Bally Ache
Encyclopedia
Bally Ache was an American
Thoroughbred
racehorse
who won one of the American Classics in 1960 but died shortly afterwards. In her book American Classic Pedigrees (1914–2002), author Avalyn Hunter wrote that Bally Ache was "a crowd favorite" who "won hearts by his sheer determination."
Bally Ache was bred by brothers Alan and Marvin Gaines at their Twin Oak Farm in Walton, Kentucky
and sold as a yearling as part of a $5,000 two-horse deal. His purchaser was Leonard D. Fruchtman, a steel company executive from Toledo, Ohio
who had a small string of horses racing under his Edgehill Farm colors.
Trained by Homer "Jimmy" Pitt, as a two-year-old, Bally Ache had an outstanding year of racing. Of his sixteen starts, he won five stakes races, set a new track record at Jamaica Racetrack
for five furlongs, and finished out of the money just once. He ended the year ranked second in earnings to Bellehurst Stables' 1959 Champion Two-Year-Old, Warfare.
and Florida Derby
on the way to the Triple Crown
. In the Kentucky Derby
, C. V. Whitney's
colt Tompion
, ridden by Bill Shoemaker, was coming off wins in the Santa Anita Derby
and the Blue Grass Stakes
and was sent off as the betting favorite. Bally Ache, under jockey Bobby Ussery
, was the second choice. However, jockey Bill Hartack
aboard 6:1 outsider Venetian Way
, whom Bally Ache had already beaten four times, won. Despite Bally Ache's second place finish, it did not deter the Turfland racing syndicate led by Joseph L. Arnold who bought the colt for what Sports Illustrated
magazine described as the "staggering price of $1,250,000." Bally Ache promptly repaid Arnold's faith with a four-length win in the 84th running of the Preakness Stakes
.
Entered in the Belmont Stakes
, the third leg of the Triple Crown, Bally Ache came up lame the day before the race and was withdrawn. After returning to racing, in his fourth outing he suffered a career-ending ankle injury. Scheduled to stand at stud for his owners, Bally Ache developed an intestinal ailment that led to his death on October 28, 1960. He was buried at Bosque Bonita Farm in Versailles, Kentucky
. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0B14FC3B541A7A93C2AA178BD95F448685F9
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Thoroughbred
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...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
who won one of the American Classics in 1960 but died shortly afterwards. In her book American Classic Pedigrees (1914–2002), author Avalyn Hunter wrote that Bally Ache was "a crowd favorite" who "won hearts by his sheer determination."
Bally Ache was bred by brothers Alan and Marvin Gaines at their Twin Oak Farm in Walton, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and sold as a yearling as part of a $5,000 two-horse deal. His purchaser was Leonard D. Fruchtman, a steel company executive from Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
who had a small string of horses racing under his Edgehill Farm colors.
Trained by Homer "Jimmy" Pitt, as a two-year-old, Bally Ache had an outstanding year of racing. Of his sixteen starts, he won five stakes races, set a new track record at Jamaica Racetrack
Jamaica Racetrack
Jamaica Race Course was an American thoroughbred horse racing facility operated by the Metropolitan Jockey Club in Jamaica, New York. The track opened on April 27, 1903, a day which featured the inaugural running of the Excelsior Handicap. Eugene D. Wood, one of the founders and largest...
for five furlongs, and finished out of the money just once. He ended the year ranked second in earnings to Bellehurst Stables' 1959 Champion Two-Year-Old, Warfare.
"Staggering price of $1,250,000"
At age three, Bally Ache was even more impressive, winning the Flamingo StakesFlamingo Stakes
The Flamingo Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually in March at the Hialeah Park Race Track in Hialeah, Florida. Run over a distance of nine furlongs, the inaugural race took place in 1926 at the Tampa, Florida racetrack...
and Florida Derby
Florida Derby
The Florida Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida on the Saturday closest to the end of March or the first of April. Added to the racing schedule in 1952, the Grade 1 race is run at 1⅛ miles on the dirt...
on the way to the Triple Crown
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
. In the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
, C. V. Whitney's
Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney
Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney was an American businessman, film producer, writer, and government official, as well as the owner of a leading stable of thoroughbred racehorses....
colt Tompion
Tompion
Tompion was an American Thoroughbred race horse owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney. Immaculately bred, Tompion was the son of the Hall of Fame horse Tom Fool. His damsire was Count Fleet, the 1943 U.S. Triple Crown champion.Trained by Robert L...
, ridden by Bill Shoemaker, was coming off wins in the Santa Anita Derby
Santa Anita Derby
The Santa Anita Derby is an American Grade 1 thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run each April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California and carries a purse of $1 million. Inaugurated in 1935, it is considered the most important West Coast stepping-stone to the Kentucky Derby...
and the Blue Grass Stakes
Blue Grass Stakes
The Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, currently sponsored by the Toyota Motor Corporation, is an American Grade 1 horse race for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds held annually in mid April at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky....
and was sent off as the betting favorite. Bally Ache, under jockey Bobby Ussery
Bobby Ussery
Robert Nelson "Bobby" Ussery is a retired American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey. His first race as a professional jockey came at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans on November 22, 1951 where he rode Reticule to victory in the Thanksgiving Handicap. By the end of the decade...
, was the second choice. However, jockey Bill Hartack
Bill Hartack
William John Hartack Jr. was a Hall of Fame jockey. He was born in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania.Referred to by the media as both "Bill" and "Willie" during his racing career, Hartack grew up on his widowed father's farm in the Blacklick...
aboard 6:1 outsider Venetian Way
Venetian Way
Venetian Way was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1960 Kentucky Derby. Bred in Kentucky by John W. Greathouse, he was purchased by Chicago, Illinois businessman Isaac Blumberg who raced him under the nom de course of Sunny Blue Farm.Venetian Way was trained by Victor...
, whom Bally Ache had already beaten four times, won. Despite Bally Ache's second place finish, it did not deter the Turfland racing syndicate led by Joseph L. Arnold who bought the colt for what Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
magazine described as the "staggering price of $1,250,000." Bally Ache promptly repaid Arnold's faith with a four-length win in the 84th running of the Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
.
Entered in the Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
, the third leg of the Triple Crown, Bally Ache came up lame the day before the race and was withdrawn. After returning to racing, in his fourth outing he suffered a career-ending ankle injury. Scheduled to stand at stud for his owners, Bally Ache developed an intestinal ailment that led to his death on October 28, 1960. He was buried at Bosque Bonita Farm in Versailles, Kentucky
Versailles, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,511 people, 3,160 households, and 2,110 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 3,330 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 88.18% White, 8.67% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.35%...
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