Hail To Reason

Hail To Reason (April 18, 1958 – February 24, 1976) was an American thoroughbred racehorse and an influential sire. He was bred in Kentucky by the Bieber-Jacobs Stable, a partnership of prominent horsemen, Isadore Bieber and Hirsch Jacobs. He was sired by the English stakes winner Turn-To, a grandson of the very influential sire Nearco. Hail To Reason was out of the mare Nothirdchance, whose sire, Blue Swords, came in second in both the 1943 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

Hail to Reason was a big homebred. His dam, Nothirdchance, was named by National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame owner/trainer Hirsch Jacobs as a warning to the Allies to not allow Germany to start another war. Hail to Reason was named in response to his fulfilled hopes.

Starting in January of his second year, Hail To Reason raced 18 times in nine months, winning nine times and setting a new track record in the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga Race Course with jockey Bobby Ussery aboard.

During a morning workout in September, he lost a shoe and broke both sesamoid bones in his near front leg, ending his career. However, he was still named 1960 American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt.