Ferdinand (horse)
Encyclopedia
Ferdinand was a Thoroughbred
racehorse who won the 1986 Kentucky Derby
and 1987 Breeders' Cup Classic
. He was voted the 1987 Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year
.
He entered stud
in 1989 and was later sold to a breeding farm in Japan
in 1994.
Much to the outrage of many horse racing enthusiasts, reports indicate that in 2002 Ferdinand was sent to slaughter
in Japan with no fanfare or notice to previous owners. He likely became either pet food
or steaks for human consumption. Ferdinand's death was the catalyst for the Ferdinand Fee, an optional donation program to fund keeping old racehorses alive, and Friends of Ferdinand, a nonprofit group formed in 2005 with the goal of transitioning retired racehorses into second careers.
In September 2006, the United States House of Representatives
approved H.R. 503, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, which would ban the slaughter of horses in the United States. The bill did not make it out of committee in the Senate, however. In January 2007 the bill was re-introduced.
also had started from gate number one, got pinched at the start, and wound up sixth. However, he (Ferdinand) did not win the Preakness Stakes
or Belmont Stakes
, initiated the small voluntary per-race charge (collected from owners of NY Breeds) called the "Ferdinand Fee" that will funnel the revenue to Bluegrass Charities and the Thoroughbred Charities of America, two organizations that help fund race horse rescue and retirement groups. Another small step in maintaining the safety of Thoroughbreds sent to breeding sheds around the world: Some owners are now including buy-back clauses within their stallion contracts. Reportedly, such clauses were included for Kentucky Derby
winner Silver Charm
and Dubai World Cup
winner Roses in May
, both of whom were sent to Japan.
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...
racehorse who won the 1986 Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
and 1987 Breeders' Cup Classic
Breeders' Cup Classic
The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships...
. He was voted the 1987 Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year
Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year
The American Award for Horse of the Year is the highest honor given in American thoroughbred horse racing. It has been awarded since 1887 to the horse, irrespective of age, whose performance during the racing year is deemed the most outstanding....
.
He entered stud
Stud (animal)
A stud animal is a registered animal retained for breeding. The terms for the male of a given animal species usually imply that the animal is entire—that is, not castrated—and therefore capable of siring offspring...
in 1989 and was later sold to a breeding farm in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in 1994.
Much to the outrage of many horse racing enthusiasts, reports indicate that in 2002 Ferdinand was sent to slaughter
Animal slaughter
Slaughter is the term used to describe the killing and butchering of animals, usually for food. Commonly it refers to killing and butchering of domestic livestock ....
in Japan with no fanfare or notice to previous owners. He likely became either pet food
Pet food
Pet food is plant or animal material intended for consumption by pets. Typically sold in pet stores and supermarkets, it is usually specific to the type of animal, such as dog food or cat food...
or steaks for human consumption. Ferdinand's death was the catalyst for the Ferdinand Fee, an optional donation program to fund keeping old racehorses alive, and Friends of Ferdinand, a nonprofit group formed in 2005 with the goal of transitioning retired racehorses into second careers.
In September 2006, the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
approved H.R. 503, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, which would ban the slaughter of horses in the United States. The bill did not make it out of committee in the Senate, however. In January 2007 the bill was re-introduced.
1986 Kentucky Derby
In 1986 Ferdinand entered the Derby under Bill Shoemaker, and entered starting gate number one. Most horses that start there usually get pinched at the start, and become lost among the giant crowd and wind up at the back of the pack. The Shoe guided Ferdinand all the way down the backstretch, and in a beautiful performance, won the Kentucky Derby. To compare the difficulty of this performance, Lookin at LuckyLookin at Lucky
Lookin At Lucky is an American Thoroughbred racehorse and winner of the 2010 Preakness Stakes. Sired by Smart Strike, a half brother to Canadian Triple Crown Winner Dance Smartly, his dam, Private Feeling, was sired by Belong To Me by the North American Leading Sire of 1993, Danzig.Lookin At...
also had started from gate number one, got pinched at the start, and wound up sixth. However, he (Ferdinand) did not win the Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
or Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
1987 Breeders Cup
In 1987, Ferdinand, Kentucky Derby winner of 1986, met Alysheba, derby winner of 1987. They both ran a phenomenal race, and hit on the wire together, with Ferdinand winning by a nose over Alysheba, winning the Titles of Horse of the Year and Champion Older Horse. He was the first Classic winner to win the title, just three years after its inaugural running.1988 Season
Ferdinand returned to racing in 1988 as a five year old, but was not as good as he was previously, losing to Alysheba multiple times. He was then retired and sent to stud.The Ferdinand Fee
In the summer of 2006, the New York Owners and Breeders' Association, based in Saratoga Springs, New YorkSaratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, also known as simply Saratoga, is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 26,586 at the 2010 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American name, ...
, initiated the small voluntary per-race charge (collected from owners of NY Breeds) called the "Ferdinand Fee" that will funnel the revenue to Bluegrass Charities and the Thoroughbred Charities of America, two organizations that help fund race horse rescue and retirement groups. Another small step in maintaining the safety of Thoroughbreds sent to breeding sheds around the world: Some owners are now including buy-back clauses within their stallion contracts. Reportedly, such clauses were included for Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
winner Silver Charm
Silver Charm
Silver Charm is an American Champion Thoroughbred race horse. Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Gary Stevens, Silver Charm will be remembered most for winning the 1997 Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes in the Triple Crown....
and Dubai World Cup
Dubai World Cup
The Dubai World Cup is a Thoroughbred horse race held annually since 1996 and from 2010 at the Meydan Racecourse in the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates...
winner Roses in May
Roses in May
Roses in May, Foaled on February 9, 2000, is an American thoroughbred racehorse bred by Margaux Farm in Midway, Kentucky and owned during his racing career by Ken and Sarah Ramsey.Roses in May made 13 starts and won 8 of them, placing in four...
, both of whom were sent to Japan.
See also
- Thoroughbred Retirement FoundationThoroughbred Retirement FoundationThe Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation is an American organization founded in 1982, whose mission is stated to be: "To save Thoroughbred horses no longer able to compete on the racetrack from possible neglect, abuse and slaughter."...
- Old Friends, Inc.
- The Horse TrustThe Horse TrustThe Horse Trust is a UK equine charity based at Speen, Buckinghamshire west north west of London. It was founded in 1886 to help the working horses in London making it the oldest horse charity in the world...
- California Equine Retirement Foundation
- LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society
- http://www.FriendsofFerdinand.org Friends of Ferdinand, Inc.