Be My Guest Pensioned

Be My Guest, who led the English/Irish sire list in 1982, has been pensioned at age of 29 and will live out his days at Coolmore Stud in Ireland, his home since the end of 1977, according to the Racing Post. He sired 74 stakes winners, including 1990 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Go and Go.

By Northern Dancer out of U.S. champion What a Treat (by Tudor Minstrel), Be My Guest brought 127,000 guineas as a yearling at the 1975 Goffs sale. The price constituted a British and European record.

Be My Guest, who was bred by Walter Haefner, trained under Vincent O'Brien and won the 1977 Waterford Crystal Mile (Eng-II), Ladbroke Blue Riband Stakes (Eng-III), and Desmond Stakes (Ire-III). His career record came to four wins from seven starts and earnings of $49,421 for owner Diana Manning.

Be My Guest was syndicated for £800,000. He ranked fourth as a freshman sire on the 2-year-old list in 1981, then joined the list of the immortals by heading the general list with his first runners turned three. They included French and Irish Derby winner Assert and English classic winner On the House.

Be My Guest's other top runners over the years included Pentire, Invited Guest, Most Welcome, Luth Enchantee, Double Bed, Pelder, and Astronef. As a broodmare sire, he is represented by Rock of Gibraltar.