Why was forego gelded

He ran with the ease of a morning preparation gallop. Of his next 5 starts, Forego captured the Woodward Stakes Gr. It was a feat unparalleled in the history of Racing. It was the equivalent of an athlete winning a gold medal in the m sprint, the 1, metres middle-distance race and the 10, metres marathon. Forego was not a king of horses, he was an emperor.

He became the first horse in racing history to be rated Horse of the Year, Champion Sprinter, and Champion Handicap Horse in the same season. The next year, Forego won the Seminole Handicap Gr. In the Metropolitan Handicap Gr.

He followed that up with brilliant victories in the Brooklyn Handicap Gr. Champion 3 year old, Wajima, beat him again in the Marlboro Cup, this time carrying to Forego's , but Forego avenged the two losses in the Woodward Stakes Gr. In , Forego was transferred to the stables of Frank Whitely, as his trainer Sherril Ward was ill. With lbs. Later that year, Bill Shoemaker was to partner him.

Forego won the Woodward under a handicap of lb. After a great duel, he beat Honest Pleasure by a head. The timing was slow as a result of a sloppy track, but Forego had established himself as one of the greatest handicappers of all time. He earned the titles of Champion Handicapper and Horse of the Year. In , Forego won 4 out of 7 races, including wins in the Metropolitan Handicap Gr.

Moreover, he was second in the Suburban Handicap Gr. Is a filly a horse? Did Spectacular Bid win the Kentucky Derby? What is a horse with no balls called? What do they call a male horse? At what age should a horse be gelded? Can you geld a 20 year old stallion? Can a gelded horse still get hard? Do stallions make good horses? Which horse has sired the most winners? How many winners Frankel sired? I found myself screaming with everyone else.

As he crossed the finish line, the goose bumps emerged in full force. Forego was back. The Woodward to this day remains one of the most emotional and satisfying races I've ever experienced. But, as it turned out, Forego was back only for this one brief moment. His ankles caught up to him after the race and he was put away for the year. He came back the following June to defeat Dr. Patches, and then beat only one horse, finishing fifth, in the Suburban Handicap. His ankles had finally betrayed him.

It was time to call it quits. Looking back at Forego's career, it is amazing how consistently fast he came home in his races, despite his unsoundness and the massive weights he had to carry. In five other grade I stakes he came home in and change. In all, he defeated eight champions or classic winners - Foolish Pleasure Kentucky Derby winner and champion 2-year-old male , Honest Pleasure champion 2-year-old male and winner of the Travers , Avatar Belmont Stakes winner , Wajima champion 3-year-old male and winner of the Travers , Dr.

Patches co-champion sprinter , J. I visited Forego with my wife shortly after his retirement when he was residing at John Ward's farm overlooking Keeneland Racetrack.

John told us he still loved the cheers and would start running around his paddock whenever he'd hear the roar of the crowd. Forego was standing in the middle of his paddock grazing, paying little attention to us.

In a feeble and seemingly moronic attempt to see if he did indeed react to the applause and to get a good photo of him, we decided: 'What the heck, let's start clapping. Several other visits followed over the years at the Kentucky Horse Park, this time with our daughter. Forego always had a larger-than-life presence and knew what he liked and didn't like. I can remember mornings at the barn when former trainer Eddie Hayward, who took care of Sherrill Ward's barn when the trainer was ill, would come to visit carrying a brown paper bag filled with apples.

One morning, he arrived when Forego was out grazing. The big horse took one look at Hayward, saw the bag, and dragged his hotwalker over to him. He knew Hayward meant apples. It was quite a sight seeing him polish off one apple after another while Hayward conversed with Mrs. Gerry, who visited the barn often. It was after Forego was turned over to Whiteley in early that I became good friends with Frank, having only previously spoken to him on occasion. During my first visit to Frank's barn, we were sitting on a tack box in the shed row when a huge dark bay horse walked by, just as we were talking about Forego.

Well, I not only knew that wasn't Forego, I knew it was Ruffian's brother Buckfinder, who was almost the same size and color as Forego, but not quite as big and massive. I didn't have a clue how to respond.

Why would Whiteley make such a comment? I had to say something, so I replied, "That kinda looks like Buckfinder to me. It seems as if people don't quite know where to rank Forego on the list of great horses, just as they are uncertain about other great geldings such as Kelso and John Henry. Mine That Bird resides in New Mexico where he is occasionally showcased for photo shoots and trail rides.

Funny Cide, meanwhile, has found residence in the Hall of Champions at the Kentucky Horse Park, where he is one of the most visited horses and a popular tourist attraction. So while champion geldings may not lead a sexy post-racing career life like their fully-equipped brethren, the peaceful lifestyle is nothing to lament.

But if anything, he has two fewer obstacles slowing him down. Why Cam Newton isn't starting for the Panthers in Week 10 vs. NFL 33m ago. Fantasy 1h ago. Full list of all 32 nations.