Nureyev, Rudolf, 1938-93, Russian ballet dancer, b. near Irkutsk, Siberian USSR (now Russia). Nureyev studied in Ufa and Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), and in 1958 he became a soloist with the Kirov Ballet. In 1961 he defected from the Soviet Union while on tour in Paris. The leading classical ballet dancer of his generation, Nureyev was noted for his overpowering stage presence and his exceptionally athletic skill and fiery grace. His major roles included the leads in La Bayadère, Les Sylphides, Giselle, Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Le Corsaire, Raymonda, and Sleeping Beauty. As a guest artist with the Royal Ballet, London, and elsewhere Nureyev appeared with many celebrated ballerinas, most notably as partner to Margot Fonteyn. He revised and staged several ballets, including the Marius Petipa version of Don Quixote (1966), and from 1983 to 1989 he was the ballet director of the Paris Opéra. Nureyev also danced in a number of works by modern-dance choreographers, including Glen Tetley and Paul Taylor; frequently appeared on television; was the star and subject of a feature-length film; and had a limited-run Broadway show (1974-75).

(born March 17, 1938, Irkutsk, Russia, U.S.S.R.—died Jan. 6, 1993, Paris, Fr.) Russian ballet dancer. After studying ballet in Leningrad (1955–58), he joined the Kirov Ballet as a soloist. He defected during the company's tour to Paris in 1961. Thereafter he danced as a guest artist with many companies, especially the Royal Ballet, where he regularly partnered Margot Fonteyn. His performances, combining an intensely romantic sensibility with stunning muscularity and technique, made him an international star. He choreographed new versions of Romeo and Juliet, Manfred, and The Nutcracker. From 1983 to 1989 he was artistic director of the Paris Opéra Ballet.

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Nureyev (1977-2001) was a Kentucky-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and Champion sire who was bought in 1978 at the Keeneland yearling sale by Stavros Niarchos for US$1.3-million and raced in France and the United Kingdom. Niarchos named the colt in honor of the famous ballet dancer, Rudolf Nureyev.

Trained by Francois Boutin, in November 1979 Nureyev made his two-year-old racing debut in France. He easily outdistanced the field in the Prix Thomas Bryon at Saint-Cloud Racecourse, winning by six lengths. The following spring of 1980 he won the Prix Djebel at Maisons-Laffitte Racecourse in his 3-year-old debut. He was then shipped to Newmarket Racecourse in the United Kingdom for the 2,000 Guineas. It seems that Nureyev had little patience with the rest of the field and in the race he pushed his way between horses to get to the lead and to victory. However, his win would be overturned by the racing stewards, the first time a winner of the 2,000 Guineas Classic was disqualified. Scheduled to compete in June's Epsom Derby, Nureyev came down with a virus and never raced again.

Nureyev was sent to stand at stud at his owner's Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard in Neuvy-au-Houlme in Lower Normandy. Renowned French horseman Alec Head recommended Nureyev to Lexington, Kentucky breeder John T. L. Jones, Jr. and in mid 1981 put together a syndicate that purchased Nureyev for US$14 million. Nureyev was brought to Jones' Walmac-Warnerton Farm partnership near Lexington and then under Jones' wholly owned Walmac International.

In 1987 Nureyev suffered a life-threatening fracture to his right hind leg in a paddock accident during breeding season but veterinary surgeons were able to save his life.

Sire

Some of Nureyev's prominent offspring includes:

• Theatrical (b. 1982) - winner of the 1987 Breeders' Cup Turf. Voted U.S. Champion Male Turf Horse and Champion Older Horse in Ireland
• Miesque (b. 1984) - twice won the Breeders' Cup Mile (1987 & 1988) and earned two United States Champion Turf Horse as well as seven championships in France and the United Kingdom
• Zilzal (b. 1986) - United Kingdom Horse of the Year (1989)
• Spinning World (b. 1993) - a Champion in France and Ireland, he won the 1996 Irish 2,000 Guineas, the 1996 & 1997 Prix Jacques Le Marois, and the 1997 Breeders' Cup Mile
• Peintre Celebre (b. 1994) - won the 1997 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, voted European Horse of the Year
• Reams of Verse (b. 1994) - United Kingdom Champion 2-year-old filly, won 1997 Epsom Oaks

During his breeding career, Nureyev sired 135 stakes winners and more than twenty champions. In 1998, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum set a European sales record when he paid three million guineas for a yearling colt by Nureyev at the Newmarket sales.

Grandsire

Nureyev is the grandsire of:

• Gentlemen - 1995 Champion Three-Year-Old Colt in Argentina
• Royal Anthem - winner of the 1998 King Edward VII Stakes and Canadian International Stakes and the 1999 International Stakes

Damsire

Nureyev is also the damsire of several top international horses including:

• Peteski - the 1993 Canadian Triple Crown champion
• Bago - the 2004 European Champion 3-Yr-Old Colt
• Spinning Queen - sold in November 2006 for three million guineas, becoming the most expensive filly ever sold at public auction in Europe
• Desert King - winner of the 1996 National Stakes, the 1997 Irish 2,000 Guineas and Irish Derby Stakes
• Zabeel - won 1989 MRVC Stakes (1989), the 1990 Australian Guineas and Craiglee Stakes. Twice Champion Australian sire and four-time Champion New Zealand sire
• Big Brown - 2008 Kentucky Derby winner and the 2008 Preakness Stakes winner

Nureyev died aged 24 on October 29, 2001 and is buried at Walmac International in Lexington, Kentucky.

References

• Nureyev's pedigree and racing stats
• Saving Nureyev - October 10, 1987 Blood-Horse magazine
• Remembering Nureyev - November 10, 2001 Blood-Horse magazine
• An Inspiration - November 10, 2001 Blood-Horse magazine