[1] Rabelais was a bay stallion who stood 15.3 or 16 hands high, with tall withers, a round, muscular croup, thin waist, and strong back.

[1][3] Satirical, Rabelais's dam, had shown class on the racetrack despite a more mediocre pedigree,[2] winning six races including the Newmarket Houghton Handicap.

In the Epsom Derby, Rabelais ran fourth behind Rock Sand, Vinicus, and Flotsam III.

He ran disappointingly in the St. George Stakes, finishing unplaced, before triumphing in the Goodwood Cup in his last race, defeating older horses[2] by four lengths.

[4] Rabelais was known for producing sound offspring, although prone to ringbone and navicular issues and with light bone.

[4] Rabelais continued the St. Simon sireline through to Wild Risk and Ribot via his sons Rialto and Havresac.