The next decade unfolded with the launch of Facebook, the imprisonment of Martha Stewart and Smarty Jones earning a $5 Million bonus for his victory in the 130th running of the Kentucky Derby.
Hurricane Katrina had just devastated the US Gulf Coast and Zenyatta was a $60,000 yearling purchase at the 2005 September Keeneland Yearling Sale when CTHS Alberta yearling sale graduate, TEAGUES FIGHT began his racing career at Stampede Park. The Devonwood gelding was named the 2008 Alberta Horse of the Year and Champion Alberta bred after multiple stakes wins including back to back victories in the black type Spangled Jimmy Handicap. TEAGUES FIGHT had won almost half his races when he was retired in 2010 with a record of 15 wins in 31 starts and earnings of $601,908.
Apple released the very first IPhone in 2007, selling more than one million in the first three months, the seventh and final Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was released and ARKHILL became a racehorse. Bred by Neville Davis, the bay gelding won the very last Alberta Derby to be held at Stampede Park for owner and trainer Craig MacPherson. ARKHILL had 17 wins over eight seasons and finished racing in 2015 with $339,657 in earnings.
In 2008, Stampede Park closed to live Thoroughbred racing after 120 years, MR. SHADAR began his racing career and Canadian jockey Russell Baze rode his 10,000th career winner. The Alydeed runner was consigned to the 2007 CTHS Alberta sale and sold for $9,549. Named the 2010 Champion Alberta bred, MR.SHADAR was a multiple stakes winning runner with victories in the Red Diamond Express Handicap, the Harvest Gold Plate, the Beaufort Stakes, the CTHS Sales Stakes and the Sun Sprint Championship. MR. SHADAR completed racing in 2013 with a record of 50 starts, 12 wins, 9 seconds, 7 thirds and $328,625 in earnings.
The band One Direction was formed in 2010 and sixteen year old Jessica Watson became the youngest person to sail solo around the world. FREE FEE LADY started her stellar race career this year for owner Harlequin Ranches. The Victory Gallop filly raced entirely at Woodbine and won three of her four starts including the Bison City Stakes and Wonder Where Stakes. FREE FEE LADY raced for just one season but retired with $348,020 in earnings. Racing legend Zenyatta retired from racing this season with her near perfect record marred by a loss to Blame in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
FOR CASH entered the racing scene at Northlands Park in 2012, the same time as WikiLeaks began disclosing 5 million emails from intelligence company Stratfor and The Lion King became the highest grossing Broadway show. Over his eight year race career, FOR CASH, was named the 2010 Champion Alberta Bred with multiple stakes victories including repeat victories in the Fred Jones Handicap and the Alberta Breeders’ Handicap. The homebred for Lyle and Phyilis Farkash was retired with $605,279 in earnings from 15 wins putting him fifth on the list of Alberta Bred Lifetime Leading Earners.
Also racing during this decade; 2004-BANJO BABE (Lifetime earnings of $382,667), 2007-VICTORY ROMANCE (Lifetime earnings of $396,101), 2009-TINY GIANT (Lifetime earnings of $353,354), 2005-SHE’S ITALIAN (Lifetime earnings of $344,216), 2007-CRYPTONITE KID (Lifetime earnings of $340,714).
*Disclaimer- Horses for each decade were chosen for that decade based on the first year they raced and ranked according to lifetime earnings. It is possible that depending on how they are viewed they may fit into more than one decade. We leave it to the “People” to decide which decade they feel these Alberta bred horses best fit.
