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The field for the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Turf makes its way around the Keeneland turf
Ouija Board, a global superstar, two-time Eclipse Award winner and successful broodmare, has died at the age of 21, Thoroughbred Daily News reports.
The Cape Cross mare spent her last years as a broodmare at Stanley House Stud in Newmarket, England, in the service of Edward Stanley, Earl of Derby.
Trained by Ed Dunlop, Ouija Board raced in seven different countries and faced Grade or Group 1 competition at each stop.
Her racing career began in her native England, where she took home the Group 1 Epsom Oaks, immediately followed by a trip across the Irish Sea to take the G1 Irish Oaks. Ouija Board was on the move again for her next start, traveling to France to finish third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Ouija Board wrapped up her 3-year-old season with the first of three trips to the U.S. to compete in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Great Turf. The event was held at Lone Star Park in 2004, and Ouija Board pulled away late to beat older foes by 1 1/2 lengths as the late favorite. This effort helped her earn the Eclipse Award as North American Champion Female and she was also named European Horse of the Year in 2004 and Champion 3-Year-Old.
As a four-year-old, Ouija Board won the English G3 Princess Royal John Doyle Stakes during a shortened campaign, then returned to the United States to finish second to Intercontinental in the 2005 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Belmont Park, before shipping to Asia to finish. fifth against men in G1 Japan Cup, then wins Hong Kong Vase.
Ouija Board returned to full strength in 2006, again winning the title of European Horse of the Year and Champion Older Horse, along with another Eclipse Award as Champion Turf Female.
That season began in the United Arab Emirates, where she finished fourth in the Dubai Sheema Classic, then went on to a third in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong, before returning to her home country for the summer, which included a score in the G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes during the Royal Ascot meeting. She scored a win in the G1 Nassau Stakes, then was shipped to Ireland once more to finish second in the G1 Irish Champion Stakes before making a final trip to the USA for the Breeders’ Cup.
In the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, Ouija Board rallied from five wide to win by 2 1/4 lengths. He then capped off his track career with a third-place effort in the Japan Cup.
Ouija Board retired with 10 wins in 22 starts for earnings of $6,312,552.
When she retired to Lord Derby’s broodmare in 2007, she amassed similar success, winning the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association’s HJ Joel Salver Award for Flat Mare of the Year in 2014.
Her production record is highlighted by Australia, a son of Galileo who won the 2014 Epsom and Irish Derbys. He is the only Epsom Derby winner whose sire was himself a Derby winner, while his dam was also an Epsom Oaks winner. Australia is at Coolmore Stud in Ireland.
Other notable runners from Ouija Board include Group 2 winner Frontiersman and Group 3 winner Voodoo Prince.
Read more at Thoroughbred Daily News.
