Foolish Pleasure
| Foolish Pleasure | |
|---|---|
| Sire | What a Pleasure |
| Grandsire | Bold Ruler |
| Dam | Fool Me Not |
| Damsire | Tom Fool |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1972 |
| Country | United States |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Waldemar Farms, Inc. |
| Owner | John L. Greer |
| Trainer | LeRoy Jolley |
| Record | 26: 16-4-3 |
| Earnings | $1,216,705 |
| Major wins | |
|
Champagne Stakes (1974) Kentucky Derby (1975) Preakness Stakes 2nd (1975) |
|
| Awards | |
| U.S. Champion 2-Yr-Old Colt (1974) | |
| Honours | |
| United States Racing Hall of Fame (1995) #97 - Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century Foolish Pleasure Stakes at Calder Race Course |
|
| Horse (Equus ferus caballus) | |
| Last updated on September 30, 2008 | |
Foolish Pleasure (1972–1994) is an American bay thoroughbred race horse who was born in Williston, Florida. He was one of the top three three-year-old colts of his time.
Owned by John L. Greer and trained by LeRoy Jolley, who had previously been partners in the colt Ridan, Foolish Pleasure was undefeated as a two-year-old. In 1975, at age three, he won the Flamingo Stakes, Wood Memorial Stakes, and Kentucky Derby. Although heavily favored to win, he finished second to longshots in both the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
He was racing at the same time as Ruffian, the "Queen of the Fillies," who had won all ten of her races, including the Fillies' Triple Crown. In July 1975, a match race was arranged between the horses. They had the same jockey—Jacinto Vásquez, who chose to ride Ruffian, with Braulio Baeza taking over on Foolish Pleasure. This race became more than a horse race. It became a highly publicized "battle of the sexes" contest, similar to the tennis matches between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs that occurred at about the same time. Thousands of fans gathered at the track, and the race was also televised. While on the lead, Ruffian broke the sesamoid bones in her leg. She continued to run, further damaging her leg, for another hundred yards, trying to finish the race. Post-surgery, she did even further damage to herself in panic, and finally had to be euthanized. Technically, Foolish Pleasure had "won", and it was several more years before other owners and trainers would risk entering females into the Kentucky Derby and other male-dominated races.
In November 1994, almost 20 years after winning the Kentucky Derby, Foolish Pleasure was brought to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Colorado State University. He had developed severe laminitis in all four feet. Despite all treatment efforts, he had to be euthanized.
Foolish Pleasure was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1995. In the Blood-Horse magazine ranking of the top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century, he was ranked #97.
