Elmhurst, 1997 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner, dies at age 31
Elmhurst, upset winner of the 1997 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Hollywood Park, died on Monday from heart failure at Our Mims Retirement Haven in Paris, Ky. He was 31.
Campaigned by Evergreen Farm and trainer Jenine Sahadi, Elmhurst was retired in 1999 with a record of 51: 8-11-6 and earnings of $1,100,567. In the 1997 Breeders' Cup Sprint, Elmhurst rallied from dead last in a 14-horse field under Corey Nakatani to win by a half-length at odds of 16.50 to 1. His only other graded stakes win came the race prior to the Breeders' Cup in the Ancient Title (G3) at Santa Anita Park.
Elmhurst was by Breeders' Cup Classic winner Wild Again out of the Raise a Native mare Mimbet, who herself was a daughter of multiple Grade 1 winner Our Mims. Elmhurst arrive at Our Mims retirement facility in November, 2011.
Via a press release from Our Mims Retirement Haven:
"[Elmhurst] quickly became a favorite of not only The Ladies, but also the people who came to visit. Since he was born on February 14th, he was crowned the King of Hearts and was notorious for his antics with women. He had been known to pop bra straps. If he saw cleavage, he would pull the shirt out and look down.
OMRH Owner and President Pete Mirabito commented, “Thank you Elmo for filling my wife, Jeanne’s, heart with joy”.
“Mo was truly one of a kind!”, said Ann Cheek, OMRH Vice President. “A real Ladies man. I will miss his flirty ways and sweet whisper nickers.”
Sidna Madden, Director of Development noted, “Elmhurst was an amazing guy – a true gentleman that embodied everything I love about Thoroughbreds. He proudly helped carry the name of the Haven in memoriam of his Grand Dam, Our Mims.
"I will certainly miss his antics, along with his loving spirit too, but it brings a smile to my face knowing he and Jeanne, along with Our Mims and all the other ladies of the Haven that have gone before him, are now all reunited. His longevity is also a true testament to the care that all of the horses at the Haven receive.”
After being cremated, Elmhurst will be laid to rest in the farm’s Invincible Spirit cemetery.