Sun King
(January 31, 2002 – December 2, 2023)
Sun King achieved his public debut at a week old as one of the cutest babies of 2002. He was featured in the Bloodhorse foal slide show. He had yet to catch up to the huge star on his forehead but his strapping physique already hinted at the muscular sturdiness to come. Unnamed as yet, he was identified only by his sire and dam, Charismatic-Clever But Costly. He was so adorable that I right-clicked and saved the photo. When a 2-year-old son of Charismatic named Sun King began making news in 2004 I looked up his pedigree. To my delight, Sun King’s dam was Clever Trick’s daughter Clever But Costly. I was already in love. Though grieving now, I realize how lucky I am that his life and mine converged.
Sun King, too, was fortunate since he was purchased for racing by Tracy Farmer and trained by Nick Zito. His wins are impressive, the 2005 Tampa Bay Derby (G3), Leonard Richards S (G3), and Pennsylvania Derby (G2), and in 2006 his most memorable victory, the Commonwealth S (G2) at Keeneland when, bumped at the start, preventing his usual early lead, and at an extremely speed-favoring meet even for that speed-favoring track, he devoured the 7 furlongs on the outside to win drawing away. Though he never won a G1, he ran a close second in the Haskell, the Met Mile, the Whitney and the Woodward. He also ran 3rd in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and 4th in the Preakness.
He stood at Darby Dan in Lexington and Elite Thoroughbreds in Louisiana until, at age 14, his fertility declined. Charismatic was at Old Friends when Mr. Farmer told Michael that the 1999 Derby winner’s best son was ready to retire. We looked forward to having both with us, but that was not to be. Sun King arrived six days after his sire’s unexpected death. On that cold February day in 2017 when we gathered for his arrival, emotions ran high. Eager as we were to meet Sun King, we braced ourselves to shed no tears. The van parked, the ramp was let down, and the transport’s horse handler went aboard to bring him off. Almost immediately she came running out again. “He bit me!” Could we help laughing? It broke the spell. From that moment we were all smiles. (And in the slide show you’ll see it was our then-farm manager, Tim Wilson, who led Sun King off the trailer to his new home.)
Of course he bit her. He’d had a long, cold ride, had no idea where he was, and though recently gelded, his hormones were still at stallion level. Also, he was Sun King. For most of his life, he was tougher than his dad had been. In fact, he was tougher than most of our stallion residents. He shared the distinction of Honorary Stallion with War Emblem, but Sun King was an entirely different kind of guy. He loved people. He loved tours, and visitors, and his visitors fell in love with him. Race fans admired his achievements. Sport horse people liked his big, sturdy looks and often asked if he was a Warmblood. Visitors of all persuasions loved his attitude. If Eclipse Awards were given for attitude, Sun King would have a shelf full of them.
What was his attitude? Indescribable. The main ingredients were confidence, courage, intelligence, vitality, playfulness, friendliness, and a deep capacity for love. He didn’t much like petting. Even as he mellowed in his late teens, he preferred to be asked. He did like back scratches or rubs and having the crest of his neck massaged—if you asked first. Surprisingly, he loved small children. More than once I saw him lower his head gently as any riding school horse so a little kid could stroke his face. Not mom and dad, just the kid.
Birdstone (L) and Sun King
When Birdstone retired to OF in 2020, I don’t think any of the humans on the farm thought about the 2004 Belmont winner and Sun King, only a year apart in age, having been stable mates in Nick Zito’s barn. Clearly, the two horses remembered each other. Birdstone, a stallion, can’t safely share a paddock with another male horse, but in their neighboring paddocks they hung out together close by the fence.
Maybe that was a factor in Sun King mellowing out so that finally he accepted a gelding paddock mate. First, sweet-natured Draxhall Woods (“Shorty”). Maybe it was his influence that helped Sun King relax into a gentler mode while remaining outgoing and fun to be around. He was a bit bossy to Draxhall Woods, but when Special Ring needed a friend, he and Sun King made a perfect match, both good-hearted, smart, and just tough enough.
Special Ring (L) and Sun King
I could go on forever. There are a hundred Sun King stories I could tell, and everyone who knew him can probably tell a hundred more, but those wouldn’t define him. He was one of those larger-than-life personalities you just have to experience for yourself. If you were one of the fortunate ones who did, you know what I mean. The news of his passing brought an outpouring of loving responses from OF volunteers such as I’ve rarely seen. Part of that may be that he didn’t let on that he was ill. Though his weight and energy declined, Sun King was a complete stoic. Until his last few days he was very much still in the game. We had every hope that Dr. Ashton Broman, in whose veterinary care he was, could bring him through whatever was wrong, right up to Saturday when he went to Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital for tests and was diagnosed with inoperable cancer. We’re grateful for the kind, clear-sighted care Dr. Broman gave Sun King.
My heart goes out to all of you who loved him. Sun King was a big horse with a strong presence and he inspired enormous love. When all is said and done, what better achievement could there ever be?
Remembering Sun King
Beth
photos by Laura
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