Lemhi Gold
Encyclopedia
Lemhi Gold was an American Thoroughbred
Champion racehorse
. Bred and raced by Eugene, Oregon
lumberman Aaron U. Jones and his wife, Marie, he was sired by Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
winner, Vaguely Noble
, who also sired the superstar filly
, Dahlia
. His dam, Belle Marie, was a daughter of 1963 Preakness Stakes
winner, Candy Spots
.
The colt was named by Aaron Jones for an old gold mining
site at Lemhi Creek in Idaho
where he owned a cabin retreat. Trained by U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
inductee, Laz Barrera
, Lemhi Gold did not race at age two in 1980 and the following year the then three-year-old suffered a shin injury on March 26 in his second start. That injury eliminated any chance he may have had to compete in U.S. Triple Crown
series. Lemhi Gold made an impressive return to racing on July 9 with a fourteen-length win on turf
in a division of the Westwood Stakes at Hollywood Park Racetrack in California
. On August 2, he finished second by a neck in the Jim Dandy Stakes
on dirt at Saratoga Race Course
in New York
and then a few weeks later finished ninth in the Jerome Handicap
at Belmont Park
after injuring his back in the starting gate. This second injury of 1981 meant that Lemhi Gold did not race again until 1982.
on turf, http://www.nytimes.com/1982/07/11/sports/lemhi-gold-first-in-sword-dancer.html but then in August ran fourth to winner Perrault
on the grass at Chicago's
Arlington Park
in the Arlington Million
. In September, Lemhi Gold was sent to run on the dirt at Belmont Park
in the Marlboro Cup
where he beat the heavily favored Timely Writer by running away from the field to win by 8¾ lengths. http://news.google.ca/newspapers?id=lXgUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rgIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4715,5421307&dq=lemhi-gold+marlboro+cup&hl=en In October, he won again on dirt, capturing the 1½ mile Jockey Club Gold Cup
by 4½ lengths. http://news.google.ca/newspapers?id=9_gRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mO4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7080,4390891&dq=lemhi-gold+gold+cup+lengths&hl=en At the end of October, in his final race of 1982, Lemhi Gold ran fifth on the grass to winner John Henry
in the Oak Tree Invitational Stakes at Santa Anita Park
.
Lemhi Gold was voted the Eclipse Award
as the American Champion Older Male Horse of 1982. I the closest vote since the Eclipse Awards were created in 1971, Lemhi Gold finished second in the American Horse of the Year balloting to Conquistador Cielo
. http://news.google.ca/newspapers?id=CJcTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1AUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5046,2313405&dq=lemhi+gold&hl=en
. Reported to be for as much as US$28 million, the deal never materialized and on December 15, 1982 the Los Angeles Times
reported that Lemhi Gold would be shipped to France
for a 1983 campaign on the grass courses in Europe
to culminate in October with a run in the most prestigious European event, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/666938622.html?dids=666938622:666938622&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Dec+15%2C+1982&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Lemhi+Gold+Will+Race+in+Europe+in+'83&pqatl=google
On May 29, 1983, Lemhi Gold made his European racing debut, finishing last in a seven-horse field in the Prix Dollar
at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris
. In his next start on July 3 at Saint-Cloud Racecourse
, he ran fourth in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
to American Paul Mellon's
winning colt Diamond Shoal who was ridden by American, Steve Cauthen
. He was then sent to England to run in the July 23 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot Racecourse
. After finishing eighth, the decision was made to retire Lemhi Gold from racing.
at Gainesway Farm
in Lexington, Kentucky
. In 1990, he was sent to breeders in West Germany
and around 1997 to Croatia
. The progeny of Lemhi Gold met with modest success in racing. Probably his best runner was the American filly
Lemhi Go (b. 1988) who won the La Prevoyante Handicap
and Arlington Matron Handicap
.
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...
Champion 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...
. Bred and raced by Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
lumberman Aaron U. Jones and his wife, Marie, he was sired by 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...
winner, Vaguely Noble
Vaguely Noble
Vaguely Noble was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in the United Kingdom and France. The colt is best known as the winner of the 1968 Group one Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe when he defeated the best horses from England, France, Ireland and Italy...
, who also sired the superstar filly
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
, Dahlia
Dahlia (horse)
Dahlia was an American-bred Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racemare who won major races in France, England, Ireland, Canada, and the United States...
. His dam, Belle Marie, was a daughter of 1963 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...
winner, Candy Spots
Candy Spots
Candy Spots was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that is best known for winning the 1963 Preakness Stakes and for coming in a close second and third, respectively, in the Belmont Stakes and Kentucky Derby to his rival Chateaugay...
.
The colt was named by Aaron Jones for an old gold mining
Gold mining
Gold mining is the removal of gold from the ground. There are several techniques and processes by which gold may be extracted from the earth.-History:...
site at Lemhi Creek in Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
where he owned a cabin retreat. Trained by 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...
inductee, Laz Barrera
Laz Barrera
Lazaro Sosa Barrera was a Cuban-born American Hall of Fame thoroughbred racehorse trainer.Born in Havana, "Laz" Barrera was one of nine brothers who went on to become involved in thoroughbred horse racing in the United States...
, Lemhi Gold did not race at age two in 1980 and the following year the then three-year-old suffered a shin injury on March 26 in his second start. That injury eliminated any chance he may have had to compete in U.S. 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...
series. Lemhi Gold made an impressive return to racing on July 9 with a fourteen-length win on turf
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
in a division of the Westwood Stakes at Hollywood Park Racetrack in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. On August 2, he finished second by a neck in the Jim Dandy Stakes
Jim Dandy Stakes
The Jim Dandy Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race. The Grade II race has been held annually since 1964 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The race is open to horses age three, willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt. It carries a purse of $500,000. Prior...
on dirt 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...
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...
and then a few weeks later finished ninth in the Jerome Handicap
Jerome Handicap
The Jerome Stakes is a Grade II race for thoroughbred horses run each fall at one mile on the dirt at Belmont Park. It is open to three-year-olds and carries a purse of $150,000. The race is a prep race to several races of the Breeders' Cup....
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...
after injuring his back in the starting gate. This second injury of 1981 meant that Lemhi Gold did not race again until 1982.
1982 Championship Season
Racing at age four in 1982, Lemhi Gold demonstrated an ability to win at longer distances and on either turf or dirt. By the end of May he had earned his fourth win in four career starts on turf, including victories in the 1982 San Marino and San Juan Capistrano Handicaps by a combined twelve lengths. In July he won the Sword Dancer HandicapSword Dancer Invitational Handicap
The Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap is an American race for thoroughbred horses, aged three and up, run annually in mid August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. A prep for the Breeders' Cup Turf, it is set at a distance of one and one-half miles on the turf...
on turf, http://www.nytimes.com/1982/07/11/sports/lemhi-gold-first-in-sword-dancer.html but then in August ran fourth to winner Perrault
Perrault (horse)
Perrault was a British-bred Champion Thoroughbred racehorse who competed successfully in both France and the United States. A grandson of Tanerko, Perrault's great-grandsire was the French champion Tantieme who won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe back-to- back in 1950 and 1951...
on the grass at Chicago's
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
Arlington Park
Arlington Park
Arlington Park is a horse race track in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Horse racing in the Chicago region has been a popular sport since the early days of the city in the 1830s, and at one time Chicago had more horse racing tracks than any other major metropolitan area...
in the Arlington Million
Arlington Million
The Arlington Million is a Grade 1 flathorse race in the United States for thoroughbred horses aged three years and upward. It is raced over a distance of 1¼ miles on the turf at Arlington Park, Arlington Heights, Illinois in August each year...
. In September, Lemhi Gold was sent to run on the dirt 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 the Marlboro Cup
Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap
The Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap was a Thoroughbred horse race first run in September 1973 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. A Grade 1 race for horses 3 years old and up, it was raced over a distance of 1 1/8 miles on a dirt track....
where he beat the heavily favored Timely Writer by running away from the field to win by 8¾ lengths. http://news.google.ca/newspapers?id=lXgUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rgIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4715,5421307&dq=lemhi-gold+marlboro+cup&hl=en In October, he won again on dirt, capturing the 1½ mile 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...
by 4½ lengths. http://news.google.ca/newspapers?id=9_gRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mO4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7080,4390891&dq=lemhi-gold+gold+cup+lengths&hl=en At the end of October, in his final race of 1982, Lemhi Gold ran fifth on the grass to winner 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...
in the Oak Tree Invitational Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Santa 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...
.
Lemhi Gold was voted the Eclipse Award
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...
as the American Champion Older Male Horse of 1982. I the closest vote since the Eclipse Awards were created in 1971, Lemhi Gold finished second in the American Horse of the Year balloting to Conquistador Cielo
Conquistador Cielo
Conquistador Cielo was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Purchased as a yearling for $150,000 by Henryk de Kwiatkowski, he was trained by Woody Stephens. Racing as a two-year-old, Conquistador Cielo won two races in his four starts...
. http://news.google.ca/newspapers?id=CJcTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1AUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5046,2313405&dq=lemhi+gold&hl=en
1983 European Racing
During the latter part of 1982, owner Aaron Jones was negotiating a syndication deal for Lemhi Gold to stand at studStud (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...
. Reported to be for as much as US$28 million, the deal never materialized and on December 15, 1982 the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
reported that Lemhi Gold would be shipped to 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...
for a 1983 campaign on the grass courses 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...
to culminate in October with a run in the most prestigious European event, 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...
. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/666938622.html?dids=666938622:666938622&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Dec+15%2C+1982&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Lemhi+Gold+Will+Race+in+Europe+in+'83&pqatl=google
On May 29, 1983, Lemhi Gold made his European racing debut, finishing last in a seven-horse field in the Prix Dollar
Prix Dollar
The Prix Dollar is a Group 2 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,950 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.-History:The event was introduced in 1905, and it...
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 on July 3 at Saint-Cloud Racecourse
Saint-Cloud Racecourse
Hippodrome de Saint-Cloud is a grass race course for Thoroughbred flat horse racing opened in 1901 at 1 rue du Camp Canadien in Saint-Cloud near Paris, France...
, he ran fourth in the 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:...
to American Paul Mellon's
Paul Mellon
Paul Mellon KBE was an American philanthropist, thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder. He is one of only five people ever designated an "Exemplar of Racing" by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame...
winning colt Diamond Shoal who was ridden by American, Steve Cauthen
Steve Cauthen
Steve Cauthen is a retired American jockey.Cauthen, the son of a trainer and a farrier, grew up in Walton, Kentucky around horses, which made race-riding a logical career choice. He rode his first race on May 12, 1976 at Churchill Downs; he finished last, riding King of Swat...
. He was then sent to England to run in the July 23 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond 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...
. After finishing eighth, the decision was made to retire Lemhi Gold from racing.
At Stud
Lemhi Gold returned to the United States to stand at studStud (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...
at Gainesway Farm
Gainesway Farm
Gainesway Farm is an American Thoroughbred horse breeding business in Lexington, Kentucky. It was originally called Greentree Farms.The 1,500 acre property has been home to sires such as Youth and Exceller and numerous others who are buried on the property...
in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
. In 1990, he was sent to breeders in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
and around 1997 to Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. The progeny of Lemhi Gold met with modest success in racing. Probably his best runner was the American filly
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
Lemhi Go (b. 1988) who won the La Prevoyante Handicap
La Prevoyante Handicap
The La Prevoyante Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens, Florida. The race is open to filles and mares, age three and up, willing to race one and one-half miles on turf...
and Arlington Matron Handicap
Arlington Matron Handicap
The Arlington Matron Handicap is an American Grade III flat horse race for Thoroughbred fillies and mares, aged three years and upward. Raced over a distance of 9 furlongs on the dirt at Arlington Park, Arlington Heights, Illinois every spring, it offers a purse of $150,000.Inaugurated in 1930,...
.