Gander (horse)
Encyclopedia
Gander is a thoroughbred
race horse by Cormorant (Cormorant won eight of his twelve starts) out of Lovely Nurse (a hard-knocker who made one hundred and one starts) by Sawbones. His pedigree includes the great British
horse, Ribot
, as well as Tom Fool
, Count Fleet
, Bimelech
, Eight Thirty
, Noor
, and Hyperion
.
Gander is a New York
-bred and spent almost his entire racing career of 60 starts in and around New York and New England
. These days it's rare for a horse to start as often as Gander did, but as a gelding
, it was race or not race...there would be no career as a stallion
.
Bred by Angela Rugnetta, and owned by Gatsas Thoroughbreds, trained originally by Charlie Assimakopoulos, and then by John Terranova, Gander earned his keep racing for seven years and proving an admirable warrior. In those 60 starts, he won fifteen times, placed ten times, and came in third nine times, earning almost two million dollars in the process. (To be precise: $1,824,011.)
As a two-year-old he placed in the Damon Runyon Stakes
at Aqueduct Race Track.
At three, he won the Albany Stakes at the Saratoga Race Course
, the Empire Classic Handicap
at Belmont Park
, placed in the Paterson Stakes, and came third in the Sam F. Davis Stakes
.
At four, he won the Evan Shipman Handicap
at Belmont, and came home second in the Grade 1
Jockey Club Gold Cup
to Albert the Great. He was third to Lemon Drop Kid
in the Grade I Woodward Stakes
. He was also third in the Grade II Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap. These impressive near wins put Gander with John Velazquez in the 2000 $4 million dollar Breeders' Cup Classic
in a field that included Albert the Great, Captain Steve
, Cat Thief, Fusaichi Pegasus
, Giant's Causeway
, Lemon Drop Kid
, and Tiznow
. He came in ninth.
Racing at the age of five, he won the Grade II Meadowlands Cup Handicap, placed in the Grade III New Hampshire Sweepstakes
Handicap, and came third in the Grade I Donn Handicap
to Captain Steve
, and the Grade I Whitney Handicap
to Lido Palace.
At the age of six with Richard Migliore
up, he won the Empire classic for the second time, placed in the Woodward Stakes to Lido Palace, and the Kings Point Handicap
to Toddler. As an interesting aside about the nature of horse racing and horses, the experienced Gander won the 2002 Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap
by at least three lengths but was disqualified because he was riderless. Stumbling badly out of the gate, he lost his jockey, Mike Smith, but proceeded to run the race nevertheless. Gander paced himself behind the leader, and then took over in the far turn by pulling ahead in a perfectly professional racing move. Evening Attire
, closing fast, took second...but of course won since he was still racing under a jockey. (This race is available for viewing on youtube.)
Seven in 2003, Gander came home second in the Empire Classic and third in the Grade III Stuyvesant Handicap.
At eight he took the Kings Point Handicap.
In 1999, Gander was the Champion New York Three-Year-old. In 2000, he was the New York Horse of the Year and the Champion New York Older Horse. As a four-year-old in 2000, he was 3-1-2 from 11 starts with earnings of $388,290.
All in all, a remarkable career for a very good horse. In the world of horse racing, few horses start, and fewer win. Very few win as much as the beautiful gray Gander who now lives out his life as an honored guest at Peter Fuller's Runnymede Stables in North Hampton, New Hampshire
.
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...
race horse by Cormorant (Cormorant won eight of his twelve starts) out of Lovely Nurse (a hard-knocker who made one hundred and one starts) by Sawbones. His pedigree includes the great British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
horse, Ribot
Ribot (horse)
Ribot was an Italian bay Thoroughbred racehorse, considered the strongest horse of all time.Undefeated in 16 races, he won over distances ranging from 5 furlongs to 1m 7f , in three different countries and in all types of track conditions...
, as well as Tom Fool
Tom Fool
Tom Fool was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, a winner of the American Horse of the Year award and a Hall of Fame inductee. He sired the outstanding racehorses Buckpasser and Tim Tam....
, Count Fleet
Count Fleet
Count Fleet was born and died at Stoner Creek Stud farm in Paris, Kentucky, United States. He was a Thoroughbred racehorse and Triple Crown champion in 1943....
, Bimelech
Bimelech
Bimelech was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse who won two Triple Crown races, was twice named American horse of the year, and is ranked #84 among U.S. racehorses of the 20th century. After retiring to stud, he sired 30 stakes winners and his daughters produced 50 stakes winners.-Early...
, Eight Thirty
Eight Thirty
Eight Thirty was an American Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse. He was owned by George D. Widener, Jr. and bred by his Erdenheim Farm. Widener is one of only five people ever named an Exemplar of Racing. Eight Thirty was a descendant of Fair Play, who had been purchased from the estate of...
, Noor
Noor (horse)
Noor was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse Champion who competed successfully in the United Kingdom and the United States. Given the Arabic name meaning "Light", Noor was sired by five-time U.S. leading sire Nasrullah...
, and Hyperion
Hyperion (horse)
Hyperion was a British bred Thoroughbred, a dual classic winner and an outstanding sire. Owned by Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby, Hyperion won £29,509 during his career - a considerable sum at the time. His victories included the Epsom Derby and St...
.
Gander is a 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...
-bred and spent almost his entire racing career of 60 starts in and around New York and New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. These days it's rare for a horse to start as often as Gander did, but as a gelding
Gelding
A gelding is a castrated horse or other equine such as a donkey or a mule. Castration, and the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male horse to be calmer and better-behaved, making the animal quieter, gentler and potentially more suitable as an everyday...
, it was race or not race...there would be no career as a stallion
Stallion (horse)
A stallion is a male horse that has not been gelded .Stallions will follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed, but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions a thicker, "cresty" neck, as well as a somewhat more muscular physique as compared to...
.
Bred by Angela Rugnetta, and owned by Gatsas Thoroughbreds, trained originally by Charlie Assimakopoulos, and then by John Terranova, Gander earned his keep racing for seven years and proving an admirable warrior. In those 60 starts, he won fifteen times, placed ten times, and came in third nine times, earning almost two million dollars in the process. (To be precise: $1,824,011.)
As a two-year-old he placed in the Damon Runyon Stakes
Damon Runyon Stakes
The Damon Runyon Stakes is an American Thoroughbred turf race for two-year-old horses run at Aqueduct Race Track in December each year.In its 33rd running in 2011, this race is essentially restricted to New York-breds, and is set at one and one-sixteenth miles and offers a purse of $65,000...
at Aqueduct Race Track.
At three, he won the Albany Stakes at the Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John...
, the Empire Classic Handicap
Empire Classic Handicap
The Empire Classic Handicap is a Thoroughbred horse race restricted to New York breds run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Set at a distance of one and one eighth miles on the dirt, this ungraded stakes race is open to three-year-olds and up, and offers a purse of $250,000.Inaugurated in 1976...
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...
, placed in the Paterson Stakes, and came third in the Sam F. Davis Stakes
Sam F. Davis Stakes
The Sam F. Davis Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid February at Tampa Bay Downs racetrack in Tampa, Florida. It is open to three-year olds and is used as a prep race for the Tampa Bay Derby. In recent years it has begun being used as an early prep for the Kentucky...
.
At four, he won the Evan Shipman Handicap
Evan Shipman Handicap
The Evan Shipman Handicap is a race restricted to New York bred Thoroughbred horses, age three-years-old and up, run at Belmont Park in the state of New York...
at Belmont, and came home second in the Grade 1
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...
Jockey Club Gold Cup
Jockey 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...
to Albert the Great. He was third to Lemon Drop Kid
Lemon Drop Kid
Lemon Drop Kid is a Champion American Thoroughbred racehorse.-Background:He is among many stakes-winning Thoroughbreds to be descended from Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew. Seattle Slew is the son of, Charming Lassie. Kingmambo was his sire, himself a son of the very important Champion sire Mr...
in the Grade I 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...
. He was also third in the Grade II Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap. These impressive near wins put Gander with John Velazquez in the 2000 $4 million dollar 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...
in a field that included Albert the Great, Captain Steve
Captain Steve
Captain Steve is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred by Roger Laubach, owned by Michael E. Pegram, and trained by Bob Baffert...
, Cat Thief, Fusaichi Pegasus
Fusaichi Pegasus
Fusaichi Pegasus was purchased as a yearling for $4 million by Fusao Sekiguchi. His name is a combination of his owner's name, "Fusao," and the Japanese word for one, "ichi," to mean #1 or the best. The second half is the winged horse of Greek mythology. Fusaichi Pegasus won the Kentucky Derby...
, Giant's Causeway
Giant's Causeway (horse)
Giant's Causeway is a Kentucky-bred thoroughbred racehorse who competed primarily in Europe. In 2000, he won five straight Group One races. His performance that year earned him European Horse of the Year honors....
, Lemon Drop Kid
Lemon Drop Kid
Lemon Drop Kid is a Champion American Thoroughbred racehorse.-Background:He is among many stakes-winning Thoroughbreds to be descended from Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew. Seattle Slew is the son of, Charming Lassie. Kingmambo was his sire, himself a son of the very important Champion sire Mr...
, and Tiznow
Tiznow
Tiznow is an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse owned by Michael L. Cooper and Cee's Stable.-Pedigree:...
. He came in ninth.
Racing at the age of five, he won the Grade II Meadowlands Cup Handicap, placed in the Grade III New Hampshire Sweepstakes
New Hampshire Lottery
Begun in 1964, the New Hampshire Lottery is the oldest US mainland-based lottery. New Hampshire's games include Mega Millions, Powerball, Hot Lotto, and numerous scratch tickets.New Hampshire is part of the Multi-State Lottery Association , which it joined in 1995...
Handicap, and came third in the Grade I Donn Handicap
Donn Handicap
The Donn Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in late January/early February at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.The race is named after the Donn family, who for many years owned and operated the racetrack....
to Captain Steve
Captain Steve
Captain Steve is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred by Roger Laubach, owned by Michael E. Pegram, and trained by Bob Baffert...
, and the Grade I Whitney Handicap
Whitney Handicap
The Whitney Handicap is an American Grade 1 handicap race for Thoroughbred racehorses three years of age and older run at a distance of 1⅛ miles. In 2007, the Breeders' Cup Ltd...
to Lido Palace.
At the age of six with Richard Migliore
Richard Migliore (jockey)
Richard Migliore is a retired American jockey whose mounts have ranged from Fourstardave to Wando to Funny Cide to Kip Deville to Hidden Lake to Desert Code....
up, he won the Empire classic for the second time, placed in the Woodward Stakes to Lido Palace, and the Kings Point Handicap
Kings Point Handicap
The Kings Point Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the latter part of March at Aqueduct Racetrack in Jamaica, New York...
to Toddler. As an interesting aside about the nature of horse racing and horses, the experienced Gander won the 2002 Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap
Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap
The Saratoga Breeders’ Cup Handicap was, until it was discontinued in 2005, a Thoroughbred race for horses three-years-old and up run at Saratoga Race Course...
by at least three lengths but was disqualified because he was riderless. Stumbling badly out of the gate, he lost his jockey, Mike Smith, but proceeded to run the race nevertheless. Gander paced himself behind the leader, and then took over in the far turn by pulling ahead in a perfectly professional racing move. Evening Attire
Evening Attire (horse)
Evening Attire is a Kentucky bred Thoroughbred racehorse, foaled on February 14, 1998, though most of his racing career has taken place in New York.-A little history, early and late:Bred by Joseph M. Grant and Hall of Famer Thomas J...
, closing fast, took second...but of course won since he was still racing under a jockey. (This race is available for viewing on youtube.)
Seven in 2003, Gander came home second in the Empire Classic and third in the Grade III Stuyvesant Handicap.
At eight he took the Kings Point Handicap.
In 1999, Gander was the Champion New York Three-Year-old. In 2000, he was the New York Horse of the Year and the Champion New York Older Horse. As a four-year-old in 2000, he was 3-1-2 from 11 starts with earnings of $388,290.
All in all, a remarkable career for a very good horse. In the world of horse racing, few horses start, and fewer win. Very few win as much as the beautiful gray Gander who now lives out his life as an honored guest at Peter Fuller's Runnymede Stables in North Hampton, New Hampshire
North Hampton, New Hampshire
North Hampton is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,301 at the 2010 census. While the majority of the town is inland, North Hampton includes a part of New Hampshire's limited Atlantic seacoast.-History:...
.