Derby Champion Alysheba Returns to United States
Saudi Abrabia's King Abdullah Arranged Horse's Return to America
Nov 6, 2008
In days of increasing sensitivity to the plight of Thoroughbreds, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah made the October return of American Thoroughbred champion Alysheba a gift to the United States. After Saudi Arabian (then) Prince Miteb bin Abdullah purchased Alysheba in 2000, the colt traveled to stand at the prince's Janadriyah Stud Farm near captial city Riyadh.
Alydar's Best Son Won Over Six Million
Alysheba, the most noted son of Alydar, scored in such prestigious races as the 1987 Blue Grass Stakes, Kentucky Derby, and Preakness Stakes, and the 1988 Breeders' Cup Classic. Having won 11 of 26 career starts, Alysheba ranks ninth on the all-time money-leader list with $6,672,242 in track earnings.
Alysheba is currently America's oldest living Kentucky Derby winner. He was trained by Hall of Famer Jack Van Berg.
Ferdinand Perished Abroad
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah was praised by Kentucky Horse Park executive director John Nicholson, who expressed gratitude for Alysheba's return to the United States, as well as "the great care" provided by the king during his ownership of the American champion.
Other foreign investors of American stock have not acted with such magnanimous insight. The fate of 1986 Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand, who served at stud for many years overseas, was ugly. Ferdinand's former American owners, having decided they would request his return to the states, traced their champion's last days to a slaughterhouse.
Alysheba and Ferdinand
Hall of Fame jockey Bill (Willie) Shoemaker rode Ferdinand to glory in the 1986 Kentucky Derby. Never shy with his opinions of his mounts, Shoemaker said Ferdinand was the best horse he rode in his final decade of competition.
In contrast, before surgery to correct an entrapped epiglottis, Alysheba was quit by several top jockeys, including Shoemaker, Pat Day, and Don Brumfield, none of whom could find the winner's circle with the colt.
Alysheba and Ferdinand were destined to clash in the 1987 Hollywood Park Breeders' Cup Classic. Shoemaker had Ferdinand, as usual. Chris McCarron had become Alysheba's regular rider.
With Ferdinand the slight betting favorite, the two colts tangled through the stretch from the sixteenth pole to the wire. Ferdinand prevailed by a nose and was voted Horse of the Year, claiming that title for the first time directly from a Breeders' Cup Classic triumph.
Alysheba returned the next season to the BC Classic held at Churchill Downs, and at that most historic vista he capped his winning reversal with a Classic victory and captured the Horse of the Year trophy, as well.
Applause for King Abdullah
Alysheba became a personal favorite of (Prince) King Abdullah. The Saudi Arabian king's decision to transport Alysheba home to live out his years at the Kentucky Horse Park, where the Thoroughbred champion's many American fans may visit him, is one to be applauded.
In an October 31 celebration, Alysheba was welcomed home at the Lexington Kentucky Horse Park's Hall of Champions.
