Key to the Moon was a Canadian

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 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...

 Champion

Sovereign Award

The Sovereign Award is given annually since 1975 by the Jockey Club of Canada to the outstanding horses and people in Canadian Thoroughbred racing.The most prestigious award for horses is Sovereign Horse of the Year....

 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...

.

Background

Bred and raced by Bahnam K. Yousif, he was sired by Wajima

Wajima (horse)

Wajima was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred by Bull Hancock's renowned Claiborne Farm of Paris, Kentucky. He was out of the French mare Iskra, a daughter of Le Haar, the Leading sire in France in 1963. Wajima was a son of one of America's greatest sires, Bold Ruler...

, the 1975 American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse. Key to the Moon's dam was Kamar, winner of the 1979 Canadian Oaks

Woodbine Oaks

The Woodbine Oaks is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Inaugurated in 1956, it is the premier event for Canadian-foaled three-year-old fillies and the first leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara series....

 and a daughter of Key to the Mint

Key to the Mint

Key to the Mint was an American Thoroughbred racehorse.-Background:Bred by Paul Mellon and raced under his Rokeby Stable colors, Key to the Mint was trained by future Hall of Fame inductee, Elliott Burch.-Racing Career:...

, the 1972 American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse.

Conditioned for racing by future Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame

Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame

The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame was established in 1976 at the Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario to honor those who have made a significant contribution to the sport of harness and thoroughbred horse racing in Canada....

 trainer, Gil Rowntree

Gil Rowntree

Gil H. Rowntree is a Canadian Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse trainer and owner.One of the most successful trainers in Canadian Thoroughbred racing history, Rowntree embarked on his racing career as a jockey in his native Toronto, riding from 1949 through 1951...

, at age two Key to the Moon won the 1983 Display Stakes

Display Stakes

The Display Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Contested on Polytrack synthetic dirt over a distance of 11/16 miles , it is open to two-year-old horses...

 at his home base, Woodbine Racetrack

Woodbine Racetrack

Woodbine Racetrack is a Canadian racetrack for Thoroughbred horse races located at 555 Rexdale Blvd. in the city of Toronto, Ontario. It is the only horseracing track in North America which stages, or is capable of staging, thoroughbred and standardbred horseracing programs on the same day...

 in Toronto

Toronto

Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...

, Ontario

Ontario

Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....

. The colt helped Bahnam K. Yousif earn the 1983 Sovereign Award for Outstanding Owner

Sovereign Award for Outstanding Owner

The Sovereign Award for Outstanding Owner is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing honor. Created in 1975 by the Jockey Club of Canada, it is part of the Sovereign Awards program and is awarded annually to the most successful owner of Thoroughbred horses racing in Canada.Past winners: -References:*...

. http://www.woodbineentertainment.com/thoroughbred/thoro-guide/2007/06ThoroughbredSeason.pdf

Racing Career

Key to the Moon raced in the United States and Canada in 1984, winning the Discovery Handicap

Discovery Handicap

The Discovery Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the latter part of November at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York...

 at Aqueduct Racetrack

Aqueduct Racetrack

Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...

 and at Woodbine Racetrack, the Marine Stakes

Marine Stakes

The Marine Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Held in mid May, it is open to three-year-old horses and is contested over a distance of 11/16 miles on Polytrack synthetic dirt...

 and Canada's most prestigious race, the Queen's Plate

Queen's Plate

The Queen's Plate is Canada's oldest thoroughbred horse race. It is run at a distance of 1¼ miles for 3-year-old thoroughbred horses foaled in Canada. The race takes place each summer in June or July at Woodbine Racetrack, Etobicoke , Ontario...

.

In 1985, Key to the Moon again raced in the United States and Canada, notably winning the 1985 Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship and finishing second in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Handicap

Gulfstream Park Handicap

The Gulfstream Park Handicap is a race for thoroughbred horses run at Gulfstream Park each year. The race is open to horses age four and up, willing to race one mile on the dirt...

 to Dr. Carter. However, after breaking a coffin bone in his left front foot while competing in the March 10th Seminole Stakes at Hialeah Park Race Track

Hialeah Park Race Track

The Hialeah Park Race Track is a historic site in Hialeah, Florida. Its site covers 40 square blocks of central-east side Hialeah from Palm Avenue east to East 4th Avenue, and from East 22nd Street on the south to East 32nd Street on the north. On March 5, 1979, it was added to the U.S...

, he was out of racing for six months. In 1986 Key to the Moon won the Durham Cup

Durham Cup Stakes

The Durham Cup Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Run in mid October, the Grade III race is open to horses age three and older. Raced over a distance of 1⅛ miles on Polytrack synthetic dirt, it currently offers a purse of...

 and Dominion Day Handicaps

Dominion Day Stakes

The Dominion Day Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually in July at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. A Grade III event offering a purse of $200,000, it is open to horses aged three years and up. The race was run at a distance of 1⅛ miles from its inception until 1983 when...

 at Woodbine.

Stud Career

Retired to stud

Stud (animal)

A stud animal is a registered animal retained for breeding. The terms for the male of a given animal species usually imply that the animal is entire—that is, not castrated—and therefore capable of siring offspring...

 at Gardiner Farms in Caledon East, Ontario, Key to the Moon stood for just two years before his untimely death on August 3, 1988. The promising seven-year-old stallion was galloping in his paddock

Paddock

A Paddock is an enclosure for horses. It may also refer to: People*Algernon Paddock , American politician*Charlie Paddock , American athlete and actor*Del Paddock , American baseball player...

 when he shattered the cannon bone of his right foreleg. He was taken to the veterinary hospital at the University of Guelph

University of Guelph

The University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a comprehensive public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College...

 but could not be saved and was humanely euthanized

Animal euthanasia

Animal euthanasia is the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, an animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition. Euthanasia methods are designed to cause minimal pain and distress...

. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/474017981.html?dids=474017981:474017981&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+04%2C+1988&author=Tom+Slater+Toronto+Star&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Former+Plate+winner+Key+To+The+Moon+killed+after+accident&pqatl=google

Despite a very short stallion career, Key to the Moon notably sired:

• Shiny Key (b. 1988) - won 1993 Niagara Handicap, Bunty Lawless Stakes
  Bunty Lawless Stakes
  The Bunty Lawless Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. An Ontario Sire Stakes, it is a race for horses age three and older...
  
   and 1994 Connaught Cup Stakes
  Connaught Cup Stakes
  The Connaught Cup Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Run in late May, the Grade III race is open to horses aged four and older. Raced over a distance of seven furlongs on turf, it currently offers a purse of $150,000.The Connaught...
  
  , Jockey Club Cup Handicap
  Sky Classic Stakes
  The Sky Classic Stakes is a Canadian Grade II Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Raced in mid to late September on turf over a distance of 1¼ miles , it is open to horses three years of age and older...
  
   at Woodbine;
• Waheed (b. 1988) - won Vandal Stakes
  Vandal Stakes
  The Vandal Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually since 1956 at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Run in mid October, the sprint race is open to two-year-old horses and is contested over a distance of six furlongs on Polytrack synthetic dirt. It currently offers a purse of...
  
   at Woodbine;
• Moon Mist (b. 1989) - winner of the 1992 Fury Stakes
  Fury Stakes
  The Fury Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Run in late April, the stakes race is open to three-Year-Old fillies who were foaled in the Province of Ontario...
  
   at Woodbine and the 1993 Barbara Fritchie Handicap
  Barbara Fritchie Handicap
  The Barbara Fritchie Handicap is an American race for Thoroughbred horses run at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland each year. A Grade II, this race is open to fillies and mares, age three and up, willing to race seven furlongs on the dirt and offers a purse of $300,000.The race is run in...
  
   at Laurel Park Racecourse.