Grindstone a horse bred through a charitable endeavour, who would reward the act by reaching the pinnacle of racing in the 1996 Kentucky Derby (G1), died March 22 at Oakhurst Thoroughbreds by Dr. Jack Root near Newberg, Ore.
At 29, Grindstone is the oldest living Kentucky Derby winner.
A hybrid of WT Young’s late Overbrook ranch, Grindstone continued to stand there for 13 years before being transferred to Oakhurst, where he would be the first Derby winner to stand in the Northwest. He stood eight seasons in Oregon before retiring in 2018, where he will continue to receive the care of vet Root, who loves to show off Grindstone to visitors.
Root’s son, Ben, said in an email that Grindstone’s death has left a void on the farm.
Ben Root said: “It breaks my heart to tell you that last night Grindstone struggled with the infirmary of old age. “Owning this horse was the greatest thrill of my father’s life.”
Grindstone has provided many thrills throughout his life, no older than May 4, 1996, at Churchill Downs when the cross for the native Lexington Young rose from fourth place in the middle stretch to the edge Cavonnier by a nose in one of the closest races in Derby history. The win gave coach D. Wayne Lukas the third of his four Derby wins to date.
“It was probably my favorite Derby because the victory went to Bill Young,” Lukas said. “A Kentucky native wins the Derby, I think that’s the end. When a Kentucky native wins that race, I think it’s pretty special.”
Unfortunately, a knee injury would cut Grindstone’s racing career short. He won’t be racing after the Derby.
“It’s a shame,” said Young’s longtime mentor, Ric Waldman. “He went from relative obscurity to fame winning the Derby and then, because he was injured in the Derby, he came back in the dark. number of successes.”
The son of the 1990 Derby winner Unbridled, Grindstone passed on his classic ability to Birdstone , winner of the 2004 Belmont Stakes (G1). In turn, Birdstone selected the classic winners Mining that bird and Summer bird .
Grindstone boasts admirable beginnings. Waldman and Lukas recall how Young purchased a portion for the Unbridled donated by Frances A. Genter Estate to benefit the Kentucky Derby Museum. In one of Young’s BloodHorse files after the Derby, Young recalled the sale.
Young told BloodHorse: “The caveat is $30,000, no guarantees. “Some people told me that the market price was very expensive at the time. I thought the price was fine. I guess now a lot of people think it looks cheap.”
Using the season, Young sent level 1 winner Buzz My Bell, of the Drones, to Unbridled. Waldman recounts that the decision was largely physical because Buzz My Bell had short legs and Unbridled had long legs.
While on the track, Waldman noted that Grindstone faced a number of physical obstacles. He credits Lukas for keeping the pony moving forward. Grindstone put it all together in the spring of his 3-year-old, winning the Louisiana Derby (G3) by 3 1/2 at the Fair Grounds & Slots in March and finished in second place against Zarb’s Magic in the Arkansas Derby (G2) after a wide run at Oaklawn Park.
Jockey Jerry Bailey competed in both the prep race and the Kentucky Derby. The Racing Hall of Fame driver claimed his second Derby win in 1996, when he and Grindstone regrouped as early as 15th.
In his Derby win, Grindstone defeated that year’s Preakness Stakes (G1) winner, Louis Quatorze, Belmont winner, editors’ stability winner, and 1997 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner. (G1) Skip Away.
RIP 1996 @KentuckyDerby Grindstone winner, who passed away aged 29. According to the Oakhurst Equine Veterinary Service in Newberg, Ore. pic.twitter.com/b4K8kdDRYl
– Churchill Downs PR (@DerbyMedia) March 23, 2022
“He’s a pretty nice horse and a very nice horse,” Lukas said. All involved wondered what could have happened.
“He had a lot of talent, but he had some health issues,” Waldman said, noting that Grindstone had surgery as a child to remove bone fragments. “Only Wayne Lukas has been able to lead this horse from that point on and win the Derby with it. It’s truly remarkable.”
After his short racing career and standing in Kentucky, Root negotiated a deal to buy Grindstone. The 1997 Derby was the only Derby Root ever attended. He loved the horse.
“I attended a Kentucky Derby; Grindstone won that day,” said Root, who will later visit Grindstone at Overbrook Farm. “When Mr. Young passed away, I told my front desk clerk at the time that I would call them and see if they would sell me that horse. She thought I was completely nuts. I called Ric Waldman and he said they had an offer and we had to beat it. And we did.”
Root recalls celebrating the purchase by drinking some Oregon wine that evening. He noted that Grindstone bred a number of beautiful horses during his time in Oregon, including a number of stake winners in Portland Meadows and the area.
After his dark horse career, Grindstone settled into an ambassadorial role – a star attraction 500-600 would visit Oakhurst for the Roots Derby parties. They will take pictures and enjoy being near a Derby winner.
The grindstone will be buried next to the barn in Oakhurst.
It has been a difficult year for the former Derby winners. Go for Gin entered the year as the oldest living Derby winner, aged 31, but he passed away from heart failure on March 8 at Kentucky Horse Park. Grindstone inherited that title until his death. Silver Charm resides at Old Friends, is today’s oldest Derby winner at the age of 28.
Waldman said Grindstone enjoyed his long life.
“I’m glad Roots ended up with him because they really care about the horse,” Waldman said. “It’s one of those things where we’re sad to see him leave Kentucky but you’re so glad he’s going to a great new home with people who care about him.”
Root marveled at his luck at being matched with the 1996 Derby winner.
“He was absolutely one of the bright spots of my life. In the horse world, he was the highlight of my life,” said Root. “He’s just a very special horse. Not only is he a Kentucky Derby winner, he’s also a very, very special individual. He knows he’s cool. He acts like he’s the one. He’s cool and he wants to be treated like that.He’s just one of the smartest, neatest horses I’ve ever known.
“Just hanging around the horse, you already know that you are in the presence of something very special.”
