Theatrical, the 1987
champion turf male, was euthanized Friday night due to the infirmities of old
age at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, where he was pensioned from
stud duty in 2009.
“We were honored to
stand Theatrical and have him at Hill ‘n’ Dale for the past 11 years,” said John
G. Sikura, President of Hill ‘n’ Dale. “He was not only a great stallion, but
had become like a member of our family.
“Our
staff has done a fantastic job with the horse and cared for him so personally in
his retirement, hand grazing him and tending to his every need. I want to thank
Michael Paulson for giving us the opportunity to stand this wonderful horse. I’d
also like to thank the entire Theatrical syndicate for their support.”
Theatrical, 30, was bred in Ireland by Mr. and
Mrs. Bert Firestone, who raced the son of Nureyev for most of his career. A
share in the colt was later sold to Allen Paulson, who eventually bought out the
Firestones and stood Theatrical at his Brookdale Farm in Versailles, Kentucky,
upon Theatrical’s retirement. Theatrical was moved to Hill ‘n’ Dale following
Paulson’s death in 2000.
Initially trained by Dermot Weld in Europe,
Theatrical won two of seven starts overseas. His lone stakes win came in the
Group 2 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial in Ireland in 1985, the same year he ran
second in both the Group 1 Irish Derby and Group 1 Grosser Preis von Berlin.
Theatrical made his U.S. debut in the Grade 1
Breeders’ Cup Turf at Aqueduct in 1985, the first of three straight appearances
in the race, where finished 11th, beaten seven lengths, by Pebbles. Theatrical
raced once more for Weld in the U.S., finishing a distant 10th in the Grade 1
Arlington Million in 1986.
Transferred to Bobby Frankel in Southern
California following the Million, Theatrical ended 1986 in fine style. Second to
champion grass mare Estrapade in the Grade 1 Oak Tree Invitational, Theatrical
was just edged by eventual champion Manila in a thrilling renewal of the
Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita, and then missed by a neck in the Grade 1
Hollywood Turf Cup.
Theatrical concluded his career under the
tutelage of a young Bill Mott in 1987, when he won seven of nine starts. After a
demotion from second to 14th in the Grade 2 Bougainvillea Handicap at Hialeah,
Theatrical rebounded to take the Grade 1 Hialeah Turf Cup by a neck under Pat
Day, his pilot throughout his championship campaign.
After two more wins, in the Grade 2 Red Smith
Handicap and Grade 1 Bowling Green Handicap, both at Belmont Park, Theatrical
got on the right side of a stewards’ decision when elevated from second to first
in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Handicap at Belmont after he was interfered with by
Dance of Life.
Theatrical next met Manila for a final time in
the Arlington Million, but proved no match for the Hall of Famer when third,
beaten 4 3/4 lengths. The Million proved to Manila’s final race, and in his
absence Theatrical was able to pad his record enough to secure Eclipse Award
honors.
Following comfortable tallies in the Grade 1
Turf Classic at Belmont and the Grade 1 Man o’ War at Aqueduct, Theatrical
finally broke his Breeders’ Cup Turf jinx at Hollywood Park with a measured
half-length tally over Trempolino, hero of the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Theatrical retired with a mark of 21-10-3-2, $2,924,115.
Among Theatrical’s leading offspring were Irish
highweights Zagreb and Tullamore, multiple Japanese champion Hishi Amazon, and
multiple Grade 1 winners Royal Anthem, Geri, Winchester, Astra Shakespeare, and
Mrs. Lindsay. Daughters of Theatrical produced the likes of French highweight
and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Rail Link and 2007 champion turf male
English Channel.
Produced by the stakes-placed Sassafras mare
Tree of Knowledge, Theatrical was a half-brother to leading Japanese performer
Taiki Blizzard as well as the filly North of Eden, who produced 1994 champion
turf male Paradise Creek and Grade 1 winners Forbidden Apple and Wild Event.
Other notables from this family are English and
U.A.E. highweight David Junior, Japanese and French highweight Nakyama Festa,
champion juvenile filly Landaluce, Italian champion *Prince Royal II, and this
year’s Grade 1 Las Virgenes winner Eden’s Moon.