Gulch (Mr. Prospector–Jameela, by Rambunctious), who had been the oldest living Breeders' Cup winner, was euthanized Sunday at Old Friends due to complications from cancer. The 32-year-old pensioner had been a resident of the Old Friends retirement center in Georgetown since 2009. A seven-time Grade I winner while racing for his breeder Peter Brant, Gulch won the 1986 GI Futurity and GI Hopeful S. He also won the 1987 GI Wood Memorial and GI Metropolitan H. In 1988, Gulch repeated his victory in the Met Mile and added a win in the GI Carter H. before capping his career with victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, earning the Eclipse statue as the nation's top sprinter. He retired with 13 wins from 32 starts and earnings of $3,095,521 and began his stud career at Lane's End in 1989.
Gulch is the sire of 1995 GI Kentucky Derby winner and champion Thunder Gulch, as well as multiple Group 1 winner Nayef and 2011 GI Breeders' Cup Mile winner Court Vision. He is also the sire of Grade I winners The Cliff's Edge and Wallenda–also a retiree at Old Friends. He was pensioned in 2009.
“As Leroy Jolley, who was Gulch's first trainer, once said, 'Gulch must be the toughest horse who ever lived,' and he was,” said Old Friends' founder and president Michael Blowen. “He was confident, self-possessed and regal. He didn't demand respect–he earned it. He is irreplaceable.”
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