Touch Gold, winner of the 1997 Belmont Stakes, has been euthanized at age 31 due to the infirmities of old age. His death was reported by Old Friends, where he had resided for the past decade.
“Saying farewell to Touch Gold is really hard for everyone at Old Friends,” John Nicholson, president and CEO of Old Friends, said in a release. “This tough old racehorse has been a special part of our life for many years. It was clear that he loved his life at Old Friends and enjoyed all the attention he received. Touch Gold was one of the best in a great era for our sport. We will miss him every day.”
Racing for Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs, Touch Gold did his best work at age 3 when trained by David Hofmans. After romping in the Grade 2 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, the son of Deputy Minister passed on the Kentucky Derby to focus on the Preakness Stakes. The colt endured a nightmare trip, going to his knees at the start and incurring a hoof injury which led to a quarter crack that would plague him the rest of his career. Nevertheless, Touch Gold worked his way to contention, only to be steadied on the rail. He finished a solid fourth.
Three weeks later, in the Belmont Stakes, Touch Gold, under a canny, wide ride from Chris McCarron, came on in the lane to deny Silver Charm the Triple Crown by three-quarters of a length. Ironically, Silver Charm would become a stablemate of his old foe at Old Friends.
Touch Gold added another Grade 1 victory in the Haskell Invitational. He retired following his 4-year-old campaign with more than $1.6 million in earnings and was inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame in 2011.
Touch Gold spent the majority of his stud career at Adena Springs in Kentucky, with a stint at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in New York when Adena partnered with that operation to send several stallions there. He sired 34 stakes winners, led by Grade 1 winners Composure, Mass Media, Midas Eyes, and Seek Gold, and Canadian classic winner Royal Challenger.
“Touch Gold’s passing marks the end of an era, but his legacy will forever live on in the hearts of those like me, who were fortunate enough to know him,” Eric Hamelback, former general manager of Adena Springs and the current CEO of the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, said in the release. “I remember Touch Gold was as tough as they come, at the races and in the breeding shed. He was intelligent, determined, and full of heart. His strength of character and quiet presence left a lasting impression on everyone who worked with him.
“My relationship with Touch Gold has been one of the great privileges of my career and my life. He was more than a champion. He also was a teacher in his own right, reminding us daily of the courage, resilience, and heart that define the Thoroughbred spirit.”
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.