 Ferdinand at His Peak in 1986
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Aug. 6, 2003 — The racing world was shocked to learn that Ferdinand, winner of the 1986 Kentucky Derby and 1987 Horse of the Year honors, was sent to slaughter in Japan last year.
In its July 26 issue, The Blood-Horse magazine reported that the relatively young 19-year-old was sent to a slaughterhouse after an unsuccessful career at stud in Japan.
Ferdinand's death was discovered by reporter Barbara Bayer who attempted to learn what happened to him after a member of the Howard Keck family, which bred him, inquired about having him returned to the United States.
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When Ferdinand won the Kentucky Derby he was ridden by jockey William Shoemaker, then 54, in his last Derby win and he provided trainer Charlie Whittingham, then 73, with his first Derby win.
He retired in 1989 as the fifth leading money winner of all time. His career at stud was unremarkable in the United States and he was sold to Japan in 1994.
In Japan he was bred to progressively smaller numbers of mares each year and in 2001 he was turned over to a horse dealer after attempts to place him in a riding academy were unsuccessful.
Ferdinand then stood at another farm for two more years before he was "disposed of last year," according to the horse dealer, Yoshikazu Watanabe.
"In Japan," reports Bayer, "the term 'disposed of' is understood to mean slaughtered."
In Japan, where races have the world's highest purses and betting revenues are astronomical, Ferdinand's fate is the rule for stallions once they no longer are siring winners, as well as for other racehorses that are no longer considered useful.
At no point did anyone in Japan attempt to contact the Keck family or Clairborne Farm where Ferdinand had first been at stud.
Dell Hancock, whose family operates Clairborne Farm, said, "It's so sad, but there's nothing anyone can do now — except support John Hettinger's efforts to stop the slaughter of thoroughbreds in this country."
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Name: Domestic Horse (Equus caballus)
Primary Classification: Equidae (Horses) Location: Original populations occurred in central Asia. Habitat: Feral populations are found in temperate grassland, forest and rainforest. Diet: Feral animals eat grass; domesticated animals eat hay and grain. Size: Up to 1 ton in weight. Description: Highly variable coloration. Long neck supporting large head. Large eyes and ears. Long hair along neck and forehead. Deep chest. Barrel-shaped body. Long limbs. Solid hoof on each foot. Long-haired tail. Cool Facts: They can twist their long ears to locate sounds without having to move their bodies. Males curl their top lip in what's called the flehmen response, which heightens their sense of smell, allowing them to determine females' readiness for mating. Conservation Status: Domesticated |
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