Gulch (horse)
Encyclopedia
Gulch was an American
thoroughbred
Stallion
racehorse
. Owned and bred by Peter M. Brant
, he was sired by the outstanding North American stud and graded stakes race
winner Mr. Prospector
out of the Rambunctious mare, Jameela.
Guided by Hall of Fame
trainer, LeRoy Jolley
, Gulch was a precocious two-year-old, winning the Grade I
Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga Race Course
with Angel Cordero, Jr. astride by 3½ lengths.
He was undefeated that year going into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile
, having won five starts in New York
, but placed a disappointing fifth to Capote, behind Alysheba
and Bet Twice
.
At three, prepping for the Kentucky Derby
, Gulch won the Wood Memorial with Jose Santos aboard, along with the Grade II Bay Shore Stakes
at Aqueduct Racetrack
. Ridden by Willie Shoemaker
in the 1987 Kentucky Derby
however, he raced wide in the stretch and never seemed to catch fire, placing an uninspiring sixth behind Alysheba
. He placed third in the Belmont Stakes
, in front of Alysheba
but behind the winner, his old rival, Bet Twice
.
Racing at four in 1988, he was transferred to trainer, D. Wayne Lukas
. Lukas shortened most of his races to 1⅛ mile or less and Gulch came into his own. He won the Metropolitan Handicap
, the Carter Handicap
, and, in a battle of the sexes, placed a very close second in the Whitney Handicap
to Personal Ensign
. He went on late that fall to win the Breeders' Cup Sprint
and by the end of 1988 was named U.S. Outstanding Sprint Horse
.
for a fee of $20,000 live foal as of 2009.
In Spring 2010, Gulch was graciously donated to Old Friends Thoroughbred retirement facility in Georgetown, KY by Lane's End Farm so that his fans would have unlimited access to him.
His progeny have been outstanding. They include $4 million winner Eagle Cafe, Nayef, 1995 U.S. Champion 3-Yr-Old Colt
Thunder Gulch
, The Cliff's Edge, and Brave Tender.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
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...
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...
. Owned and bred by Peter M. Brant
Peter M. Brant
Peter M. Brant is an American industrialist, businessman and entrepreneur, worth an estimated $2.4 billion. He is also a major art collector, movie producer, and avid horseman...
, he was sired by the outstanding North American stud and graded stakes race
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...
winner Mr. Prospector
Mr. Prospector
Mr. Prospector was a thoroughbred racehorse foaled in Kentucky, whose descendants have been dominant in the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. He won half of his 14 career races.-Background:...
out of the Rambunctious mare, Jameela.
Guided by 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...
trainer, LeRoy Jolley
LeRoy Jolley
LeRoy Jolley is an United States Hall of Fame Thoroughbred horse trainer. The son of horse trainer Moody Jolley, LeRoy Jolley has been around horses all his life at age nineteen received a New York State trainer's license....
, Gulch was a precocious two-year-old, winning the 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...
Hopeful Stakes at 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...
with Angel Cordero, Jr. astride by 3½ lengths.
He was undefeated that year going into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile
Breeders' Cup Juvenile
The Breeders' Cup Juvenile is a Thoroughbred horse race for 2-year-old colts and geldings raced on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships....
, having won five starts in 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...
, but placed a disappointing fifth to Capote, behind Alysheba
Alysheba
Alysheba was an American Thoroughbred race horse who won two legs of the Triple Crown in 1987. A successful sire, he produced 11 stakes winners....
and Bet Twice
Bet Twice
Bet Twice was a multi-millionaire American thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. Foaled in Kentucky, he was sired by Sportin' Life, who in turn was the son of the great stallion and British Triple Crown champion Nijinsky, out of the mare Golden Dust. He was bred by William S. Farish III and E. J...
.
At three, prepping for the 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...
, Gulch won the Wood Memorial with Jose Santos aboard, along with the Grade II Bay Shore Stakes
Bay Shore Stakes
The Bay Shore Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early April at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. The Grade III event is for three-year-olds of either gender, and is set at a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt track.In its 49th running in 2009, the...
at Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
. Ridden by Willie Shoemaker
Willie Shoemaker
William Lee Shoemaker was an American jockey.Referred to as "Bill", "Willie," and "The Shoe", William Lee Shoemaker was born in the town of Fabens, Texas. At 2.5 pounds , Shoemaker was so small at birth that he was not expected to survive the night...
in the 1987 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...
however, he raced wide in the stretch and never seemed to catch fire, placing an uninspiring sixth behind Alysheba
Alysheba
Alysheba was an American Thoroughbred race horse who won two legs of the Triple Crown in 1987. A successful sire, he produced 11 stakes winners....
. He placed third in the 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...
, in front of Alysheba
Alysheba
Alysheba was an American Thoroughbred race horse who won two legs of the Triple Crown in 1987. A successful sire, he produced 11 stakes winners....
but behind the winner, his old rival, Bet Twice
Bet Twice
Bet Twice was a multi-millionaire American thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. Foaled in Kentucky, he was sired by Sportin' Life, who in turn was the son of the great stallion and British Triple Crown champion Nijinsky, out of the mare Golden Dust. He was bred by William S. Farish III and E. J...
.
Racing at four in 1988, he was transferred to trainer, D. Wayne Lukas
D. Wayne Lukas
Darrell Wayne Lukas is a former educator who became one of the most successful horse trainers in American Thoroughbred horse racing history and a U.S...
. Lukas shortened most of his races to 1⅛ mile or less and Gulch came into his own. He won the 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...
, 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....
, and, in a battle of the sexes, placed a very close second in the 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 Personal Ensign
Personal Ensign
Personal Ensign was an American champion Thoroughbred racehorse.A bay filly by Private Account out of Grecian Banner , she was the undefeated winner of 13 races and won $1,679,880 in the United States from 1986 to 1988...
. He went on late that fall to win the Breeders' Cup Sprint
Breeders' Cup Sprint
The Breeders' Cup Sprint is an American Weight for Age Grade I Thoroughbred horse race for three year olds & up. Run on dirt over a distance of 6 Furlongs , the race has been held annually since 1984 at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World...
and by the end of 1988 was named U.S. Outstanding Sprint Horse
Eclipse 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)....
.
Retirement
Retired in 1989, Gulch stands at stud at Lane's End FarmLane's End Farm
Lane's End Farm is a thoroughbred race horse breeding farm in Versailles, Kentucky established in 1979. The original land was part of Bosque Bonita Farm which means beautiful woods and was originally owned by Abraham Buford, a Confederate Army General. The land was later bought by leading...
for a fee of $20,000 live foal as of 2009.
In Spring 2010, Gulch was graciously donated to Old Friends Thoroughbred retirement facility in Georgetown, KY by Lane's End Farm so that his fans would have unlimited access to him.
His progeny have been outstanding. They include $4 million winner Eagle Cafe, Nayef, 1995 U.S. Champion 3-Yr-Old Colt
Eclipse Award for Outstanding 3-Year-Old Male Horse
The American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually in Thoroughbred flat racing. It became part of the Eclipse Awards program in 1971....
Thunder Gulch
Thunder Gulch
Thunder Gulch is a Champion American thoroughbred racehorse who left the starting gate at 25-1 odds in 1995 and went on to win the Kentucky Derby in 2:01.2 from post 16. He was ridden by jockey Gary Stevens. D...
, The Cliff's Edge, and Brave Tender.