Pink Lloyd (CAN)
February 23, 2012 – Living
Old Forester (USA) x Gladiator Queen (CAN), by Great Gladiator (USA)
Family 5-h
February 23, 2012 – Living
Old Forester (USA) x Gladiator Queen (CAN), by Great Gladiator (USA)
Family 5-h
A rock star on four legs, the seemingly ageless Pink Lloyd became the king of Woodbine Racetrack and the most popular Canadian racehorse of his day. When he finally retired, he had been crowned Canada’s champion male sprinter for five consecutive years, as well as winning titles as Canadian champion older male in 2017 and 2019 and Canadian Horse of the Year in 2017. In retirement, he continues to draw thousands of fans.
Race record
38 starts, 29 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, US$1,884,584 (converted from Canadian earnings)
2016:
2017:
2018:
2019:
2020:
2021:
Honors
As an individual
A handsome chestnut gelding, Pink Lloyd went through numerous physical issues as a young horse and did not race until he was a 4-year-old. He was a difficult customer around the barn and was an aggressive and highly competitive racehorse who preferred having a target to run at. He mellowed as he aged.
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Pink Lloyd was bred by John Carey who sold him as a yearling for CAN$30,000 (US$28,446) through the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society’s 2013 sale of Canadian-bred yearlings. He was owned by Entourage Stable and was trained by Robert Tiller. Following his retirement, Pink Lloyd became a permanent resident at the LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society's facility in Hillsburgh, Ontario.
Pedigree notes
Sired by four-time Canadian champion sire Old Forester (by Forestry), Pink Lloyd is inbred 5x5 to 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male Northern Dancer, a great international sire. He is out of restricted stakes-placed Gladiator Queen (by multiple Canadian stakes winner Great Gladiator), whose dam Ascot Sarah (by the stakes-winning Danzig horse Ascot Knight) is a half sister to listed stakes-placed Sararegal (by Regal Classic), dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Fatal Bullet (by Red Bullet) and restricted stakes winner Millennia (by Milwaukee Brew) and second dam of 2021 Queen’s Plate winner Safe Conduct.
Sarawilha (by Sir Ivor), the dam of Ascot Sarah, is a listed stakes-placed half sister to stakes winners Regal Rumor (by Damascus; dam of stakes winner Bayou Hebert, by Hoist the Flag), Table the Rumor (by Round Table), and No Cabeza (by Executioner). Produced from the unraced Nantallah mare Nosey Nan, a full sister to multiple stakes winner George Spelvin and a half sister to stakes winners Messina (by Secretariat) and Sitzmark (by J. O. Tobin), Sarawilha is also a half sister to Flying Rumor (by Alydar), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Grand Jewel (by Java Gold), and to Pinch Penny (by Spend a Buck), dam of Grade 3 winner Elektraline (by Line in the Sand).
Books and media
A video tribute to Pink Lloyd that includes footage of his win in the 2021 Kennedy Road Stakes can be accessed through Chris Lomon’s article “’People’s Champ’ Pink Lloyd Finds Forever Home at LongRun” at America’s Best Racing (https://www.americasbestracing.net/lifestyle/2021-peoples-champ-pink-lloyd-finds-forever-home-longrun).
Fun facts
Last updated: June 26, 2023
Race record
38 starts, 29 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, US$1,884,584 (converted from Canadian earnings)
2016:
- 2nd Kennedy Road Stakes (CAN-G2, 6FA, Woodbine)
2017:
- Won Kennedy Road Stakes (CAN-G2, 6FA, Woodbine)
- Won Vigil Stakes (CAN-G3, 6FA, Woodbine)
- Won OLG/OR Kenora Stakes (CAN, 6FA, Woodbine)
- Won Shepperton Stakes (CAN-R, 6.5FA, Woodbine)
- Won Overskate Stakes (CAN-R, 7FA, Woodbine)
- Won Achievement Stakes (CAN-R, 6FA, Woodbine)
- Won New Providence Stakes (CAN-R, 6FA, Woodbine)
2018:
- Won Vigil Stakes (CAN-G3, 6FA, Woodbine)
- Won Jacques Cartier Stakes (CAN-L, 6FA, Woodbine; new track record 1:08.05)
- Won Achievement Stakes (CAN-R, 6FA, Woodbine)
- Won OLG Kenora Stakes (CAN-R, 6FA, Woodbine)
- Won New Providence Stakes (CAN-R, 6FA, Woodbine)
- 3rd Shepperton Stakes (CAN-R, 6.5FA, Woodbine)
2019:
- Won Kennedy Road Stakes (CAN-G2, 6FA, Woodbine)
- Won Vigil Stakes (CAN-G3, 6FA, Woodbine)
- Won Jacques Cartier Stakes (CAN-G3, 6FA, Woodbine)
- Won Greenwood Stakes (CAN, 6FA, Woodbine)
- Won Shepperton Stakes (CAN-R, 6.5FA, Woodbine)
- Won OLG Kenora Stakes (CAN-R, 6FA, Woodbine)
2020:
- Won Jacques Cartier Stakes (CAN-G3, 6FA, Woodbine)
- Won Vigil Stakes (CAN-G3, 6FA, Woodbine)
- Won Bold Venture Stakes (CAN-G3, 6.5FA, Woodbine)
- Won Shepperton Stakes (CAN-R, 6.5FA, Woodbine)
- 3rd Kennedy Road Stakes (CAN-G2, 6FA, Woodbine)
2021:
- Won Kennedy Road Stakes (CAN-G2, 6FA, Woodbine)
- Won Bold Venture Stakes (CAN-G3, 6.5FA, Woodbine)
- Won Ontario Jockey Club Stakes (CAN-R, 6FA, Woodbine)
- 2nd Jacques Cartier Stakes (CAN-G3, 6FA, Woodbine)
- 2nd Vigil Stakes (CAN-G3, 6FA, Woodbine)
Honors
- Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2023)
- Sovereign Award, Canadian Horse of the Year (2017)
- Sovereign Award, Canadian champion older male (2017, 2019)
- Sovereign Award, Canadian champion male sprinter (2017-2021)
- Sovereign Award runner-up, Canadian Horse of the Year (2019, 2020)
As an individual
A handsome chestnut gelding, Pink Lloyd went through numerous physical issues as a young horse and did not race until he was a 4-year-old. He was a difficult customer around the barn and was an aggressive and highly competitive racehorse who preferred having a target to run at. He mellowed as he aged.
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Pink Lloyd was bred by John Carey who sold him as a yearling for CAN$30,000 (US$28,446) through the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society’s 2013 sale of Canadian-bred yearlings. He was owned by Entourage Stable and was trained by Robert Tiller. Following his retirement, Pink Lloyd became a permanent resident at the LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society's facility in Hillsburgh, Ontario.
Pedigree notes
Sired by four-time Canadian champion sire Old Forester (by Forestry), Pink Lloyd is inbred 5x5 to 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male Northern Dancer, a great international sire. He is out of restricted stakes-placed Gladiator Queen (by multiple Canadian stakes winner Great Gladiator), whose dam Ascot Sarah (by the stakes-winning Danzig horse Ascot Knight) is a half sister to listed stakes-placed Sararegal (by Regal Classic), dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Fatal Bullet (by Red Bullet) and restricted stakes winner Millennia (by Milwaukee Brew) and second dam of 2021 Queen’s Plate winner Safe Conduct.
Sarawilha (by Sir Ivor), the dam of Ascot Sarah, is a listed stakes-placed half sister to stakes winners Regal Rumor (by Damascus; dam of stakes winner Bayou Hebert, by Hoist the Flag), Table the Rumor (by Round Table), and No Cabeza (by Executioner). Produced from the unraced Nantallah mare Nosey Nan, a full sister to multiple stakes winner George Spelvin and a half sister to stakes winners Messina (by Secretariat) and Sitzmark (by J. O. Tobin), Sarawilha is also a half sister to Flying Rumor (by Alydar), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Grand Jewel (by Java Gold), and to Pinch Penny (by Spend a Buck), dam of Grade 3 winner Elektraline (by Line in the Sand).
Books and media
A video tribute to Pink Lloyd that includes footage of his win in the 2021 Kennedy Road Stakes can be accessed through Chris Lomon’s article “’People’s Champ’ Pink Lloyd Finds Forever Home at LongRun” at America’s Best Racing (https://www.americasbestracing.net/lifestyle/2021-peoples-champ-pink-lloyd-finds-forever-home-longrun).
Fun facts
- Pink Lloyd was named in honor of the iconic rock band Pink Floyd and in honor of the character Lloyd from the television series Entourage (which inspired the stable name).
- Pink Lloyd would chase any other horse that was working on the track at the same time he was, wearing himself out. Trainer Robert Tiller solved the problem by changing Pink Lloyd’s workout times so that he would be the last horse on track during the morning workout period.
- Because Pink Lloyd was a dedicated kicker, Tiller padded the gelding’s stall with rubber to prevent injury.
- Michelle Gibson’s dedicated care of Pink Lloyd earned her a special Sovereign Award in 2020 as Canada’s Groom of the Year.
- Pink Lloyd set a Woodbine record by winning 11 consecutive stakes races from April 15, 2017, to June 3, 2018.
- In 2023, the Ontario Jockey Club Stakes was renamed in Pink Lloyd’s honor. The 6-furlong sprint on Woodbine’s main track is restricted to Ontario-sired horses aged 4 and up.
Last updated: June 26, 2023