Go for Gin

Go for Gin (April 18, 1991 – March 8, 2022) was an American thoroughbred racehorse best known as the winner of the 1994 Kentucky Derby. He was sired by Cormorant out of the dam Never Knock. He was ridden in the Derby by Chris McCarron, who had previously won the race on Alysheba.

Go for Gin
SireCormorant
GrandsireHis Majesty
DamNever Knock
DamsireStage Door Johnny
SexStallion
Foaled(1991-04-18)April 18, 1991
DiedMarch 8, 2022(2022-03-08) (aged 30)
CountryUnited States
ColourBay
BreederPamela duPont Darmstadt
OwnerWilliam J. Condren & Joseph M. Cornacchia
TrainerNicholas Zito
Record19: 5-7-2
Earnings$1,380,866
Major wins
Remsen Stakes (1993)
Preview Stakes (1994)

Triple Crown Race wins:
Kentucky Derby (1994)
Preakness Stakes 2nd (1994)

Last updated on January 23, 2010

Foaled in Kentucky in 1991, Go for Gin was bred by Pamela duPont Darmstadt and trained by Nick Zito, who also trained 1991 Kentucky Derby winner Strike the Gold.

In 1995, Go for Gin suffered a small tear of a tendon sheath in his left foreleg while working out at Belmont Park.[1] This precipitated his retirement to stud.

After the death of Sea Hero in July 2019, Go for Gin became the oldest living Kentucky Derby winner.[2] Upon the death of A.P. Indy on February 21, 2020, Go For Gin became the oldest living winner of any of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing races.

Racing history

Go for Gin started 19 races, winning five and running in the money 14 times. Though he challenged for the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, he never won again, losing his last nine races.

1994 Kentucky Derby

The 120th Kentucky Derby was held on May 7, 1994, over a sloppy track. The race went off at 5:34 p.m. local time. Go for Gin entered the race at 9.10:1 odds, behind Holy Bull at 2.20, Brocco at 4.30, Tabasco Cat at 6.10, and Strodes Creek at 7.90. He started by ducking out, forcing Tabasco Cat into Brocco. By the 1/4 mile pole, Go for Gin moved up to second place behind Ulises. At the 1/2 mile pole, he led by half a length. As he entered the stretch, he increased the lead to four lengths. Strodes Creek and Blumin Affair both made late charges, closing the gap, but Go for Gin won by two lengths in a time of 2:03.72 and netted US$628,800 for the victory.[3] Tabasco Cat finished sixth in this race but won that year's other two legs of the Triple Crown. Go for Gin placed second in both of those races.

Race record at age 2

Race record at age 3

Race record at age 4

Statistics
Date Age Distance Surface (Condition) Race Grade Track Odds Field Finish Winning Time Winning
(Losing)
Margin		 Jockey Ref
Sep 13, 1993 2 6 furlongs Dirt (Fast) Maiden Special Weight Maiden Belmont Park 22.90 11 5 1:11.14 (14+1⁄4 lengths) Jorge Chavez [4]
Oct 3, 1993 2 1 mile Dirt (Muddy) Maiden Special Weight Maiden Belmont Park 1.90 5 2 1:37.53 (1+3⁄4 lengths) Jerry Bailey [5]
Oct 21, 1993 2 1 mile Dirt (Sloppy) Maiden Special Weight Maiden Aqueduct Racetrack *0.90 7 1 1:35.52 10+1⁄2 lengths Jerry Bailey [6]
Nov 6, 1993 2 1 mile Dirt (Sloppy) Chief's Crown Stakes listed Aqueduct Racetrack *0.40 4 1 1:37.09 9+3⁄4 lengths Jean-Luc Samyn [7]
Nov 27, 1993 2 1+1⁄8 miles Dirt (Fast) Remsen Stakes II Aqueduct Racetrack *0.40 7 1 1:52.79 8+1⁄2 lengths Jerry Bailey [8]
Jan 22, 1994 3 1+1⁄16 miles Dirt (Fast) Preview Stakes listed Gulfstream Park *0.50 6 1 1:41.62 3+1⁄2 lengths Jerry Bailey [9]
Feb 19, 1994 3 1+1⁄16 miles Dirt (Good) Fountain of Youth Stakes II Gulfstream Park 1.60 6 2 1:44.70 (3⁄4 lengths) Jerry Bailey [10]
Mar 12, 1994 3 1+1⁄8 miles Dirt (Fast) Florida Derby I Gulfstream Park *2.40 14 4 1:47.66 (6+3⁄4 lengths) Jerry Bailey [11]
Apr 16, 1994 3 1+1⁄8 miles Dirt (Good) Wood Memorial Stakes I Aqueduct Racetrack *0.90 9 2 1:49.07 (3+1⁄2 lengths) Jerry Bailey [12]
May 7, 1994 3 1+1⁄4 miles Dirt (Sloppy) Kentucky Derby I Churchill Downs 9.10 14 1 2:03.72 2 lengths Chris McCarron [13]
May 21, 1994 3 1+3⁄16 miles Dirt (Fast) Preakness Stakes I Pimlico Race Course *2.80 10 2 1:56.47 (3⁄4 length) Chris McCarron [14]
Jun 11, 1994 3 1+1⁄2 miles Dirt (Fast) Belmont Stakes I Belmont Park 1.50 6 2 2.26.82 (2 lengths) Chris McCarron [15]
Aug 24, 1994 3 7 furlongs Dirt (Fast) Forego Stakes II Saratoga 1.80 7 3 1:22.74 (1+3⁄4 lengths) Chris McCarron [16]
Sep 17, 1994 3 1+1⁄8 miles Dirt (Fast) Woodward Stakes I Belmont 7.00 8 4 1:46.89 (9 lengths) Mike Smith [17]
Oct 8, 1994 3 1+1⁄4 miles Dirt (Fast) Jockey Club Gold Cup I Belmont Park 5.70 8 8 2:02.19 (14+3⁄4 lengths) Chris McCarron [18]
Nov 5, 1994 3 1+1⁄4 miles Dirt (Fast) Breeders' Cup Classic I Churchill Downs 13.20 14 8 2.02.41 (12 lengths) Laffit Pincay Jr. [19]
Mar 4, 1995 4 6+1⁄2 furlongs Dirt (Fast) Allowance Allowance Gulfstream Park *1.30 5 2 1:16.80 (neck) Jerry Bailey [20]
Apr 7, 1995 4 7 furlongs Dirt (Fast) Allowance Allowance Keeneland Race Course *0.70 8 2 1:26.07 (1+1⁄2 lengths) Chris Antley [21]
May 6, 1995 4 7 furlongs Dirt (Fast) Churchill Downs Handicap III Churchill Downs 3.80 11 3 1:21.75 (2+3⁄4 lengths) Chris Antley [22]

History at stud

Go for Gin was retired to stud in 1995 at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky. In 2004, he was sold to Bonita Farm in Darlington, Maryland.[23] His stud feed as of 2007 was US$4000.[24] He was the sire of Albert the Great, who retired with lifetime winnings in excess of US$3 million and has sired Nobiz Like Shobiz.[25] His runners have earned an average US$71,742 per starter.[26] He has sired seven stakes winners. In total, Go for Gin offspring have netted more than US$22 million in career winnings.[23]

Go For Gin enjoying fresh hay.

Post-retirement

On August 11, 2011, Go for Gin moved to the Kentucky Horse Park, an equine-themed park and industry showplace in Lexington, Kentucky. Along with Thoroughbred champions Funny Cide, Da Hoss, and Point Given, he greeted visitors to the Hall of Champions[27] Go for Gin was the oldest living Kentucky Derby winner.[28] He died from heart failure on March 8, 2022, at the age of 30.[29]

Pedigree
Pedigree of Go for Gin[30]
Sire
Cormorant
b. 1974		 His Majesty
b. 1968		 Ribot
b. 1952		 Tenerani
Romanella
Flower Bowl
b. 1952		 Alibhai
Flower Bed
Song Sparrow
b. 1967		 Tudor Minstrel
br. 1944		 Owen Tudor
Sansonnet
Swoons Tune
b. 1962		 Swoon's Son
Recess
Dam
Never Knock
dkb/br. 1979		 Stage Door Johnny
ch. 1965		 Prince John
ch. 1953		 Princequillo
Not Afraid
Peroxide Blonde
ch. 1960		 Ballymoss
Folie Douce
Never Hula
br. 1969		 Never Bend
br. 1960		 Nasrullah
Lalun
Hula Hula
br. 1952		 Polynesian
Black Helen

References
  1. Injury Retires Go for Gin at 4 – New York Times
  2. "Kentucky Derby Winner Sea Hero Dies In Turkey At Age 29". Paulick Report. 2019-07-12. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
  3. "2006" (PDF).
  4. "Chart for Belmont Park on September 13 1993". Equibase. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  5. "Chart for Belmont Park on October 3 1993". Equibase. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  6. "Chart for Aqueduct Racetrack on October 21 1993". Equibase. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  7. "Chart for the Chief's Crown Stakes". Equibase. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  8. "Chart for the Remsen Stakes". Equibase. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  9. "Chart for the Preview Stakes". Equibase. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  10. "Chart for the Fountain of Youth Stakes". Equibase. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  11. "Chart for the Florida Derby". Equibase. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  12. "Chart for the Wood Memorial Stakes". Equibase. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  13. "Chart for the Kentucky Derby". Equibase. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  14. "Chart for the Preakness Stakes". Equibase. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  15. "Chart for the Belmont Stakes". Equibase. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  16. "Chart for the Forego Stakes". Equibase. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  17. "Chart for the Woodward Stakes". Equibase. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  18. "Chart for the Jockey Club Gold Cup". Equibase. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  19. "Chart for the Breeders' Cup Classic". Equibase. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  20. "Chart for Gulfstream on March 4". Equibase. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  21. "Chart for Keeneland on April 7". Equibase. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  22. "Chart for the Churchill Downs Handicap". Equibase. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  23. Hot News Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
  24. Bonita Farm Stallions: Go For Gin Archived 2007-04-09 at the Wayback Machine
  25. Thoroughbred Times Interactive Stallion Directory
  26. Pedigree Research: Go For Gin (Alan Porter) Archived 2007-04-09 at the Wayback Machine
  27. "Go For Gin". Kentucky Horse Park. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  28. Kenny, Tom (2017-05-04). "Oldest living Derby winner in North America reunites with jockey". ABC 36 News. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  29. "Go For Gin, winner of the 1994 Kentucky Derby, dies at 31". Kyma. 9 March 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  30. http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/stallion-directory/media/gallery/goforgin.pdf Stud card at Thoroughbred Times
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