Belmont Stakes Winner Juddmonte Farms ‘Empire Maker’ Dies At 20

LEXINGTON, KY. (THECOUNT) — Empire Maker (Unbridled–Toussaud, by El Gran Senor), who gave Khalid Abdullah Juddmonte Farms its lone American Classic winner in the 2003 GI Belmont Stakes, passed away Saturday, Jan. 18 at Gainesway Farm in Lexington.

Empire Maker, the sire and grandsire of two Kentucky Derby winners–including a Triple Crown winner, was 20 years old when he succumbed to a rare disease that compromised his immune system, reports ThoroughbredDailyNews.

“The passing of Empire Maker will leave a tremendous void not only in the breeding industry as we know it, but in the hearts of all of us who worked with him, every day,” said Antony Beck, the owner of Gainesway. “It was a huge honor and privilege to stand Empire Maker at Gainesway with our partners Don Alberto. He was the epitome of class and quality. I have never been involved with a stallion that possessed a better disposition. His impact on the breed has been significant, particularly producing very sound stock. He will be missed by all of us at Gainesway.”

Trained by the late Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel, who once called the colt “the best horse he ever trained,” Empire Maker validated 2-5 favoritism and his connections’ lofty opinion of him when graduating over Belmont’s one-turn mile in late 2002, then snapped a baby two-race losing streak with a 9 1/2-length thumping of his rivals in the GI Florida Derby.

DEVELOPING::

Geo quick facts: Lexington is a city in Kentucky. It’s known for horse farms and thoroughbred racetracks like Keeneland. The Kentucky Horse Park features the International Museum of the Horse, the Hall of Champions and many equine breeds. Ashland, the estate of 1800s politician Henry Clay, includes a mansion and formal garden. Clay is buried at the Lexington Cemetery, which has an arboretum, lakes and a Romanesque gatehouse – wikipedia.