Hall of Fame - American Gold

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

In the real world nearly anyone who's watched Horse Racing has heard of the great but also heartbreaking career of Zennyatta a single stride and race away from a perfect 20 race career. In the Sim, there was a similar filly but there were plenty of differences. This equivalent, for one thing, was only half Thoroughbred being an appendix mare with a Thoroughbred father and Quarter Horse Dam. The father was a Hall Of Famer named American Valor who was an imposing champion Dirt Miler being the only horse to ever win two Steward's Cup, Dirt Miles although they were non-conescutivly.

The mother was Royal In Gold a very well-bred mare with a Hall Of Fame Quarter Horse father in The Gold Factor. Who had $36,373,140 in progeny earnings and 81 different stakes winners by the end of his stud career. Together this cross-breeding would give Quarter Horse racing their greatest specimen. A buckskin mare given a simple yet ever appropriate name, American Gold. She wasn't a morning glory, her workouts suggested she was fast but she never reached the top 50 at any point. But she made a strong debut in a cheap maiden race winning by half a length and running a 90-speed figure.

Strong enough that she went right into stakes company against males in the Rainstorm Futurity Trials. Just like in her previous race she broke a bit awkwardly giving her rivals a head start. But she came flying late and surged between horses to win by a head after making up a 1 and 1/4 length deficit. Then it was time for the actual race where she was put against Austin Futurity winner Freak Streak a face that would come back towards the end of her career. But in the Rainstorm Futurity, he ran fifth while American Gold got her first of Grade 1 victory on the far outside in post position 11 she swept the field on the right rail and won by a head.

Next up American Gold fought her way to the top winning the biggest Quarter Horse races by the slimmest of margins. First, she won the qualifying race for the Most American Futurity and then took the actual race when she nosed out Cinema Gold with a blanket photo for third place. She then fought against Mark Me Gold in the California Juvenile her last start of the year. Just as before inches behind the two was a wall of horses but just ahead was her and Mark Me Gold. It was another golden horse to fight but she proved a Karat above yet again as she nosed out the future champion sire. With three Grade 1 wins all against males there was no doubt she won Quarter Horse Champion Two Year Old Female.

The legend continues as American Gold was going to set her sights on something never before achieved the Quarter Horse Triple Crown. She had missed out on the 2-year-old triple due to not racing in the Austin Futurity but there was also the more popular 3-year-old triple. A three race series that consisted of the Austin Derby, Rainstorm Derby, and Most American Derby as well as their trial races spliced between them making it a 6 race endeavor. She was the favorite as the year began and she left no doubt to that status when she took the trail by 1 and 3/4 lengths. A marvelous season starter that set the tone for the rest of the year.

She first fought against old rival Mark Me Gold. Mark Me Gold had also won his trial by a pretty impressive half a length. But it wasn't 1 and 3/4 lengths like American Gold did. Soon enough, they would both be clear ahead of the pack by half a length but as they hit the wire it was too close to call between the golden boy and golden girl. But at the line, American Gold won by a nose setting a new Stakes record that lasted 11 sim years. It was gonna be a true Affirmed and Alydar fight as the two got ready to do it all over again in the Rainstorm Derby.

Both won their trial races by half a length but American Gold was 2 hundredths of a second faster. She certainly would win by more than that when she raced in the Rainstorm Derby. Mark Me Gold stayed in second early but looked keen to take the lead but American Gold snuck between horses and opened up half a length while Mark Me Gold won the blanket finish for second.

Yet again American Gold set a new stakes record that remains 11 runnings of the race later. Another trial later American Gold and Mark Me Gold were both prepared for the last jewel the Most American Derby. In a repeat of the Rainstorm trails, American Gold won her trial by half a length. But Mark Me Gold won his by a fleeing head. Just as before American Gold lagged midpack with Mark Me Gold right near in second.

But in the last furlong, both began to swell Mark Me Gold took a slight lead but in between horses American Gold surged a clear half a length ahead. Everyone watched anxiously as she was about to be the one. The very first one in the history of the sim, as she crossed the line the inaugural Triple Crown winner of Quarter Horse racing. And the first of three current ones. And yet again she had set the stakes record which is still held by her now. three races three new records two still standing over a decade later. She had become the Quarter Horse equivalent to Secretariat painting the division in her records.

Then she set her eyes on more big money The Star Of Stars worth $1,000,000. There she fought against old rival Freak Streak and Mark Me Gold. But as she always did she remained undefeated as the queen crossed the wire half a length in front of both Mark Me Gold and Freak Streak who squabbled for second place. Then in the grand finale to her historic and perfect year American Gold she made her same explosive rally and won the Steward's Cup Quarter's Championship by half a length with Freak Streak and Mark Me Gold behind.

The crowd cheered as usual for her as she had opened up her winning streak to 13 races from 13 starts. A world record for winning streaks by Quarter Horses. As she crossed the line a champion once more she had established yet another stakes record winning the Steward's Cup Quarter's Championship faster than anyone before although El Dorado did eventually break it 10 sim years later.

She became the first horse to ever win the unofficial 5-star races of Quarter Horse racing. The Quarter Horse 3-year-old Triple Crown, The Star Of Stars, and the Steward's Cup Quarters Championships. 5 Grade 1's and $2,250,000 in just 5 races. It only has ever been repeated since by El Dorado. Quarter Horse Champion Three Year Old Female and Quarter Horse of the Year would cap off the greatest season of Quarter Horse racing ever seen. 8 races 5 of them Grade 1's and over $2,350,000 earned. The question was now what.

Well, what was left was some older horse races and some tests at a slightly longer distance. The little she had to prove would further cement her legacy and lead more great highs and a soul-crushing low. Her first start back was important it would tell the world if she was still the greatest or if she'd lost a step over the year. What we got was one of the greatest performances by a Quarter Horse. She broke well as usual but the 650-yard distance was still a question. Well until 350 yards in when she gave us an answer exploding to the lead in just 70 yards and then in the final 230 surged passed running away the crowd swelled with excitement as she zapped away finishing the race 2 and 3/4 lengths in front of the nearest horse and smashing the world record which still stands today.

She was back alright as Grade 1 company was next in order in the 550 yard Go For The Gold Stakes. There she fought Freak Streak once more but as always Freak Streak remained behind her the whole way. No different here as she sailed passed and won by a length as Feak Streak picked up the pieces in second. Yet again she set a world record this time for 550 yards and it has yet to be beaten. She remained at the two elongated distances for two more starts. Taking another 550 yard stakes when she won the Take Flight Stakes by a confident neck. Then she took the 650 Grade 3 Mariners Stakes by a clear length. It wasn't a record but it was easy enough to win.

But it all came crashing when she ran in The Star Of Stars for a title defense. It seemed like a normal race as she stayed in fifth with Freak Streak in sixth but American Gold was in the middle in post position six and Freak Streak was near the rail in post position two. As American Gold began to pick off horses Freak Streak sneaked in on the rail. American Gold didn't see her coming as she surged on the inside and at the line, the two hit the line together with everyone shocked at the big run Freak Streak had put in. The race soon became official with a horrifying reality. The winner was number 2 Freak Streak. American Gold had lost, nearly everyone was horrified by the closest margin possible a nose. American Gold had been stripped of her unbeaten record by a nose. People left in tears the dream of a perfect 20 was gone.

But unlike Zenyatta American Gold still had one more race left the Steward's Cup Quarter's Championship. There she would be back to face off against Freak Streak for a final time. The mood was tense you were either for American Gold or Freak Streak. Everyone anticipated seeing how this now uncertain year was going to finish was American Gold gonna go out disgraced in her final moments on the track or was something else gonna happen.

Gates clanged open as Freak Streak and American Gold were split by inches out of the gate. But American Gold had was in seventh and Freak Streak was eighth at the start. But halfway through the race, they started to progress and they picked off rivals soon being right upfront. Although there were up to five horses across the track only two mattered. This time Freak Streak was right next to American Gold. American Gold had Freak Streak in her sights unlike last time and she fought on and keeping that detrimental inch. At the line, they hit the wire once more together just as before. But the roles were reversed as the crowd roared with joy as American Gold had got up to win.

The queen of Quarter Horses had won for the nineteenth and last time. Overcoming heartbreak to come back for one last show. She would take Quarter Horse Champion Older Female and Quarter Horse of the Year again. It was fitting that she was done after that. She had also retired as the richest Quarter Horse ever at $4,950,000. In an irritating twist, she was only a nose away from being the first Quarter Horse to break 5 million dollars.

But with El Dorado at $4,872,000 maybe we will get that chance 11 sim years later. A near-perfect Quarter Horse two world records, two Steward's Cups 5 Simmy Awards, and a Triple Crown. She is heartbreakingly close to perfection with only a nose separating her from such glory. But it's likely no one will ever be as close as she was to such perfection she is not just American Gold she's American Royalty and the greatest of all time.

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