Homeward Bound (horse)

Homeward Bound was a "lightly-framed" chestnut mare bred by her owner Foster Robinson at his Wicken Parn Stud near Wolverton in Buckinghamshire. She was sent into training with John Oxley at his Hurworth House stable in Newmarket, Suffolk.[3]

Homeward Bound was sired by Alycidon, an outstanding stayer who suffered from low fertility as a breeding stallion but sired several top class performers including Alcide and Twilight Alley. Her dam Sabie River won four races and produced several other winners. Sabie River's dam Amorcille was a half-sister to Discord, the female-line ancestor of Mr Dinos.[4] Both Alycidon and Sabie River died in 1963, before Homeward Bound had appeared on the track.

At the end of her racing career Homeward Bound was retired to become a broodmare for her owner's stud. When Foster Robinson died in 1967 the mare was auctioned and exported to the United States. She produced twelve foals and five winners:

• Prime Abord, a brown filly, foaled in 1967, sired by Primera. She was born with a club foot and was reportedly bought by Nelson Bunker Hunt only because his agents visited the farm during a snowstorm and failed to notice the deformity.[6] She nevertheless became a successful racehorse and broodmare who won the Prix de Royallieu and whose foals included Super Concorde.
• Lucky Traveler, bay filly, 1968, by Derring-Do. Won seven races including the Test Stakes.[7]
• Faithful Son, chestnut colt, 1969, by Graustark
• Beaufort Sea, chestnut colt, 1970, by Nashua. Won two races.[8]
• Aeropasser, bay colt, 1972, by Buckpasser. Unraced.
• Redstart, chestnut filly, 1973, by Raise A Native.Unraced.
• After the Flag, bay filly, 1974, by Hoist the Flag. Won one race.
• Aluminum, bay or brown colt, 1975, by Hail to Reason. Unraced.
• Swift Swallow, bay colt, 1977, by Northern Dancer. Unraced
• Ilheus, chestnut colt, 1978, by Northern Dancer. Unraced.
• Magellan, chestnut colt, 1981, by Master Derby. Won 11 races from 99 starts.[9]
• A Far, chestnut filly, 1982, by Vaguely Noble. Failed to win in three races.

In 1964 Homeward Bound was given a rating of 126 by the independent Timeform organisation, making her three pounds inferior to La Bamba who was their top-rated three-year-old filly.[2] In their book, A Century of Champions, based on the Timeform rating system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Homeward Board an "average" winner of the Oaks.[10]