Alysheba
"America's Horse"
b 1984
Alydar and Sheba by Lt. Stevens
Owners: Dorothy & Pamela Scharbauer of Midland, Texas
Hall of Fame Trainer: Jack Van Berg
Hall of Fame Jockey: Chris McCarron
Career (1986-88)
Starts - 26 1st - 11 2nd - 8 3rd - 2
Earnings: $6,679,242
Career highlights
At 3 Champion 3-Year-Old Colt/ Won Kentucky Derby G1,Preakness Stakes G1, Super Derby G1.
At 4 Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male/ Won Breeders Cup Classic G1, Windward Handicap G1, Meadowlands Cup Handicap G1, Iselin Handicap G1, Santa Anita Handicap G1, Charles H Strub Handicap G1, and San Bernadino Handicap G2.
In a remarkable display of athleticism, Alysheba carried the silks of Texas owners Dorothy and Pamela Scharbauer to victory in the 1987 Kentucky Derby despite an eventful stretch run. Ridden by Chris McCarron and trained by Jack Van Berg, Alysheba stumbled badly in the stretch, clipped heels with rival Bet Twice and nearly fell. But like a true champion, he persevered and won the roses by three-quarters of a length. As an encore, Alysheba triumphed in the Preakness, and in 1988, earned acclaim as Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male after winning that year's Breeders Cup Classic. When retired from racing, "America's Horse" was the sport's richest Thoroughbred with earnings of $6.6 million. Statue designed by renowned equine artist, Lisa Perry.
from the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame:
Alysheba was a champion as a 3-year-old, Horse of the Year at age 4 and retired with the highest purse earnings in the history of the sport.
Bred in Kentucky by Preston Madden at Hamburg Place and purchased for $500,000 by Dorothy and Pamela Scharbauer, Alysheba was trained by Jack Van Berg and ridden primarily by Chris McCarron. As a 2-year-old in 1986, Alysheba won only a maiden race, but showed signs of promise by losing the Hollywood Futurity by a nose and finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
At 3, Alysheba was second in the San Felipe Stakes and finished third in the Blue Grass Stakes before winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Alysheba added a victory in the Super Derby and finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic to Ferdinand by a nose. Ferdinand was named Horse of the Year, while Alysheba won the Eclipse Award for Champion 3-Year-Old Colt.
As a 4-year-old in 1988, Alysheba won six Grade 1 races: the Charles H. Strub Stakes, Santa Anita Handicap, Philip H. Iselin Handicap, Woodward Handicap, Meadowlands Cup Handicap and Breeders’ Cup Classic. He avenged his loss in the 1987 Breeders’ Cup Classic by defeating Ferdinand in the Santa Anita Handicap and San Bernardino Handicap. In the Woodward, Alysheba set a track record of 1:59? for 1¼ miles. He also set a track record at Meadowlands Racetrack in the Meadowlands Cup.
Alysheba concluded his career with his fourth consecutive Grade 1 victory in the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Classic, defeating Seek the Gold to wrap up Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male honors. He compiled an overall record of 11-8-2 from 26 starts and owned the all-time earnings record with $6,679,242.
Alysheba stood at Lane’s End Farm in Kentucky until 1999 when he was sold to breeding interests in Saudi Arabia. He sired 11 stakes winners, including 1994 Canadian Horse of the Year Alywow. In October 2008, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia returned Alysheba to Kentucky as a gift. He lived at the Kentucky Horse Park until he died March 27, 2009. Alysheba was buried at the Horse Park across from the grave of another legend, John Henry.