Alysheba, Genuine Risk, and Winning Colors
Three Kentucky Derby Champions of the 1980s Now Gone
Apr 9, 2009
A king and two queens of the 1980s have passed from the Thoroughbred racing scene. Within the last thirteen months, Alysheba, Winning Colors, and Genuine Risk saw their last sunset.
Alysheba, 1988's Horse of the Year, was euthanized at Hagyard Equine March 27 following a grievous injury suffered from a fall in his stall. He had been the oldest living Kentucky Derby champion. Strike the Gold, at stud overseas, now holds that honor. Go for Gin, standing at Bonita Farm near Darlington, Maryland, is the oldest living Kentucky Derby champion currently stationed in North America.
Three Unusual Kentucky Derby Champions
Following a decade in which extraordinary racing Thoroughbreds flourished, Genuine Risk, Alysheba, and Winning Colors brought unusual surprises to the racetracks of America.
These three champions epitomized the unusual in horseracing. Alysheba had to overcome throat surgery to become a champion. In a mystery to his connections, Alysheba raced badly for weeks. Shortly before the Kentucky Derby, Alysheba was diagnosed with a trapped epiglottis, a condition that blocks correct breathing.
Two of three fillies to ever win the Kentucky Derby, Genuine Risk and Winning Colors were voted female three-year-old champion in their Kentucky Derby-win seasons,1980 and 1988, respectively. The only other female to ever win the Run for the Roses was Regret in 1915.
Genuine Risk died in her pasture paddock August 18, 2008 at the age of 31. Winning Colors was euthanized February 17 last year from complications brought on by colic. She was 23.
Alysheba Returned to America in 2008
In October of 2008, Alysheba returned to his home shores of America to reside at the Kentucky Horse Park, near Lexington, Kentucky.
Alysheba's return to the United States as an honored champion was arranged by Saudi Arabian King Miteb bin Abdullah, who purchased the Derby champ in 2000. Alysheba stood at King Abdullah's Janadriyah Stud Farm at Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia. He began his stud career at Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Kentucky.
Alysheba's Fatal Illness and Injury
King Abdullah's veterinary staff was notified of Alysheba's condition, which involved an injury to his right hind femur sustained in his fall. Alysheba had already suffered instability because of a chronic degenerative spinal condition.
King Abdullah's staff concurred with Hagyard Medical personnel that Alysheba's physical ailments were too advanced to reverse: in addition, the femur injury prevented him from standing on his own. Alysheba was 25 years old.
Alysheba's Greatest Triumphs
- Won 1987 Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Super Derby VIII (finished fourth in Belmont Stakes and second in Breeders' Cup Classic)
- Voted three-year-old male champion
- Won six grade 1 events in 1988, including the Breeders' Cup Classic, Santa Anita Handicap, Woodward Handicap; broke 2:00 mark for 1-1/4 miles three times, set two new track records
- Voted Horse of the Year and champion handicap male
Alysheba sired 18 stakes winners who collectively earned $16.1 million. He was the grandest son of Alydar, the only Thoroughbred in history to finish second in all three of the Triple Crown races.
Alysheba Birth
- 1984, bay c --- sired by Alydar--Bel Sheba, by Lt. Stevens --- Bred by Preston Madden in Kentucky/Owned by Dorothy & Pamela Scharbauer
- Alydar by Raise a Native--Sweet Tooth; Raise a Native by Native Dancer--Raise You; Sweet Tooth by On-and-On--Plum Cake
- Bel Sheba by Lt. Stevens--Belthazar; Lt. Stevens by Nantallah--Rough Shod II; Belthazar by War Admiral--Blinking Owl
