Bango, the winningest horse in recorded Churchill Downs history, will begin his stud career in 2026 less than two hours north in Indiana.
Breakway Farm in Dillsboro, Ind., announced on social media Thursday that it will stand Bango, an 8-year-old Congrats horse. He will have an introductory fee of $2,500.
Bango raced as a homebred for Fred and Debbie Schwartz’s Tamaroak Stable and was trained by Greg Foley. He was retired earlier this month with a career record of 42-15-4-5 and earnings of more than $1.6 million.
Although Bango was a stakes winner at Turfway Park and Ellis Park, finished third in the Grade 2 Phoenix in 2023 at Keeneland, and was stakes-placed at Fair Grounds, he did his best work at Churchill. His 12 wins there broke the record held by Ready’s Rocket, who scored 11 wins at Churchill, all at the claiming or starter-allowance level, in a career spanning 2005-12.
Bango’s Churchill wins include six stakes – the 2021 and 2022 editions of the Aristides, the 2021 Kelly’s Landing, the 2022 Bet On Sunshine, the 2023 St. Matthews, and the 2023 Louisville Thoroughbred Society. He was honored with a retirement ceremony on Nov. 16 at his home track.
Bango is part of a growing stallion roster at Breakway, which is operated by the mother and daughter team of Janice Jordan and Tara Mathias. Bango is one of three newcomers for 2026 who will join the six stallions already at the farm, including state stalwart Unbridled Express. Eclipse Award winner Maximum Security, whose first foals are 3, has relocated from Kentucky to join the Indiana ranks. Graded stakes-placed Bolzy will be the first son of Gun Runner to stand in Indiana.
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