Touch Gold (USA)
May 26, 1994 – Living
Deputy Minister (CAN) x Passing Mood (CAN), by Buckpasser (USA)
Family 2-n
May 26, 1994 – Living
Deputy Minister (CAN) x Passing Mood (CAN), by Buckpasser (USA)
Family 2-n
The spoiler in the 1997 American Triple Crown series, Touch Gold possessed first-class talent that was compromised by foot problems. As an older runner, he also struggled with a neurological issue that kept him from reproducing his best form. He was an inconsistent sire.
Race record
15 starts, 6 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$1,697,907 (includes Canadian earnings)
1996:
1997:
1998:
Honors
Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame (2011)
Assessments
Rated at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1997, 1 pound below champion Silver Charm.
As an individual
A handsome, well-balanced bay horse with the strong, well-sloped shoulder characteristic of his sire Deputy Minister, Touch Gold stands 16 hands. An intelligent animal, he was aggressive and strong-willed as a young horse. In retirement, he appears to enjoy showing off and posing for visitors.
As a stallion
Touch Gold sired four Grade 1 winners in his first two crops but tailed off after that. The Jockey Club credits him with having sired 549 winners (59.9%) and 29 stakes winners (3.2%) from 917 named foals of racing age. In spite of his own stamina, Touch Gold tended to throw more speed than staying ability.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
Notable progeny
Composure (USA), Mass Media (USA), Midas Eyes (USA), Royal Challenger (CAN), Seek Gold (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Defunded (USA), Emollient (USA), O'Connor (CHI)
Connections
Foaled at Romanoaks Farm in Kentucky, Touch Gold was bred by Holtsinger, Inc., Hill 'n' Dale Farm and Star Stable. He was owned by Frank Stronach, who paid US$375,000 for the colt at the 1995 Keeneland July yearling sale. Touch Gold was trained by Danny Vella at 2, by David Hofmans at 3 and by Pat Byrne at 4. He entered stud in Kentucky in 1999 at Adena Springs. He was pensioned in 2015 and is living in retirement at the Old Friends equine retirement facility near Georgetown, Kentucky.
Pedigree notes
Touch Gold is inbred 3x3 to the great sire Northern Dancer, the 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male. He is a half brother to 1989 Canadian Triple Crown winner and Canadian Horse of the Year With Approval (by Caro). He is also a half brother to stakes winners Bar U Mood (by Saratoga Six) Sweeping Change (by Secretariat), and Daijin (by Deputy Minister). The last-named mare is the dam of 2009 Falls City Handicap (USA-G2) winner Serenading and Canadian listed stakes winner Handpainted, both by A.P. Indy, and the second dam of five stakes winners including 2011 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (USA-G1) winner Brilliant Speed and Japanese Group 3 winner Touch Me Not.
Touch Gold is out of 1980 Shady Well Stakes winner Passing Mood, the 1989 Canadian Broodmare of the Year. Passing Mood is a half sister to 1990 Canadian Broodmare of the Year Shy Spirit (by Personality), dam of 1990 Canadian Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year Izvestia (by Icecapade), Grade 3 winner Key Spirit (by Key to the Mint), listed stakes winner Introspective (by Kennedy Road), and stakes winner Unduplicated (by Nodouble); second dam of four stakes winners including Canadian Grade 3 winner Play All Day; and third dam of 1998 Santa Anita Oaks (USA-G1) winner Hedonist and 2002 Brooklyn Handicap (USA-G2) winner Seeking Daylight. Passing Mood is also a half sister to Greenaway (by Arts and Letters), dam of restricted states winner Frog Princess (by Sensitive Prince; dam of the similar stakes winner Proof's Prince, by Proof), second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Pies Prospect and third dam of Grade 3 winner Bad Action. In addition, Passing Mood is a half sister to Moody Maiden (by Apalachee), dam of restricted stakes winner Nothing Special (by Tejabo), second dam of 1990 Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA-G1) winner Haynesfield, and third dam of German Group 2 winner Ambassador, and to Princess Laika (by Blushing Groom), dam of listed stakes winner Cool Gold Mood (by Premier Ministre), second dam of six stakes winners including 2006 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (USA-G1) winner Healthy Addiction and Grade 3 winners Maren's Meadow and First Blush, and third dam of 2015 Vanity Handicap (USA-G1) winner My Sweet Addiction, Grade 2 winner Yara, and Peruvian Group 3 winner Mukhtar.
Passing Mood and her siblings were produced from 1969 Canadian Oaks winner Cool Mood (by Northern Dancer), whose stakes-placed full sister Christmas Wishes produced multiple Jamaican stakes winner Mr. Nutcracker (by Mr. Prospector) and is the second dam of 1987 Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1) winner Buryyourbelief. Produced from 1954 Acorn Stakes winner Happy Mood (by Mahmoud), Cool Mood is also a half sister to Canadian stakes winner Miss Suzaki (by Tompion), dam of Grade 2 winner Coverack (by Cornish Prince) and Grade 2-placed multiple stakes winner Go to the Bank (by Bold Hour), and to Laurel Festival (by Hill Prince), second dam of Grade 2 winner Simple Magic.
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: May 15, 2024
Race record
15 starts, 6 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$1,697,907 (includes Canadian earnings)
1996:
- 2nd Swynford Stakes (CAN-L, 5FD, Woodbine)
- 3rd Grey Breeders' Cup Stakes (CAN-G3, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
1997:
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Buick Haskell Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Monmouth)
- Won Lexington Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Keeneland)
1998:
- 2nd Fayette Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Keeneland)
Honors
Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame (2011)
Assessments
Rated at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1997, 1 pound below champion Silver Charm.
As an individual
A handsome, well-balanced bay horse with the strong, well-sloped shoulder characteristic of his sire Deputy Minister, Touch Gold stands 16 hands. An intelligent animal, he was aggressive and strong-willed as a young horse. In retirement, he appears to enjoy showing off and posing for visitors.
As a stallion
Touch Gold sired four Grade 1 winners in his first two crops but tailed off after that. The Jockey Club credits him with having sired 549 winners (59.9%) and 29 stakes winners (3.2%) from 917 named foals of racing age. In spite of his own stamina, Touch Gold tended to throw more speed than staying ability.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
- 10th on the North American broodmare sire list in 2013.
Notable progeny
Composure (USA), Mass Media (USA), Midas Eyes (USA), Royal Challenger (CAN), Seek Gold (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Defunded (USA), Emollient (USA), O'Connor (CHI)
Connections
Foaled at Romanoaks Farm in Kentucky, Touch Gold was bred by Holtsinger, Inc., Hill 'n' Dale Farm and Star Stable. He was owned by Frank Stronach, who paid US$375,000 for the colt at the 1995 Keeneland July yearling sale. Touch Gold was trained by Danny Vella at 2, by David Hofmans at 3 and by Pat Byrne at 4. He entered stud in Kentucky in 1999 at Adena Springs. He was pensioned in 2015 and is living in retirement at the Old Friends equine retirement facility near Georgetown, Kentucky.
Pedigree notes
Touch Gold is inbred 3x3 to the great sire Northern Dancer, the 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male. He is a half brother to 1989 Canadian Triple Crown winner and Canadian Horse of the Year With Approval (by Caro). He is also a half brother to stakes winners Bar U Mood (by Saratoga Six) Sweeping Change (by Secretariat), and Daijin (by Deputy Minister). The last-named mare is the dam of 2009 Falls City Handicap (USA-G2) winner Serenading and Canadian listed stakes winner Handpainted, both by A.P. Indy, and the second dam of five stakes winners including 2011 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (USA-G1) winner Brilliant Speed and Japanese Group 3 winner Touch Me Not.
Touch Gold is out of 1980 Shady Well Stakes winner Passing Mood, the 1989 Canadian Broodmare of the Year. Passing Mood is a half sister to 1990 Canadian Broodmare of the Year Shy Spirit (by Personality), dam of 1990 Canadian Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year Izvestia (by Icecapade), Grade 3 winner Key Spirit (by Key to the Mint), listed stakes winner Introspective (by Kennedy Road), and stakes winner Unduplicated (by Nodouble); second dam of four stakes winners including Canadian Grade 3 winner Play All Day; and third dam of 1998 Santa Anita Oaks (USA-G1) winner Hedonist and 2002 Brooklyn Handicap (USA-G2) winner Seeking Daylight. Passing Mood is also a half sister to Greenaway (by Arts and Letters), dam of restricted states winner Frog Princess (by Sensitive Prince; dam of the similar stakes winner Proof's Prince, by Proof), second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Pies Prospect and third dam of Grade 3 winner Bad Action. In addition, Passing Mood is a half sister to Moody Maiden (by Apalachee), dam of restricted stakes winner Nothing Special (by Tejabo), second dam of 1990 Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA-G1) winner Haynesfield, and third dam of German Group 2 winner Ambassador, and to Princess Laika (by Blushing Groom), dam of listed stakes winner Cool Gold Mood (by Premier Ministre), second dam of six stakes winners including 2006 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (USA-G1) winner Healthy Addiction and Grade 3 winners Maren's Meadow and First Blush, and third dam of 2015 Vanity Handicap (USA-G1) winner My Sweet Addiction, Grade 2 winner Yara, and Peruvian Group 3 winner Mukhtar.
Passing Mood and her siblings were produced from 1969 Canadian Oaks winner Cool Mood (by Northern Dancer), whose stakes-placed full sister Christmas Wishes produced multiple Jamaican stakes winner Mr. Nutcracker (by Mr. Prospector) and is the second dam of 1987 Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1) winner Buryyourbelief. Produced from 1954 Acorn Stakes winner Happy Mood (by Mahmoud), Cool Mood is also a half sister to Canadian stakes winner Miss Suzaki (by Tompion), dam of Grade 2 winner Coverack (by Cornish Prince) and Grade 2-placed multiple stakes winner Go to the Bank (by Bold Hour), and to Laurel Festival (by Hill Prince), second dam of Grade 2 winner Simple Magic.
Books and media
- Touch Gold's upset of Silver Charm in the 1997 Belmont Stakes is covered in “Silver and Gold,” the 10th chapter of Steve Haskin's Tales from the Triple Crown (2008, Blood Horse Publications).
- Touch Gold is profiled in Chapter 12 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
- The New York Racing Association's video of Touch Gold's Belmont Stakes victory can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcuhbi-fDG4.
Fun facts
- Touch Gold stumbled badly at the start of the 1997 Preakness Stakes and suffered a nightmare trip. He managed to finish fourth anyway, beaten only 1½ lengths, but the race had a long-term effect on his career as he suffered a foot injury that led to a quarter crack that plagued him for the rest of his career.
- Touch Gold's way-wide bid that captured the 1997 Belmont Stakes was by design as much as by the way racing luck played out. Jockey Chris McCarron later explained that he kept Touch Gold well out in the middle of the track during the stretch drive so that Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) and Preakness Stakes winner Silver Charm—a horse already well known for his ability to find another gear when a rival looked him in the eye—would not see him until too late. It worked.
Last updated: May 15, 2024