Great Communicator (USA)
March 30, 1983 – November 5, 1990
Key to the Kingdom (USA) x Blaheen (USA) by Beekeeper (USA)
Family 1-a
March 30, 1983 – November 5, 1990
Key to the Kingdom (USA) x Blaheen (USA) by Beekeeper (USA)
Family 1-a
Like many well-known geldings, Great Communicator came from the wrong side of the tracks so far as pedigree went and took time to come to his best form. He developed into a top-class turf stayer whose greatest accomplishment was winning the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Turf (USA-G1) over Sunshine Forever, who ended up winning the Eclipse Award as champion turf male on the basis of a brilliant summer campaign. Great Communicator continued to race well in 1989 but suffered a wrenched ankle in the fall of 1989 that kept him sidelined for six months, and he was slow to come back to his previous level as a competitor. After winning a stakes race at Santa Anita in October 1990, he finally seemed to be back in his old form but shattered his right hind leg during his next race, the Carleton F. Burke Handicap (USA-G2), and had to be euthanized.
Race record
56 starts, 14 wins, 10 seconds, 7 thirds, US$2,922,615
1987:
1988:
1989:
1990:
Assessments
Rated at 115 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American male turf runners of 1987, 12 pounds below champion Manila.
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American male turf runners of 1988. 3 pounds above divisional champion Sunshine Forever (a 3-year-old).
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American male turf runners of 1989, 5 pounds below champion Steinlein.
As an individual
A bay gelding, Great Communicator was slow to mature and needed a distance of ground to show his best. He was a game and determined runner on the track. He had good natural speed but was amenable to rating.
Connections
Bred in Kentucky by James B. Watriss, Great Communicator sold for US$42,000 at the 1984 Keeneland September sale. He was owned by George Ackel’s Class Act Farms and was trained by Ackel’s son, Thad Ackel. He was ridden to his Breeders’ Cup Turf win by his regular pilot, Ray Sibille.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1974 Stymie Handicap (USA-G3) winner Key to the Kingdom (by Bold Ruler), Great Communicator is inbred 4x5 to the unbeaten champion Nearco, a two-time leader of the English/French general sire list, and 4x5 to the high-class European racer Prince Rose. He is also inbred 5x5 to 1930 Derby Stakes winner and 1941 American champion sire Blenheim II. He is the only foal of any importance produced from the winner Blaheen, whose sire Beekeeper (by the Khaled son Hillary, a useful sire in California) placed in four stakes races.
Blaheen was produced from the winner Irish Rule, whose sire Court Splendour (by 1960 French champion sire Prince Chevalier) won the 1953 Horris Hill Stakes as a juvenile in England. Irish Rule’s dam, Fern O’Doon (by Moonlight Run, a son of the great broodmare Selene) is a winning full sister to 1956 Vanity Handicap winner Mary Machree, dam of 1967 Sunset Handicap winner Hill Clown (by Hillary) and 1971 Sun Chariot Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Hill Circus (by Hillary) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Montmartre and Grade 3 winner Montespan. Produced from unraced Jessie-O-Doon (by Brig O’Doon), Fern O’Doon is also a half sister to Red Curtain (by Russia II), dam of the high-class American and English stakes winner Hill Rise (by Hillary) and of 1969 Prix Jean Prat winner Hill Run (by Hillary).
Books and media
Footage of Great Communicator’s win in the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Turf can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiY9bHHgpvo.
Fun facts
Last updated: May 23, 2026
Race record
56 starts, 14 wins, 10 seconds, 7 thirds, US$2,922,615
1987:
- 2nd Washington D.C. International (USA-G1, 10FT, Laurel)
- 2nd Hollywood Invitational Turf Handicap (USA-G1, 12FT, Hollywood)
- 2nd Caballero Handicap (USA-R, 12FT, Hollywood)
- 3rd Louisiana Downs Handicap (USA-G3, 11FT, Louisiana Downs)
- 3rd Laurel Turf Cup Handicap (USA-G3, 10FT, Laurel)
1988:
- Won Breeders’ Cup Turf (USA-G1, 12FT, Churchill Downs)
- Won Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (USA-G1, Hollywood)
- Won San Juan Capistrano Handicap (USA-G1, about 14FT, Santa Anita)
- Won Golden Gate Handicap (USA-G2, 11FT, GG)
- Won San Luis Obispo Handicap (USA-G2, 12FT, Santa Anita)
- Won San Marcos Handicap (USA-G3, 10FT, Santa Anita)
- 2nd San Luis Rey Stakes (USA-G1, 12FT, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Oak Tree Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 12FT, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Del Mar Invitational Handicap (USA-G2, 11FT, Del Mar)
- 3rd Hollywood Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 10FT, Hollywood; dead heat with Skip Out Front)
1989:
- Won Hollywood Turf Handicap (USA-G1, 10FT, Hollywood)
- Won San Luis Obispo Handicap (USA-G2, 12FT, Santa Anita)
- 2nd San Luis Rey Stakes (USA-G1, 12FT, Santa Anita)
1990:
- Won Henry P. Russell Handicap (USA-L, 10FT, Santa Anita)
Assessments
Rated at 115 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American male turf runners of 1987, 12 pounds below champion Manila.
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American male turf runners of 1988. 3 pounds above divisional champion Sunshine Forever (a 3-year-old).
Rated at 121 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American male turf runners of 1989, 5 pounds below champion Steinlein.
As an individual
A bay gelding, Great Communicator was slow to mature and needed a distance of ground to show his best. He was a game and determined runner on the track. He had good natural speed but was amenable to rating.
Connections
Bred in Kentucky by James B. Watriss, Great Communicator sold for US$42,000 at the 1984 Keeneland September sale. He was owned by George Ackel’s Class Act Farms and was trained by Ackel’s son, Thad Ackel. He was ridden to his Breeders’ Cup Turf win by his regular pilot, Ray Sibille.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1974 Stymie Handicap (USA-G3) winner Key to the Kingdom (by Bold Ruler), Great Communicator is inbred 4x5 to the unbeaten champion Nearco, a two-time leader of the English/French general sire list, and 4x5 to the high-class European racer Prince Rose. He is also inbred 5x5 to 1930 Derby Stakes winner and 1941 American champion sire Blenheim II. He is the only foal of any importance produced from the winner Blaheen, whose sire Beekeeper (by the Khaled son Hillary, a useful sire in California) placed in four stakes races.
Blaheen was produced from the winner Irish Rule, whose sire Court Splendour (by 1960 French champion sire Prince Chevalier) won the 1953 Horris Hill Stakes as a juvenile in England. Irish Rule’s dam, Fern O’Doon (by Moonlight Run, a son of the great broodmare Selene) is a winning full sister to 1956 Vanity Handicap winner Mary Machree, dam of 1967 Sunset Handicap winner Hill Clown (by Hillary) and 1971 Sun Chariot Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Hill Circus (by Hillary) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Montmartre and Grade 3 winner Montespan. Produced from unraced Jessie-O-Doon (by Brig O’Doon), Fern O’Doon is also a half sister to Red Curtain (by Russia II), dam of the high-class American and English stakes winner Hill Rise (by Hillary) and of 1969 Prix Jean Prat winner Hill Run (by Hillary).
Books and media
Footage of Great Communicator’s win in the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Turf can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiY9bHHgpvo.
Fun facts
- Although many people believe that Great Communicator was named in honor of President Ronald Reagan, one of the best public speakers to occupy the White House, the horse’s actual namesake was owner George Ackel, a New Orleans businessman and politician who bore the same nickname as Reagan because he could (as sportswriter Jay Hovdey put it) “talk honey out of a hive.”
Last updated: May 23, 2026