[2] Although he never threatened to repay his auction price, he was a useful racehorse, winning the Listed Prix de Suresnes as a three-year-old and finishing placed in several Group races.
Lichine was a "smallish, wiry"[3] bay horse bred in Maryland by Mrs. J. Getty & Carelaine Stables.
Lyphard went on to become a very successful breeding stallion in both Europe and North America, siring Three Troikas, Dancing Brave and Manila.
[4][5] In 1981, the yearling was consigned to the Keeneland Sales where he was bought for a then world-record price of $1.7 million by the bloodstock agents BBA England, representing the Greek shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos.
[3] Lichine stayed in training as a four-year-old and ran eight times, recording his only success in a race over 1850 metres at Longchamp in May.