GEORGETOWN, Ky. – Dec. 24, 2024 – Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement facility in Georgetown, Ky., is saddened to report that Group winner Gold Round, a half-sister to three-time Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) winner Goldikova (Fr.), was euthanized in her paddock on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024 due to complications from colic. She was 27.
The beautiful bay mare had been at Old Friends since Sept. 2020, thanks to LNJ Foxwoods, which is owned by Larry, Nanci, and Jaime Roth.
“I am saddened by the loss of Gold Round,” said John Nicholson, President and CEO of Old Friends. “I enjoyed seeing this sweet mare in the LNJ Foxwoods paddock every day from my office window. In addition to being a remarkably successful broodmare, she and her paddock mates served as reminder of the Roth family’s devotion to their horses and their partnership with Old Friends. We are consoled that leaving us at 27-years old, she enjoyed rich and happy retirement years with her LNJ Foxwood companions.”
Bred and owned by Wertheimer et Frere, Gold Round, who was by Caerleon–Born Gold, by Blushing Groom (FR), was foaled in Ireland on April 3, 1997.
She began her two-year European racing career in 1999 as a 2-year old, and in her first start finished fifth in a maiden race at Chantilly on May 5, 1999. She got her first win in her fourth start in an allowance race at Chantilly. Two starts after that she won the Prix des Sablonnets at Nantes.
She returned to the track in 2000 as a 3-year old and got her biggest career win in the Prix Cleopatre (G3) at Saint Cloud. Then, two starts later, she finished seventh in the Prix Hubert de Chaudenay Casino Barriere de Menton (G2) at Longchamp on Sept. 30 and was retired.
Gold Round retired with three wins, two seconds, one third, and $82,340 in earnings in 10 starts.
She began her broodmare career in Europe and produced a few foals, most notably Prix du Lys (G3) winner, Goldwaki (Ger), who was sired by Dalakhani (Ire). In 2012, in foal to Dalakhani, Solis/Litt Bloodstock purchased her for $672,152 for LNJ Foxwood at the 2012 Arqana Breeding Stock sale.
Following that purchase, she was brought to the United States and in the ensuing years produced six foals, all fillies. Two of her best fillies were Golden Valentine, which was the foal she had been carrying at the sale and which won the Prix Minerve (G3) and Prix de Thiberville; and Golden Attitude, who was sired by Kittens Joy, and whose best finish was a second in the Zagora Stakes (Black Type).
Following the 2020 breeding season, the then 23-year old Gold Round’s breeding career was concluded. LNJ then approached Old Friends to possibly retire her there. In Sept. 2020, an agreement was made between Michael Blowen, founder of Old Friends, and LNJ Foxwoods. The agreement came about when LNJ approached Blowen with the idea of retiring some of their mares to Old Friends, and in return LNJ would build a paddock on the farm for them and donate a stipend to support them.
The first two mares they sent to Old Friends were Gold Round and Mystery Trip. Shortly after, Hi Dubai was sent to the farm, too.
Gold Round was the last remaining retiree of the three original LNJ mares at Old Friends, as 22-year-old Mystery Trip was euthanized on May 1, 2023 due to chronic foot issues, and 24-year old Hi Dubai died earlier this year on Aug. 24.
