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Ferdinand (horse)

Ferdinand
Sire Nijinsky
Grandsire Northern Dancer
Dam Banja Luka
Damsire Double Jay
Sex Stallion
Foaled 1983
Country United States
Colour Chestnut
Breeder Howard B. Keck
Owner Elizabeth A. Keck
Trainer Charlie Whittingham
Record 29:8-9-6
Earnings $3,777,978
Major wins

Santa Catalina Stakes (1986)
Malibu Stakes (1986)
Goodwood Handicap (1987)
Cabrillo Handicap (1987)
Hollywood Gold Cup (1987)

American Classics / Breeders' Cup wins:
Kentucky Derby (1986)
Preakness Stakes 2nd (1986)
Breeders' Cup Classic (1987)
Awards
U.S. Champion Older Male Horse (1987)
United States Horse of the Year (1987)
Last updated on May 6, 2010

Santa Catalina Stakes (1986)
Malibu Stakes (1986)
Goodwood Handicap (1987)
Cabrillo Handicap (1987)
Hollywood Gold Cup (1987)

Ferdinand (March 12, 1983 – 2002) was a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1986 Kentucky Derby and 1987 Breeders' Cup Classic. He was voted the 1987 Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year.

He entered stud in 1989 and was later sold to a breeding farm in Japan in 1994.

Much to the outrage of many horse racing enthusiasts, reports indicate that in 2002 Ferdinand was sent to slaughter in Japan with no fanfare or notice to previous owners. He likely became either pet food or steaks for human consumption. Ferdinand's death was the catalyst for the Ferdinand Fee, an optional donation program to fund keeping old racehorses alive, and Friends of Ferdinand, a nonprofit group formed in 2005 with the goal of transitioning retired racehorses into second careers.

In September 2006, the United States House of Representatives approved H.R. 503, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, which would ban the slaughter of horses in the United States. The bill did not make it out of committee in the Senate, however. In January 2007, the bill was re-introduced. As of 2012, the act has not been passed into law.

In 1986, Ferdinand entered the Derby under Bill Shoemaker and won the race from starting gate number one.

In 1987, Ferdinand, Kentucky Derby winner of 1986, met Alysheba, Derby winner of 1987. They reached the wire close together, with Ferdinand winning by a nose over Alysheba. Ferdinand won the titles of Horse of the Year and Champion Older Horse. He was the first Classic winner to win the title, just three years after its inaugural running.


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