Kona Gold
Encyclopedia
Kona Gold was an American Champion
Thoroughbred
racehorse.
Kona Gold was foaled at Carlos Perez's Twilite Farm outside LaGrange, Kentucky. He was sold as a yearling for $35,000 at the 1995 Keeneland September yearling sale
to trainer Bruce Headley
on behalf of a partnership that included Headley, Irwin and Andrew Molasky, and Michael Singh. Headley trained Kona Gold at his base in southern California, where the horse was brought along very patiently. Kona Gold suffered a few minor physical setbacks, including a knee chip as a three-year-old that kept him from the races until May of his four-year-old season in 1998.
(the Grade 3 Ancient Title Handicap at Santa Anita in which he finished 5th, beaten 2¼ lengths) was solid enough to earn him a trip to Churchill Downs for the 1998 Breeders' Cup Sprint
. In only his 6th lifetime start, Kona Gold was most impressive, finishing 3rd and beaten only by two lengths.
track record for 5½ furlongs in the El Conejo Handicap with a time of 1:01 3/5. (The runner-up Big Jag, who chased Kona in vain throughout the stretch, went on to trounce his field in the prestigious Dubai Golden Shaheen
that March.) Kona Gold's four additional 1999 starts resulted in four runner-up finishes, never losing by more than 2 lengths. In his '99 finale (the Breeders' Cup Sprint), Kona Gold made up ground in the stretch but the wire came up just a stride too soon, and he fell short by a half-length to Artax
who set a new Breeders' Cup Sprint stakes record and Gulfstream Park
six-furlong track record of 1:07 4/5. Artax also won the Eclipse Award as champion sprinter of 1999.
and was subsequently voted the American Champion Sprint Horse.
Kona Gold raced until he was 9 years old. After spending several years as a stable pony for former trainer Bruce Headley
, Kona Gold became a permanent resident of the Kentucky Horse Park
in 2008 after the death of John Henry
.
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
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...
racehorse.
Kona Gold was foaled at Carlos Perez's Twilite Farm outside LaGrange, Kentucky. He was sold as a yearling for $35,000 at the 1995 Keeneland September yearling sale
Keeneland Sales
The Keeneland Sales is an American Thoroughbred auction house in Lexington, Kentucky founded in 1935 as a nonprofit racing/auction entity on 147 acres of farmland west of Lexington, which had been owned by Jack O. Keene...
to trainer Bruce Headley
Bruce Headley
Bruce Headley is a Thoroughbred horse trainer and owner.Involved with horse racing since his teens, Headley worked as an exercise rider from 1949 until taking out his trainers license in 1959...
on behalf of a partnership that included Headley, Irwin and Andrew Molasky, and Michael Singh. Headley trained Kona Gold at his base in southern California, where the horse was brought along very patiently. Kona Gold suffered a few minor physical setbacks, including a knee chip as a three-year-old that kept him from the races until May of his four-year-old season in 1998.
Early Races
After a second-place finish in his debut at Hollywood Park Racetrack, Kona Gold won his next three races by a combined 28½ lengths. His first Graded stakes raceGraded 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...
(the Grade 3 Ancient Title Handicap at Santa Anita in which he finished 5th, beaten 2¼ lengths) was solid enough to earn him a trip to Churchill Downs for the 1998 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...
. In only his 6th lifetime start, Kona Gold was most impressive, finishing 3rd and beaten only by two lengths.
1999
Kona Gold returned in style in January 1999, setting a Santa Anita ParkSanta Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the winter and in spring. With its backdrop of the purple San Gabriel Mountains, it is considered by many as the world's most beautiful race...
track record for 5½ furlongs in the El Conejo Handicap with a time of 1:01 3/5. (The runner-up Big Jag, who chased Kona in vain throughout the stretch, went on to trounce his field in the prestigious Dubai Golden Shaheen
Dubai Golden Shaheen
The Dubai Golden Shaheen is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates for three-year-old and above thoroughbreds run over a distance of 1,200 metres on the dirt course at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai in late March....
that March.) Kona Gold's four additional 1999 starts resulted in four runner-up finishes, never losing by more than 2 lengths. In his '99 finale (the Breeders' Cup Sprint), Kona Gold made up ground in the stretch but the wire came up just a stride too soon, and he fell short by a half-length to Artax
Artax (horse)
Artax is a retired American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. Artax then equaled the record for the Breeders' Cup Sprint set in 1973 as well as the host Gulfstream Park track record that had stood for twenty-six years...
who set a new Breeders' Cup Sprint stakes record and Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino is a racetrack and county-approved racino in Hallandale Beach, Florida, in the United States. During its annual meet, which spans December through April, it is one of the most important venues for horse racing in America....
six-furlong track record of 1:07 4/5. Artax also won the Eclipse Award as champion sprinter of 1999.
2000
Kona Gold's best year in racing was at age six in 2000. He capped off the year with a victory in the Breeders' Cup SprintBreeders' 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 was subsequently voted the American Champion Sprint Horse.
Kona Gold raced until he was 9 years old. After spending several years as a stable pony for former trainer Bruce Headley
Bruce Headley
Bruce Headley is a Thoroughbred horse trainer and owner.Involved with horse racing since his teens, Headley worked as an exercise rider from 1949 until taking out his trainers license in 1959...
, Kona Gold became a permanent resident of the Kentucky Horse Park
Kentucky 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 2008 after the death of John Henry
John Henry (horse)
John Henry was an American Thoroughbred race horse who had 39 wins, with $6,591,860 in earnings. He was twice voted the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year in 1981 and 1984, with his 1981 selection is the only one whereby the victor received all votes cast for that award. John Henry was also...
.