11/20/2025
Hello everyone. Rick Capone here with the 183rd installment of our Old Friends’ Throwback Thursday Memories. This week we remember, Touch Gold, who many of you know won the 1997 Belmont Stakes that denied Silver Charm, another Old Friends retiree, of the Triple Crown.
Still, there is more to the story of Touch Gold that you might not know about, and that is what I’ll try to tell you about in this week’s Throwback Thursday Memory. So, let’s begin.
Bred by Holtsinger, Inc., Hill N Dale Farm & Star Stable, Touch Gold, who was by Deputy Minister--Passing Mood, by Buckpasser, was foaled in Kentucky on May 26, 1994.
As you can see, he had an amazing pedigree. His sire, Deputy Minister, was a multiple graded-stakes winner, as well as Champion 2-year old c**t in the United States and Canada in 1981, and Canadian Horse of the Year in 1981.
His damsire, Buckpasser, was also a multiple graded-stakes winner, and was Horse of the Year in 1966, Older Horse of the Year in 1966, Co-Champion Handicap Male in 1967, and was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1970.
Touch Gold began his racing career as a 2-year old in 1996 with four starts at Woodbine. He broke his maiden in his first start, a maiden special weight race on Aug. 18. He followed that with a second in an allowance race on Sept. 15, and then a third in the Grey Breeders' Cup Stakes (G3) on Oct. 6. He closed out his first year on the track with a second in the Swynford Stakes (Listed) on Oct. 26. He finished the year with one win, two seconds, one third, and $63,314 in earnings in four starts.
He opened his 3-year old campaign in 1997 with two straight wins. The first one came in an allowance race at Santa Anita on March 14, while the second came in the Lexington Stakes (G2) at Keeneland on April 20.
However, his trainer, David Hofmans, decided that Touch Gold would not run in the Kentucky Derby. According to an article in the Desert News, the reason was that Hofmans, “decided the 1-1/4-mile Derby might be too much for the c**t, who actually didn't become 3-years old until May 26, 23 days after the Derby and six days after the 1-3-16-mile Preakness, (which was) the race he was pointed for from the beginning of the year.
So, after by passing the Derby, Touch Gold finished fourth in the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico on May 17. It was the first time Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron rode the bay stallion.
In that race, and following that race, there was a lot of drama surrounding Touch Gold. In a BloodHorse.com article, Jay Hovdey explained: “A lion’s den of a field awaited (Touch Gold) at Pimlico Race Course that included the 1-2-4 finishers from the Kentucky Derby – Silver Charm, Captain Bodgit, and Free House. Touch Gold was fourth choice, but his race was over one step after the gates opened when he went to his nose and left knee. The stumble was captured for posterity by the helmet-cam worn that day by Chris McCarron.
“Somehow, Touch Gold recovered to unleash a monumental effort, though not without physical cost. Coming from last place to finish fourth, he was beaten less than two lengths by the battling Silver Charm and Free House, with Captain Bodgit a close third. But in Touch Gold’s scramble to regain his footing at the start, a hind foot had sheared off a piece of his left front hoof, making his race all the more impressive and his future dicey.”
“It was really bad,” said Grant Hofmans, his father’s assistant at the time. “He about tore off half of that left front.”
But, then in his next start, Touch Gold put his stamp on the history books when he won the Belmont Stakes (G1), which denied Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, Silver Charm, the Triple Crown.
In that same BloodHorse.com article, Hovdey told the story of what it took to get Touch Gold ready for the Belmont Stakes and his run into the history books. He wrote: “In an effort that became the stuff of farrier legend, quarter-crack specialist Ian McKinlay laced the wound (he got in the Preakness) secure and kept it clean, allowing the c**t to be trained, then applied a patch so that Touch Gold could compete in the Belmont Stakes (G1). McCarron supplied the final touches to the miracle recovery with an ice-cold ride that went from first around the clubhouse turn, to fourth down the backside, and then to a furious finish that ended Silver Charm’s Triple Crown dreams by three-quarters of a length.
Touch Gold followed his Belmont Stakes win with a win in the Haskell Invitational Handicap (G1) at Monmouth Park on Aug. 3, and followed that with a fourth in the Pegasus Handicap (G2) at Meadowlands on Sept. 20, and then a ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Hollywood Park on Nov. 8.
That would be his final start of the year. He finished with four wins and $1,522,313 in earnings in seven starts.
He returned to the track in 1998 for his 4-year old season and opened the year with a win in an allowance race at Churchill Downs on June 28. That win would be his last win in his career.
Following that race he finished eighth in the Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) at Del Mar on Aug. 15, second in the Fayette Stakes (G3) at Keeneland on Oct. 11, and then eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 7, which was his last start of the year. He finished with one win, one second, and $94,280 in four starts.
It turned out that race was also the last start of his career. He closed the books on his three-year racing career with six wins, three seconds, one third, and $1,679,907 in earnings in 15 starts.
Touch Gold began his stud career in 1999. About his stud career, Hovdey wrote in a BloodHorse.com article, “As a stallion, Touch Gold stood at Adena Springs, Stronach's Kentucky farm, beginning in 1999. He moved to a New York outpost – Adena Springs at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds – from 2010-13 before returning to the Blue Grass for his final two seasons at stud."
His very first crop included Seek Gold, winner of the Stephen Foster Handicap (G1), and Composure, winner of the Santa Anita Oaks (G1). He ended with a total of 29 stakes winners and a number of daughters with admirable produce records.”
In 2015, Touch Gold was pensioned. It was then decided to send him to Old Friends for his retirement. He arrived at the farm on Dec. 15, 2015, and was placed, ironically, in a paddock caddy-corner to his old rival, Silver Charm.
At the time, Michael said, “It’s amazing to reunite these two great rivals, Touch Gold and Silver Charm. … Our thanks again to Mr. Stronach and everyone at Adena Springs for entrusting us with this amazing horse. We hope all of Touch Gold’s fans will come visit him.”
And, visit the two horses the fans did. It was especially fun to watch as the tours would get to stand between Silver Charm’s paddock, and Touch Gold’s paddock, and tell the story of their lives and their rivalry, as the two horses would stand patiently and look at each other, and at the visitors, while awaiting – what else – some carrots.
I also enjoyed my visits with Touch Gold. When I would arrive to visit him just outside of Michael’s house, he come right on up the hill to visit me at his fence to get some carrots, which he knew I would have. And, thanks to those carrots, he’d allow me to pat him on the neck while he much away.
And, as always, when I would turn around, Silver Charm would be standing at his paddock fence right across from Touch Gold, and I’d get to visit a little with him, too. Of course he’d get some carrots, too.
As I would walk away each time, I’d turn around and see those two horses standing at their paddock fence just looking at each other, and every once in a while, nickering to each other, too.
I always wondered if they actually remember each other and their Belmont Stakes race together. If they did, just imagine the conversation they would have about that race.
Touch Gold enjoyed almost 10 years of retirement at Old Friends. However, on Nov. 13, 2025, the sweet old stallion had to be euthanized due to the infirmities of old age at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Kentucky. He was 31.
In a statement upon the horse’s death, John Nicholson, president and CEO of Old Friends said, “Saying farewell to Touch Gold is really hard for everyone at Old Friends. This tough old racehorse has been a special part of our life for many years. It was clear that he loved his life at Old Friends and enjoyed all the attention he received. Touch Gold was one of the best in a great era for our sport. We will miss him every day.”
In a Paulick Report article announcing his death, Eric Hamelback, former General Manager of Adena Springs, said: “Touch Gold’s passing marks the end of an era, but his legacy will forever live on in the hearts of those like me, who were fortunate enough to know him. I remember Touch Gold was as tough as they come, at the races and in the breeding shed. He was intelligent, determined, and full of heart. His strength of character and quiet presence left a lasting impression on everyone who worked with him. My relationship with Touch Gold has been one of the great privileges of my career and my life. He was more than a champion. He also was a teacher in his own right, reminding us daily of the courage, resilience, and heart that define the Thoroughbred spirit. Touch Gold gave us everything he had, and we are all better for having known such a great horse. May you rest easy, my friend.”
In another article, Chris said of his old buddy, “Touch Gold was a terrific racehorse! Along with his talent, he demonstrated tremendous courage and will to win. I was so excited and pleased when he joined the many wonderful thoroughbreds at Old Friends, which gave me the opportunity to visit him and thank him for all the thrills he provided me. I will miss him.”
Touch Gold was such a sweet, old horse. I will miss seeing him every time I visit Old Friends.
