Radium , the great proponent of the Cecil bloodline
Radium
When Donald Beaton , an astute horse breeder , decided to breed from his outstanding mare , Black Bess , he chose what he considered the most successful sire of the day , and this of course was Cecil .
Black Bess was by Hucketere , who was by Ingomar out of Bessemer . Black Bess ’ s dam was Midnight , who was by Figaroo out of Countess . The mating produced the sire son of Cecil that would carry his line in the greatest volume to the Australian Stock Horse Stud Book - this was the mighty Radium . In the 1920s and 1930s the arguments raged as to which was the greater performer - Cecil or Radium . We will never know , but we do know that these were the two horses that supplied much of the foundation of the Australian Stock Horse Stud Book .
Radium was born at ‘ Levedale ’ Gloucester ( on the Eastern side of the Great Divide ) on Armistice Day in 1918 . He , like his sire , was an outstanding performer , as were his progeny . Tales are related of Radium winning a campdraft at Kempsey and his progeny filling the next ten places , or Radium winning the led class at Dungog and his progeny filling the next five places .
Radium also worked in this rugged mountain country like his sire Cecil . His breeder , Donald Beaton , would take him to campdrafts led behind a sulky . On most occasions he would win the campdraft and later in the day he would give an exhibition of campdrafting without a bridle . If Donald Beaton couldn ’ t go , he lent him to his friend Herb O ’ Neill . In 1928 Beaton was to sell the great horse to Herb O ’ Neill , so Radium moved to ‘ Kunderung ’, a property in the heart of the ranges between Kempsey and Armidale . Prior to his death , Radium also stood at Quirindi .
This change in locations during his lifetime , plus his longevity , ( he died in 1947 just short of his 30th birthday ) and his outstanding performances , made him a sire that was very much in demand . As
Herb O ’ Neill on Radium , circa 1930s .
he was available over a wide area for those days and breeders used the great horse , he had many progeny to represent him .
Even though the Australian Stock Horse Stud Book didn ’ t start recording horses until 1971 , 24 years after the great horse ’ s death , 56 progeny of Radium are registered in the Stud Book .
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