Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus dies at age 26

Fusaichi Pegasus, winner of the 2000 Kentucky Derby, died Tuesday at age 26 from the infirmities of old age.

Coolmore said in a news release that the son of Mr. Prospector died at its Ashford Stud farm in Central Kentucky.

Fusaichi Pegasus was bred by Arthur Hancock and Stonerside farm and was sold for $4 million as a yearling to Fusao Sekiguchi. Trained by Neil Drysdale, He won the San Felipe (G2) and Wood Memorial (G2) ahead of his Kentucky Derby win. He is the only horse who sold for at least $1 million to win the Derby.

After the Derby, he was second in the Preakness, winner of the Jerome Handicap (G2) and sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic before being retired. “A heated bidding war involving most farms in Lexington for Fu Peg ensued,” Coolmore said, “and he retired to Ashford Stud at the end of 2000 for a then record-breaking sum.”

Fusaichi Pegasus retired from stud duties in 2020 and lived out his retirement at Ashford.

“Fu Peg was a fantastic racehorse and a colorful character,” Ashford Stud general manager Dermot Ryan said in the release. “I would like to thank (stud manager) Richard Barry and all of his team, past and present, for providing the highest level of care for him throughout his time at Ashford.”