FOREGO (1970 -1997)

Forego, a Kentucky-bred Thoroughbred, earned an astounding eight Eclipse Awards (the highest honor in Thoroughbred racing) including Horse of the Year three times. During his remarkable and versatile racing career, he defeated the best sprinters as well as the best stayers in the country, giving him an undisputed spot among the greatest racehorses of the 20th century. He lived at the Kentucky Horse Park for 16 years and is buried behind the Hall of Champions.

FOREGO (1970 -1997)
Owned by Mrs. Martha Gerry, Forego was born in 1970 at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky. Lazy F. Ranch's tall, bay gelding was slow to mature and was gelded by his trainer Sherrill Ward as a result of his temperament.

This 17.1-hand horse made his racing debut on January 17, 1973 at Hialeah Park in Florida and he finished fourth. His record soon became so impressive that he was nominated to run in the Kentucky Derby against horses that had already proven themselves as two-year-olds. For the next five years this remarkable horse ran, despite poor ankles, and kept officials busy rewriting their record books. He raced at various tracks, under various conditions and even against much younger horses and still won.

Regardless, of the distance or weight (he was sometimes assigned a weight of as much as 137 pounds even when he was competing against horses two or three years younger) his will to win drove him to victory time after time. In the short span of five weeks during 1974, he won the 1 1/2 mile Woodward Stakes, the seven furlong Vosburgh Handicap (beating the nation's top sprinters) and the two mile Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (defeating the nation's top stayers). Forego finished in the money 21 of 24 starts in which he carried 130 or more (13 wins, 5 seconds, and 3 thirds) and he finished in the money 12 of 14 starts during stake races in which he carried 134 pounds or more (6 wins, 4 seconds and 2 thirds).

He was voted eight Eclipse Awards including Horse of the Year, Champion Handicap Horse and Champion Sprinter.

Forego finished his racing career on July 10. 1978 and was retired to John T. Ward Stable in Lexington. Since 1981, he delighted visitors at the Kentucky Horse Park Hall of Champions. In September, 1997, Forego was humanely put down after breaking his long pastern bone in his paddock at the Hall of Champion. He is buried next to Rambling Willie at the Hall of Champions.

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Thoroughbred Bay Gelding (foaled, April 30, 1970)
17.1 hands
by Forli - Lady Golconda, by Hasty Road
Owner: Lazy F Ranch (Mrs. Martha Gerry)
Trainers: Sherrill Ward and Frank Whiteley, Jr.
Jockeys: Pete Anderson, Heliodoro Guistines, William Shoemaker

Accomplishments
Voted 8 Eclipse Awards - more than any other horse
Horse of the Year 3 times, 1974, 1975, 1976
Champion Older Horse 4 times, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977
Champion Sprinter, 1975
Retired as the 2nd richest horse in history - July 5, 1978
Inducted into Racing's Hall of Fame in 1979
Voted the 8th best racehorse of the 20th Century
Won 24 stakes, including Woodward 4 times, Brooklyn Handicap 3 times, Marlboro Cup 3 times, Suburban Handicap 3 times and the Metropolitan Handicap 3 times.
Forego finished his racing career on July 10, 1978 and was retired to John T. Ward Stable in Lexington. From 1981 - 1997, he delighted visitors at the Kentucky Horse Park's Hall of Champions. In September, 1997, Forego was humanely put down after breaking his long pastern bone in his paddock at the Hall of Champion. He is buried next to Rambling Willie at the Hall of Champions.

Forego's Career Record Totals and Pedigree

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