Kentucky Gold

Kentucky Gold (foaled 14 February 1973) was a Thoroughbred racehorse who was sold for a world-record $625,000 ($3.9 million inflation adjusted) in 1974. As a racehorse, he won one minor race from seven starts. He was then retired to stud and sired the winners of many minor races.

Kentucky Gold was a bay horse bred in Kentucky by Leslie Combs II of Spendhrift Farm. Having been sired by Raise A Native out of the mare Gold Digger he was a full-brother to Mr. Prospector.^[2]

At the Keeneland Sales in July 1974 the yearling was sold for a then world-recond price of $625,000, with Mr & Mrs W Gilroy of Chicago winning the auction.^[3] He broke the record set a year earlier by Wajima.^[4] He was the fifth Spendthrift graduate to hold the record following One Bold Bid, Bold Discovery, Majestic Prince and Crowned Prince.^[5]

Kentucky Gold was sent into training with Richard J. Fischer. His racing career consisted of seven starts as a three-year-old in 1976. After finishing third at Hollywood Park Racetrack on his debut in a maiden race in April he finished unplaced in two similar events at the same track before winning a maiden at Delaware Park on August 15. He then finished fourth at Keystone Park and finished third in two allowance races at Keeneland in October.^[6]

Kentucky Gold was retired from racing to become a breeding stallion. He was not particularly successful, but did sire some prolific winners of minor races in North America including Golden Tumiga (twenty-six wins), Native of Kentucky (twenty-one wins), Golden Occasion (thirteen wins) and Fort Worth (thirteen wins).^[7] Kentucky Gold died in 2001.