NEWS
Horse of the Year Black Tie Affair euthanized
Posted: Friday, July 02, 2010 9:28 AM
BLACK TIE AFFAIR
Pensioned sire and 1991 Horse of the Year Black Tie Affair (Ire) was euthanized on Thursday at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, Kentucky.
The 24-year-old Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner was suffering from laminitis, a year after being pensioned because of declining fertility.
Black Tie Affair last stood at Randy Funkhouser’s O’Sullivan Farms in Charles Town, West Virginia, from 2005-’09, after previous stints at Vinery in Lexington from 1992-’97, East Stud in Japan from 1998-2003, and Blue Ridge Farm in Virginia in ’04.
“It was an honor to be associated with such an amazing athlete,” Old Friends President Michael Blowen said. “The Old Friends team, headed by [Doug Byars, D.V.M.] did everything we could to help this old warrior. In the end, he exhibited the same class as he did when he won the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He was the best in every way.”
Black Tie Affair finished his career with six straight wins in the second half of 1991, capped by a front-running win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs. He also won the 1991 Philip H. Iselin Handicap (G1) at Monmouth Park, the 1990 Budweiser-Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (G2), the ’91 Michigan Mile Handicap (G2), the ’91 Washington Park Handicap (G2), and the ’90 and ’91 editions of the Commonwealth Breeders’ Cup Stakes (G3).
Trained by Ernie Paulos for owner Jeffrey Sullivan, Black Tie Affair posted 18 victories in 45 career starts and earned $3,370,694.
“He was just life changing for us,” said Dee Paulos, the trainer’s widow. “It was such a wonderful experience with him. He was and still will be an inspiration for me. When things got tough, I would think about Black Tie. He was my motivator.”
Black Tie Affair is the sire of 38 stakes winners and the earners of $57,990,566. His top runner was Evening Attire, who prevailed in the 2002 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) and notched his 11th stakes win as a ten-year-old in ‘08. Black Tie Affair also sired multiple Grade 1 winner and California sire Formal Gold and Brazilian champion My Tie.
Stephen Peskoff bred Black Tie Affair in Ireland out of the stakes-winning Al Hattab mare Hat Tab Girl, who also produced Italian Group 1 winner Great Palm, stakes winner Start a Tab, and the dam of multiple graded stakes winner Kiss the Kid.
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Michael Goldberg, Marietta, GA on July 09, 2010 at 01:54 AM
Yet another great horse from one of the most underrated thoroughbred families,going way back to the great turf champion The Axe ll,and his mother Blackball by Shut Out. Tom Fool mare Bebopper was mother to Hatchet Man and Stop the Music. Included is his father Mahmoud, and some of his terrific sons, Al Hattab,Executioner,Hatchet Man,Twist the Axe,Cam Axe,Woodchopper,Get the Axe, etc. Daughters and granddaughters were excellent breeders, with Hat Tab Girl(mother of Black Tie Affair and Giacomo),Sharon Brown(mother of Holy Bull)and mares Foggy Note,( mother to Relaunch) and Scotch Heather, to name just a few. Thanks BTA--you will be missed. MG
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Posted by: Dee, Palatine, IL on July 04, 2010 at 01:10 AM
Thank you so much for your coverage of "Black Tie's" passing. It seems but a short time ago that I was paging through your publication searching for articles about his victories and clipping them out for my scrapbook. How quickly 19 years can vanish. "Black Tie" will always have a special place in my heart--he gave so much, but ask for so little.
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Posted by: sharon, lexington, KY on July 03, 2010 at 10:14 PM
I just saw Black Tie Affair last Tuesday(6-29-10)
He was one of my all time favorites such a beautiful horse so glad he was able to spend his last years at Old Friends where all of us that loved him could see him. Rest in peace old friend.
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Posted by: fredna , baytown, TX on July 03, 2010 at 02:20 PM
I'm thankful to have had the privilege of spending a little time with Black Tie Affair one rainy Monday nite this May, communing with him, and feeding him carrots. What a great horse and great service Old Friends provides. My sincere condolences to Michael and the whole staff.
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Posted by: Susan, Doylestown, PA on July 03, 2010 at 06:30 AM
I just saw Black Tie Affair at Old Friends on June 9th; he was obviously ill but he was happy; he did come over to see us and even tried to eat some carrots. What a classy horse, what a beautiful spirit. A true champion in everyway.
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