Farewell Winning Colors

[Mahubah]

The 1988 Kentucky Derby winner was put down yesterday according to The Blood-Horse's website. I still remember her blue-gray neck stretched out across the finish line, and thinking the next day that with that steely blue sheen to her coat, the newspapers had all missed the obvious headline: "Red Roses For a Blue Lady." At her best, she was magnificent. RIP.

[bdw0617]

this has not been a good stretch of 6 months for our american horse heros has it?


sad day for racing

[spex4me]

RIP W C! She was truly a beauty to watch.

[FOS]

hi Mahubah

At her best, (Winning Colors) was magnificent. RIP.

I found WINNING COLORS to be Magnificent ALWAYS.

Oh how very special she was.

Best

Respectfully

[Barbaro06]

RIP Girl...

I can still see her winning the '88 Derby...wow.

[nferro9925]

I will truly miss her

I think I was hopping up & down the day she won the Derby.

[Easy Goer]

Fantastic picture of her on p 495 of Mahuba's book. Just really...well I think that's my favorite pic in the whole book. She's all dappled out or whatever and with a little one beside her. Where did you get that pic anyhow? Can you post it?

[Bondama]

I too was thinking that would be nice if someone would post a photo in her honor. RIP girl!

[Mood Swings]

RIP Winning Colors

[Jorge]

WINNING COLORS........
Great memories, especially how she "mesmerized" all her rivals in the Derby with her tidy "procession" pace.

What a nice looking produce, her only gray horse, DR LITIN, uh?

http://www.pedigreequery.com/dr+litin

All the Best,

[Mahubah]

Fantastic picture of her on p 495 of Mahuba's book. Just really...well I think that's my favorite pic in the whole book. She's all dappled out or whatever and with a little one beside her. Where did you get that pic anyhow? Can you post it?

Photo was from the Blood-Horse's files, I think.

Unfortunately, WC was not nearly as good at 4 as at 3 (developed a breathing problem), and her broodie career was disappointing. But I'll never forget either her Derby win or the BC Distaff in which she just barely failed to hold off the splendid Personal Ensign. She was one for the books.

[vineyridge]

She has quite a few descendants in Japan. Maybe one of them will be able to keep her tail female line alive and kicking butt.

[louis finochio]

I remember her magnificent conformation when I would walk through her shedrow, to get a good look at her. Many are call but few are chosen, as she had it all. Thanks for the memories WC, with love & peace, your friend Louis.

[NorthStar]

Couldn't find a good picture but here is a link to a video of Winning Colors KY Derby. If you pause the video toward the end, you can catch her face (and her heart) down the stretch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykEb2qZ-aDA

She didn't just beat the boys that day--she beat some pretty good boys that day! Many went on to be some very good sires.


1988: World History Race Footnotes
Horse Finish Jockey Owner Breeder Trainer
Winning Colors 1st Gary Stevens Eugene V. Klein Echo Valley Horse Farm D. Wayne Lukas

Forty Niner 2nd Pat Day Claiborne Farm Claiborne Farm Woodford C. Stephens

Risen Star 3rd Eddie Delahoussaye Roussel & Lamarque Arthur B. Hancock, III. & Leone J. Peters Louie Roussel, III.

Proper Reality 4th Jerry Bailey Mrs. James W. Winn Mrs. James Winn Robert Holthus

Regal Classic 5th Laffit Pincay, Jr. Sam-Son Farm Sam-Son Farms James Day

Brian's Time 6th Angel Cordero, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. James W. Phillips Mr. & Mrs. James W. Phillips John M. Veitch

Seeking the Gold 7th Randy Romero Ogden Phipps Ogden Phipps Claude R. McGaughey, III.

Cefis 8th Eddie Maple Ryehill Farm & Robert Kirkham Ryehill Farm & Robert Kirkham Woodford C. Stephens

Private Terms 9th Chris Antley Locust Hill Farm Mr. & Mrs. Stuart Janney, Jr. Charles Hadry

Jim's Orbit 10th Shane Romero James Cottrell James Cottrell Clarence Picou

Granacus 11th Jacinto Vasquez S.A. Stavro John Sikura Patrick Collins

Lively One 12th William Shoemaker Thomas J. Curnes Nelson Bunker Hunt Charle Edward Whittingham

Din's Dancer 13th John Lively Theisen & Opstein Ward & Geraldine Theisen Jack Charles Van Berg

Kingpost 14th Jorge Velasquez Mark Warner Warnerton Farm Dianne Carpenter

Intensive Command 15th Julio Pezua Thomas J. Curnes Nelson Bunker Hunt John P. Campo

Purdue King 16th Kent Desormeaux Bob Starnes John Valpredo Barry Wexler

Sea Trek 17th Patrick Johnson Diana Stables, Inc. A Cross Ranch Gary Hartlage

[Derby Lyn]

Thanks for the youtube link. I didn't realize she won it wire to wire-even better for the filly. RIP Winning Colors.