'Rest in peace, my old pal' - 1994 Kentucky Derby winner Go For Gin dies aged 31

Hall of Champions resident Go For Gin died due to heart failure at the Kentucky Horse Park on Wednesday, where he had lived since retiring from stud duty in June 2011.

The 31-year-old was the oldest living Kentucky Derby winner.

"We're honoured that Go For Gin was an ambassador of the park for nearly 12 years," said Kentucky Horse Park executive director Lee Carter.

"As a visitor favourite, Go For Gin brought visitors from around the world to the Bluegrass and introduced new fans to the sport of thoroughbred racing. He will be greatly missed by all of us at the Kentucky Horse Park."

Go For Gin was bred in Kentucky by Pamela Darmstadt duPont and owned by William Condren and Joseph Cornacchia. He was trained by Nick Zito. As a two-year-old, the son of Cormorant won the Remsen Stakes.

At three, he was one of the few racehorses to beat the mighty Holy Bull, which he did in winning the 120th Kentucky Derby with Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron.

He followed that win with a second in the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes to Tabasco Cat. From two to four, Go For Gin had a record of 5-7-2 from 19 starts and earning of $1,380,866.

He took up stud duty at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky and was later sold to Bonita Farm in Maryland, where he had been standing since 2004. His progeny have earned more than $19.5 million and include Grade 1 winner Albert The Great, the winner of more than $3m.

"It saddens me to learn about Go For Gin," said McCarron. "My memories of him giving me a second Kentucky Derby victory will remain indelible in my heart for as long as I live. Rest in peace, my old pal."

Go For Gin shared the Kentucky Horse Park Hall of Champions with other champion horses, including Funny Cide and Point Given; Standardbred pacers Wester Dreamer and Won The West; and Standardbred trotter Mr Muscleman.

Rob Willis, manager of the Hall of Champions, said Go For Gin was a natural in his role as an equine ambassador.

"Being the oldest Derby winner, and with his personality, people really connected with him," Willis said.

"A lot of our visitors don't have much idea about the horses they're seeing but many of them would remember the name Go For Gin. Then after they'd meet him, with his looks, his charm, and charisma, they would remember him. They would become fans of him after meeting him.

"The great thing about Gin was he loved human contact. We could let people brush him. As they brushed, we'd ask them, 'Have you ever groomed a Derby winner?' You'd see their faces light up. It just made their day."

Like other great Hall of Champions horses at the Kentucky Horse Park, Go For Gin will be buried at the Memorial Walk of Champions alongside past thoroughbred residents Forego, Bold Forbes, John Henry, Alysheba and Da Hoss.

A public memorial service will be held for Go For Gin at a future date.

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