Champion Bates Motel Dead at 25

Bates Motel, champion older male of 1983 and sire of 38 stakes winners, was euthanized Oct. 12 at Gainesway Farm due to infirmities of old age.

"Bates Motel was an outstanding racehorse and sire," said Gainesway president Antony Beck. "He was a fixture at Gainesway for more than 20 years and we are saddened by the loss of this great champion."

Bred and raced by Jacqueline Getty Phillips, Bates Motel entered stud at Gainesway in 1984 after an impressive racing career in which he earned grade I wins in the Santa Anita, Monmouth and San Antonio Handicaps as well as a win in the San Diego Handicap (gr. III).

He concluded his racing career with nine wins from 19 starts and earnings of $851,050.

A son of Sir Ivor, Bates Motel sired such graded stakes winners as Private School, Rare Blend, Mysterious Moll, Grits'n Hard Toast, Barbarika, and Girl on a Mission. He also sired Packett's Landing, earner of $799,769, as well as Canadian classic-winning filly Blondeinamotel.

Bates Motel, whose runners have earned more than $24 million, was pensioned from stallion duty in August 2003.