Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms announced Wednesday that multiple grade I-winner Shakespeare will stand for $20,000 live foal for the 2008 breeding season.
Shakespeare won seven of his eight career starts, with three of those wins coming in graded stakes. His best victories include this year's Woodbine Mile (gr. I) and the 2005 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (gr. I), in which Shakespeare beat five-time grade I winner English Channel. Shakespeare also won the Belmont Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. I). His only loss occurred in the 2005 John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I), during which he sustained a tendon injury.
"He was a top, top horse,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin told bloodhorse.com after Shakespeare was retired. “He was a superstar. I hate to say that about a horse–I've only ever said it about Invasor. But I think if you'd put the starting gate up at six furlongs or a mile-and-a-half, I've never felt so confident that we'd get to the wire first. He was in that elite group.”
A son of Theatrical, who also stands at Hill 'n' Dale, Shakespeare is out of Lady Shirl, by That's a Nice.
“Shakespeare was a fantastic racehorse. He competed at the elite level, winning grade I races from a mile to a mile-and-a-half defeating all comers, including English Channel,” said John G. Sikura, President of Hill 'n' Dale Farms. “He is out of a grade I winner who is a multiple stakes producer and who earned nearly a million dollars. Theatrical is a fantastic sire, and we are pleased to offer breeders his best son to retire to stud."
Shakespeare is owned by a partnership.
Shakespeare will stand for $20,000 at Hill 'n' Dale Farms.
