Turn-to (1951–June 15, 1973) was a British-born, American-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire.
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Background
He was sired by the British stallion Royal Charger, out of the French mare Source Sucree, whose sire, Admiral Drake, was third on the French sire list in 1949.
Imported to the United States of America as a yearling, Turn-to was bought at the Keeneland Sales for $20,000 (equivalent to $240,000 in 2025) to race for Capt. Harry F. Guggenheim's Cain Hoy Stable.
Racing career
As a two-year-old with Henry Moreno aboard, Turn-to won the Garden State Futurity and the Saratoga Special. He also won the Flamingo Stakes at three.
Retirement
Upon retirement, Turn-to initially stood at stud at Claiborne Farm before being moved to Spendthrift Farm after a disagreement between Guggenheim and Arthur B. Hancock.
His influence as a sire was demonstrated through the success of his progeny, many of whom became leading racehorses and important breeding stallions. Among his most notable offspring were First Landing, winner of the Belmont Stakes and later a successful sire; Hail To Reason, the U.S. Champion Two-Year-Old Colt of 1960 and an exceptionally influential stallion whose descendants have had a lasting impact on Thoroughbred breeding worldwide; Best Turn, a multiple stakes winner who also became a successful sire; and Sir Gaylord, a leading racehorse and sire best known as the sire of Sir Ivor and as a half-brother to Secretariat (both being out of the mare Somethingroyal). Through these and many other offspring, he established one of the most influential sire lines in modern Thoroughbred history.
Turn-to died on June 15, 1973, and is buried at Green Gates Farm, which is now part of Spendthrift Farm near Lexington, Kentucky. He was euthanized due to intestinal complications.