Saga of 1986 Derby Champ Ferdinand
Willie Shoemaker's Best Late Career Mount Was Slaughtered in Japan
His U.S. owners regretted selling him, but it was too late for Ferdinand. The 1986 Derby champ was "disposed of" in Japan after serving unsuccessfully at stud.
"Disposed of" is the terminology used in Japan that means "slaughtered". He's already been "disposed of" was the reported answer given that ended a search for 1986 Kentucky Derby champion and 1987 Horse of the Year, Ferdinand.
Ferdinand, A Champion Runner, Had A Champion's Pedigree and Willie Shoemaker
A chestnut son of Nijinsky II, by Northern Dancer, by Nearctic -- a world famous pedigree -- Ferdinand won the Derby with 54-year-old Willie Shoemaker guiding him to a driving 2-1/4 lengths victory. The Shoe, in winning his fifth Derby championship, called Ferdinand the best Thoroughbred he had ridden in the latter stages of his four-decade career.
Reporter Barbara Bayer, Representing Ferdinand's Previous Owners, Searched For Him
Members of the Howard Keck family, previous owners of Ferdinand, regretted selling him and launched an inquiry concerning his whereabouts through reporter Barbara Bayer.
Retired to stud at Claiborne Farm in 1989, Ferdinand had been only modestly successful as a stallion. In 1994, he was sold to Japan's JS Company and shipped overseas. Subsequently, the Derby champ was assigned as a stallion to Arrow Stud in northern Hokkaido, Japan. By 2002, Ferdinand had been declared no longer useful at stud.
Bayer learned that Ferdinand had been acquired by a horse dealer named Yoshikazu Watanabe. In speaking to Watanabe personally, Bayer reported that she at first was told that Ferdinand had been given to a friend, then that he had been gelded and sent to a riding club. Finally, the truth was spoken when Bayer asked to see Ferdinand. He had been "disposed of", Watanabe told her. His Japanese registration was reportedly annulled on Sept. 1, 2002.
Neither the Keck family, nor Claiborne Farm had been notified when Ferdinand was taken out of stud service.
Zitos Active In Horse Rescue, Troubled By Ferdinand's Ending
Many American trainers and owners were stunned to learn of Ferdinand's demise. Trainer Nick Zito and his wife are active in Thoroughbred horse rescue. They stated that they did not want to offend people of any other culture, but they believe that the sentiment should work both ways. Americans value and hold dear their Thoroughbred racing champions.
Nonetheless, in Japan, slaughter continues to be an economic option to the high cost of maintaining Thoroughbreds and imported breeding stock deemed no longer useful.
Bayer's Report To The Blood-Horse Stated:
"Ferdinand's story is the story of nearly every imported stallion in Japan...when the figures no longer weigh in his favor...where racing is kept booming by the world's highest purses and astronomical betting revenues, Ferdinand's fate is not the exception. It is the rule."
