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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