December 23, 2024

Old Friends retiree Benburb dies at age 23

Last updated: 8/1/12 5:10 PM


by Brisnet.com

Benburb — a retiree at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement facility in
Georgetown, Kentucky — was euthanized due to complications from melanomas on
Wednesday at Haygard Equine Medical Center in Lexington. He was 23.

A homebred for Steve Stavro’s Knob Hill Stables, Benburb finished his racing
career with seven wins out of 22 starts and earnings of $1,159,904.

In 1992, then three-year-old Benburb stunned fans at Fort Erie in Ontario
when he wore down Queen’s Plate winner Alydeed on a muddy track to win the
Prince of Wales Stakes. That same year the Phil England trainee had another
thrilling upset win, this one in the Grade 2 Molson Export Million where he
knocked off a blue-chip field that included eventual U.S. Horse of the Year A.P.
Indy, Alydeed and Grade 1 winner Technology.

For his efforts Benburb earned the Sovereign Award as the Canadian Horse of
the Year as well as champion three-year-old male honors.

The gray gelding had been retired at Old Friends since 2008. Catherine
Perkins, farm manager of Perkins-Mackey Stables in Bourbon County, donated him
to the facility.

“We’re so happy Benny got to live out his life as a champion,” Perkins said.

“We were really blessed to have retired Benburb,” said Michael Blowen, Old
Friends founder and president. “He was the kindest of them all. He was farm
manager Janet Beyersdorfer’s favorite, so he was the Teacher’s Pet. When his
time came, we returned his kindness. And he was grateful. He is irreplaceable.”

For additional information about Old Friends or any of its retirees please
call 502-863-1775 or visit the website at
oldfriendsequine.org.