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The "Ferdinand" Hat

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^{MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS®
Custom Couture Millinery by Sally Faith Steinmann}

^Ferdinand

Ferdinand, a Thoroughbred racehorse born in 1983, has an amazing life story. Sired by Nijinsky and out of the mare, Banja Luka, Ferdinand was owned by Howard and Elizabeth Keck and trained by Charlie Whittingham. Jockey Bill Shoemaker rode Ferdinand to victory in the 1986 Kentucky Derby and the 1987 Breeder's Cup Classic. In 1987 Ferdinand also received Horse of the Year honors and earned over $3 million by the time he was retired in 1989.

In 1989 Ferdinand was retired to stud at the Nitta Farm in Japan. Then, in 2002 it was reported that Ferdinand had been sent unnannounced to a slaughterhouse in Japan after his stud career was deemed ineffectual. The subsequent outrage throughout the racing world prompted the creation of the Ferdinand Fee, a voluntary pre-race fee collected from New York racehorse owners. The money collected is distributed by Bluegrass Charities and the Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) in an effort to fund racehorse rescue and retirement facilities dedicated to Thoroughbred racehorse aftercare.

For more on the life story of Ferdinand please visit the following websites that recount his racing career and life story.

NY Times article July 23, 2003

Lexington Herald Leader article, May 4, 1986

To learn more about Old Friends at Dream Chase Farm, please visit the Old Friends website or call them at 502-863-1775.

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