Multiple Grade 1-winning miler Tourist, recent winner of the fastest Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) in history, has been retired from racing and will stand stud at his birthplace of WinStar Farm in Versailles, KY. Owners WinStar, Gary Barber, and Adam Wacthel have partnered with Don Alberto Corporation on the stallion career of the grand-looking son of Tiznow, who will stand for a fee of $12,500 S&N in 2017.
“It’s a special feeling to bring Tourist home to stud after winning the fastest Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) in its 33-year history,” said WinStar President & CEO Elliott Walden. “When you think about all the great milers – from fillies like Miesque, Goldikova, and Tepin, to horses like Lure, Royal Academy, Cozzene, and Wise Dan – that have participated in the Mile, it makes us extremely excited to launch the next chapter of Tourist’s career.
“He has always possessed all the best attributes of Tiznow, who we’re convinced is going to be an important sire of sires,” Walden added. “We have long believed Tourist and Gemologist had what it took to carry on the sire line, and we’re seeing that now with Gemologist and his first 2-year-olds. When breeders see Tourist for the first time on the end of a shank, they’ll see what I’m talking about. Physically, he’s a terrific blend of Tiznow’s size and strength, with Unbridled’s Song’s quality and balance. WinStar will heavily support Tourist with our broodmare band.”
Fernando Diaz-Valdez, advisor to Don Alberto Corporation, said: “We are extremely excited about the opportunity to participate in Tourist and with WinStar, and we already have several broodmares lined up to go to him. Tourist beat nine Grade 1 winners from all around the world in the fastest Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) ever run, so we see him as a horse that will have tremendous international appeal.”
Trained by Bill Mott, Tourist captured two of his six Grade 1 starts from coast to coast in 2016. Making his first trip to California this year, he was a fast-closing runner-up to Midnight Storm in the Shoemaker Mile (G1) at Santa Anita, earning a gaudy 109 Beyer – the second highest recorded at a mile on turf in 2016. Tourist broke through this summer with a victory in the Fourstardave H. (G1) at Saratoga, defeating a trio of Grade 1 winners in 1:34.29 and earning a 107 Beyer.
Returning to Santa Anita, Tourist showed his mettle on one of the world’s biggest international stages for milers – the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1). He proved best over a field of 14 in the prestigious event, outkicking champion Tepin to the wire by a half-length and stopping the clock in 1:31.71 – just two one-hundredths off the Santa Anita course record. The final time established a new Breeders’ Cup record for the fastest Mile in the storied 33-year history of the event.
Tourist earned a 108 Beyer in his encore performance, defeating nine Grade/Group 1 winners and stamping himself as one of world’s top milers. His five 100+ Beyers (109, 108, 107, 105, 103) recorded in 2016 currently mark the most by any colt, and Tourist matched Flintshire and Tepin as the only horses to record three Beyers of 107 or higher.
“I am so proud of this talented racehorse because of all the hard trips he has had over his career,” said Mott. “Tourist has been a Grade 1 talent for the last three years, and I am honored he has gone to the top of the class in his generation by becoming a Breeders’ Cup champion.”
A WinStar homebred, Tourist retires with a stellar record of 6 wins and 7 other on-the-board finishes from 18 starts. With $2,170,340 in career earnings, Tourist represents Tiznow’s highest earner ever to retire to stud. He is out of the multiple stakes-producing Unbridled’s Song mare Unbridled Melody, dam of four stakes winners from five starters to date.
“This is one of the best horses I have ever owned, and I look forward to supporting him at stud,” said Gary Barber, who privately acquired an interest in Tourist in 2014.
Tourist is back home at WinStar from the Breeders’ Cup, and he’s immediately available for inspection. For more information about Tourist, or to set up an inspection, please contact Kyle Wilson, Sean Tugel, or Caroline Walsh at 859-873-1717, or visit www.WinStarFarm.com.
