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Mill Reef
This statue of Mill Reef stands in the centre of Rokeby Stables in Upperville, Virginia
SireNever Bend
GrandsireNasrullah
DamMilan Mill
DamsirePrincequillo
SexStallion
Foaled1968
CountryUnited States
ColourBay
BreederPaul Mellon
OwnerPaul Mellon Colours: Black, gold cross and stripe on cap.
TrainerIan Balding
Record14:12-2-0
Earnings£309,225
Major wins
Coventry Stakes (1970)
Gimcrack Stakes (1970)
Dewhurst Stakes (1970)
Greenham Stakes (1971)
Epsom Derby (1971)
Eclipse Stakes (1971)
K. George VI & Q. Elizabeth Stakes (1971)
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (1971)
Prix Ganay (1972)
Coronation Cup (1972)
Awards
English 3-Yr-Old Champion Colt (1971)
European Horse of the Year (1971)
English Champion Older Horse (1972)
Timeform rating: 141
Leading sire in GB & Ireland (1978, 1987)
Honours
#4 - 20th Century's Top 100 European Racehorses
Life-size statue at The National Stud, Newmarket
Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury Racecourse
Last updated on 10 April 2024

Mill Reef (23 February 1968 – 2 February 1986) was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a three-year career from 1970 to 1972, he won twelve of fourteen races and finished second in the other two. The horse was an outstanding two-year-old in 1970 but proved even better at three, winning the Epsom Derby, the Eclipse Stakes, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He won both his starts as a four-year-old before his racing career was ended by a severely broken leg that threatened his life. At just under 16 hands as a three-year-old,[1] Mill Reef is considered one of the greatest thoroughbreds to run in Europe since WWII.

He recovered from a complicated operation on his broken leg to become a very successful stallion.

Background

[edit]

Mill Reef was bred in the United States at the Rokeby Stables in Virginia of his owner and breeder, philanthropist Paul Mellon. He was a son of Never Bend out of the mare Milan Mill by Princequillo. When he was a yearling, it was thought that his action would be a better fit for a career on the turf courses of Europe rather than the dirt tracks in America. Therefore, he was sent to England in December 1969 to be trained by Paul Mellon's young English trainer Ian Balding at Kingsclere. He was ridden by Geoff Lewis in all of his fourteen races. Mellon named the horse after the Mill Reef Club, on the island of Antigua in the West Indies and of which Paul Mellon was an early member. The Mellon family has maintained a home at Mill Reef since its founding in 1947.

As a yearling, Mill Reef showed himself to be an exceptional talent. Once, whilst visiting the stables and watching the yearlings being put through their paces on the Kingsclere gallops, the noted former amateur jockey and journalist Lord Oaksey asked, "Who's that?" to which Balding replied, "That is Mill Reef!" He proved himself an outstanding two-year-old in 1970.

Racing career

[edit]

1970: two-year-old season

[edit]

Mill Reef made his debut in May in the Salisbury Stakes at Salisbury, where he beat the previous winner and 2-9 favourite, the Lester Piggott-ridden Fireside Chat, by four lengths.[2] He then went to Royal Ascot winning the Coventry Stakes by six lengths,[3] and the decision was made to go to France for the Prix Robert Papin at Maisons-Laffitte. After an arduous journey, Mill Reef tasted defeat for the first time by the narrowest of margins to another exceptional English two-year-old, My Swallow.

Back on home soil, he was entered in the Gimcrack Stakes at York in mid August. After a torrential overnight downpour turned the going into a quagmire, his trainer wanted to scratch him from the race. However, after discussions with his owner prior to the race, Paul Mellon said, "Let him run, I've a feeling it will be alright." Mill Reef won by ten lengths from Green God (who was crowned champion sprinter the following year).[4][5] In his next race, he beat the filly Hecla by a length in the Imperial Stakes at Kempton[6] . In his final race of the season, he won the prestigious Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket by four lengths.[7][8]

In a crop of outstanding two-year-olds, Mill Reef was rated 1 lb below his French conqueror My Swallow, who remained unbeaten in seven races including all of France's top two-year-old races, and 1 lb ahead of the unbeaten Middle Park Stakes winner, Brigadier Gerard.

1971: three-year-old season

[edit]

As a three-year-old, following a victory in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury,[9] Mill Reef was beaten three lengths in the 2,000 Guineas by Brigadier Gerard,[10] who was to prove himself one of the best milers ever, with his old rival My Swallow back in third.

Although his breeding hinted otherwise, Mill Reef then proved himself to be the outstanding middle distance racehorse of the year, winning the Derby by two lengths from Linden Tree,[11][12] the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown (beating the French colt Caro by four lengths)[13][14] and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot by six lengths from Derby Italiano winner Ortis.[15]

In October, he was victorious in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in France, beating the French filly Pistol Packer by three lengths.

1972: four-year-old season

[edit]

Kept in training as a four-year-old, Mill Reef returned to Longchamp to win the Prix Ganay in April 1972 by ten lengths. A summer rematch with Brigadier Gerard, who had also been kept in training as a four-year-old, was earmarked for the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown. But after a narrow win in the Coronation Cup at Epsom Downs, by a neck from Homeric,[16][17] Mill Reef was found to be suffering from a heavy virus and the rematch had to be postponed.

After his recovery, Mill Reef was trained for an autumn campaign and a return to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October. During a routine training gallop, however, on 30 August he stumbled and shattered his foreleg. Charles Allen, a veterinary specialist, was flown in. Mill Reef's fracture was complicated. A triangularly shaped piece of bone about two and a half inches long was broken from the lower end of the cannon bone and was considerably displaced. The inner sesamoid bone was completely shattered and the rim of the top of the main pastern bone was damaged. It seemed likely that the inner sesamoid bone was the first to break, with the result on the next step that the fetlock was not braced and the foot and the pastern were pointing outwards. The sheer pressure of the horse's weight caused the crumbling of the rim of the pastern bone and the breaking of the cannon bone.

It was decided that an operation would be performed in a building in Ian Balding's yard. Over a span of six hours, a simplified stainless-steel compression plate held by three screws was used to pin the broken pieces to the cannon bone. The injuries on the sesamoid bone or the rim of the pastern were avoided. The operation was successful. Professor Edwin James Roberts performed the operation and Mill Reef's life was saved. His stable lad, John Hallum, played a major role in nursing him for three months, six weeks of which saw the horse in plaster. After the painstaking operation, Mill Reef's racing career was over and he became a stallion at The National Stud in Newmarket in 1973.

Stud career

[edit]

Mill Reef's descendants include:[18]

c = colt, f = filly

Foaled Name Sex Major Wins
1975 Shirley Heights c Epsom Derby, Irish Derby
1975 Acamas c Prix Lupin, Prix du Jockey Club
1975 Mill George c No major wins, but sire to multiple winning stallions
1978 Fairy Footsteps c 1000 Guineas Stakes
1978 Glint of Gold c Gran Criterium, Derby Italiano, Grand Prix de Paris
1979 Diamond Shoal c Gran Premio di Milano, Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, Grosser Preis von Baden
1979 Pas de Seul c Prix de la Forêt
1980 Wassl c Irish 2,000 Guineas
1981 Lashkari c Breeders' Cup Turf
1984 Ibn Bey c Gran Premio d'Italia, Preis von Europa, Grosser Preis von Berlin, Irish St. Leger
1984 Milligram f Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
1984 Star Lift c Prix Royal-Oak
1984 Reference Point c Vertem Futurity Trophy, Epsom Derby, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, St Leger Stakes
1985 Doyoun c 2000 Guineas Stakes
1986 Creator c Prix Ganay, Prix d'Ispahan

Death

[edit]

Mill Reef was euthanised on 2 February 1986 and he is buried within the National Stud, where a statue stands in his memory.

Assessment, honours and awards

[edit]

Mill Reef was given a rating of 141 by Timeform and is listed at no. 4 in the greatest racehorses of the twentieth century.

The Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury is named in his honour.

The following is inscribed on the plinth beneath his statue at the National Stud:

Swift as a bird I flew down many a course.
Princes, Lords, Commoners all sang my praise.
In victory or defeat I played my part.
Remember me, all men who love the Horse,
If hearts and spirits flag in after days;
Though small, I gave my all. I gave my heart.
(from Paul Mellon's speech at the Gimcrack Dinner 1970).

The Royal Veterinary College's Hawkshead Campus in Hertfordshire has a dedicated pathology building in memory of Mill Reef named the "Mill Reef Building".[19]

Other references

[edit]

Pedigree

[edit]
Pedigree of Mill Reef
Sire
Never Bend 		Nasrullah Nearco Pharos
Nogara
Mumtaz Begum Blenheim
Mumtaz Mahal
Lalun Djeddah Djebel
Djezima
Be Faithful Bimelech
Bloodroot
Dam
Milan Mill 		Princequillo Prince Rose Rose Prince
Indolence
Cosquilla Papyrus
Quick Thought
Virginia Water Count Fleet Reigh Count
Quickly
Red Ray Hyperion
Infra Red

References

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Mill Reef

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Mill Reef (February 23, 1968 – February 2, 1986) was an American-bred, British-trained racehorse renowned for his exceptional speed, versatility, and dominance on the track, as well as his influential career at stud. Bred by American philanthropist at his Rokeby Stables in , Mill Reef was sired by Never Bend out of the mare Milan Mill, combining American speed with classic stamina influences. At 15.2 hands high, he was a compact colt with a light, fluid stride and remarkable acceleration, traits that defined his racing prowess under trainer Ian Balding and owner . In a brilliant three-year racing career from 1970 to 1972, Mill Reef competed 14 times, securing 12 victories and establishing himself as one of Europe's greatest horses of the 20th century. As a two-year-old, he debuted with a four-length win at Salisbury and followed with dominant performances, including a six-length victory in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, a ten-length romp in the Gimcrack Stakes at York, and a win in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, though he suffered a rare defeat in the Prix Robert Papin in France. His three-year-old season in 1971 was legendary, highlighted by a two-length triumph in the , a four-length win in the at , a six-length victory in the at Ascot, and a three-length conquest of the at Longchamp in record time, completing an unbeaten campaign in major races. In 1972, after a ten-length win in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp, a severe injury—a shattered cannon bone during training—sidelined him following a successful seven-hour operation with pins and plates, prompting his retirement. Retired to The National Stud in Newmarket, , Mill Reef proved equally impactful as a , producing classic winners such as Shirley Heights (1981 ) and Reference Point (1987 and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes), along with other champions. His legacy endures through his descendants and tributes, including statues at and The National Stud, cementing his status as a cornerstone of modern breeding.

Early Life

Background and Breeding

Mill Reef was bred by American philanthropist at his Rokeby Stables in , and foaled on February 23, 1968. He was sired by the American stallion Never Bend, a noted speed influence who had finished second in the 1963 , out of the mare Milan Mill, a daughter of whose unraced dam traced to influential lines. As a homebred, Mill Reef remained in Mellon's ownership from birth, reflecting the owner's deep involvement in thoroughbred breeding and his preference for racing in Europe. A colt, Mill Reef stood at 15.2 hands high, possessing a compact yet strongly made conformation that balanced speed and stamina, with a notably calm and cooperative temperament that endeared him to handlers. In late 1969, as a , he was shipped across the Atlantic to for under Ian Balding at his stables in , , where Mellon maintained a European operation. Upon arrival at age two, Mill Reef quickly adapted, showing fluid movement and responsiveness in initial workouts that highlighted his potential without any signs of . Geoff Lewis was assigned as his regular jockey from the outset, forming an early partnership based on the colt's even-tempered nature.

Pedigree

Mill Reef was sired by the American stallion Never Bend (1960–1977), a son of the influential Nasrullah (1940–1959), while his dam was Milan Mill (1962), a daughter of the stamina-rich (1940–1964). This immediate parentage combined potent speed from the sire's side with enduring quality on the dam's side, setting the foundation for Mill Reef's versatility. The sire line traces back through Nasrullah to (1935–1957), a cornerstone of modern breeding renowned for imparting explosive speed and precocity. Nearco himself descended from Pharos (1920–1937), by (1913–1932), establishing a direct Byerly Turk lineage that emphasized acceleration and class over distance. On the maternal side, Milan Mill's sire brought exceptional stamina, derived from his own sire Prince Rose (1928–1944), a European import celebrated for longevity in longer races. Further back in the dam line, through Milan Mill's granddam (1953), influences from (1940–1959) added American toughness, while the great-grandsire Hyperion (1930–1960) via Red Ray (1947) contributed refined stamina and soundness from his roots.
GenerationSire LineDam Line
1 (Parents)Never Bend (by Nasrullah)Milan Mill (by Princequillo)
2Nasrullah (by Nearco)Princequillo (by Prince Rose) / Virginia Water (by Count Fleet)
3Nearco (by Pharos)Prince Rose (by Rose Prince) / Count Fleet (by Reigh Count) / Red Ray (by Hyperion)
4Pharos (by Phalaris)Rose Prince (by Prince Palatine) / Reigh Count (by Sunreigh) / Hyperion (by Gainsborough)
5Phalaris (by Polymelus)Prince Palatine (by Soliman) / Sunreigh (by Sundridge) / Gainsborough (by Bayardo)
Key ancestors such as provided the burst of speed essential for sprint-to-middle distances, while and Hyperion infused the pedigree with the stamina needed for classic European routes, creating a balanced profile. This genetic blend notably merged American velocity from the Nasrullah branch—dominant in U.S. breeding for —with European endurance lines, exemplified by 's Irish heritage and Hyperion's English legacy, to produce a capable of excelling across varied conditions.

Racing Career

1970: Two-Year-Old Season

Mill Reef made his racing debut in the Salisbury Stakes over five furlongs at Salisbury Racecourse in May 1970, where he quickened impressively to win by four lengths under jockey Geoff Lewis for trainer Ian Balding. The colt, sent off at odds of 8/1 as second favorite, demonstrated his speed and class by overhauling the favorite Fireside Chat in the closing stages. This victory marked the start of a campaign characterized by Mill Reef's front-running style, often leading from the front and accelerating away with powerful strides. Just three weeks later, Mill Reef confirmed his potential in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in June 1970, powering to an eight-length victory as the 4/11 favorite. Ridden by Lewis, he beat Cromwell into second and set a new standard among British juveniles with his effortless over six furlongs. His only setback came shortly after in the Prix Robert Papin at in July 1970, where he was narrowly beaten a short-head by the French colt My Swallow after a strong challenge. Undeterred, Mill Reef rebounded spectacularly in the Gimcrack Stakes at in 1970, winning by ten lengths on heavy ground despite the testing conditions, showcasing his versatility. Mill Reef continued his dominance with a one-length win in the Imperial Stakes at Kempton in September 1970, edging out challengers in a tactical affair. He capped his juvenile season in style by taking the at Newmarket in October 1970, prevailing by four lengths over Linden Tree with the runner-up a further half-length adrift. In six starts as a two-year-old, Mill Reef secured five victories and one second-place finish, earning him a rating of 133 and establishing him as one of the leading juveniles of an exceptional 1970 crop in Britain. Throughout the year, Lewis partnered him in every race, allowing the colt's natural front-running ability to shine under Balding's guidance.

1971: Three-Year-Old Season

Mill Reef opened his three-year-old campaign with a commanding victory in the Greenham Stakes over seven furlongs at on April 17, 1971, winning by four lengths as the 4/11 favorite and signaling a strong return to racing after his unbeaten juvenile season. Two weeks later, in the 2,000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket on May 1, he faced top competition including Brigadier Gerard and My Swallow, finishing a close second after a strong finish, beaten one length by Brigadier Gerard in a race that highlighted his precocity over the mile. This performance, building on his juvenile foundation as one of Europe's leading two-year-olds, confirmed his potential for classic distances despite the narrow defeat. Mill Reef quickly rebounded in the on June 2, 1971, over one and a half miles, where jockey Geoff Lewis adopted a more patient tactic by settling the colt off a moderate pace before quickening decisively in the straight to win by two lengths from Linden Tree, with Family at War a further length back in fourth. This victory, his first at the classic distance, showcased his tactical evolution toward conserving energy for longer trips, earning him widespread acclaim as a hero. He followed up impressively in the at Park on July 3, 1971, over ten furlongs, dominating the field by four lengths over the French raider Caro, with Welsh Pageant third another 2½ lengths back, further establishing his dominance in middle-distance events. Mid-season, Mill Reef extended his winning streak in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on July 24, 1971, over one and a half miles, settling midfield before surging clear to score by a record six lengths over the Italian challenger Ortis, demonstrating exceptional stamina and on firm ground. The season reached its climax in the at Longchamp on October 3, where he was held up early before powering home by three lengths over Sound Track in a new track record time of 2:28.3, securing international prestige as one of Europe's top three-year-olds. These triumphs added four wins from six starts to his record that year, underscoring his adaptability and brilliance across key middle-distance classics.

1972: Four-Year-Old Season

Mill Reef entered his four-year-old season in 1972 after a winter break, aiming to extend his unbeaten streak of six consecutive victories from the previous year. His campaign began with a dominant performance in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp on April 30, where he won by ten lengths under jockey Geoff Lewis, demonstrating his continued class against a modest field. Following this comeback victory, Mill Reef was entered in the at Epsom Downs on June 8, securing another success by a neck over Homeric in a hard-fought finish that raised some concerns about his condition. A rematch with rival Brigadier Gerard was anticipated in the at , but Mill Reef was withdrawn after veterinary examination revealed a and subsequent hock swelling. Tragedy struck during a routine workout at trainer Ian Balding's stables in late August 1972, when Mill Reef fractured the cannon bone in his near-fore leg, shattering the sesamoid bones and displacing fragments. The severity of the injury, described by attending veterinarians as resembling "a bag of marbles," prompted immediate surgery involving a plate insertion, performed by a team led by Jim Roberts. After consultation among owner , trainer Balding, and the veterinary team, including assessments from leading surgeons, it was decided that the fracture precluded any safe return to , leading to Mill Reef's at age four. His career concluded with an impressive record of 14 starts, 12 wins, 2 second-place finishes, and total earnings of £309,225.

Post-Racing Career

Stud Career

Following his career-ending leg injury in late 1972, Mill Reef was retired to the National Stud in Newmarket, , where he began his breeding career in 1973. He remained at the facility for the entirety of his stud tenure, producing 13 crops of foals through 1985. Due to the injury's lingering effects, his early seasons were limited, with only 23 mares covered in his first year, but his fertility proved robust thereafter. His productivity was further impacted in 1977 when he contracted contagious equine metritis (CEM), covering only 9 mares that season. Mill Reef excelled as a stallion, siring 239 winners (60.7% strike rate) and 63 stakes winners (16.0%) from 394 named foals, according to records maintained by The . He topped the leading sires list in and by earnings in 1978 and 1987, while finishing third in 1983, sixth in 1981, seventh in 1984, eighth in 1982, and tenth in both 1986 and 1988. His success reflected a high productivity rate, with progeny achieving strong results across distances. Among Mill Reef's standout offspring were Shirley Heights, who won the 1981 and later became a leading sire himself; Reference Point, victor in the 1987 , , and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes; Acamas, the 1984 winner; Glint of Gold, who took the 1981 ; and Doyoun, the 1988 2,000 Guineas champion. Other notable progeny included the stakes winner Millfontaine. Mill Reef transmitted an effective balance of speed and stamina to his get, enabling successes in middle-distance and staying events, which underpinned his enduring influence in European breeding.

Death

In the years following his retirement, Mill Reef continued to suffer from chronic leg problems originating from a severe to his near-fore leg sustained during a incident in August 1972, which required surgical intervention and restricted his early breeding activity to just 23 mares in 1973. These ongoing issues gradually took a toll on his overall , culminating in a deteriorating heart condition that emerged in his final months. By early 1986, Mill Reef's heart ailment had progressed to a critical stage, rendering further treatment unfeasible. He was humanely euthanized on February 2, 1986, at the age of 17, at the National Stud in Newmarket, , where he had resided throughout his 13-year stud career. Following his death, Mill Reef was buried on the grounds of the National Stud, the site that had become his lifelong home after retirement. While no public details emerged regarding an , the immediate aftermath saw widespread mourning within the international racing community for the champion who had carried owner Paul Mellon's Rokeby Stables colors to victory in races like the and . Mellon, who had elected to station the horse in despite his American breeding roots, later reflected on Mill Reef's enduring spirit and contributions to breeding, emphasizing the colt's role as a cornerstone of his racing legacy.

Legacy

Assessments and Honors

Mill Reef received a Timeform rating of 141, placing him among the highest-rated three-year-olds of the and the seventh-highest overall for that era. This assessment highlighted his exceptional middle-distance performances, reflecting his speed, stamina, and consistency across races like the and . In 1971, Mill Reef was named European Horse of the Year, recognizing his dominance as a three-year-old in a season marked by intense competition from rivals such as Brigadier Gerard. He also earned the title of English Champion Three-Year-Old Colt that year and English Champion Older in 1972, underscoring his versatility over distances from a mile to a mile and a half. Retrospective rankings further affirm Mill Reef's status; British racing historians John Randall and Tony Morris placed him eighth among the world's greatest racehorses of the in their 1999 analysis. Comparisons to contemporaries like Nijinsky II and Brigadier Gerard emphasize his role in a golden era of European racing, where he demonstrated superior adaptability and finishing power, often outpacing them in key middle-distance events despite shared fields of exceptional depth. Mill Reef was inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame in 2021 as part of its inaugural class, alongside Nijinsky II and Brigadier Gerard, honoring his contributions to British flat racing. This formal recognition celebrates his undefeated record in major stakes and his influence on assessments of equine excellence during the 1970s.

Named Races and Tributes

The Mill Reef Stakes, a Group 2 flat race for two-year-old colts and fillies, was established in 1972 at Newbury Racecourse in honor of the champion racehorse Mill Reef, who had won the Coventry Stakes there the previous year. Run over a distance of six furlongs on good to firm ground, the race has served as a key early test for precocious juveniles, with a prize fund of £100,000 for the winner in recent renewals. Its inaugural running was won by Mon Fils, who went on to claim the 2000 Guineas the following season, setting a pattern for high-class graduates. Notable subsequent winners include Dark Angel in 2007, who developed into a leading sire of sprinters and milers; Ribchester in 2015, who amassed four Group 1 victories and over £2.6 million in earnings; Harry Angel in 2016, later crowned European Champion Sprinter and sire of six Group winners; and James Garfield in 2017, who placed second in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest. In 2025, on September 20, the race was dedicated to jockey Geoff Lewis, who partnered Mill Reef in 12 of his 14 starts, including major wins in the Derby and Eclipse Stakes. A life-size bronze statue of Mill Reef, sculpted by John Skeaping, stands at The National Stud in , where the horse spent his entire stud career and is buried beneath the statue's plinth. Commissioned by owner , the monument features an inscribed plinth with Mellon's 1970 Gimcrack Dinner speech praising the horse's precocity, and it serves as a focal point for visitors commemorating Mill Reef's legacy. A replica of the Skeaping bronze is located at stables, where a yard is also named in Mill Reef's memory. Additionally, the Mill Reef Building at the Royal Veterinary College's Hawkshead Campus in , opened in 1995 by HRH The , houses advanced facilities for anatomic , including a necropsy hall, lecture theatre, and diagnostic laboratories, recognizing the horse's historical veterinary treatment after his 1972 leg injury. Cultural tributes to Mill Reef include two notable documentaries produced in his honor. The 1972 film Mill Reef: Something to Brighten the Morning, directed by Kit Owens, captured the horse's racing career and charisma through archived footage and interviews. In 2020, the Oak Spring Garden Foundation—established by and his wife Rachel Lambert "Bunny" Mellon—released Mill Reef: A Legacy of Heart, directed by Cassidy Glascock, to mark the 50th anniversary of his 1971 British Horse of the Year title; it features interviews with trainer Ian Balding and jockey Geoff Lewis, alongside rare footage of his triumphs. , who bred Mill Reef at his Rokeby Stables, commissioned the Skeaping statue as a personal tribute and once remarked that his name would endure primarily through the horse's studbook legacy. In the , Mill Reef's influence persists prominently in National Hunt breeding, with descendants contributing to modern success on both sides of the Atlantic. His sire line, through sons like Shirley Heights and Reference Point, has impacted jump racing. On the Flat, his bloodlines appear in contemporary Group performers. Recognitions in the 2020s include the 2018 50th-birthday commemoration at The National Stud, featuring events and retrospectives on his career, and ongoing references in breeding analyses highlighting his role in producing resilient, high-class thoroughbreds.

References

  1. https://www.horseracingnation.com/horse/Mill_Reef
  2. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/130141913/mill_reef
  3. https://www.americanclassicpedigrees.com/mill-reef.html
  4. https://www.racingtv.com/news/horses-that-made-history-mill-reef-journey-was-mix-of-delight-and-despair
  5. https://www.timeform.com/horse-racing/features/top-horses/greatest-racehorses-mill-reef-2352020
  6. https://www.horseracingchat.co.uk/famous-horses-the-mill-reef-story/
  7. https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/remembering-reef-shared-archive/
  8. https://www.theracingbiz.com/2023/08/08/backtracks-the-mighty-mill-reef/
  9. https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/features/mill-reef-derby-winner-747283
  10. https://ascot.attheraces.com/ascot-legends/ascot-legends-mill-reef
  11. https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/racing/training-mill-reef-55822
  12. https://www.pedigreequery.com/mill+reef
  13. https://www.allbreedpedigree.com/mill+reef
  14. https://www.thoroughbredracing.com/articles/1805/american-pedigrees-need-fresh-infusion-stamina/
  15. https://teamvalor.com/Library/MillReef.pdf
  16. https://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/a-look-at-the-two-year-old-career-of-mill-reef/203520
  17. https://www.racingpost.com/news/six-greenham-winners-who-marked-themselves-as-future-stars-at-newbury-abtiR2B7moDM/
  18. https://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/the-greatest-guineas-50-years-on/191335
  19. https://www.nhrm.co.uk/1971-2000-guineas-brigadier-gerard-vs-mill-reef/
  20. https://www.nytimes.com/1971/06/03/archives/american-colt-epsom-victor-mill-reef-wins-192d-derby-by-two-lengths.html
  21. https://www.racingpost.com/news/ian-balding-pays-tribute-to-1971-derby-hero-mill-reef-50-years-after-his-birth-a7Lco2D9LwVY/
  22. http://www.greyhoundderby.com/Eclipse%20Stakes%201971.html
  23. https://www.nytimes.com/1971/07/25/archives/us-bred-mill-reef-scores-by-6-lengths-in-130659-king-george-at.html
  24. https://www.nytimes.com/1971/10/04/archives/mill-reef-wins-448256-arc-de-triomphe-by-three-lengths-in-record.html
  25. https://www.nytimes.com/1972/05/01/archives/mill-reef-10length-victor-in-160000-prix-ganay.html
  26. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOjs7_vSt20
  27. https://www.the-independent.com/news/education/education-news/racing-balding-nurtures-derby-dream-on-watership-down-1160536.html
  28. https://horseracinghof.com/hall-of-famers/mill-reef/
  29. https://www.horseracingbettingsites.co.uk/horses/mill-reef/
  30. https://www.michaelchurchracingbooks.com/mill-reef-50-years-on-his-career-and-his-legacy/
  31. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-02-03-sp-3954-story.html
  32. https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/sensational-mill-reef-remembered-on-his-50th-birthday/
  33. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/266098/tampa-bay-downs-to-present-documentary-on-mill-reef
  34. https://horseracinghof.com/features/nijinsky-mill-reef-and-brigadier-gerard-sparkle-in-the-seventies/
  35. https://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/events/big-race-history-mill-reef-stakes-110909.html
  36. https://newburyracecourse.co.uk/racing/news-and-information/mill-reef-momentum-did-you-know/
  37. https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/mill-reef-stakes-to-be-run-in-honour-of-geoff-lewis/
  38. https://www.rcvs.org.uk/document-library/rvc-visitation-report/
  39. https://www.osgf.org/blog/2022/6/1/mill-reef-a-legacy-of-heart
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