Forego
Encyclopedia
Forego was an American Thoroughbred
racehorse that won eight Eclipse Awards including Horse of the Year, Champion Handicap Horse and Champion Sprinter.
Foaled on April 30, 1970 at Claiborne Farm
in Paris, Kentucky
, Forego was owned and bred by Mrs. Martha Farish Gerry's
Lazy F Ranch.
and his son David A. Whiteley. Forego had two main jockeys; Hall of Fame
jockey, Bill Shoemaker and Heliodoro Gustines
.
Forego was fourth behind Secretariat in a Kentucky Derby
that was run in record time (1:59 2/5). Eddie Hayward, assistant trainer to Sherrill Ward, took over when Ward was ill and is officially listed as Forego's trainer in his wins in his final two races of 1973, the Roamer and Discovery Handicap
s. During the 1973 season Forego had 18 starts for 9 wins, 3 seconds and 3 thirds for $188,909 in prizemoney.
At five-years-old, Forego placed in all but one start. He won the Seminole and Widener Handicaps in Florida, took the Carter Handicap
carrying 134 pounds (60.8 kg), set a track record with 132 pounds (59.9 kg) in the Brooklyn Handicap
, and won the 1½ mile Suburban Handicap
carrying 134 pounds (60.8 kg).
As a six-years-old Forego's most dramatic win was his victory in the 1976 Marlboro Cup
(carrying 137 pounds) at Belmont Park
. After contending for the lead, Forego faded to eighth of 11 horses on the backstretch, with Honest Pleasure
holding the lead most of the way. Entering the stretch, Forego appeared to be too far behind, but he made up ground in the closing strides and just edged out Honest Pleasure in a dramatic finish. Forego also won the Brooklyn Handicap
, Metropolitan Handicap
and the Woodward Stakes
to become the leader in stakes earnings for a second time.
As a seven-year-old Forego won the Metropolitan Handicap again and his fourth consecutive Woodward Stakes. He also was named Champion Handicapper for the fourth time.
Forego raced twice as an eight-year-old before chronic fetlock
problems finished his racing career.
. Owing to his wins, he was constantly handicapped to carry more than 130 pounds (59 kg), and even so usually won. In 57 starts, Forego had 34 wins, 9 seconds and 7 thirds. Forego registered 24 stakes victories including 14 Grade 1 wins. His lifetime earnings amounted to $1,938,957.
in 1974, and Eclipse Award for Outstanding Older Male Horse
for four years in a row; 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1977. He was voted the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year
for three years in a row; 1974, 1975 and 1976. He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
in Saratoga Springs, New York
in 1979. In the list of the Top 100 U.S. Thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century by Blood-Horse magazine, Forego ranks 8th.
in 1979, the year after his last race. He lived there for the rest of his life until his death in 1997.
At 27 years of age, Forego broke his near (left) hind leg in a paddock accident and had to be euthanized
.
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 that won eight Eclipse Awards including Horse of the Year, Champion Handicap Horse and Champion Sprinter.
Foaled on April 30, 1970 at Claiborne Farm
Claiborne Farm
Claiborne Farm is a thoroughbred Horse breeding operation in near Paris, Kentucky. It was established in 1910, by Arthur B. Hancock, owner of Ellerslie Farm in Albemarle County, Virginia, and has been operated by members of his family ever since.-Owners:...
in Paris, Kentucky
Paris, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,183 people, 3,857 households, and 2,487 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,222 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 84.23% White, 12.71% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16%...
, Forego was owned and bred by Mrs. Martha Farish Gerry's
Martha F. Gerry
Martha B. Farish Gerry was an American Thoroughbred racehorse owner named an Exemplar of Racing by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame....
Lazy F Ranch.
Racing career
Over the year, Forego would have four trainers; Sherrill W. Ward, Eddie Hayward, and eventually Frank Y. Whiteley, Jr.Frank Y. Whiteley, Jr.
Frank Yewell Whiteley, Jr. was a Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.Born and raised on a farm in Centreville, Maryland, Whiteley grew up around horses and from a very early age was intent on racing them. Developing his skills, by age twenty-one he had embarked on a professional training...
and his son David A. Whiteley. Forego had two main jockeys; 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...
jockey, Bill Shoemaker and Heliodoro Gustines
Heliodoro Gustines
Heliodoro Gustines in is a retired Panamanian-born jockey and horse trainer. In 1967, TIME magazine called him "The best grass-course rider in the United States."Although Gustines is best known as a jockey on many of U.S...
.
Forego was fourth behind Secretariat in a 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...
that was run in record time (1:59 2/5). Eddie Hayward, assistant trainer to Sherrill Ward, took over when Ward was ill and is officially listed as Forego's trainer in his wins in his final two races of 1973, the Roamer and Discovery Handicap
Discovery Handicap
The Discovery Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the latter part of November at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York...
s. During the 1973 season Forego had 18 starts for 9 wins, 3 seconds and 3 thirds for $188,909 in prizemoney.
At five-years-old, Forego placed in all but one start. He won the Seminole and Widener Handicaps in Florida, took the Carter Handicap
Carter Handicap
The Carter Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early April at Aqueduct Racetrack. Open to horses three-years-old and up, it is raced over a distance of seven furlongs....
carrying 134 pounds (60.8 kg), set a track record with 132 pounds (59.9 kg) in the Brooklyn Handicap
Brooklyn Handicap
The Brooklyn Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, on Long Island. It currently is a Grade II event open to three-year-olds and up willing to race one and one-half miles on dirt....
, and won the 1½ mile Suburban Handicap
Suburban Handicap
The Suburban Handicap is an American Grade II Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is run at the classic one-and-one-quarter mile distance on dirt for a $400,000 purse....
carrying 134 pounds (60.8 kg).
As a six-years-old Forego's most dramatic win was his victory in the 1976 Marlboro Cup
Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap
The Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap was a Thoroughbred horse race first run in September 1973 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. A Grade 1 race for horses 3 years old and up, it was raced over a distance of 1 1/8 miles on a dirt track....
(carrying 137 pounds) at Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
. After contending for the lead, Forego faded to eighth of 11 horses on the backstretch, with Honest Pleasure
Honest Pleasure
Honest Pleasure was an American thoroughbred stallion racehorse. Bred in Florida by Waldemar Farms, he was sired by leading American sire What A Pleasure, out of the mare Tularia, whose sire, Tulyar, was owned and bred by The Aga Khan IV and was a stakes winner in Ireland and England.Guided by...
holding the lead most of the way. Entering the stretch, Forego appeared to be too far behind, but he made up ground in the closing strides and just edged out Honest Pleasure in a dramatic finish. Forego also won the Brooklyn Handicap
Brooklyn Handicap
The Brooklyn Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, on Long Island. It currently is a Grade II event open to three-year-olds and up willing to race one and one-half miles on dirt....
, Metropolitan Handicap
Metropolitan Handicap
The Metropolitan Handicap, frequently called the "Met Mile," is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the last week of May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one mile .The Met Mile was first...
and the Woodward Stakes
Woodward Stakes
The Woodward Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race and is one of the premier races for older thoroughbred horses in the United States. Named for prominent racehorse owner, George Nicholas Woodward, it is run at 1⅛ miles on the dirt for a purse of $750,000.The Woodward was run as a handicap in...
to become the leader in stakes earnings for a second time.
As a seven-year-old Forego won the Metropolitan Handicap again and his fourth consecutive Woodward Stakes. He also was named Champion Handicapper for the fourth time.
Forego raced twice as an eight-year-old before chronic fetlock
Fetlock
Fetlock is the common name for the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints of horses, large animals, and sometimes dogs. It is formed by the junction of the third metacarpal or metatarsal bones proximad and the proximal phalanx distad...
problems finished his racing career.
Summary
His versatility was clearly demonstrated with wins from 7 furlongs (1,400 meters) to the 2 mile (3,200 m.) Jockey Club Gold CupJockey Club Gold Cup
The Jockey Club Gold Cup, established in 1919, is a prestigious thoroughbred flat race open to horses of either gender three-years-old and up. It is typically the main event of the fall meeting at Belmont Park, just as the Belmont Stakes is of the spring meeting and the Travers Stakes is of the...
. Owing to his wins, he was constantly handicapped to carry more than 130 pounds (59 kg), and even so usually won. In 57 starts, Forego had 34 wins, 9 seconds and 7 thirds. Forego registered 24 stakes victories including 14 Grade 1 wins. His lifetime earnings amounted to $1,938,957.
Honours
Forego won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Sprint HorseEclipse Award for Outstanding Sprint Horse
The American Champion Sprint Horse award is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor. Created in 1947, in 1971 it became part of the Eclipse Awards program and is awarded annually to the top horse in sprint races usually run at a distance of under one mile)....
in 1974, and Eclipse Award for Outstanding Older Male Horse
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Older Male Horse
The title of American Champion Older Male Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually to a stallion or gelding, four years old and up. Prior to 1971, this award was referred to as "Champion Handicap Male Horse", and was open to any horse, three years old and up...
for four years in a row; 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1977. He was voted the 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....
for three years in a row; 1974, 1975 and 1976. He was inducted into 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...
in Saratoga Springs, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1979. In the list of the Top 100 U.S. Thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century by Blood-Horse magazine, Forego ranks 8th.
Retirement
Forego moved to the Kentucky Horse ParkKentucky Horse Park
Kentucky Horse Park is a working horse farm and an educational theme park opened in 1978 in Lexington, Kentucky. It is located off Kentucky State Highway 1973 and Interstate 75 in northern Fayette County in the United States...
in 1979, the year after his last race. He lived there for the rest of his life until his death in 1997.
At 27 years of age, Forego broke his near (left) hind leg in a paddock accident and had to be euthanized
Animal euthanasia
Animal euthanasia is the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, an animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition. Euthanasia methods are designed to cause minimal pain and distress...
.
Tabulated pedigree
External links
- Memorial to Forego from the Kentucky Horse Park
- Forego's page in the Hall of Fame, video of his 1974 Vosburgh win
- Photo of Heliodoro Gustines on Forego
- Forego Fan Page and race record
- Champions, The Lives and Times and Past Performances of the 20th Century's Greatest Thoroughbreds, by The Daily Racing FormDaily Racing FormThe Daily Racing Form is a tabloid newspaper founded in 1894 in Chicago, Illinois by Frank Brunell. The paper publishes the past performances of race horses as a statistical service for bettors on horse racing in the United States....
.