Acatenango (1982–2005) was a German

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...

racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic ...

. Sired by the Deutsches Derby winner and German Champion sire, Surumu, he was out of the English mare Aggravate. Acatenango's ancestry includes German Champion sire Dark Ronald, the French Champion sire, Tantieme, English Triple Crown champion Gainsborough, and the most influential Italian sire,

Nearco Nearco (January 24, 1935 – June 27, 1957) was an Italian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse described by '' Thoroughbred Heritage'' as "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century" and "one of the most important sires of the century." He ...

. Racing in 1984 at age two, Acatenango's best finish was a third in the Ratibor-Rennen at

Krefeld Krefeld ( , ; li, Krieëvel ), also spelled Crefeld until 1925 (though the spelling was still being used in British papers throughout the Second World War), is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located northwest of Düsseldorf, i ...

. In 1985 he embarked on a thirteen-race winning streak that tied a European record held by Ardross and

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. Included in his wins was the Grosser Bavaria Preis, a listed race at

Munich Racecourse Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the third-largest city in Germany, after Berlin and Ha ...

and the important

Group One Group One, Group 1, Grade I or G1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. In Europe, the level of races for Thoroughbred racing is determined using the Pattern race system introduce ...

Aral-Pokal at the

Gelsenkirchen Racecourse Gelsenkirchen (, , ; wep, Gelsenkiärken) is the 25th most populous city of Germany and the 11th most populous in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia with 262,528 (2016) inhabitants. On the Emscher River (a tributary of the Rhine), it lies ...

Gelsenkirchen Gelsenkirchen (, , ; wep, Gelsenkiärken) is the 25th most populous city of Germany and the 11th most populous in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia with 262,528 (2016) inhabitants. On the Emscher River (a tributary of the Rhine), it li ...

. Acatenango's most important win that year came in the Deutsches Derby, the equivalent of the

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Epsom Derby The Derby Stakes, also known as the Epsom Derby or the Derby, and as the Cazoo Derby for sponsorship reasons, is a Group 1 flat horse race in England open to three-year-old colts and fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey ...

and America's

Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby is a horse race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, almost always on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The competition is a Grade I stakes race for three-yea ...

. His performances earned him 1985

German Horse of the Year German Horse of the Year is an award for racehorses instituted in 1957. It is the oldest public vote in the German sports. It was instituted by the WDR journalist Addi Furler. The award is decided by public vote. Records Most wins: * 3 - Orofino ( ...

honors. In 1986, Acatenango continued his winning streak. Usually ridden in Germany by jockey

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, under jockey

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he won his second Aral-Pokal, defeated

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in winning the

Grosser Preis von Berlin The Großer Preis von Berlin, formerly known as the Deutschland-Preis, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Germany open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Hoppegarten over a distance of 2,400 metres ...

, and scored the first of his two consecutive wins in the

Grosser Preis von Baden The Grosser Preis von Baden is a Group 1 flat horse race in Germany open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Baden-Baden over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles), and it is sched ...

, Germany's most prestigious horse race. Racing outside of the country, in 1986

Steve Cauthen Steve Cauthen (born May 1, 1960) is a retired American jockey. In 1977 he became the first jockey to win over $6 million in a year working with agent Lenny Goodman, and in 1978 he became the youngest jockey to win the U. S ...

rode Acatenango to victory in the

Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud The Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Saint-Cloud over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles), and it i ...

at the

Saint-Cloud Racecourse Hippodrome de Saint-Cloud is a grass race course for Thoroughbred flat horse racing opened in 1901 at 1 rue du Camp Canadien in Saint-Cloud near Paris, France. During World War 1, the race course site housed the No. 4 Canadian Stationary Hospit ...

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. For the second year he was voted German Horse of the Year. In 1987, Acatenango won his second straight Grosser Preis von Baden and was third to winner

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in the

Coronation Cup The Coronation Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 6 yards ...

Epsom Downs Epsom Downs is an area of chalk upland near Epsom, Surrey; in the North Downs. Part of the area is taken up by the racecourse, the gallops are part of the land purchased by Stanly Wootton in 1925 and are open to users such as ramblers, model ...

in England. His performances earned him his third consecutive German Horse of the Year title. Retired to stud duty at his owner's breeding farm, Acatenango was the leading sire in Germany in 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, and 2001. His sons and daughters include: *

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, winner of the 1993 Deutsches Derby and the 1995 Japan Cup *

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, the 1997 Deutsches Derby and Grosser Preis von Baden winner * Fraulein, winner in

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of the 2002

E. P. Taylor Stakes The E. P. Taylor Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares held annually since 1956 in October at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is run on the E. P. Taylor turf course at a distance of miles. Originally run as ...

. * Blue Canari, winner in France of the 2004

Prix du Jockey Club The Prix du Jockey Club, sometimes referred to as the French Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Chantilly ov ...

* Sabiango, won the 2001 Rheinland-Pokal, 2003

Deutschland-Preis The Großer Preis von Berlin, formerly known as the Deutschland-Preis, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Germany open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Hoppegarten over a distance of 2,400 metres (ab ...

, and in the United States the 2004 Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap * Nicaron, won the 2005 Deutsches Derby * Dalicia, won the 2005

Preis der Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe The Preis der Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe is a Group 3 flat horse race in Germany open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Baden-Baden over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year in ...

, dam of the

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winner Animal Kingdom * Wurftaube, won the 1996

German St. Leger The Deutsches St. Leger is a Group 3 flat horse race in Germany open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Dortmund over a distance of 2,800 metres (about 1¾ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September or O ...

, dam of 2011 Deutsches Derby winner Waldpark and Waldmark dam of Masked Marvel Due to declining fertility Acatenango was retired from stud duties in 2004. He was humanely

euthanized Animal euthanasia (euthanasia from el, εὐθανασία; "good death") is the act of killing an animal or allowing it to die by withholding extreme medical measures. Reasons for euthanasia include incurable (and especially painful) conditio ...

on 2 April 2005 at the age of 23 following an accident in his paddock.

References

Racing Career

Progeny

2 April 2005 Bloodhorse article on the death of Acatenango
{{DEFAULTSORT:Acatenango (Horse) 1982 racehorse births 2005 racehorse deaths Racehorses bred in Germany Racehorses trained in Germany German Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Thoroughbred family 11-a