Hall of Fame - Ain't Dead Yet

Original article written by Nathan Klein posted 3 years 3 weeks ago

Ain't Dead Yet was born in year 37 and was almost immediately sold to Amy Bahama who had been making a splash in the quarter horse division having multiple Steward's Cup champs already under her belt. Ain't Dead Yet looked poised to keep up her success. In his first race, he was put in a $40,000 stakes race. In a blink of an eye, the race was over and he had won his first race. He then ran in a non-winners of 2 and despite breaking slowly opened up 1 length in just 220 yards. With 2 impressive wins, he would make his grade 1 debut in the Sprint Futurity. He broke well holding off a late charge from Sneak Thief to win by a neck.

Things would be way harder in the California Futurity when he and Dynex were in near unison the whole race hitting the wire at nearly the same time. But Ain't Dead Yet wasn't losing yet and got up by a nose. After winning a Texas bred exclusive stakes race he went to the Steward's Cup Quarter's Dash. He would have one of his greatest performances. He burst out of the gate as fast as he could before sprinting to top speed in a flash. No one could keep up with his long strides. When most quarter horse races were decided by inches he won it by a length and a quarter. He was a clear victor and no one stood in his way. He was 6 for 6 and won 3 grade 1 races. His season that year was so impressive that he was not only Quarter Horse Champion Two-Year-Old Male. But also Quarter Horse of the Year a feat only achieved before by fellow Hall of Famers Cash for the Stash and Distillery.

Being a Horse of the Year at 2 he had high expectations for his return at age 3. He would rest for the first 4 weeks of the Sim year. But he would eventually make his return in the Pick 6 Carryover Stakes. Gold Rush took the lead at the break but Ain't Dead Yet accelerated past him at the end to win by a neck. But defeat would come only a start later. He broke just a bit too slow and not even his sprinter acceleration could help him catch his regular rival Dynex who simply held off all comers to win by a confident neck. Ain't Dead Yet only just got up for second in a blanket photo finish. Ain't Dead Yet had beaten Dynex 4 times before but Dynex got his revenge that day. But Ain't Dead Yet's defeat to Dynex only made him stronger for when their eventual rematch would arise. His next 2 times out he would get up in the final strides to win by a neck. He had great acceleration even if he didn't always start the fastest. He almost always knew when the finish line was and could get up just in time with his long neck.

But finally came the rematch between him and Dynex in the Steward's Cup Quarters Sprint. Ain't Dead Yet would give possibly the greatest performance any Quarter Horse has ever given. It all started with the break from the starting gate. Sometimes he would break slowly and it would make his races more challenging to win. But at the start, he broke perfectly. With one good step, he was in the lead. He was in front by a strong neck early but with 150 yards to go, he gave them a show to never forget. He kicked into another gear his pounding hooves moving faster and his strides longer. His 13 other rivals were all racing their hearts out running as fast as they could. But Ain't Dead Yet was running away with the race. He opened up 1 length in the blink of an eye. Then with 100 yards left to go, he opened up a second length. It was amazing to see a horse win by 2 full-lengths in just the coarse of 300 yards. When he crossed the line the clock stopped at 15.25. It was a new world record for 300 yards. It is the fastest 300 yards ever recorded by any racehorse. He would successfully become Quarter Horse Champion Three Year Old Male and repeat his title for Quarter Horse of the Year. With nothing left to prove he would exit his racing career on his highest note. Although he would not prove to be nearly as successful as a stud. He would produce a few good racehorses such as duel grade 1 winner A Burning Desire. But nothing nearly as good as him. Even so, his legacy will always live on through his world record, and he will always be known as possibly the fastest Quarter Horse ever.

---

Back to Hall of Fame articles