Greinton, a leading West Coast runner in the mid-1980s, has died in Germany, according to the Racing Post. The 29-year-old son of Green Dancer out of the High Top mare Crystal Queen had stood at Gestut Karlshof near Berlin.
Stavros Niarchos was the breeder of Greinton, who was foaled in Great Britain and initially raced in France, where he won two stakes.
Sent to North America as a 3-year-old in 1984, Greinton started out strongly by winning his first three starts for new owners Mary Bradley, Howell Wynne, and Charlie Whittingham, who trained him.
Greinton competed against such fellow stars as Gate Dancer, Lord At War, and Precisionist in California on more than one occasion. At Hollywood Park in 1985, Greinton defeated Precisionist in the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) and the Californian Stakes (gr. II), setting track records in both stakes.
Greinton finished first or second in a dozen North American stakes. In 1986, he made history when he won the 1986 Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I), the world’s first $1 million handicap. His best effort on turf came when he ran second in the Budweiser-Arlington Million (gr. IT). Greinton exited racing with 10 wins from 22 starts and earnings of $1,943,605.
Greinton entered stud at Fred Seitz’s Brookdale Farm near Versailles, Ky. He was exported to Germany in 1992. His 13 winners include grade III winner Crosswood and Austrian Horse of the Year Fensh. As a broodmare sire, Greinton is represented by such stakes winners as 2010 grade II winner Wasted Tears.
