English Classic Winner Bireme Dead

Bireme, who won the 1980 Epsom Oaks (Eng-I) in stakes-record time, was euthanized Jan. 10 because of complications from the infirmities of old age. The 25-year-old mare, from the first crop of classic winner Grundy, resided at R.D. Hollingsworth's Arches Hall Stud in England.

Bireme's Oaks time, 2:34.33, bettered the stakes record held since 1927 by Beam. The Oaks turned out to be Bireme's final start. She suffered injuries after she got loose and was retired with three wins from four starts. Her other stakes win came in that year's Musidora Stakes (Eng-III).

Bireme, who was produced from the Ribot mare Ripeck, produced a dozen foals. Eight of them won, including group winner Yawl and U.S. steeplechase stakes winner Quadrireme. Yawl and another of Bireme's daughters, Flagship, are members of Hollingsworth's broodmare band. Yawl is barren for 2002 and is booked to Peintre Celebre. Flagship is in foal to Dr Fong and is booked to Night Shift. Hollingsworth has in training Bireme's last offspring, the 3-year-old filly Lakatoi, with Barry Hills.