Champion stallion Seeking The Gold has been put down, aged 31, at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky.

Best known as the sire of Dubai Millennium, he had been pensioned from stud duties in November 2008.

Seeking The Gold (Mr Prospector – Con Game by Buckpasser) was foaled at Claiborne Farm and was trained throughout his career by Shug McGaughey for owner-breeder Ogden Phipps.  He won the Super Derby, Peter Pan Stakes, Dwyer Stakes, Swale Stakes and was runner-up to Forty Niner in both the Haskell Invitational and Travers Stakes and to Alysheba in the 1988 Breeder’s Cup Classic.

“He was a very, very successful racehorse.  One of my all-time favourites,” McGaughey recalled.  “He gave 110% every time.”

Returning to Claiborne for stud duties, Seeking The Gold was Champion USA freshman sire in 1993 and also finished second on the General Sire list in 2000 behind Storm Cat.  He stood at a career-high fee of $250,000.

He supplied 91 stakes winners, including five champions, Dubai Millenium – the sire of Dubawi, Seeking The Pearl, Heavenly Prize, Flanders and Catch The Ring.

“There’s no doubt he will go down as one of the all-time greats,” Claiborne spokesman Bernie Sams said.  “He was a valued member of the Claiborne Farm family and an important part of this farm’s history.”

SEEKING THE GOLD
Champion sire pictured in retirement at Claiborne last year