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Five-Time Grade 1 Winner Einstein Euthanized

The Old Friends resident was 18 years old.

Einstein at Adena Springs Kentucky

Einstein at Adena Springs Kentucky

Mallory Haigh

Five-time grade 1 winner Einstein has died, Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm's founder and president, Michael Blowen, announced Oct. 28.

The 18-year-old son of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Spend a Buck out of Gay Charm (by Ghadeer) had been pensioned at Old Friends in Georgetown, Ky., since 2019. He was euthanized Wednesday morning at Park Equine Hospital due to complications of cancer. 

Trained by Helen Pitts throughout his career, the Brazilian-bred Einstein captured the 2009 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) at Santa Anita Park and four grade 1 stakes on turf, including back-to-back triumphs in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) at Churchill Downs in 2008-09.

PHOTO BY SKIP DICKSTEIN - Einstein with jockey Robby Albarado in the irons runs away from the field to win the 22 running of The Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs May 3, 2008.
Einstein wins the 2008 Turf Classic Stakes at Churchill Downs

Other wins included the 2008 Clark Handicap (G2) at Churchill and the Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap (G2T) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Einstein was among the first to have victories on all three track surfaces: dirt, turf, and synthetic.

Campaigned by Midnight Cry Stable the majority of his race career, Einstein made 30 starts and won 11 races. He won or placed in 15 stakes, all of which were graded, and earned $2,945,238.

Einstein was retired from racing in 2010 to stand at The Stronach Group's Adena Springs near Paris, Ky. He later stood at Adena Springs North in Ontario, Canada, and at Magali Farms and Daehling Ranch in California. 

His top runners include grade 3-placed Rankhasprivileges and multiple stakes-placed E Equalsmcsquared. Einstein was retired by Adena Springs in 2019 to the nonprofit organization Old Friends.

"When we first retired Einstein, he was diagnosed with a tumor," Blowen said. "Dr. Rhodes Bell of Park Equine performed a delicate operation and removed the tumor. The procedure allowed Einstein to enjoy more than a year of happy life with Old Friends before the fast-growing tumors reoccurred over the weekend.

"Einstein was as classy and smart as he was handsome," Blowen added. "He was a farm favorite, and he was especially fond of (Old Friends volunteer) John Bradley. I wished we could have taken care of him for another decade."