The racehorse Alpha, who won six races and earned over $1.8 million during his career, has been welcomed to the Old Friends retirement farm in Georgetown, Kentucky.
‣ The GI Travers S. hero Alpha has been welcomed to Old Friends, a retirement farm in Georgetown, Kentucky.
‣ Alpha was trained by Kiaran P. McLaughlin and owned by Godolphin throughout his career, finishing with a record of six wins and earnings of $1,815,667 over 22 starts.
‣ After starting his stud career in 2015 at Sequel Stallions in New York, and moving to Brazil in 2019, Alpha returned to the US and completed quarantine in Florida before being shipped to Kentucky.
“Travers Hero Alpha Comes To Old Friends” – that’s the headline that caught everyone’s attention. It was Saturday, December 9, 2023, at 2:06 pm.
The news was about Alpha, a horse that had made a name for itself. The image of Alpha, courtesy of Darley, was a sight to behold.
Old Friends, a retirement farm in Georgetown, Kentucky, was the lucky recipient of Godolphin’s GI Travers S. hero, Alpha. The announcement came on Friday, Dec. 8, and the farm confirmed it the next day.
Alpha’s pedigree is impressive. Bred by Darley in America, he was trained by Kiaran P. McLaughlin. Godolphin owned him throughout his career. His record? Six wins and a whopping $1,815,667 in earnings over 22 starts. Not to mention, he was part of the first dead heat in the Travers since 1874.
In 2015, Alpha began his stud career at Sequel Stallions in New York. But by 2019, he was off to Haras Bagé do Sul in Brazil. He returned to the U.S. and completed quarantine in Florida on Nov. 29. After a quick inspection in Kentucky to ensure he was in good shape, he was sent to Old Friends.
Michael Banahan, Director of Bloodstock at Godolphin USA, had a few words to say about Alpha. “While Alpha was small in stature, he was big in heart,” he said. He highlighted Alpha’s success at Saratoga, where he won multiple graded races. Alpha was the second Travers winner for their stable, following his sire, Bernardini. Banahan also expressed his joy at facilitating Alpha’s return to Kentucky and Old Friends.
As the news spread, the TDN download began. If it didn’t complete, there was a link to click. But the story of Alpha, the Travers Hero, was one that no one wanted to miss.
