Estrapade (horse)
Encyclopedia
Estrapade was an American
Champion
Thoroughbred
filly
racehorse
. Bred in Kentucky
by Nelson Bunker Hunt
, she raced at age three and four in France
for Bruce McNall
where her most important win came in the 1984 La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte
. Shipped to the United States in October 1984 she raced once that year at Santa Anita Park
, finishing third in the Yellow Ribbon Stakes
, a Grade I
race she would win the next year.
Allen Paulson
purchased Estrapade for $4.5-million at the November 1985 Keeneland breeding stock sale
. She won three of her ten starts for her new owner, capturing the Beverly Hills Handicap
and beating colt
s in both the Oak Tree Invitational Stakes and Arlington Million
. As of 2008, Estrapade remains the only female to have ever won the Arlington Million. In her next to last career start, she ran third to winner Manila
in the 1986 Breeders' Cup Turf
. She was voted the 1986 Eclipse Award
as American Champion Female Turf Horse.
Retired to broodmare duty, Estrapade produced two winners from six starters, including stakes race winner, Rice.
Estrapade developed Cushing's syndrome
and was pensioned from the Hill 'n' Dale Farms
breeding operation in Lexington, Kentucky
. She was scheduled to be sent to Old Friends Equine
in Georgetown, Kentucky
but on February 25, 2005 died of a heart attack. She is buried at the Old Friends Cemetery on Alfred Nuckols, Jr.'s Hurstland Farm with a plaque that outlines her accomplishments.
In 2006, Estrapade was nominated for induction in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Champion
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
filly
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. Bred in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
by Nelson Bunker Hunt
Nelson Bunker Hunt
Nelson Bunker Hunt is an American oil company executive. He is best known as a former billionaire whose fortune collapsed after he and his brother William Herbert Hunt tried but failed to corner the world market in silver. He is also a successful thoroughbred horse breeder.-Personal:Hunt was born...
, she raced at age three and four in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
for Bruce McNall
Bruce McNall
Bruce Patrick McNall is a former Thoroughbred racehorse owner, and a sports executive who once owned the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League .McNall claimed to have made his initial fortune as a coin collector, though...
where her most important win came in the 1984 La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte
La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte
La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte is a Group 3 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Maisons-Laffitte over a distance of 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.-History:The event was established in 1906, and it...
. Shipped to the United States in October 1984 she raced once that year at Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the winter and in spring. With its backdrop of the purple San Gabriel Mountains, it is considered by many as the world's most beautiful race...
, finishing third in the Yellow Ribbon Stakes
Yellow Ribbon Stakes
The Yellow Ribbon Stakes is a Grade I race for thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three-years-old and upwards. It is raced during the Oak Tree Racing Association meeting at Santa Anita Park in late September / early October. It is a major prep race for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and is...
, a Grade I
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
race she would win the next year.
Allen Paulson
Allen E. Paulson
Allen Eugene Paulson was an American aviation entrepreneur, philanthropist, thoroughbred racehorse breeder and owner, and a self-made multi-millionaire.-Business career in aviation:Born in Clinton, Iowa, Allen E...
purchased Estrapade for $4.5-million at the November 1985 Keeneland breeding stock sale
Keeneland Sales
The Keeneland Sales is an American Thoroughbred auction house in Lexington, Kentucky founded in 1935 as a nonprofit racing/auction entity on 147 acres of farmland west of Lexington, which had been owned by Jack O. Keene...
. She won three of her ten starts for her new owner, capturing the Beverly Hills Handicap
Beverly Hills Handicap
The Beverly Hills Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in June at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. The Grade II run over a distance of 1 ¼ miles on turf, is open to fillies and mares three years of age and older....
and beating colt
Colt (horse)
A colt is a young male horse, under the age of four. The term "colt" is often confused with foal, which refers to a horse of either sex under one year of age....
s in both the Oak Tree Invitational Stakes and Arlington Million
Arlington Million
The Arlington Million is a Grade 1 flathorse race in the United States for thoroughbred horses aged three years and upward. It is raced over a distance of 1¼ miles on the turf at Arlington Park, Arlington Heights, Illinois in August each year...
. As of 2008, Estrapade remains the only female to have ever won the Arlington Million. In her next to last career start, she ran third to winner Manila
Manila (horse)
Manila is an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame Champion racehorse. He was sired by Northern Dancer's son Lyphard, out of the mare Dona Ysidra. He was bred by Filipino food and beverage magnate Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr...
in the 1986 Breeders' Cup Turf
Breeders' Cup Turf
The Breeders' Cup Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The race's current title sponsor is Emirates Airlines.The forerunner...
. She was voted the 1986 Eclipse Award
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
as American Champion Female Turf Horse.
Retired to broodmare duty, Estrapade produced two winners from six starters, including stakes race winner, Rice.
Estrapade developed Cushing's syndrome
Cushing's syndrome
Cushing's syndrome is a hormone disorder caused by high levels of cortisol in the blood. This can be caused by taking glucocorticoid drugs, or by tumors that produce cortisol or adrenocorticotropic hormone or CRH...
and was pensioned from the Hill 'n' Dale Farms
Hill 'n' Dale Farms
Hill 'n' Dale Farms is a thoroughbred race horse breeding farm in Canada and the United States. It was founded in 1960 in Aurora, Ontario in 1960 by John Sikura, Jr., who died mysteriously in an unsolved 1994 car fire. The Canadian operation is now run by his son, R. Glenn...
breeding operation in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
. She was scheduled to be sent to Old Friends Equine
Old Friends Equine
Old Friends is a nonprofit equine retirement facility in Georgetown, Kentucky. It is the only thoroughbred retirement facility in the United States that accepts stallions....
in Georgetown, Kentucky
Georgetown, Kentucky
Georgetown is a city in Scott County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 29,098 at the 2010 census. The original settlement of Lebanon, founded by Rev. Elijah Craig, was renamed in 1790 in honor of President George Washington. It is the home of Georgetown College, a private liberal arts...
but on February 25, 2005 died of a heart attack. She is buried at the Old Friends Cemetery on Alfred Nuckols, Jr.'s Hurstland Farm with a plaque that outlines her accomplishments.
In 2006, Estrapade was nominated for induction in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
.