Seeking The Gold (April 7, 1985 – July 28, 2016) was an American

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. Thoroughbreds are ...

racehorse and a successful sire.

Background and Family

Seeking The Gold, a bay colt, was bred in Kentucky by Ogden Phipps, who also owned him. One of numerous top class runners sired by Mr. Prospector, Seeking The Gold was out of the Buckpasser mare Con Game, who also produced

Remsen Stakes The Remsen Stakes is an American Grade II race for Thoroughbred horse race run annually near the end of November at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. The one and one-eighths mile race is open to two-year-olds and currently offers a purse of ...

winner Fast Play and the

Jamaica Handicap The Caesars Belmont Derby is an American Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred race horse run over a distance of miles on the turf at Belmont Park in July. The purse for the event is US$1,000,000. The event is the first of three of ...

winner Stacked Pack.

Racing career

Seeking The Gold ran only once as a juvenile, making his debut race in late December 1987 a winning one. Seeking The Gold showed his best form as a three-year-old in 1988. He won the Super Derby,

Peter Pan Stakes The Peter Pan Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds over a distance of miles (nine furlongs) run annually during the second week of May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. History The race is run in honor o ...

Dwyer Stakes The Dwyer Stakes is an American Grade III stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbred racehorses held annually at Belmont Park racetrack in Elmont, Long Island, New York. Run in early July, it is open to three-year-old horses and is raced over a ...

, and

Swale Stakes The Swale Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three year old horses at the distance of seven furlongs on the dirt held annually in January at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event currently carries a purse ...

, a race in which he went into undefeated. He was narrowly beaten by Forty Niner in both the

Haskell Invitational Stakes The Haskell Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run over a distance of miles on the dirt held annually in July at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. The event is a signature event at Monmouth P ...

and the

Travers Stakes The Travers Stakes is an American Graded stakes race, Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. It is nicknamed the "Mid-Summer Derby" and is the third-ranked race for American three-year-olds acco ...

, then also finished second again to

Alysheba Alysheba (March 3, 1984 – March 27, 2009) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that won two legs of the Triple Crown in 1987. A successful sire, he produced 11 stakes winners. A bay colt, Alysheba was sired by Alydar out of the mare Bel ...

in the 1988 Breeder's Cup Classic, all with jockey

Pat Day Patrick Alan "Pat" Day (born October 13, 1953, in Brush, Colorado) is a retired American jockey. He is a four-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991 a ...

aboard coming with late runs and fast finishes for the runner-up placings. He was also second in both the

Gotham Stakes The Gotham Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run in early March at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. A Grade III event with a current purse of US$300,000, it is set at a distance of 1 mile on the d ...

and

Wood Memorial Stakes The Wood Memorial Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually in April at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. It is run over a distance of 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on dirt. The Wood Memorial ...

Private Terms Private Terms (April 6, 1985 – January 22, 2010) 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. ...

earlier in the year. Seeking The Gold ran twice as an older horse, winning an allowance at Belmont Park in May 1989, and finishing second nine days later in the

Metropolitan Handicap The Metropolitan Handicap, frequently called the "Met Mile", is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one mile (8 fu ...

behind Proper Reality.

Stud record

As a Sire

Seeking The Gold was pensioned in November 2008 after standing stud at Claiborne Farm for a fee that was as high as USD $250,000 before being lowered to USD $125,000 (live foal) in 2005. In 19 crops of foals, Seeking The Gold sired at least 91 stakes winners, of which 18 were G1 winners and 5 were champions. His progeny include: * Heavenly Prize (US) M, 1991-2013 - won eight G1 races,

American Champion Three-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 award originated in 1936 when both ...

(1994) *

Flanders Flanders (, ; Dutch: ''Vlaanderen'' ) is the Flemish-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to cultu ...

(US) M, 1992-2010 - won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (1994), American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly (1994) * Seeking The Pearl (US) M, 1994-2005 - the first Japan-based horse to win a G1 race in Europe, career earnings of USD $4,021,716. Champion Older Female in France. *

Dubai Millennium Dubai Millennium (2 March 1996 – 29 April 2001) was a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. The colt was trained in the United Kingdom and Dubai during his racing career from 1998 and 2000. He is notable for winning a series of major ...

(GB) H, 1996-2001 - won four G1 races, career earnings of USD $4,470,404, also notably the sire of

Dubawi Dubawi (foaled 7 February 2002) is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. Background Dubawi is a bay horse with no white markings bred in Ireland by Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stud. He was one of the only crop of foals sired by Duba ...

, *

Lujain Lujain (foaled 8 February 1996) was an American-bred, British-trained thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He showed his best form as a two-year-old in 1998 when he won his first three races by wide margins, culminating in a victory in the G1 Middle ...

(US) H, 1996 - won the

Middle Park Stakes The Middle Park Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old colts. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), and it is ...

(1998) * Cash Run (US) M, 1997 - won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (1999) * Catch The Ring (CAN) M, 1997 -

Canadian Champion Three-Year-Old Filly The Canadian Champion Three-Year-Old Filly is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing honour created in 1975 by the Jockey Club of Canada. It is part of the Sovereign Awards program and is awarded annually to the top 3-Year-Old Filly Thoroughbred hor ...

(2000) * Pleasant Home (US) M, 2001 - won the Breeders' Cup Distaff (2005) * Wanderin Boy (US) H, 2001-2008 - multiple G2 & G3 stakes winner, and a runner-up in the then G1

Pimlico Special The Pimlico Special is a Grade 3 American thoroughbred horse race for horses age three and older over a distance of miles ( furlongs) held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland in mid May. The race currently offers a purse of $300,000. ...

(2006) * Bob And John (US) H, 2003 - won the

(2006) *

Jazil Jazil (February 11, 2003 – October 11, 2014) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. In 2006, Jazil dead-heated for fourth place in the Kentucky Derby but then won the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Crown. Connections Ja ...

(US) H, 2003-2014 - won the Belmont Stakes (2006) * Cape Town (US) H, 1995 -three time graded stakes winner, including the

Florida Derby The Florida Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Since 2005, it has been run five weeks before the Kentucky Derby, which is held on the first Sat ...

. Seeking The Gold was crowned the Leading Freshman Sire of 1993, and Leading Juvenile Sire of 1994.

As a Broodmare Sire

Seeking The Gold has also achieved prominence as a broodmare sire, as his daughters have produced 76 graded stakes winners with combined progeny earnings of more than $213.8 million. As a broodmare sire, his most notable runners include: *

Blame Blame is the act of censuring, holding responsible, or making negative statements about an individual or group that their actions or inaction are socially or morally irresponsible, the opposite of praise. When someone is morally responsible fo ...

(US) H, 2006- won 7 graded stakes, including the 2010

Breeders' Cup Classic The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3-year-olds and older run at a distance of on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships in late October ...

Whitney Handicap The Whitney Stakes (run as the Whitney Handicap through 2013 and still sometimes referred to as such) is an American Grade 1 stakes race for Thoroughbred racehorses three years of age and older run at a distance of miles. The current purse is $1, ...

, and

Stephen Foster Handicap The Stephen Foster Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three and older over a distance of miles on the dirt run annually in mid-June at Churchill Downs Spring Meet in Louisville, Kentucky. The race is named in ...

. 2010 Eclipse Champion Older Dirt Male. * Lord Nelson (US) H, 2012 - won 4 graded races, including the Gr.I

Bing Crosby Stakes The Bing Crosby Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The Grade 1 race is open to horses three years of age and up. It is run on Dirt at a distance of six furlong and presently of ...

Triple Bend Handicap The Triple Bend Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses age four years and older over a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California in June. The race currently offers a purse of ...

, and

Santa Anita Sprint Championship The Santa Anita Sprint Championship is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old or older over the distance of six furlongs on the dirt scheduled annually in September at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. ...

. Nominated for 2016 Eclipse Champion Sprinter. *

Take Charge Brandi Take Charge Brandi (foaled 7 February 2012) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. A descendant of the outstanding broodmare Take Charge Lady, she was one of the leading juvenile fillies in North America in 2014. After winning only one of her f ...

(US) F, 2012- winner of the Starlet Stakes and 2014 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. 2014 Eclipse Champion Juvenile Filly. * Questing (US) F, 2009 - winner of the

Alabama Stakes The Alabama Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race open to three-year-old fillies. Inaugurated in 1872, the Grade I race is run over a distance of one and one-quarter miles on the dirt track at Saratoga Race Course. Held in mid August, it cu ...

and

Coaching Club American Oaks The Coaching Club American Oaks is a race for thoroughbred three-year-old fillies and the second leg of the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing. Originally run at Belmont Park, the Grade I $500,000 stakes race was moved to Saratoga Race Course in ...

. 2012 Eclipse Champion Three-Year-Old Filly. *

She Be Wild She Be Wild (foaled March 7, 2007, in Kentucky), is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Background She Be Wild was sired by Offlee Wild, who was sired by Wild Again. She is out of the mare Trapping, who is by Seeking The Gold, a son of the influ ...

(US) F, 2007 - winner of the 2009 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes. 2009 Eclipse Champion Juvenile Filly. * Point of Entry (US) H, 2008- winner of 5 Gr.I races, including the

Man o' War Stakes The Man o' War Stakes is a Grade I American thoroughbred horse race for horses aged four-years-old and older. It is run over a distance of one and three-eighth miles on turf and is scheduled annually for early May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New Yo ...

, Sword Dancer Invitational, Joe Hirsch Turf Classic,

Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap The Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race, by invitation for four-year-olds and older over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the turf track, held annually in late January or early February at Gulf ...

, and

Manhattan Handicap The Manhattan Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race raced annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is named for Manhattan, the principal borough of the City of New York. Currently offering a purse of $1,000,000, the Grade I Manh ...

. *

Excellent Art Excellent Art (25 February 2004) was a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a two-year-old he was trained in England and showed good form, winning the National Stakes and the Mill Reef Stakes and being placed in both the Prix Morny a ...

(GB) H, 2004- winner of the St. James's Palace Stakes and

Mill Reef Stakes The Mill Reef Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-olds. It is run at Newbury over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), and it is scheduled ...

. *

White Moonstone White Moonstone (foaled 25 February 2008) is an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from July until October 2010 she was undefeated in four races of increasing importance. After win ...

(GB) M, 2008- winner of the

Fillies' Mile The Fillies' Mile is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is sche ...

May Hill Stakes The May Hill Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is scheduled to take place eac ...

and Sweet Solera Stakes. * Majestic Warrior (US) H, 2005 - winner of the Gr.I

Hopeful Stakes The Hopeful Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Open to two-year-old horses, the Hopeful is the first Grade I stakes for two-year-olds each season and historically has ...

, sire of 2013

Kentucky Oaks The Kentucky Oaks is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies staged annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The race currently covers at Churchill Downs; the horses carry . The Kentucky Oaks is held on the Friday ...

winner Princess of Sylmar. Other notable descendants include Warrior's Reward, Awesome Slew, Pine Island, Dancing Forever, Pomeroy, Mushka, Robe Decollete, Internallyflawless, Riskaverse, Better Lucky, Lighthouse Bay, Swift Temper, and Graceful Leap (JPN).

Death

After being pensioned from stud duty in November 2008, Seeking the Gold was allowed to continue to reside in one of the stallion barns at Claiborne Farm. Seeking The Gold was humanely euthanized at Claiborne Farm on July 28, 2016 due to the infirmities of old age. On hearing of the horse's death, Shug McGaughey said "He was a very, very successful racehorse. One of my all-time favorites. He gave 110% every time."

Pedigree

References

{{Reflist 1985 racehorse births 2016 racehorse deaths Racehorses bred in Kentucky Racehorses trained in the United States Thoroughbred family 5-c