From Ballena Vista Farm
RAMONA, Calif. (July 28, 2014) — Grade I winning and Grade I sire Beau Genius was euthanized on Friday July 25th at Ballena Vista Farm due to his recent declining quality of life in the last of his twenty-nine years.
Big Macher, Beau Genius’ California-bred son, won Sunday’s Grade I Bing Crosby Stakes.
Beau Genius was a millionaire on the racetrack having won marquee races throughout Canada and the United States. He won or placed in 30 of his 42 starts including victories in the Philip H. Iselin H.-G1, Michigan Mile and One-Eighth H.-G2, Display S., Churchill Downs H., Deputy Minister H., for his owner-breeder Dr. Brian Davidson.
The charisma of the Canadian-bred Beau Genius was noted early on and often; Sovereign Farm in Canada, farm manager Tommy Cosgrove. “I’m staring at the best-looking foal I’ve ever seen,” Cosgrove said of the chestnut born on May 20, 1985. “I’d expect great things from him.” The final stakes win of all-time jockey great Bill Shoemaker’s career was when he was aboard Beau Genius… even
Shoemaker expressed his amazement at the turn of speed felt beneath him when daylight finally appeared in deep stretch.
In 2004 Manuel Ochoa, Ballena Vista Farm manager noted ‘“You can spend hours out in his paddock and almost anyone could lead him over to the breeding shed”. “He’s very kind to the mares and passes along his good temperament to the foals. Of course, he loves his treats. You name it—cookies, peppermints, carrots, candy.”
Beginning his breeding career in 1991 standing in Kentucky at the Vinery, Beau Genius sired a champion juvenile filly in his first crop. Acquired by Ballena Vista Farm in the summer of 2000 to stand in 2001, he continued to sire numerous stakes winners while standing in California including the 2014 Grade I-winning Big Macher in his final crop and has sired 36 stakes winners to date.
“Beau Genius was a champion sire, a near champion racehorse and was one hundred percent class; he thoroughly enjoyed his breeding career, his retirement and his life of a champion. We at the farm will, the California racing community will and the entire racing industry will deeply miss the presence and influence of Beau Genius”, said Don Cohn owner of Ballena Vista Farm.