Forego (USA)
April 30, 1970 – August 27, 1997
Forli (Arg) x Lady Golconda (USA), by Hasty Road (USA)
Family 9-f
April 30, 1970 – August 27, 1997
Forli (Arg) x Lady Golconda (USA), by Hasty Road (USA)
Family 9-f
A hulking brute with chronic leg problems and a devilish temper, Forego was also an incredibly determined and consistent racehorse. Considered by many experts to be the last of the great American weight carriers, Forego turned in the finest race of his career in winning the 1976 Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap (USA-G1). Carrying 137 pounds over a sloppy track that he despised, Forego made up four lengths in the final furlong to nip the top 3-year-old Honest Pleasure (who carried 119 pounds) by a head at the wire. Second only to Kelso in total championships won during his career, Forego enjoyed a long and honorable retirement at the Kentucky Horse Park's Hall of Champions.
Race record
57 starts, 34 wins, 9 seconds, 7 thirds, US$1,938,957
1973:
1974:
1975:
1976:
1977:
Honors
Assessments
Forego was rated #8 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).
Rated at 127 pounds on The Blood-Horse's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1973, 9 pounds below Horse of the Year Secretariat but co-second with Sham.
Rated at 129 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1973, 7 pounds below Horse of the Year Secretariat but tied with Sham for second.
Highweighted at 130 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1974, 4 pounds above second-rated True Knight.
Highweighted at 136 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1975, 9 pounds above second-rated Ancient Title.
Highweighted at 140 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1976, the highest weight assigned in that division in the history of the Free Handicap. His margin of superiority over Foolish Pleasure, Master Derby and Royal Glint (tied for second) was 14 pounds, also a record.
Highweighted at 136 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1977, 4 pounds above Crystal Water.
As an individual
A late-developing bay gelding, Forego matured to 17 hands and ½ inch and had a long body and a massive build. He was gelded as an unraced juvenile partly because of his difficult temper and partly to keep his forehand from gaining extra weight that would have placed unacceptable strain on his fragile underpinnings. His ankles were a constant source of concern throughout his career and eventually forced his retirement at age 8. Forego's girth measured 77½ inches.
Connections
Forego was bred and owned by Martha Gerry, who conducted her breeding and racing operations under the name of her Lazy F Ranch. He was foaled in Kentucky at Claiborne Farm. He was trained by Sherill Ward at ages 3 and 4 with assistance from Eddie Hayward, who was Forego's trainer of record for the gelding's last seven starts as a 3-year-old. After Ward became too crippled by arthritis to continue training, Forego came under the care of Frank Whiteley, Jr., who trained him at ages 5 through 8. Retired to John Ward's farm "The Home Place" near Keeneland; Forego was later moved to the Kentucky Horse Park's Hall of Champions in 1981. He was humanely destroyed August 27, 1997, after fracturing a leg in a paddock accident.
Pedigree notes
Forego is outcrossed through five generations. His dam Lady Golconda is a minor stakes winner, and her dam, the Bull Lea mare Girlea, is a half sister to stakes winners Jovial Jove (by Olympia) and Rideabout (by Turn-to). His third dam Whirling Girl (by Whirlaway) is a half sister to 1943 American champion handicap female Mar-Kell (by Whirlaway's sire Blenheim II), to 1943 Kentucky Oaks winner Nellie L. (by Blenheim II) and to the good handicap mare Sunshine Nell (by Sun Again), dam of 1970 Brooklyn Handicap winner Dewan (by Bold Ruler). His fourth dam is 1934 American champion 2-year-old filly Nellie Flag, a foundation mare for Calumet Farm.
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: July 10, 2024
Race record
57 starts, 34 wins, 9 seconds, 7 thirds, US$1,938,957
1973:
- Won Roamer Handicap (USA-G2, 9.5FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Discovery Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Florida Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Jerome Handicap (USA-G2, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Hutcheson Stakes (USA-G3, 7FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 3rd Withers Stakes (USA-G2, 8FD, Belmont)
- Also equaled the mile track record of 1:33-3/5 in an allowance at Belmont
1974:
- Won Widener Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Hialeah)
- Won Brooklyn Handicap (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Woodward Stakes (USA-G1,12FD, Belmont)
- Won Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA-G1, 16FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Gulfstream Park Handicap (USA-G2, 10FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Carter Handicap (USA-G2, 7FD, Belmont)
- Won Vosburgh Handicap (USA-G2, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Donn Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Nassau County Handicap (USA-G3, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Suburban Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Marlboro Cup Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
1975:
- Won Widener Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Hialeah)
- Won Brooklyn Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont; new track record 1:59-4/5)
- Won Suburban Handicap (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Woodward Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Seminole Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Hialeah)
- Won Carter Handicap (USA-G2, 7FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
1976:
- Won Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Marlboro Cup Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
- Won Woodward Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Brooklyn Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Nassau County Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Suburban Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Amory L. Haskell Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Monmouth)
1977:
- Won Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Woodward Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Whitney Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Nassau County Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Brooklyn Handicap (USA-G1, 12FT, Belmont)
- 2nd Suburban Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1979)
- Monmouth Park Hall of Champions
- Eclipse Award, American Horse of the Year (1974-1976)
- Eclipse Award, American champion handicap male (1974-1977)
- Eclipse Award, American champion sprinter (1974)
Assessments
Forego was rated #8 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).
Rated at 127 pounds on The Blood-Horse's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1973, 9 pounds below Horse of the Year Secretariat but co-second with Sham.
Rated at 129 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1973, 7 pounds below Horse of the Year Secretariat but tied with Sham for second.
Highweighted at 130 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1974, 4 pounds above second-rated True Knight.
Highweighted at 136 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1975, 9 pounds above second-rated Ancient Title.
Highweighted at 140 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1976, the highest weight assigned in that division in the history of the Free Handicap. His margin of superiority over Foolish Pleasure, Master Derby and Royal Glint (tied for second) was 14 pounds, also a record.
Highweighted at 136 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1977, 4 pounds above Crystal Water.
As an individual
A late-developing bay gelding, Forego matured to 17 hands and ½ inch and had a long body and a massive build. He was gelded as an unraced juvenile partly because of his difficult temper and partly to keep his forehand from gaining extra weight that would have placed unacceptable strain on his fragile underpinnings. His ankles were a constant source of concern throughout his career and eventually forced his retirement at age 8. Forego's girth measured 77½ inches.
Connections
Forego was bred and owned by Martha Gerry, who conducted her breeding and racing operations under the name of her Lazy F Ranch. He was foaled in Kentucky at Claiborne Farm. He was trained by Sherill Ward at ages 3 and 4 with assistance from Eddie Hayward, who was Forego's trainer of record for the gelding's last seven starts as a 3-year-old. After Ward became too crippled by arthritis to continue training, Forego came under the care of Frank Whiteley, Jr., who trained him at ages 5 through 8. Retired to John Ward's farm "The Home Place" near Keeneland; Forego was later moved to the Kentucky Horse Park's Hall of Champions in 1981. He was humanely destroyed August 27, 1997, after fracturing a leg in a paddock accident.
Pedigree notes
Forego is outcrossed through five generations. His dam Lady Golconda is a minor stakes winner, and her dam, the Bull Lea mare Girlea, is a half sister to stakes winners Jovial Jove (by Olympia) and Rideabout (by Turn-to). His third dam Whirling Girl (by Whirlaway) is a half sister to 1943 American champion handicap female Mar-Kell (by Whirlaway's sire Blenheim II), to 1943 Kentucky Oaks winner Nellie L. (by Blenheim II) and to the good handicap mare Sunshine Nell (by Sun Again), dam of 1970 Brooklyn Handicap winner Dewan (by Bold Ruler). His fourth dam is 1934 American champion 2-year-old filly Nellie Flag, a foundation mare for Calumet Farm.
Books and media
- Forego is the sixth book in the Thoroughbred Legends series from Eclipse Press. It was written by Bill Heller and published in 2001.
- Forego is one of 50 Thoroughbreds profiled in Royal Blood: Fifty Years of Classic Thoroughbreds. Written by racing historian Jim Bolus with illustrations and commentary by noted equine artist Richard Stone Reeves, the book was released by The Blood-Horse, Inc., in 1994.
Fun facts
- Forego is the second horse to have won Horse of the Year titles for two different trainers since official polling began in 1936.
- Forego made 24 starts carrying 130 pounds or more and won 13 of them; he was unplaced only three times while carrying that much weight.
- During Forego's residence at "The Home Place," the closed-circuit camera crew at Keeneland would zoom in on his paddock daily just prior to the day's racing. If the great gelding was out, the crew would broadcast his image to the racetrack's TV monitors along with the message, "Forego welcomes you to Keeneland."
- Forego enjoyed snacking on bananas.
- Forego made his final public appearance away from the Kentucky Horse Park on October 15, 1983, when he and Kelso led the post parade for the Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA-G1). Their appearance helped to raise money for the Thoroughbred Retirement Fund.
- The Forego Stakes at Saratoga is a Grade 1 sprint over 7 furlongs for horses aged 3 and up. Another race in Forego's honor, the Forego Stakes at Turfway Park, is for horses aged 4 and up. As of 2024, it is carded at 6.5 furlongs on the synthetic main track.
Last updated: July 10, 2024