Silver Charm
Encyclopedia
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
.
to Touch Gold
. He was voted the 1997 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Three-Year-Old Male Horse. Racing at age 4, Silver Charm won the 1998 Dubai World Cup
. For some time, he stood at Three Chimneys Farm
. Then, purchased by the Japan Breeders Association, Silver Charm was retired to stud
in Japan
. He stood at the Shizunai Stallion Station
in December 2004. In 2008 he stood at the Shichinohe Stallion Station
. As of the 2009 breeding season, he is standing at the Iburi Stallion Station
.
In the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 Racehorses of the 20th Century, Silver Charm was ranked #63.
In 2007, Silver Charm was elected to the United States' Racing Hall of Fame
.
He sired many great colts, one of them being Happy Go Lucky, the most successful Children's Hunter in the circuit in 2010.
to the Shizunai Stallion Station
in 2004, there was a clause in his contract called a "buy-back clause." Ever since the death of the racehorse and Kentucky Derby
winner, Ferdinand
, who was sent to a slaughterhouse
in Japan when his breeding days were done, the New York Owners and Breeder's Association, based in Saratoga Springs, New York
, has begun asking for a small voluntary per-race charge (collected from owners of New York
Breds) called the "Ferdinand Fee." These monies are intended for the Bluegrass Charities and the Thoroughbred Charities of America to help them fund race horse rescue and retirement groups. Some owners are now including buy-back clauses within their stallion contracts. Silver Charm is one of those fortunate stallions, as is Roses in May
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Champion 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...
race horse. Trained by Bob Baffert
Bob Baffert
Robert A. "Bob" Baffert is an American horse owner and trainer, whose horses have won three Kentucky Derbies, five Preakness Stakes, one Belmont Stakes and two Kentucky Oaks. He graduated from the University of Arizona's with a Bachelor of Science degree. -Early career:Bob Baffert began his...
and ridden by Gary Stevens, Silver Charm will be remembered most for winning the 1997 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 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...
in the Triple Crown
United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
In the United States, the "Triple Crown" is usually the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, a series of three Thoroughbred horse races for three-year-old horses run in May and early June of each year consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.While Daily Racing Form...
.
Late racing career
Silver Charm lost the third jewel of the triple crown by placing second in the Belmont StakesBelmont 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...
to Touch Gold
Touch Gold
Touch Gold is an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known as the winner of the Classic Belmont Stakes in which he ended Silver Charm's bid for the U.S.Triple Crown....
. He was voted the 1997 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Three-Year-Old Male Horse. Racing at age 4, Silver Charm won the 1998 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...
. For some time, he stood at Three Chimneys Farm
Three Chimneys Farm
Three Chimneys Farm is an American thoroughbred race horse breeding farm in Midway, Kentucky established in 1972 by Mr. & Mrs. Robert N. Clay. Widely known as one of the world's preeminent horse farms, Three Chimneys has been home to a number of famous horses including U.S. Triple Crown champion...
. Then, purchased by the Japan Breeders Association, Silver Charm was retired to stud
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
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...
. He stood at the Shizunai Stallion Station
Shizunai Stallion Station
Shizunai Stallion Station is a Japanese Thoroughbred horse farm was opened in 1963 and is located on the island of Hokkaidō. Operated by the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association , it is located in Shizunai whose sister city is Lexington, Kentucky...
in December 2004. In 2008 he stood at the Shichinohe Stallion Station
Shichinohe Stallion Station
Shichinohe Stallion Station is a Japanese thoroughbred horse farm located in Aomori Prefecture. Operated by the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association , it is located in Shichinohe.It is the current home of two thoroughbred stallions including:...
. As of the 2009 breeding season, he is standing at the Iburi Stallion Station
Iburi Stallion Station
Iburi Stallion Station is a Japanese thoroughbred horse farm located on the island of Hokkaidō. Operated by the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association , it is located in Iburi Prefecture....
.
In the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 Racehorses of the 20th Century, Silver Charm was ranked #63.
In 2007, Silver Charm was elected to the United States' Racing 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...
.
He sired many great colts, one of them being Happy Go Lucky, the most successful Children's Hunter in the circuit in 2010.
The Ferdinand Fee
When Silver Charm went to JapanJapan
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...
to the Shizunai Stallion Station
Shizunai Stallion Station
Shizunai Stallion Station is a Japanese Thoroughbred horse farm was opened in 1963 and is located on the island of Hokkaidō. Operated by the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association , it is located in Shizunai whose sister city is Lexington, Kentucky...
in 2004, there was a clause in his contract called a "buy-back clause." Ever since the death of the racehorse and 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, Ferdinand
Ferdinand (horse)
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....
, who was sent to a slaughterhouse
Slaughterhouse
A slaughterhouse or abattoir is a facility where animals are killed for consumption as food products.Approximately 45-50% of the animal can be turned into edible products...
in Japan when his breeding days were done, the New York Owners and Breeder's Association, based in Saratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga 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, ...
, has begun asking for a small voluntary per-race charge (collected from owners of 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...
Breds) called the "Ferdinand Fee." These monies are intended for the Bluegrass Charities and the Thoroughbred Charities of America to help them fund race horse rescue and retirement groups. Some owners are now including buy-back clauses within their stallion contracts. Silver Charm is one of those fortunate stallions, as is 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...
.