Saturday, November 1, 2008

Welcome Home!!

Guess who showed up at the Kentucky Horse Park yesterday???????




ALYSHEBA

The 24 year old settled into John Henry's stall, across from Cigar. Interesting note. Before Cigar came around and set the all-time money earning record, that title belonged to Alysheba.

He spent the last eight years in Saudia Arabia in HRH King Abdullah's royal stables.



John Nicholson, the Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Park stated:

"His Royal Highness King Abdullah realized how much Alysheba means to the American racing fans and we are grateful for this magnanimous gift of one of his favorite horses to our country. We are grateful as well for the great care His Majesty has provided for Alysheba."



While winning the 1987 Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, AND Eclipse Award (Horse of the Year), Alysheba was even better as a 4-year-old, winning six Grade 1 stakes, including the 1988 Breeder's Cup Classic. He's listed as #42 out of the top 100 U.S. racehorses of the 20th Century.


This is a tremendous gift to the Horse Park. If you haven't been in a while or have never been, go now. Go see this wonderful horse, along with the others that are still there: Cigar, Da Hoss, Kona Gold, Western Dreamer and the others. Their former owners have been so gracious to send them to the Park so the fans of the sport, new and old, can enjoy them again, or for the very first time.

4 comments:

Stephen said...

If you watch the video, pay attention towards the end. Alysheba clips Bet Twice and almost goes down. He regains his stride, then powers past Bet Twice to win. Remarkable!!

Never Say Never Greyhounds said...

I love Alysheba. I have fond memories of getting to see him run against Ferdinand at Santa Anita when I was a kid. Snookums, its time for another Kentucky trip!!!

Jen

Denise- LessIsMore17 said...

That race Jen mentions was AWESOME I have 2 great pics of Ferdinand and Alysheba before that race...
I'm still so sad about Ferdinand, he deserved the same:-(

Stephen said...

I'm right there with you. NO horse deserves what Ferdinand endured >=-(. Dang it Denise, now you got me mad again!