In Memoriam: A tribute to horses and humans lost in 2017

Death unfortunately is a part of life. As we ring in 2018, and look forward to foaling season, let us first pause and take the time to remember those who we lost in 2017. Most years we simply lose our beloved equine athletes to track accidents or illness, but this year the industry was left to grapple with the aftermath of the unthinkable. Due to raging wildfires in Southern California, dozens of horses perished and some of our compatriots within the industry ended up hospitalized due to severe burns. Thanks to the heroics and selflessness of grooms, trainers, and volunteers alike, many more lives were saved than lost as people rushed to get the horses out of the barns and then vanned to various locales. As we remember the athletes themselves, we will also look back on the human stalwarts who also passed away.

The Athletes…

Baby Zip

Ben's Cat — Trained by Hall of Famer King Leatherbury, Ben’s Cat was the Maryland Bred Horse of the Year four consecutive times from 2011-2014. He was a multiple Grade 3 winner and a stalwart on the Maryland racing circuit. Despite his successes, Ben’s Cat almost didn’t make it to the track due to suffering a broken pelvis at age 2. He spent nearly a year recuperating did not make his first start until age 4. He won on debut in a maiden claiming race and then won again second time out in a claiming event. Leatherbury was later quoted as saying that he was lucky he didn’t lose him in his second start. Despite the gelding’s versatility in terms of both surface and distance, Leatherbury decided to focus his charge on turf sprints, a move that resulted in Ben’s Cat appearing in and winning many of the same races year after year. After a series of disappointing finishes to conclude 2016 and begin 2017, Leatherbury retired Ben’s Cat, who had won 32 of 63 starts and $2.6 million in purse money. Twenty-six of those wins were in stakes races. Upon retirement, Ben’s Cat was sent to Chris Welker’s Kentucky farm. Shortly after his arrival there, Ben’s Cat suffered a bad bout of colic. He ended up with terrible post-surgery complications and was euthanized on July 18.

Benchmark 

Better Talk Now 

Bonapaw 

Cape Cross 

Cara Rafaela 

Charismatic — Early in his career, no one would ever have thought that Charismatic would go on to win the first two legs of the Triple Crown. The striking chestnut colt took six tries and a drop to maiden claiming company to win. He then did not get his second career victory until once again dropped into claiming company by trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Good runs in the El Camino Real and Santa Anita derbies earned him the chance to take one last shot at qualifying for the Kentucky Derby. Lukas shipped the colt to Keeneland, where he annexed the Lexington Stakes and a spot in the gate at Churchill for two weeks later. It’s what happened in the following two months that stamped Charismatic’s place in the history books. Sent off at 31-1 in the Kentucky Derby, Charismatic sat just off the pace early before being put to the drive nearing the quarter pole by jockey Chris Antley. He made the lead and then was all out to hold off the runner-up by a head. Two weeks later Charismatic proved his Derby performance was no fluke by winning the second leg of the Triple Crown. Three weeks later, Charismatic had the lead with a quarter mile left to run in the Belmont Stakes but relinquished his advantage through the stretch. Right after the wire, Antley, in what has since become an iconic moment, quickly pulled his colt up, hopped off, and cradled his left foreleg to prevent further damage. Charismatic never raced again but did go on to stand at stud, primarily in Japan. He was retired from stud duty in 2016 and returned home to the United States to live out his days at Old Friends. Unfortunately, he died shortly after returning home. 

City Zip

Danehill Dancer 

Decarchy

Devil His Due 

Effinex — Bred in New York, Effinex received his name as a tongue-in-cheek barb at his owner’s relationship status. He was given a shot at the 2014 Triple Crown Trail, but an eighth-place finish in that year’s Grade 1 Wood Memorial indicated that the colt was not ready to face that type of competition. He was given another shot at graded company at the end of the year but once again, he proved unready. Effinex finally broke through at the graded level in the spring of 2015. From there on out, Effinex proved to be a competitive, classy runner. After picking up his first graded win in April 2015, Effinex rocketed to the top with a Grade 1 Clark Handicap win to conclude his 2015 campaign. Trainer James Jerkins campaigned Effinex through the end of 2016, and the son of Mineshaft ended his career with a 28: 9-3-4 race record, total purse earnings of just over $3.3 million, and as the third richest New York-bred ever. Upon retirement, Effinex was sent to Questroyal Stud North in Stillwater, N.Y. At least 103 mares were confirmed in foal to Effinex before his sudden passing on Oct. 18, from a ruptured pulmonary artery. He was then standing at Saratoga Thoroughbreds.

El Padrino 

Fire the Groom

Giant Oak

Hansel 

Holy Bull — A descendant of the now-rare line of 1898 Kentucky Derby winner Plaudit, Holy Bull was the 1994 Champion Three-Year Old Male and Horse of the Year. Though he finished a dismal 12^th in his own attempt at the Run for the Roses, Holy Bull did amass several important wins, including victories in the Met Mile, Travers and Woodward, all Grade 1 events. He unfortunately was unable to campaign past February of his 4-year old season due to a career ending injury in the Donn Handicap. He was retired to stud at Jonabell Farm, which was later bought by Darley. At the time of his death on June 7, due to the infirmities of old age, Holy Bull had sired 45 stakes winners, including 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo. He was also coming into his own as a broodmare sire with his daughters having so far produced 50 stakes winners. Along with his Eclipse Awards, Holy Bull has been honored with Hall of Fame status. As a sire of sires, his most notable progeny is Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man, who is a son of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Macho Uno.

Inside Information 

Irap — Always competitive, Irap was nonetheless dismissed by many on this year’s Road to the Kentucky Derby. Racing in a mix of maiden, stakes, and graded stakes races, the Tiznow colt was never worse than fourth while needing eight tries to break his maiden. He did so in fine fashion, too, getting that elusive first win over a solid field in the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes. He ran poorly in the Kentucky Derby but bounced back to win both the Ohio and Indiana Derby in consecutive starts. With those two wins under his belt, he moved back to the East Coast to face the best of his crop. He ran a solid third in the Travers and second in the Pennsylvania Derby, where he was subsequently vanned off. He later underwent surgery for fractured sesamoids in his left foreleg. After developing laminitis during his recuperation, the difficult decision was made to humanely euthanize him.

Louis Quatorze 

Lucky Pulpit — A son of Blue Grass Stakes winner Pulpit and a grandson of 1992 Horse of the Year A. P. Indy, Lucky Pulpit will primarily be remembered as the sire of fan favorite California Chrome. Lucky Pulpit’s own racing career was compromised by breathing issues. In all, he won just over $200,000 in 22 starts, with his best win coming in a black type stakes. He was also multiple graded stakes placed. Lucky Pulpit sired seven foal crops. As of now, he is credited with 148 winners from 229 starters with progeny earnings of $24 million. Aside from two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome, Lucky Pulpit also sired California Champion 2-Year Old Colt Rousing Sermon, multiple stakes winner Luckarack, Gatheratthealter and You’re Late. In 2010, Lucky Pulpit was named the Top California Freshman Sire, and in 2016, Lucky Pulpit was the Top California Sire by Earnings and Top California Sire by Number of Winners.

Lure

Memories of Silver 

Permian

Pontchatrain 

Reach the World

Roman Ruler 

Royal Delta — Popular race mare Royal Delta amassed nearly $5 million in earnings over the span of four years on the track. Out of 22 starts, she won 12 times, ran second five times, and ran third once. She earned Eclipse honors in three consecutive years, picking up Champion 3-Year Old Filly in 2011, and Champion Older Mare the following two years. She won the Breeders’ Cup Distaff twice, and other significant wins include the G1 Alabama, the Delaware Handicap twice (once as a Grade 2 and the second time as a Grade 1), the G1 Beldame, and the G1 Personal Ensign. She was retired to broodmare duty for the 2014 season and sent overseas to be bred to Galileo (IRE). She proved barren that year and then miscarried her 2015 foal. In 2016, she was once again bred to Galileo (IRE). Unfortunately, she passed away due to foaling complications. However, her filly foal was saved.

Southwestern Heat 

Stormin Fever

Supah Blitz

Tinner's Way

Unusual Heat — A multiple stakes winner, Unusual Heat's biggest impact will be left in California, where he stood at stud since entering the barn in 1998. So far his progeny have amassed over $47 million in purse earnings. He holds the California breeding record for progeny earnings in a single year and was the Champion Sire of California Conceived Foals by Earnings six times and Champion Sire of California Conceived Foals by Turf Earnings eleven times. Unusual Heat has so far been responsible for 47 stakes winners, including a quartet of Grade 1 winners headed by Acclamation. The all time leading sire of California-breds was euthanized on May 17, due to complications of arthritis-induced laminitis.

Whywhywhy

…And their humans

Penny Chenery—During her lifetime, Penny Chenery was many things, but she will perhaps best be remembered as the breeder and owner of 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat, though she was not officially recognized as the breeder. That honor went to her father, Christopher Chenery, despite the fact that Penny had already taken over Meadow Stables and was the one who decided to breed Somethingroyal to Bold Ruler.

Born to Christopher Chenery and Helen Bates, Penny was the youngest of three children. She received a Bachelor of Arts from Smith College and then studied at Columbia Business School, where she met her husband John Tweedy Sr., a law student. Together they had four children. For the first 19 years of their marriage, Penny was the typical housewife, but all that changed when her father became disabled. Penny’s siblings wanted to sell off the family farm, but Penny was determined to fulfill her father’s dream of winning the Kentucky Derby.

She was elected president of Meadow Stud, which oversaw operations, and immediately fired their long time trainer. She then hired Roger Laurin, who helped put the farm back in the black before leaving to train for the Phipps family. Penny replaced Roger with his son Lucien, and together in 1972, they guided Riva Ridge to victories in both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes while also putting together a campaign that would earn Secretariat 2-year-old and Horse of the Year honors. The following year, Secretariat won win the Triple Crown, cementing Penny’s legacy within the industry.

She passed away on September 16, age 95 in Boulder, Colorado.

Beverly Lewis

Dick Enberg

Charles Cella

Jack Van Berg — A stalwart in the racing community, trainer Jack Van Berg was elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1985. The year prior he was awarded with an Eclipse for Outstanding Trainer. He received the Big Sport of Turfdom Award in 1987 and is also a member of the Nebraska Racing Hall of Fame, due in large part to being the leading trainer at Ak-Sar-Ben Racetrack in Omaha for 19 straight years.

The son of Marion Van Berg, who is also in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, Jack Van Berg mentored many of the sport’s top trainers, including fellow Hall of Famer Bill Mott. In terms of his own career, Jack will likely best be remembered as the conditioner for 1984 Preakness winner Gate Dancer and 1987 Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Alysheba.

Jack was born June 7, 1936, and passed away on December 27, at age 81.

The San Luis Rey Downs fires

Led by multiple stakes winner California Diamond, the horse racing community also tragically lost 46 horses to the fire that engulfed the San Luis Rey Training Center on December 7.

Amalfi Drive

Aussie Rock Star (IRE)

Baby Bruin

California Diamond

Call Me First

Candy Twist

Cat Dreamer (pony)

Chrysaor

Doc Raj

Dodgertown

Everlovin Woman

Fregosi

Handsome Beau

He’s a Pleasure

Lizmeister

Los Borrachos

Malibu Vixen

Monster Man

Mr. Hockey

Oddsmaker

Only One Love

Oughttobeking

Ourroseofthenile

Packin Heat

Potent

Ral Rue

Riri

Rocknrollallnight

Royal Kuna

Sarah Sunshine

Scat Home Lady

Sir Charmalot

Shortstormcoming

Stormin Norman

Sunset Grill

Wild Bill Hickory

Yearling colt (Slew’s Tiznow—Chalula One)

Yearling colt (City Zip—Sweet Thoughts)

Yearling colt (Quality Road—Cool Flame)

Yearling filly (Into Mischief—Warm Hugs)

Also among the deceased are three horses who remain unknown, and injured outrider Les Baker's paint pony.