Awad, Winner of the 1995 Arlington Million, Dead at 21

GEORGETOWN, KY – JULY 23, 2011 – Millionaire and four-time GR 1 winner Awad has died.  The 21-year-old stallion was discovered early this morning in his paddock at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY, where he has been pensioned since 2006.

According to veterinarian Dr. Douglas Byars and Old Friends founder and President Michael Blowen, the cause of death was a sudden heart attack, but a full necropsy is currently underway at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington.

The hard-knocking son of Caveat, Awad raced for seven seasons as a homebred for Maryland’s Ryehill Farm, capturing 14 of his 70 starts. His career earnings totaled $3,270,131.

Awad’s first GR1 win came in the 1993 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington International, which would prove to be a lucky course for the Maryland bred throughout his career. In 1995 he captured the GR1 Arlington Million in record time, 1:58.69, shaving one-fifth of a second off the course mark set by Perrault in 1982.

With the win he not only gave trainer David Donk and jockey Eddie Maple their first Million triumphs, he also became the first horse to ever win both of those GR1 turf events at Arlington.

That year also saw Awad win the GR1 Manhattan Handicap and the GR2 Pan American Handicap.

Awad fell short in his bid to win the 1995 Sword Dancer at Saratoga, losing to his Old Friends paddock mate, Kiri’s Clown.  But he bounced back in ‘97, taking the mile-and-a-half with Pat Day aboard and setting a track record of 2:23.20, a record he still held at the time of his death.

Awad entered stud at Northview Stallion Station in Maryland in 1999 where he sired one stakes winner, Underbidder, and the multiple stakes-placed Arab Miss.

“He was a great horse, he had a tremendous impact on everyone,” said trainer Donk today from his barn at Saratoga.  “He got the best care of his life while at Old Friends, and we’re so glad we got to visit him there last year.”

“It’s been an honor to be associated with such a champion as Awad,” said Blowen. “He was a favorite at the farm and a favorite of so many of the visiting fans. He will be sorely missed.”

For more information about Old Friends contact the main office at (502) 863-1775 or see their website at www.oldfriendsequine.org.

About Old Friends
Old Friends is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that cares for more than 100 retired racehorses. Its Dream Chase Farm, located in Georgetown, KY, is open to tourists daily by appointment. Old Friends also has a satellite facility in Greenfield Center, New York, Old Friends at Cabin Creek: The Bobby Frankel Division, which is also open to visitors. For more information on tours, reservations at the Old Friends B&B, or to make a donation, contact the main farm at (502) 863-1775 or see their website at www.oldfriendsequine.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: Cynthia Grisolia, (347) 423-7322, cagrisolia@yahoo.com or Michael Blowen, (502) 863-1775, michael@oldfriendsequine.org

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