Ballydoyle was a bay horse bred in Ontario by E P Taylor the owner of Windfields Farm.
He was one of many important winners sired by Northern Dancer, that won the Kentucky Derby in 1964 before becoming one of the most successful breeding stallions in Thoroughbred history.
His dam, South Ocean, had previously produced Northernette (also sired by Northern Dancer), the champion filly of her generation in Canada at two and three years of age.
[2] The yearling was sent to the Keeneland Sales in July 1981 where he was sold for a then world-record price of $3.5 million by the bloodstock agency BBA (Ireland) on behalf of the British businessman Robert Sangster.
He went clear of his rivals a furlong from the finish but was caught in the final strides and beaten a neck by the Edward O'Grady-trained Putney Bridge.