Tag Archives: Yankee Fourtune

Yankee Fourtune, Grade 3 Winner, Euthanized

Yankee Fourtune in retirement at Old Friends (Photo: Laura Battles)

GEORGETOWN, KY – MAY 29, 2019 – Grade 3 winner Yankee Fourtune was euthanized May 28 at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement farm in Georgetown, KY, due to issues of chronic arthritis.

The 12-year-old gelding had been pensioned at the non-profit organization since 2015.

Campaigned by New Jersey business man Harvey Clarke and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, in 2010 the 3-year-old Yankee Fourtune (Yankee Gentleman – Madam Ann, Mi Cielo) was undefeated in five starts on turf, which included his stakes debut in the Grade 3 Hawthorne Derby and culminated with a win in the Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf at Churchill Downs.

The gray gelding raced for four additional seasons, but never quite regained his championship form, and he soon entered the claiming ranks.

In 2012 Yankee was claimed from owner Clarke for $50,000. But the gelding always had a special place in his heart. Two years later Clarke — who was also known as the breeder or co-breeder of such champions as I’ll Have Another, Stopchargingmaria, and Cairo Prince — tracked down the horse’s new owners to offer his assistance if ever needed.

Clarke soon received a call that Yankee Fourtune needing emergency colic surgery.

Clarke took care of the surgery, and donated the horse to Old Friends to secure his retirement. Clarke remained a frequent visitor to the farm and a longtime supporter until his passing in January 2019 following a long bout with lung cancer.

“Losing Harvey and Yankee Fourtune is a huge blow to everyone who knew them both,” said Michael Blowen, President and founder of Old Friends. “Harvey loved Yankee Fourtune, and inquired about him a lot. They were lucky to have each other.”

For more information, please call (502) 863-1775 or visit the website at www.oldfriendsequine.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: Cynthia Grisolia, (347) 423-7322, cindy@oldfriendsequine.org; Michael Blowen (502) 863-1775, michael@oldfriendsequine.org

“Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to the Derby” Continues with “Yankee Fourtune” Chapeau

Brian Hernandez with Joshlyn, Yankee Fourtune and Jamie Hernandez (Photo by EquiSport)

Proceeds from the online fashion auction to benefit Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Facility

GEORGETOWN, KY – JANUARY 4, 2015 – The online fashion auction, “Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to the Derby”, continues today with a third handcrafted Derby chapeau on the virtual auction block to raise money for Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, KY.

This new hat was inspired by Old Friends retiree Yankee Fourtune, a graded-stakes winner bred in Kentucky by Brereton Jones.

For the Old Friends campaign, the beautiful chapeau is modeled in accompanying photos and behind-the-scenes video by Jamie Hernandez, her husband, leading jockey Brian Hernandez, and their daughter, Joshlyn. (Jamie’s lovely ensemble is courtesy of Lexington’s Bella Rose boutique.)

For photos and addition information, go to http://www.maggiemae.com/OldFriendsAuction-Hat-YankeeFourtune.htm.

For a behind-the-scenes video, go to: https://vimeo.com/150387295.

Bidding on “The Yankee Fourtune” began on January 2nd and will be open for 10 days only, ending on January 12th at 8 pm. Interested bidders can go to the Old Friends website at www.oldfriendsequine.org and follow the link.

This is the seventh consecutive year that Old Friends has joined with acclaimed milliner Sally Faith Steinmann of the Massachusetts-based Maggie Mae Designs® to auction off six exclusive Derby hats between November and April, each inspired by one of the non-profit organization’s 155 retired racehorses.

Yankee Fourtune was owned by Harvey A. Clarke and Andrew Albstein, who purchased him for $37,000 at the Keeneland September 2008 yearling sale.

The son of Yankee Gentleman out of the Mi Cielo mare, Madam Ann, Yankee Fourtune was unplaced as a 2-year-old, but went on a winning spree – five straight victories – at three after conditioner Kiaran McLaughlin switched him from dirt to turf. His stakes wins include the GR3 Hawthorne Derby and the GR3 Commonwealth Turf Stakes.

In all, Yankee had 31 career starts, winning nine of them and earning over $390,000.

The “Yankee Fourtune” was fashioned with a flat, wide-brim of silver dupioni silk, which is adorned with a fluid outer layer of ruffled, pale-silver organza.

The hat’s trim is highlighted by a large anemone – a new innovation from Maggie Mae Designs® created especially for Yankee Fourtune – that’s surrounded by a medley of emerald green silk and taffeta leaves. The center of the anemone is a shimmering black-pebble button circled with a ring of softly gathered green tulle and ruched charcoal silk organza.

Long, charcoal colored silk organza “feathers”, a MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS® trademark, were then carefully stitched to add a splash of dramatic detail to the floral trim.

As always, a physical remembrance of Yankee Fourtune, several strands of the gelding’s tail hair, were braided and woven into the trim.

Maggie Mae Designs® Custom Millinery offers magnificent hats for all occasions – from glamorous racing events such as the Kentucky Derby and the Royal Ascot to stunning bridal wear and handsome cocktail fashions. Every hat is carefully handcrafted by milliner Sally Faith Steinmann from her home base in South Harwich, MA. Salons of her fashions can be seen on her website at www.maggiemaedesigns.com.

Old Friends is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that cares for 155 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 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, cindy@oldfriendsequine.org; Maggie Mae Designs (508) 430-1626, sally@maggiemae.com