Skywalker (March 4, 1982 – February 25, 2003) was an American
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...
racehorse
Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, 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 bas ...
. He was best known for winning the 1986
Breeders' Cup Classic.
Background
Bred in
Kentucky
Kentucky (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the ...
by Thomas P. Tatham's Oak Cliff Thoroughbreds Ltd., who also bred
Sunday Silence, Skywalker was foaled on March 4, 1982 and raised at
Arthur B. Hancock III's Stone Farm. Sired by Relaunch and out of the
mare
A mare is an adult female horse or other equidae, equine. In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse three and younger. In Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more th ...
Bold Captive, he was named by Tatham's son for
Luke Skywalker, a lead character in the ''
Star Wars
''Star Wars'' is an American epic film, epic space opera media franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the Star Wars (film), eponymous 1977 film and Cultural impact of Star Wars, quickly became a worldwide popular culture, pop cu ...
'' motion pictures.
Skywalker was trained by
Michael Whittingham and raced under the Oak Cliff Stable partnership led by Thomas Tatham.
Racing career
Skywalker began racing in
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
in 1984 at age two, where he won one of his two starts and was off the board in the other. In his three-year-old campaign, he made five starts, winning twice. His most notable victory came under future
U.S. Racing Hall of Fame jockey
A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used ...
Laffit Pincay, Jr. when they won the most important
West Coast race for three-year-olds, the
Santa Anita Derby. He was then sent to
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs is a horse racing complex in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States that hosts the annual Kentucky Derby. It opened in 1875 and was named for Samuel Churchill, whose family was prominent in Kentucky for many years. The first ...
for the
Kentucky Derby, where jockey
Eddie Delahoussaye rode him to a sixth-place finish behind winner
Spend A Buck.
In 1986, the four-year-old Skywalker had his best year in racing when he won the
Longacres Mile,
Mervyn Leroy Handicap,
San Diego Handicap, and
Breeders' Cup Classic run at California's
Santa Anita Park. Ridden by Laffit Pincay, Jr., he defeated the heavy favorites
Turkoman (
Pat Day riding) and
Precisionist (
Gary Stevens on board), who finished second and third respectively, as well as the European star
Triptych, who finished sixth.
Sent back to race at age five, Skywalker was second in the
Arcadia Handicap and third in the
Goodwood Handicap.
Stud record
Retired to
stud duty at
Cardiff Stud Farm
Creston is a census-designated place in San Luis Obispo County, California, about 10 miles east of Atascadero, California, Atascadero.
History
Creston (named after Calvin J. Cressy) was founded in 1884 on the Rancho Huerhuero Mexican land grant. ...
in
Creston,
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
, he sired
Bertrando, the 1993
Eclipse Award winner for
American Champion Older Male Horse. Another notable son is Sky Terrace (2002 winnings: 16 starts: 4 - 1 - 2, $218,709 - 1st
Derby Trial Stakes-G3 2nd Le-Comte S. 3rd
Lafayette Stakes-G3,
Northern Dancer Stakes). Skywalker was also the damsire of
Sky Jack, a
Hollywood Gold Cup winner.
Skywalker was moved to his birthplace at Stone Farm in 1996 and died of a
heart attack
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...
at age 21 on February 25, 2003. He is buried in the Stone Farm equine cemetery.
Sire line tree
*Skywalker
**
BertrandoBertrando, Champion and Top CA Sire, Dies
/ref>[Tiznow’s Pensioning And The State Of The Godolphin Arabian/Man O’ War Sire Line]
/ref>
***Stormy Jack
***Officer
****Elite Squadron
****Boys at Tosconova
***Bilo
***Unfurl the Flag
***Karelian
***Liberian Freighter
***Sierra Sunset
***Coach Bob
***Tamerando
**Al Skywalker
**Sky Terrace
Pedigree
* Skywalker is inbred 4D × 4D to the stallion Polynesian, meaning that he appears twice fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree.
References
Skywalker's pedigree and partial racing stats
Skywalker's February 25, 2003 obituary at Bloodhorse.com
{{Breeders' Cup Classic Winners
1982 racehorse births
2003 racehorse deaths
Racehorses bred in Kentucky
Racehorses trained in the United States
Breeders' Cup Classic winners
Thoroughbred family 2-d
Godolphin Arabian sire line