Geldings In G1s?
| How Did Geldings Get to Compete in European Group One Races? | |
| The Amazing Story of Teleprompter |
Back in the 1980s geldings were not allowed to compete in Group One races in Europe, but a horse called Teleprompter changed all that. You may remember him from winning the Arlington Million in 1985.
Foaled in 1980, by Welsh Pageant out of Ouija, he was bred and owned by the 18th Earl of Derby and trained by Bill Watts. After being beaten in his only race as a two-year-old he was gelded. As a three-year-old he ran successfully in Handicaps, winning four races. He returned to racing as a four-year-old and successfully stepped up to Group races, winning the Pacemaker International Stakes, the Desmond Stakes, Prince Quincey and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
In 1985, Teleprompter travelled to the US to take part in the Arlington Million at Chicago’s Arlington Park. Having been subject to a serious fire earlier in the summer, the racecourse had been uncertain of staging the race that season, which would be its fifth running. Wearing his customary sheepskin noseband, Teleprompter disputed the early lead in the thirteen-runner field, and then jockey Tony Ives took advantage of his inside draw to take up the running on the first bend. Turning for home, he slipped the field and won easily, despite a late challenge from the favourite Greinton. At the time, this win gave him the highest earnings of any racehorse trained in Britain. At the end of the season it was announced that most all-age Group One races in Europe would be open to geldings the following year. Teleprompter’s successes were regarded as being an important factor in this decision.
He continued to race during the next two seasons, running in the Group One Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park in 1986 for the first time it was opened to geldings, finishing third of eight. He was retired in 1987 after aggravating an old back injury. He lived out the rest of his days at Lord Derby’s Stud and the New England Stud. He died at the age of 23 and was buried at the Stanley House Stud in Newmarket.
His dam was also the granddam of Ouija Board.