GEORGETOWN, KY – JANUARY 28, 2022 –Multiple graded stakes winner and 1996 Breeders’ Cup Classic Champion Alphabet Soup was euthanized January 28 at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement farm in Georgetown, KY., where he has been pensioned since 2015. The cause of death was chronic kidney disease.

At 31, the gray son of Cozzene was the oldest living winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Bred in Pennsylvania out of the Arts and Letters mare Illiterate, Alphabet Soup was a late bloomer for owner Georgia B. Ridder, winning his first stakes at age four when he captured the 1995 Native Diver (GR3) and the Del Mar Breeders’ Cup Handicap (GR2).

In 1996 he was the victor in the San Antonia Handicap (GR2), the Pat O’Brian Handicap (GR3), and the San Pasqual Handicap (GR2) en route to his greatest triumph, the 1996 Breeders’ Cup Classic (GR1), where he defeated the “invincible” Cigar as well as that year’s Preakness Stakes winner Louis Quatorze—all while setting a new track record at Woodbine.

Retired in 1998 to Adena Springs having captured 10 of 24 starts and earnings of over $2.9 million, Alphabet Soup sired numerous stakes winners, among them Grade 1 winners Egg Drop and Alphabet Kisses, and champions Our New Recruit, Phantom Light, and Sovereign Award winner Alpha Bettor.

“I’m saddened by the news today of Alphabet Soup’s passing,” said Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron, who piloted Soup to his Breeders’ Cup win. “I truly enjoyed my relationship with Soupy, and he will always have special place in my heart. He represented the U.S. well when he bested the Cigar and Louis Quatorze in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Rest in peace old friend.”

“It won’t be the same around here without Soup,” said Old Friends President and founder Michael Blowen. “Over these seven years he was a delight to be around with his sweet nature and enormous popularity. He brought joy to everyone.

“His best friend, the donkey Gorgeous George, will miss him terribly,” added Blowen, “and so will everyone on the farm. We are so grateful to Frank Stronach and everyone at Adena Springs for giving us the privilege of retiring this fabulous champion.”

History:
Alphabet Soup’s victory over the great Cigar in the 1996 Breeder’s Classic was one of the most thrilling runnings of that race in its entire history. Bred in Pennsylvania by Southeast Associates, the son of Cozzene began racing at the age of three and the following year won his first stakes, the Brubaker Handicap at Del Mar (G2), ridden by Chris McCarron, who teamed with him again to win the Del Mar Budweiser Breeders’ Cup H. Chris Antley rode the grey colt for his three-stakes win streak in the 1995 Native Diver H (G3), 1996 San Pasqual H (G2) and 1996 San Antonio H (G2) at Hollywood Park and Santa Anita, and a victory in the Pat O’Brien H (G3). His 1996 campaign established Alphabet Soup as a worthy contender in that year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic at Woodbine, but his opponents were one of the strongest fields ever to compete in the race: Cigar, Preakness winner Louis Quatorze, Will’s Way, Formal Gold… Alphabet Soup and McCarron defeated Louis Quatorze by a nose and Cigar by a head and set a track record of 2:01 for a mile and a quarter. His career earnings for Ridder Thoroughbred Stable and trainer David E. Hofmans were $2,990,270 in 10 wins, 3 seconds and 6 thirds from 24 starts. At Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs, Alphabet Soup sired 48 stakes winners including Sovereign Champion Alpha Bettor, millionaire Our New Recruit, and G1 winning filly Egg Drop. In 2015 he retired to Old Friends, which extends thanks to Mr. Stronach and Adena Springs for entrusting us with his care.

Alphabet Soup’s victory over the great Cigar in the 1996 Breeder’s Classic was one of the most thrilling runnings of that race in its entire history. Bred in Pennsylvania by Southeast Associates, the son of Cozzene began racing at the age of three and the following year won his first stakes, the Brubaker Handicap at Del Mar (G2), ridden by Chris McCarron, who teamed with him again to win the Del Mar Budweiser Breeders’ Cup H. Chris Antley rode the grey colt for his three-stakes win streak in the 1995 Native Diver H (G3), 1996 San Pasqual H (G2) and 1996 San Antonio H (G2) at Hollywood Park and Santa Anita, and a victory in the Pat O’Brien H (G3). His 1996 campaign established Alphabet Soup as a worthy contender in that year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic at Woodbine, but his opponents were one of the strongest fields ever to compete in the race: Cigar, Preakness winner Louis Quatorze, Will’s Way, Formal Gold… Alphabet Soup and McCarron defeated Louis Quatorze by a nose and Cigar by a head and set a track record of 2:01 for a mile and a quarter. His career earnings for Ridder Thoroughbred Stable and trainer David E. Hofmans were $2,990,270 in 10 wins, 3 seconds and 6 thirds from 24 starts. At Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs, Alphabet Soup sired 48 stakes winners including Sovereign Champion Alpha Bettor, millionaire Our New Recruit, and G1 winning filly Egg Drop. In 2015 he retired to Old Friends, which extends thanks to Mr. Stronach and Adena Springs for entrusting us with his care.