ALYSHEBA

MEMORIAL SERVICE HELD FOR KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER ALYSHEBA

LEXINGTON, KY (April 29, 2009) Today the Kentucky Horse Park remembered Kentucky Derby winner Alysheba in a memorial service at the Hall of Champions.

The famous son of Alydar was euthanized at 11:13 pm on March 27 at the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Kentucky, where he was being treated after sustaining a serious injury in his stall at the Hall of Champions. He had resided at the park for only five months. The 25-year-old stallion was buried the following morning at the Hall of Champions, across from the grave of the legendary John Henry.

John Nicholson, Executive Director of the park stated, "Although Alysheba left us a month ago, we felt that it was fitting for a Kentucky Derby winner to be memorialized during Derby week. This is a very special and exciting time of year for everyone who loves Thoroughbred racing, as we anticipate the next Kentucky Derby winner. We couldn't imagine a better time to honor the life and remember the accomplishments of Alysheba.

"During the too-brief time he lived at the Kentucky Horse Park, Alysheba stole the hearts of our park employees especially those who worked with him each day and frequently commented on his loving disposition. We are glad that his fans and those who revere champions joined us in this service to honor Alysheba."

Before coming to the Kentucky Horse Park, Alysheba spent the previous eight years of his life in the royal stables of His Majesty King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, after standing his first years at stud at William S. Farish's Lane's End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky. Known on the track as "America's horse," he was sent to the Kentucky Horse Park as a gift from His Majesty to the American people in October 2008.

Bred by Preston Madden at Hamburg Place in Lexington, Alysheba (Alydar-Bel Sheba, by Lt. Stevens) was sold as a yearling to Dorothy and Pam Scharbauer who campaigned him under the guidance of Hall of Fame trainer, Jack Van Berg.

Alysheba won the 1987 Kentucky Derby (G1), Preakness Stakes (G1), Super Derby (G1), and an Eclipse Award as Champion 3-year-old colt. As a 4-year-old, he was even better, winning six Grade 1 stakes: the Strub Stakes, Santa Anita Handicap, Iselin Handicap, Woodward Stakes, Meadowlands Cup and the Breeders' Cup Classic. He was ridden in 17 consecutive starts by Hall of Fame Jockey, Chris McCarron.

Alysheba is listed at #42 on The Blood-Horse magazine's list of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century, one notch above another Kentucky Derby-winner, Northern Dancer.

His career highlights also included Horse of the Year honors and track records for 1 1/4 miles at Belmont and The Meadowlands. Along the way, he defeated Risen Star, Forty Niner, Bet Twice, Seeking the Gold, and another Kentucky Derby-winner, the ill-fated Ferdinand. Until two-time Horse of the Year Cigar came along, Alysheba was the world's richest Thoroughbred, with earnings of $6,679,242.

In addition to John Nicholson, other speakers at Alysheba's Memorial Service were Preston Madden, Clarence Scharbauer III, representing the Scharbauer family and Valor Farm in Pilot Point, TX, trainer Jack van Berg and jockey Chris McCarron.

Nicholson concluded, "We want to express our appreciation to the veterinarians at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute for doing everything humanly and humanely possible for Alysheba. We also want to thank His Majesty King Abdullah for sending Alysheba to our park so he could be reunited with many of his fans and taste the sweet, spring Kentucky Bluegrass once again."



KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER ALYSHEBA COMES HOME TO KENTUCKY
Son of Alydar is Gift to American People from Saudi King


Until two-time Horse of the Year Cigar came along, Alysheba was the worlds richest Thoroughbred, with earnings of $6,679,242.

Alysheba, who was known on the track as "America's horse," has spent the last eight years in the royal stables of HRH King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, after standing his first years at stud at William S. Farish's Lane's End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky. He will soon arrive back home on his native soil thanks to the king, who is sending Alysheba to the Kentucky Horse Park as a gift to the American people.



John Nicholson, Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Park stated, "His Royal Highness King Abdullah realized how much Alysheba means to 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."



According to Frank McGovern, General Manager of the king's stables, "The king's only concern in returning Alysheba to the United States was that priority be given to Alysheba's well-being and that he be based somewhere that his fans could easily visit him hence the choice of the Kentucky Horse Park."



"Shipping a 24-year-old horse is not without risk so we had to take every precaution to ensure that the process was stress free. Alyshebas comfort and safety were of such importance to the king that his two-month pre-export quarantine was spent in the luxury of the ultra-modern Nad Al Sheba Quarantine Centre in Dubai. We are very thankful to the Nad Al Sheba Quarantine team for the care and attention that they gave Alysheba during his stay there."



Bred by Preston Madden at Hamburg Place in Lexington, Alysheba (Alydar-Bel Sheba, by Lt. Stevens) was sold as a yearling to Dorothy and Pam Scharbauer for $500,000. They campaigned him under the guidance of Hall of Fame trainer, Jack Van Berg, who said, "He stuck out like a diamond in a rock pile." Later, Van Berg observed, "He was so smart he knew what he was doing all the time."



Alysheba won the 1987 Kentucky Derby (G1), Preakness Stakes (G1), Super Derby (G1), and an Eclipse Award as Champion 3-year-old colt. As a 4-year-old, he was even better, winning six Grade 1 stakes: the Strub Stakes, Santa Anita Handicap, Iselin Handicap, Woodward Stakes, Meadowlands Cup and the Breeders' Cup Classic. He was ridden in 17 consecutive starts by Hall of Fame Jockey, Chris McCarron. Alysheba is listed at #42 on The Blood-Horse magazines list of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century, one notch above another Kentucky Derby-winner, Northern Dancer.



His career highlights also included Horse of the Year honors and track records for 1 1/4 miles at Belmont and The Meadowlands. Along the way, he defeated Risen Star, Forty Niner, Bet Twice, Seeking the Gold, and another Kentucky Derby-winner, the ill-fated Ferdinand.



Nicholson continued, "Alysheba will live out the rest of his life on his native soil, in a Bluegrass pasture surrounded by white plank fences and old oak trees, where his fans can visit him daily. It's the kind of fairy tale ending that every champion every horse deserves, and the generosity of King Abdullah has made this possible for Alysheba."



The 24-year-old stallion will take up residence in the stall formerly occupied by another Horse of the Year, John Henry, which is already outfitted with a heater, and well-suited for an older horse. Since Alysheba has been in a very hot climate for the past several years, it will make his transition more comfortable by ensuring he stays warm enough until his winter coat develops. He will live across the aisle from Cigar, the third-leading money-earning Thoroughbred of all time.



Nicholson concluded, "It's a very good day for Kentucky when one of our home-bred, Kentucky Derby-winning stallions returns. We invite all of Alysheba's fans to the Kentucky Horse Park to make him feel welcomed."
Slide show of Alysheba





Alysheba Returns to Kentucky


Photos of Alysheba Katey Barrett