Go for Gin retires to Kentucky Horse Park

GO FOR GIN (Cormorant), the 1994 winner of the

Kentucky Derby (G1), has arrived in Lexington, Kentucky, to make his home in the

Kentucky Horse Park's Hall of Champions alongside fellow Derby winner Funny Cide,

two-time Breeders' Cup winner Da Hoss and racing superstar Cigar.

"Go for Gin

will make another great addition to our Hall of Champions," said

John Nicholson, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park. "We entertain

nearly 1 million visitors each year and they will be delighted to have the

opportunity to meet a horse of his caliber, who performed so well in all three

Triple Crown races."

Go for Gin was bred in Kentucky by Pamela DuPont Darmstadt, owned by William J.

Condren and Joseph M. Cornacchia, and trained by Nick Zito. As a

two-year-old, the bay won the

Remsen S. (G2) and Chief's Crown S. at Aqueduct in New York.

During his sophomore season, Go for Gin  was one of the few racehorses to beat the mighty

Holy Bull, which he did in winning the Derby. He followed that win with a

second in the Preakness S. (G1) to Tabasco Cat and filled that same spot in the Belmont S. (G1),

again behind Tabasco Cat. That same year he also came up just short when

runner-up in the Wood

Memorial (G1) and Fountain of Youth S. (G2).

Go for Gin was in the money in 14 out of his 19 career starts

while banking $1,380,866 in lifetime earnings.

He took up stud duty at Claiborne Farm near Lexington and was later sold to Bonita

Farm near Darlington, Maryland, where he has been standing since 2004. His progeny have

earned more than $16.5 million and include the likes of Albert the Great, winner of more than

$3 million.

"On behalf of our very dear

friend and partner Joe Cornacchia, Bonita Farm is appreciative that the Kentucky

Horse Park has accepted our donation of the Kentucky Derby winner Go for Gin,"

said William Boniface, owner of Bonita Farm. "I feel that their work providing for and displaying to the public the

top

Thoroughbreds is very beneficial to our sport."

"We're glad that his connections chose to allow Go for Gin to spend the rest

of his days at the Kentucky Horse Park, where he will continue to be respected,

appreciated and well cared-for," Nicholson concluded.

The public is invited to welcome Go for Gin back home to Kentucky. The

Kentucky Horse Park is open seven days a week through November 6, with admission

costing $16 for adults and $9 for children 7-12. Children six and under

are always admitted free of charge. The admission price also includes the International

Museum of the Horse and the

American Saddlebred Museum.