Champion Turkoman Euthanized at Age 34

Turkoman (Alydar–Taba {Arg}, by Table Play), champion older horse of 1986 and successful sire, was euthanized due to the infirmities of old age Dec. 21 at E.A. Ranches in Ramona, California, Our Mims Retirement Haven announced Thursday. The pensioned stallion was 34.

On the racetrack, Turkoman won 8 of his 22 starts and banked total earnings of $2,146,924. Trained by Gary Jones, the dark bay finished second in the GI Travers S. and GI Swaps S. and third in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Aqueduct as a sophomore in 1985. After wrapping up the season with a score in Hollywood's GIII Affirmed H., he matured into a vastly improved horse at the age of four, capturing the GI Widener H., GI Marlboro Cup H. and GII Oaklawn H. Second in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup in October, Turkoman was retired following a runner-up effort behind Skywalker (Relaunch) in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita. Lady's Secret (Secretariat) won Horse of the Year in 1986, but Turkoman successfully secured championship honors in the handicap division.

Turkoman began his stallion career at Darby Dan Farm before eventually relocating to California. Pensioned in 2008, he sired 34 stakes winners, including Peruvian champion Captain Garfio and Grade I winners Turk Passer and Man From Wicklow. His greatest influence, however, came as a sire of broodmares. Turkoman's daughter Turko's Turn is the dam of 2001 Horse of the Year Point Given (Thunder Gulch), and he is also the damsire of Grade I winners and sires Hard Spun (Danzig) and Colonel John (Tiznow).

Officially retired with the help of Our Mims and the families of owners Corbin and Wilhelmina Robertson following the partial disbandment of his syndicate shareholders, he lived out the rest of his years at E.A. Ranches. Turkoman's remains will be buried alongside his dam Taba, and his half-sister, Taba's Dance at Our Mims's Kentucky base.

“The great Turkoman may be gone from the Earth, but his blood flows through the veins of many,” said Our Mims's Jeanne Mirabito. “He will never be forgotten.”