'He was as handsome as he was talented' - Grade 1-winning champion dies aged 29

Thornfield, the 1999 Canadian Horse of the Year, has died at Old Friends thoroughbred retirement farm in Georgetown, Kentucky, due to a paddock accident. He was 29.

The sad news was by announced by the farm's president and founder Michael Blowen.

Bred and owned by Steve Stavro's Knob Hill Stable, Thornfield was foaled in Canada on March 15, 1994.

The son of Sky Classic—Alexandrina, by Conquistador Cielo, Thornfield was trained for most of his career by Phillip England and, except for one race, ran exclusively at Woodbine in Canada.

The bay gelding began his racing career as a three-year old in 1997, but he didn't break his maiden until his fifth career race as a four-year old in 1998. He then proceeded to win four consecutive races.

His best season came in 1999 as a five-year old when he won the Grade 2 Niagara Breeders' Cup Handicap, and then pulled off a big upset to win the $1.5 million Canadian International Stakes as the longest shot in the field at 18.85-1 odds. The second and third that day were the British-trained duo Fruits Of Love and Courteous.

Those two wins were instrumental in his being awarded the 1999 Sovereign Award as Canadian Horse of the Year and champion male turf horse.

In addition, that year he also finished third in a race named after his sire, the Grade 3 Sky Classic Handicap, and 13th in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park, which was won by Daylami.

Thornfield continued racing until 2002 when, as a seven-year old, he ran in an allowance race at Woodbine on April 27 but did not finish and was retired. He ended his career with six wins, one second, three thirds, and $1,206,074 in earnings in 19 starts.

After he was retired, he attempted a second career as a hunter/jumper, but things did not work out. He was then donated to Old Friends and arrived at the farm on New Year's Day 2011.

In June 2015, Thornfield was one of five Old Friends retirees relocated to the farm's newly opened annex facility at Kentucky Downs. He lived there until July 2019 when the annex closed, and then, along with the other horses there, he returned to the main farm in Georgetown, where he enjoyed the remainder of his retirement.

"Thornfield was the king of Old Friends at Kentucky Downs and adored visitors," said Blowen.

"He was as handsome as he was talented and we were honoured to have him at Old Friends for more than 12 years."

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