the Jockey Club of Buenos Aires, Uruguay, Club Hípico de Santiago and Valparaiso Sport Club.

Bold, and with much vision, Linneo dreamed of giving Rio de Janeiro a more modern race track and for that, he idealized the construction of the Jockey Club – Hipódromo da Gávea. Many influential persons linked to the old Jockey Club did not agree with the idea. They intended to remodel the Prado Fluminense, but Linneo’s determination was fundamental for locating a piece of land in the Southern Zone of Rio de Janeiro. In July, 1922, Dr. José Carlos Figueiredo signed the contract of exchange of land in Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, owned by the Municipality, for part of the land in S. Francisco Xavier, of the old Jockey Club.

The Jockey Club Fluminense, founded in 1868, realized its last race in June, 1926, nearly a month before the inauguration of the Hipódromo da Gávea. Curiously, Rival, breed and property of the Haras São José, won the race of the opening of the farewell reunion of Prado Fluminense and also won the race of the opening of the inauguration reunion of the new race course. As for the Derby Club, inaugurated in 1885, in the area where today, the Maracanã Stadium is located, it associated with the Jockey Club in 1932, which resulted in the new entity, the Jockey Club Brasileiro.

In this race course, Linneo experienced much joy following the immense group of cheerers which made Quati popular as “The Golden Giant,” and the fabulous victories of Zaga, Sapho and Tacy, a mare with “lots of heart,” as he himself used to say, but he never saw a horse from his stud-farm win the GP Brasil. This was because, in 1939, when the French Six Avril won the GP Brasil, he had not taken his colors, but the blue with gold stitches (the converse of Haras São José & Expedictus) owned by his son Francisco Eduardo.

However, in August, 1942, Linneo had one more chance to win this, which is the greatest prize in Brazil. But, Albatroz, the horse that was going to run the race, accidentally stepped on a stone and Linneo decided to spare the horse. Once more, the dream of seeing his colors win the GP Brasil, was postponed.

On September 27, 1942, the mare Dorilla owned by Haras São José & Expedictus, won the Grand Prix, which paid homage to his dear father, Francisco Vilella de Paula Machado. As he always did, Linneo went up to the press room to share his emotion with the journalists. There, he made a predictive speech, saying: “If I were to die tomorrow, my work will not die because my son will continue it.” He was referring to Francisco Eduardo, who early in life followed him and participated in turf activities. Exactly on the day after his statement, Linneo suffered a fatal accident when the plane that was taking him from Rio to São Paulo, crashed, killing all the passengers.

The following year, Albatroz won the GP Brazil. Francisco Eduardo followed his father‘s tradition and went to the press room . There, he said the words which without a doubt are present in each victory that the Haras São José & Expedictus obtain: “The glories of this day belong entirely to my father, just as everything which will come from now on, will always be his.”

Albatroz won two consecutive GP Brazil, and in between, a GP São Paulo. The success continued with the Triple Crown of Faro and later, of Fontaine who headed the spectacular generation of females which included Finesse, Favinha and Finisterra. Right after that, another strong generation appeared to give color to the gold and blue race course, the letter “H,” with Holkar, Heron, Halcyon and Helíaco, who also won the GP Brasil twice.

Many unforgettable colaborators who throughout these 100 years marked the memories of all turf enthusiasts and who have been an example for all the present professionals, are intimately interwoven with the success of Haras São José. The first of these is Francisco Bento de Oliveira, “Mr.” Chiquinho, who started working at the Moóca Race Course, brushing the animals at the stable of Dr. Raphael de Barros, one of the founders of the Jockey Club of São Paulo. In 1914, he went to work for Haras São José and within a short time, became a trainer, where he stayed for 40 years. In 1918, he won his first GP Derby Paulista with J’Accuse; and afterwards won many others with Xyleno (1931), Veneziano (1934), Funny Boy (1936 and 1937), Amilcar (1939), Big Shot (1940), Carin (1941) and the Triple Crown of 1936.

In the times when many jockeys came from Chile, where the horse racing tradition is very good, Haras São José counted on Juan Zuniga, Salfate, Luiz Gonzáles, Andréas Molina and Osvaldo Ullôa. The Chileans made a school and were instructors during various years because they were exceptional jockeys and knew how to guide the horses with plenty of technique and intelligence.

Chilean Luiz González mounted for Haras São José during 19 years. He was Funny Boy’s jockey, won the GP Brasil in 1944 with Albatroz and mounted Quati in his emotional farewell to the tracks, in which he ran alone the whole course of 3,218 meters of the Rei da Raia Paulista Prix, under the ovation of the spectators. Andréas Molina was the only professional to win the GP São Paulo, as Printer’s jockey, in 1926, and as Albatroz’s trainer in 1944. He also won the 1943 Derby Paulista with El Faro, as jockey and trainer of that same animal. Contrary to the rule that a good jockey is not a good trainer, he won the derby of 1946 with Helíaco, the derby of 1948 with Jabuti, the derby of 1951 with Ninho and the derby of 1967 with Gomil.

But the greatest trainer of all times, was undoubtedly, Ernani de Freitas: 8 Derby, 8 Diana and 6 GP Brasil. Soon after leaving Stud Juliano Martins where he worked as a jockey, in 1921, Ernani became a trainer of important animals such as Myrthée, at Stud Paula Machado, where he stayed during his whole life. From 1927 on, he was 26 times winner of the statistics. Mr. Nhonhô, as he was respectfully and fondly called, conquered approximately 3,500 victories as a trainer.

Francisco Eduardo de Paula Machado did in fact, continue his father’s work and was President of the Jockey Club Brasileiro from 1960 t0 1984. Accompanied by his brothers, first Cândido and then Linneo Eduardo, he was commander of the stud-farms for a long time. And the victories continued with Jabuti, Maki, Ninho and Okinawa, to mention only a few of them.

Like his father, Francisco was always just as alert to the activities and tendencies of the international turf, as he was to the initiatives of the other Brazilian breeders. He knew how to value elements with potentiality to renew, that the pedigree of other breeders could bring to his breeding stock, as is shown in the acquisition of Clareira, Cligeuse and Intime Amie. In the same way, he followed the boom of Brantôme’s pedigree in Europe and brought to the stud-farm, the stallion Dragon Blanc, winner at the age of two years, showing a precociousness which was very little explored at that time, and which then started to be sought after, more. Dragon Blanc is the father of Aileen, basic mare from whom descend the classic Aporé and Tibetano, both winners of maximum international races in Rio and São Paulo. Francisco Eduardo also showed good breeder’s vision when he rented Blackamoor from Uruguai and bought Fort Napoleon, Kublai Khan, Alípio, Karabas and Felício as stallions.

As a matter of fact, when he bought Fort Napoleon, Francisco Eduardo recognized and bet on the characteristics of a horse that typically runs a mile well, but also runs well up to 1 1/8 mile, a factor which at that time did not have much prestige, but later became desirable. As father, Fort Napoleon gave the champions Devon, Althéa and Turqueza. As father and paternal grandfather, he was leader of the statistics during consecutive years.

The Haras Expedictus, founded in 1924, with the transfer of twenty stallions to the installations made in a rural property in Botucatú, State of São Paulo, was always an excellent breeding center. The last great joint generation of Haras São José and Expedictus (generation of 1997, letter “C”) was generated on those lands.

After years of breeding concentrated between Rio Claro and Botucatú, the stud-farms started having a part of the breeding stock quartered in Haras El Alfafar, in Rojas, Argentina. Under the responsibility of veterinarian Fernando Garcia, the results soon appeared with Riton (world record in 1,600m), Seaborg (GP Carlos Pellegrini; 25 de mayo), Sea Girl (twice champion of 25 de Mayo), Uncle Sam, Volúpia, Afrodite, Alexine, Eddington and From The Sky.

In addition to this, following the founder’s steps, it was in France that the current persons responsible for the stud-farm bought the mares Yoko, Salluca and Bustira, mothers of Riton, Romarin and Seaborg respectively.

Itajara

The Paula Machado family knew how to build breeding groundwork set up for success. So it wasn’t by chance that the excellent race horse Itajara, a horse of exception, appeared in the Haras São José & Expedictus. There is a whole retrospection of values in the production of his father, the French Felício, one of the best horses of Daniel Wildenstein’s breed, which generated in Brazil, an enormous number of winners in Group I, among which, were African Boy and Itajara.

There is no exaggeration in affirming that one of the best horses bred in Brazil was Itajara, triple crowned and unvanquished winner of seven races, with such superiority that he attracted an enormous amount of spectators to the Hipódromo da Gávea.

Itajara also proved the superiority of his race in his reproduction, giving Brasil not only the prominent international Romarin (1998) and Siphon (1990), but also various other classic winners and an important list of stallions.

In the United States, under the care of trainer Richard Mandella, Romarin exibited the full blast and force of his pedigree and inaugurated the presence of Brazil in first place of the group races in North America. After that, Siphon defended and honored the traditional gold and blue jacket on the North American race tracks, winning successive prizes such as the Hollywood Gold Cup and the most traditional prize of the North American west coast, the Santa Anita Handicap. Always with excellent explosive starts. Siphon never gave respite to his adversaries and literally annihilated those that tried to accompany his rhythm.

In the last decades of the twentieth century, the Haras São José & Expedictus sent some exceptional runners to the race tracks, such as Orpheus, Obelion, Tibetano and the famous generation of the letter “A” (1975) with the triple crowned African Boy; Apple Honey, winner of the Diana and mother of Itajara; Aporé, winner of the Taça de Ouro and GP Brazil, among the best.

Francisco Saraiva, who worked as direct assistant to Ernani de Freitas, and from whom he learned his craft well, was the trainer in Rio de Janeiro, responsible for innumerable victories conquered from 1979 to 1992. His successor, Dulcino Guignoni, came not only to brighten even more that story, but also to accompany one more productive movement of modernization of the Stud Paula Machado.

The Vale do Itajara Training Center

In 1996, Lineu de Paula Machado, grandson of Dr. Francisco Vilella de Paula Machado, founder of Haras São José, inaugurated a training center in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro with the purpose of professionalizing even more the activity which he had inherited. In the second year of activity in the Vale do Itajara Training Center, trainer Dulcino Guignoni already had in hands, another super generation: the letter ”V,” of 1994: Vernier, winner of the Derby; Virginie, triple crowned; Verinha, who won the GP Diana in São Paulo and was sold to the United States; Volúpia, classic winner and also sold to the United States; and also Vyatka, Valetza, Vassy, Very Princess, Valerie, Vaclav and Vesta.

The training center without any doubt, favored the work developed in the stud-farms and the breeding continued to shine as its story deserves and indicates.

In spite of having given many generations of unbeaten leadership on the tracks, perhaps the one that had the list of most important races, was the generation of letter “C” of 1997. In the total of most important races of the Brazilian turf, that generation brought to the Haras São José & Expedictus: one GP Zélia Gonzaga Peixoto de Castro (Chan Tong), two GPs São Paulo (Canzone and Cheikh), one GP Barão de Piracicaba (Cristie), one Derby (Coray), one GP Diana (Coray) one GP Brazil (Queen Desejada).

From the last crop of stallions, it is worth mentioning Fast Gold, Known Heights and more recently, Golden Voyager. From the first, stand out, the triple crowned Be Fair and Queen Desejada, winner of the GP Brazil; from the second, the excellent racer Coray.

Coray is daughter of Known Heights (descendent of the great Mill Reef) in Pacatyba, this one by the phenominal Itajara, who afterwards shone as a horse of absolute exception races, and as a stallion of incontestable qualities, emerged as a maternal grandfather of great importance. Coray was his first product as maternal grandfather to win a group race. For some, she is the best mare bred by the Paula Machado family, even standing out over Virginie and Be Fair, the triple crowned sisters.

Golden Voyager was brought by the Haras São José & Expedictus in 2003, to serve as a stallion in Brazil. Taken to TNT in 2005, he died after a surgery. He left in Brazil, products born in 2004 and a generation in 2005. In Chile, he was an outstanding stallion, with a production of innumerable classic winners of group races.