In the Wings (horse)
Encyclopedia
In the Wings was a Thoroughbred
racehorse
who raced from a base in France
. Bred and raced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
, and trained in France by André Fabre
, on June 17, 1988 at Chantilly Racecourse
, In the Wings made a winning debut in the 1988 Prix de Vineuil under jockey Cash Asmussen
. Rider and horse next won August's Prix du Haras de la Huderie at Deauville-La Touques Racecourse. The colt did not race again until September 1989 but the then three-year-old picked up where he left off, winning the Prix du Prince d'Orange
at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris
. In his next start, In the Wings suffered his first defeat, finishing eleventh in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
against the some of the best older horses in Europe
.
In the Wings returned to race in France as a four-year-old in 1990. On April 29, he finished second in the Prix Ganay
at Longchamp before winning June's Group One
Coronation Cup
at England's Epsom Downs
. He then returned to France where he won the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
. After finishing fifth in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot Racecourse
, In the Wings won the September Prix Foy
at Longchamp. In his second Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, he finished fourth but then won the richest race of his career at Belmont Park
in Elmont, New York
on October 27, 1990. Ridden by future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
jockey Gary Stevens, In the Wings won the US$2 million Breeders' Cup Turf
, defeating such notable runners as With Approval
(2nd), Saumarez
, (5th), Pleasant Tap
(8th), and Sky Classic
(11th).
Following his win in the Breeders' Cup, In the Wings was retired to stud
duty. A successful sire, among his notable offspring were:
Suffering from laminitis
, at age eighteen In the Wings was humanely euthanized
in 2004.
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
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...
who raced from a base in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Bred and raced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , also Sheikh Mohammed, , is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates , and absolute monarch of Dubai.-Personal life and education:...
, and trained in France by André Fabre
André Fabre
André Fabre is a French thoroughbred horse racing trainer.The son of a diplomat, Fabre graduated from university with a law degree but then decided to pursue a career in thoroughbred horse racing. He began by working in the stables as a groom then as a schooling rider...
, on June 17, 1988 at Chantilly Racecourse
Chantilly Racecourse
Chantilly Racecourse is a Thoroughbred turf racecourse for flat racing in Chantilly, Oise, France, about north of the centre of the city of Paris....
, In the Wings made a winning debut in the 1988 Prix de Vineuil under jockey Cash Asmussen
Cash Asmussen
Cash Asmussen is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. Born Brian Keith Asmussen, in 1977 he legally changed his name to "Cash". From a Texas horse racing family, his parents, Keith and Marilyn "Sis" Asmussen, operate a ranch in Laredo, Texas...
. Rider and horse next won August's Prix du Haras de la Huderie at Deauville-La Touques Racecourse. The colt did not race again until September 1989 but the then three-year-old picked up where he left off, winning the Prix du Prince d'Orange
Prix du Prince d'Orange
The Prix du Prince d'Orange is a Group 3 flat horse race in France which is open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.-History:...
at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. In his next start, In the Wings suffered his first defeat, finishing eleventh in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
against the some of the best older horses in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
In the Wings returned to race in France as a four-year-old in 1990. On April 29, he finished second in the Prix Ganay
Prix Ganay
The Prix Ganay is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,100 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late April or early May....
at Longchamp before winning June's Group One
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
Coronation Cup
Coronation Cup
The Coronation Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
at England's Epsom Downs
Epsom Downs
Epsom Downs is an area of chalk upland near Epsom, Surrey; in the North Downs. Part of the area is taken up by the racecourse, the gallops are part of the land purchased by Stanly Wootton in 1925 in oder that racehorses can be trained without interference. It is open to users such as ramblers,...
. He then returned to France where he won the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
The Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Saint-Cloud over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June.-History:...
. After finishing fifth in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races...
, In the Wings won the September Prix Foy
Prix Foy
The Prix Foy is a Group 2 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbred colts and fillies aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September....
at Longchamp. In his second Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, he finished fourth but then won the richest race of his career 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...
in Elmont, New York
Elmont, New York
Elmont is an unincorporated census-designated place located in the northwest corner of the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, along its border with the borough of Queens in New York City...
on October 27, 1990. Ridden by future U.S. 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...
jockey Gary Stevens, In the Wings won the US$2 million Breeders' Cup Turf
Breeders' Cup Turf
The Breeders' Cup Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The race's current title sponsor is Emirates Airlines.The forerunner...
, defeating such notable runners as With Approval
With Approval
With Approval was a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the Canadian Triple Crown in 1989 under jockey Don Seymour. He finished second in the 1990 Breeders' Cup Turf and the Arlington Million....
(2nd), Saumarez
Saumarez (horse)
Saumarez was an Thoroughbred racehorse who won France's most prestigious race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for his famous owners, National Hockey League superstar Wayne Gretzky and owner of his Los Angeles Kings ice hockey team, Bruce McNall.Trained by Henry Cecil, Saumarez was winless at age...
, (5th), Pleasant Tap
Pleasant Tap
Pleasant Tap was an American thoroughbred stallion racehorse. He was sired by 1981 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Pleasant Colony, out of the mare, Never Knock...
(8th), and Sky Classic
Sky Classic
Sky Classic is a Canadian Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse. A son of U.K. Triple Crown champion Nijinsky, in 1989 Sky Classic won the Sovereign Award for Champion 2-Year-Old Male Horse in Canada but injuries kept him out for the most of the 1990 racing season.Back racing on grass in 1991, Sky...
(11th).
Following his win in the Breeders' Cup, In the Wings was retired to 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...
duty. A successful sire, among his notable offspring were:
- SingspielSingspiel (horse)Singspiel was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. The Bay horse was out of the Eclipse Award winner and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame mare, Glorious Song...
(b. 1992) - International superstar runner who won the Canadian International StakesCanadian International StakesThe Canadian International Stakes is a $2 million Grade I Canadian stakes race on Turf for thoroughbred racehorses three years of age and up held annually in October at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario....
(1996), Japan CupJapan CupThe is the most prestigious horse race run in Japan. It is contested at the end of November at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, Tokyo at a distance of 2400 meters over the grass. With a purse of ¥476 million , the Japan Cup is one of the richest races in the world.The Japan Cup is an invitational event...
(1996), Dubai World CupDubai World CupThe 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...
(1997), Coronation CupCoronation CupThe Coronation Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
(1997), International StakesInternational StakesThe International Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 88 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
(1997) - Winged Love (b. 1992) - won Irish Derby StakesIrish Derby StakesThe Irish Derby is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June or early July.It is Ireland's equivalent of the Epsom Derby,...
- Central Park (b. 1995) - won Derby ItalianoDerby ItalianoThe Derby Italiano is a Group 2 flat horse race in Italy open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Capannelle over a distance of 2,200 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
(1998), Premio Presidente della RepubblicaPremio Presidente della RepubblicaThe Premio Presidente della Repubblica is a Group 1 flat horse race in Italy open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Capannelle over a distance 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.-History:...
(1999) - MamoolMamoolMamool is a Thoroughbred racehorse who raced for five years from 2001 through 2005.Bred and raced by the operations of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai, among Mamool's wins were the Queen's Vase and the Yorkshire Cup in England in the Group Ones Grosser Preis von Baden and Grosser...
(b. 1999) - won 2003 Grosser Bugatti Preis & Preis von EuropaPreis von EuropaThe Preis von Europa is a Group 1 flat horse race in Germany which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at the Cologne-Weidenpesch Racecourse, Cologne over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September.The event was established...
(career earnings of £742,317 - Inglis DreverInglis DreverInglis Drever was a champion racehorse trained in the North of England by Howard Johnson. He was one of the most successful hurdle racing horses to date and the only horse to have won the World Hurdle three times...
(b. 1999) - won Long Distance HurdleLong Distance HurdleThe Long Distance Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Newbury over a distance of about 3 miles and 110 yards , and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped...
(2005, 2006, 2007), World HurdleWorld HurdleThe World Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped...
(2005, 2007, 2008), named 2007 ROA/Racing Post Outstanding Hurdler, 2007-2008 Anglo-Irish Jumps Champion - Soldier Hollow (b. 2000) - 2004 German Horse of the YearGerman Horse of the YearGerman Horse of the Year is an award for racehorses instituted in 1957. It is the oldest public vote in the German sports . It was instituted by the journalist Addi Furler.-Records:Most wins:* 3 - Orofino...
, career earnings of £836,728
Suffering from laminitis
Laminitis
Laminitis is a disease that affects the feet of ungulates. It is best known in horses and cattle. Symptoms include lameness, and increased temperature in the hooves...
, at age eighteen In the Wings was humanely 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...
in 2004.