Winning Colors (horse)
Encyclopedia
Winning Colors was an American
Hall of Fame
Champion
Thoroughbred
racehorse
and one of only three fillies
to ever win the Kentucky Derby
. Though she was registered as roan
, she was, in fact, a gray
with a broad band of white on her face.
Racing on the West Coast of the United States
for trainer D. Wayne Lukas
, Winning Colors won both of her starts at age two. In the spring of 1988
, the large filly put on a powerful performance in the Santa Anita Derby
, defeating colts
her age by 7½ lengths. Sent to Churchill Downs
for the Kentucky Derby, she was up against a stellar field of colts including Risen Star
, Seeking the Gold
, Forty Niner
, Regal Classic
, and co-favorite Private Terms
. As was her habit, Winning Colors broke fast and raced to the lead. Although Forty Niner made a determined charge in the homestretch, she held him off to win by a neck.
In the Preakness Stakes
, the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown
, Winning Colors finished third to Risen Star who then blew away the field in the 1½ mile Belmont Stakes
, winning by fifteen lengths while Winning Colors finished out of the money.
In the fall of 1988, Winning Colors finished second to Ogden Phipps'
filly Personal Ensign
in the Maskette Stakes
. The two fillies next met in the Breeders' Cup Distaff
at Churchill Downs in a race that is remembered as one of the most exciting finishes in Breeder's Cup history. Winning Colors had the lead with just 110 yards to go when Personal Ensign
, who had struggled throughout the entire race because of the sloppy track, made a charge and won by what the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame describes as a "lip." After the race, Winning Colors' trainer D. Wayne Lukas said that she had run the best race of her career.
Voted the 1988 Eclipse Award for Outstanding 3-Year-Old Filly
, the following year Winning Colors raced in her final campaign at age four but won only two of her seven races, hampered by breathing difficulties
and surgery
.
In 2000
, Winning Colors was inducted in the United States' National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
.
Winning Colors was euthanized February 17, 2008 at the age of 23 as a result of complications from colic
. She was in foal to Mr. Greeley. She is buried at Greentree Farm, a division of Gainesway Farm near Lexington, Kentucky
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
Champion
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
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...
and one of only three fillies
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....
to ever win 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...
. Though she was registered as roan
Roan (horse)
Roan is a horse coat color pattern characterized by an even mixture of colored and white hairs on the body, while the head and "points"—lower legs, mane and tail—are more solid-colored. The roan pattern is dominantly-inherited, and is found in many horse breeds...
, she was, in fact, a gray
Gray (horse)
Gray or grey is a coat color of horses characterized by progressive silvering of the colored hairs of the coat. Most gray horses have black skin and dark eyes; unlike many depigmentation genes, gray does not affect skin or eye color Their adult hair coat is white, dappled, or white intermingled...
with a broad band of white on her face.
Racing on the West Coast of the United States
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
for 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...
, Winning Colors won both of her starts at age two. In the spring of 1988
1988 in sports
1988 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Pirmin Zurbriggen, Switzerland** Women's overall season champion: Michela Figini, Switzerland-American football:...
, the large filly put on a powerful performance in the Santa Anita Derby
Santa Anita Derby
The Santa Anita Derby is an American Grade 1 thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run each April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California and carries a purse of $1 million. Inaugurated in 1935, it is considered the most important West Coast stepping-stone to the Kentucky Derby...
, defeating colts
Colt (horse)
A colt is a young male horse, under the age of four. The term "colt" is often confused with foal, which refers to a horse of either sex under one year of age....
her age by 7½ lengths. Sent to Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs, located in Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, is a Thoroughbred racetrack most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby annually. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Churchill Downs...
for the Kentucky Derby, she was up against a stellar field of colts including Risen Star
Risen Star
Risen Star, , was a champion thoroughbred race horse.The dark bay colt was the son of the great Triple Crown winner Secretariat out of the mare Ribbon. Bred by Arthur B. Hancock III and Leone J. Peters, Risen Star was bought by Louisianans Ronnie Lamarque and Louie Roussel III at the 1987 Calder...
, Seeking the Gold
Seeking The Gold
Seeking The Gold is an American thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. He was sired by the leading stud, Mr. Prospector, who in turn was a son of Raise a Native, out of the mare, Con Game....
, Forty Niner
Forty Niner (horse)
Forty Niner is an American champion thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. By Champion sire Mr. Prospector and out of the mare, File, Forty Niner was the U.S...
, Regal Classic
Regal Classic
Regal Classic is a Canadian Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by Sam-Son Farm, he was by the highly successful sire, Vice Regent and out of Sam-Son Farm's foundation mare, No Class...
, and co-favorite Private Terms
Private Terms
Private Terms was a millionaire American Thoroughbred racehorse and successful stallion. He was the son of Private Account, who in turn was the son of the great Damascus. Bred in Kentucky by Stuart Janney, Jr., he finished racing with a record of 13-0-0 in 17 starts with career earnings of...
. As was her habit, Winning Colors broke fast and raced to the lead. Although Forty Niner made a determined charge in the homestretch, she held him off to win by a neck.
In 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...
, the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
, Winning Colors finished third to Risen Star who then blew away the field in the 1½ mile 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...
, winning by fifteen lengths while Winning Colors finished out of the money.
In the fall of 1988, Winning Colors finished second to Ogden Phipps'
Ogden Phipps
Ogden Phipps was an American stockbroker, court tennis champion and Hall of Fame member, thoroughbred horse racing executive and owner/breeder, and an art collector and philanthropist...
filly 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...
in the Maskette Stakes
Go For Wand Handicap
The Go For Wand Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race established in 1954 for fillies and mares age three and up. Raced at the end of July/early August, it is a Grade II race on dirt at a distance of one and one-eighth miles .Inaugurated in 1954 at Belmont Park as the Maskette Stakes in...
. The two fillies next met in the Breeders' Cup Distaff
Breeders' Cup Distaff
The Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, 3 years old and up. Known as the Breeders' Cup Distaff from its inception in 1984 through 2007, it is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders'...
at Churchill Downs in a race that is remembered as one of the most exciting finishes in Breeder's Cup history. Winning Colors had the lead with just 110 yards to go when 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...
, who had struggled throughout the entire race because of the sloppy track, made a charge and won by what the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame describes as a "lip." After the race, Winning Colors' trainer D. Wayne Lukas said that she had run the best race of her career.
Voted the 1988 Eclipse Award for Outstanding 3-Year-Old Filly
Eclipse Award for Outstanding 3-Year-Old Filly
The American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually to a female horse in Thoroughbred flat racing. It became part of the Eclipse Awards program in 1971....
, the following year Winning Colors raced in her final campaign at age four but won only two of her seven races, hampered by breathing difficulties
Dyspnea
Dyspnea , shortness of breath , or air hunger, is the subjective symptom of breathlessness.It is a normal symptom of heavy exertion but becomes pathological if it occurs in unexpected situations...
and surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
.
In 2000
2000 in sports
2000 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Hermann Maier, Austria** Women's overall season champion: Renate Götschl, Austria-American football:...
, Winning Colors was inducted in the United States' National Museum of Racing and 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...
.
Winning Colors was euthanized February 17, 2008 at the age of 23 as a result of complications from colic
Horse colic
Colic in horses is defined as abdominal pain, but it is a clinical sign rather than a diagnosis. The term colic can encompass all forms of gastrointestinal conditions which cause pain as well as other causes of abdominal pain not involving the gastrointestinal tract. The most common forms of colic...
. She was in foal to Mr. Greeley. She is buried at Greentree Farm, a division of Gainesway Farm near 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...
.