Sue K: March 2009 Archives

For various reasons to remain unknown, I have not written on my blog. Interestingly, it took death of Alysheba to make me do so. At 25, Alysheba was the oldest living Kentucky Derby winner. That title now belongs to the 1992 derby winner Strike the Gold, who is 20 years old.

According to the press release, Alysheba suffered from a degenerative spinal condition, had fallen in his stall at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, and was unable to rise to his feet. He was taken to Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, where it was determined he had suffered insurmountable injuries, and was euthanized Friday night. He was buried at Kentucky Horse Park Saturday morning, across from the great John Henry, whose stall he occupied during his all-to-short stay at the Hall of Champions.

While not gaga over him like Secretariat, or Genuine Risk, Alysheba none the less holds a soft spot in my heart. Sired by one of my all time favorite horses, the great Alydar, Alysheba in my opinion, was one of his best offspring. A dual classic winner of the 1987 Kentucky Derby and Preakness wins, and ending his career with a win in the 1988 Breeder’s Cup Classic, Alysheba was a winner of 11 of 26 career starts, and retired a winner of $6,679,242.

Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhKpqZyx1JI  , Jim McKay's favorite Kentucky Derby moment

Back in February, I was briefly in Lexington, and decided to go with my mom and our friend Carmen, to Kentucky Horse Park. There was the great champion, out in John Henry’s old paddock, with his blanket, was Alysheba. He was observing the progress we were making pushing mom, in a wheelchair, going up the hill towards the champion’s barn.

He looked good, he looked alert, and he appeared to be greatly amused. He will be greatly missed.