Champion Known Fact Dead

Known Fact, a champion miler in Europe and the sire of 46 stakes winners, died Monday at age 23. The stallion was the first to stand at Prince Khalid Abdullah's North American division of Juddmonte Farms, located near Lexington.

Known Fact (In Reality—Tamerett, by Tim Tam) is one of 25-plus stakes winners bred by Dr. William O. Reed, the owner of Mare Haven Farm near Lexington. His half-sister, Secrettame, is the dam of sire Gone West. In 11 European starts, Known Fact won six of those including the 1979 William Hill Middle Park Stakes (Eng-I), and the 1980 editions of the 2,000 Guineas (Eng-I), Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Eng-II), and the Waterford Crystal Mile (Eng-II). In 1980 he was named England's champion miler.

Top progeny by the stallion include dual English champion Warning, Queen Elizabeth II (Eng-I) winner and champion Markofdistinction, plus at least three Juddmonte-bred stakes winners, Bold Fact, Proud Fact, and So Factual. Bold Fact is still in training in New York for the operation and so far this year has won the Aegon Turf Sprint Stakes and the Shakertown Stakes.

While standing for a $10,000 fee this year, Known Fact bred 20 mares at Juddmonte. He recently took ill and was buried Tuesday behind the farm's office with former stallion Exbourne. Among the residents of Juddmonte are a number of Known Fact's daughters, plus three yearlings and two weanlings.