1938 Bay Stallion Bred by Janow Podlaski Measurements: 152-183-19
The name of WITRAZ is synonymous with the
Polish Arabian - he was a horse of superior quality who can can be found in nearly every Arabian pedigree
of Polish descent. One of the famous four "W"'s born in 1938 at Janow Podlaski and sired by the legendary
Ofir, WITRAZ survived the atrocities of World War II amidst the harshest conditions, including the bombing of
Dresden by Allied forces. Arriving on the night of February 13th, 1945, with the westward evacuation
of the Janow herd to Germany, the entire group of 80 stallions were engulfed in the one of the fiercest
campaigns of the European theatre, an event that destroyed the city of Dresden. Over half of the stallions
were lost in the rampage, a fate that certainly would have befallen WITRAZ if not for the courage of his groom,
Jan Ziniewicz. With WITRAZ in one hand and Wielki Szlem in the other, Jan held fast to his precious charges
throughout the horrific ordeal, even when WITRAZ's tail caught fire. Director Krzysztalowicz arrived early the
next morning to find his most precious sires distraught, but unharmed, thanks to the incredible courage of the
groom who had risked his own life to save the stallions. Both WITRAZ and Wielki Szlem were repatriated to
Poland in 1946, where each would establish legendary legacies of unparalleled importance to the breed. WITRAZ
was sent to the newly established State Stud at Albigowa (while Janow Podlaski was rebuilt) where he was
met by the masterful breeding genius of Roman Pankiewicz, a combination which propelled each into the
international limelight and secured a place for each in the annals of breed history. At Albigowa, WITRAZ became the personal
riding horse of Director Pankiewicz and was bred to the stud's finest mares. Described as a horse of
"remarkable beauty, with a wonderful head accented by large, dark eyes, small, fine ears and a refined muzzle with capacious nostrils",
WITRAZ was also well known for his good size, substantial, athletic build and long, well shaped neck. His most
famous get was the immortal Bask - had he done nothing but sire this legend, he would have secured his place
in history. Yet, WITRAZ was a remarkably prepotent stallion sired who sired several outstanding sons and a
host of superlative daughters who have irrevocably changed the breed.
Sire of:
BASK
US National Champion Stallion US National Champion Park Horse US National Res. Ch. Formal Driving US National Res. Ch. Formal Combination Scottsdale Champion Stallion All-Time Leading Sire of Champions
CELINA
British National Champion Mare
ELZUNIA
Dutch National Champion Horse
KARRAMBA
British National Reserve Champion Mare
BANDOLA
International Dam of Distinction The "Queen of Poland"
