NEWS
Kentucky Horse Park to unveil Alysheba memorial
Posted: Sunday, March 14, 2010 4:47 PM
A year after Alysheba’ death, the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington will unveil a memorial statute of the 1988 Horse of the Year and ’87 dual classic winner on April 16.
Following eight years at stud in Saudi Arabia, the Alydar horse resided at the Horse Park for only five months before he was euthanized at age 25 after an accidental fall in March 2009. He is buried at the Hall of Champions.
The public is invited to attend the unveiling of the memorial statue at Alysheba’s gravesite. The ceremony is set to begin at 10:15 a.m. EDT.
“During the brief time he lived at the Kentucky Horse Park, Alysheba stole the hearts of our park employees—especially those who worked with him each day and frequently commented on his loving disposition,” said John Nicholson, executive director of the Horse Park. “Now we are inviting his fans and those who revere champions to join us in the unveiling of this stunning statue to memorialize Alysheba for future generations.”
The bronze statue was commissioned by Clarence Scharbauer III of Midland, Texas, whose family owned Alysheba during his racing career. Sculpted by artist Shelley Hunter, it was conceived as a complementary piece to the John Henry memorial statue adjacent to it, which Hunter also created. The two statues will form an impressive honor guard for the Hall of Champions.
A career earner of $6,679,242, Alysheba won the 1987 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) and was voted champion three-year-old male. He won six Grade 1 races in 1988, including the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), and was voted Horse of the Year. He stood his first ten years at stud at William S. Farish's Lane's End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky and was sent to the Horse Park as a gift from Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah to the American people.
“The purpose of the Kentucky Horse Park has always been to honor the horse and to celebrate man’s relationship to it,” Nicholson said. “This new statue will accomplish both by allowing future generations to pause at his grave, pay homage to a champion, and remember the great team that worked with Alysheba to make him a star.”
