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Foaled on March 31, 1991, Alphabet Soup was 31.

“I guess his kidneys finally gave out,” said Los Angeles native Hofmans, who turned 79 on Thursday. “He's been a good horse to a lot of people. He was super; I've got all good memories about him.”

Alphabet Soup, a descendant of Nearco, was a gray son of Cozzene out of the Arts and Letters mare Illiterate. He compiled a 10-3-6 record from 24 lifetime starts, earning $2,990,270 for Mrs. Georgia Ridder's Ridder Thoroughbred Stable.

He set a track record for 1 ¼ miles at Woodbine when he won the 1996 Classic, defeating both the great Cigar and Preakness winner Louis Quatorze. Upon the death of A.P. Indy on Feb. 21, 2020, Alphabet Soup became the oldest living winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Alphabet Soup raced in 1997 at age six, his best effort coming in defense of the San Antonio Handicap when he finished second to Gentlemen. Alphabet Soup retired to stud duty at Frank Stronach's Adena Springs in Kentucky.

“He was an absolute pleasure to train and an absolute pleasure to race,” Hofmans said. “He tried hard almost every time.

“If he didn't win it was usually because I had him in the wrong race, but he was a good horse to be around, I'll tell you.”

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Bred in Pennsylvania by Southeast Associates, Alphabet Soup was trained by David Hofmans for Georgia B. Ridder and came to hand at four in 1995, winning the GII Del Mar Budweiser Breeders' Cup S. at a flat mile and the GIII Native Diver H.

Proving an even better 5-year-old, Alphabet Soup won the GII San Pasqual H. and GII San Antonio H. early in the season before showing his versatility with a 3 1/2-length victory in the seven-furlong GIII Pat O'Brien H. over field that included future GI Breeders' Cup Sprint hero Lit De Justice (El Gran Senor). Disqualified to third from an apparent victory in the GII Goodwood Breeders' Cup H., Alphabet Soup was a 19-1 shot in that year's Classic, the first held north of the border, and managed to nose out that year's GI Preakness S. hero Louis Quatorze (Sovereign Dancer) and defending champion Cigar (Palace Music). He retired with 10 wins from 24 starts and earnings just shy of $3 million.

Alphabet Soup entered stud at Adena Springs and sired 39 stakes winners, 14 at the graded level, including Grade I winners Egg Drop, Alphabet Kisses and G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen hero Our New Recruit. He sired over 700 winners in his career.

“I'm saddened by the news today of Alphabet Soup's passing,” said Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron, who piloted Alphabet 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.”

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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.”

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Alphabet Soup turned 30 in March at Old Friends Equine Retirement, a hybrid living history museum and horsey petting zoo, in Georgetown, Ky. He has resided there since 2015 after being pensioned from his longtime stallion duties at Adena Springs about 30 miles northeast in Paris. Former stud barn mate Touch Gold — winner of the 1997 Belmont Stakes — is also at Old Friends. Awesome Again, another Adena Springs stalwart who won the 1998 Breeders' Cup Classic before evolving into a breed-shaping sire, passed away at Old Friends at age 26 in December.

“When Adena Springs called and said they were going to let us take care of some of their horses — in particular Alphabet Soup — I was astonished,” said Michael Blowen, who founded Old Friends in 2003. “We were thrilled that they think so highly of us.”

The far-flung Adena Springs breeding and racing operation started by Frank Stronach, is revered for producing quality runners exemplified by seven Eclipse Awards as outstanding breeder. Before Thoroughbred aftercare moved to the forefront, Adena Springs established their own rehoming program for their former racers. Stronach fully funds the Adena Springs-connected horses that reside at Old Friends.

Soup at home

Alphabet Soup's glamorous looks were once summarized by Blowen as “the most gorgeous horse who ever stepped foot on the farm.” Paired with his exceptionally gentle nature, Alphabet Soup is reminiscent of a hornless unicorn. He quickly settled in to life as host to admiring fans.

“We hear the most amazing stories,” Blowen said. “Handicappers tell stories about cashing bets on him. Some people have pictures of his babies in their wallets. His former jockey [Hall of Famer] Chris McCarron visits all the time.”

Alphabet Soup met the farm's first resident donkey Gorgeous George when Blowen introduced the little long-ear to potential paddock mates. Gorgeous George showed particular interest in the famous racer and the two soon became inseparable. They share a water bucket and treats and when Alphabet Soup is led to and from the barn, Gorgeous George follows untethered.

“It is like watching the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace only better,” Blowen said. “George is like the Secret Service. If you try doing something to Alphabet Soup that George takes exception to, he lets you know it. He is a protector.”

Read more about Gorgeous George in this 2018 edition of Barn Buddies.

Soup and George share some grass

Bred in Pennsylvania by Southeast Associates, Alphabet Soup was listed as not sold on a final bid of $28,000 at the 1992 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The following May, he again did not meet his reserve at $29,000 at Fasig-Tipton's Maryland 2-year-olds in training auction. On April 2, 1994, he debuted with a third-place effort at Santa Anita for Ridder Thoroughbred Stable and trainer David Hofmans. A winner in his third start five weeks later at Hollywood Park, Alphabet Soup methodically climbed the class ladder prior to becoming a graded stakes winner late in his four-year-old season.

He peaked as a 5-year-old in a season highlighted by three graded stakes scores in Southern California prior to the Classic.

He returned in early 1997 at age six with a runner-up performance in the San Antonio Handicap (G2) at Santa Anita with Adena Springs owner Frank Stronach as a new partner with Ridder Thoroughbreds in what would be his 24^th and final start. He was officially retired a few months later and began his stud career in 1998 for Adena Springs. His record stands at 10-3-6 and $2,990,270. He won six graded events including his lone Grade 1 score in the Classic.

Decades removed from those glory days, Alphabet Soup remains a crowd pleaser. Blowen is perhaps his biggest fan and marvels daily at the stallion's exuberance for life in general and his intelligence in particular.

“He taught me that he would rather have his back scratched than eat carrots,” he said. “He gets right up to the fence and then moves to place he wants me to scratch.”

For more information about donations and tours, visit www.oldfriendsequine.org

Liane Crossley is a Lexington-based freelance writer who has spent her entire career in Thoroughbred racing-related jobs in barns, press boxes and offices. She has worked for stables from Saratoga to Ak-Sar-Ben and from Canterbury Park to Oaklawn Park and about another dozen tracks in the eastern two thirds of America.  A longtime contributor to Thoroughbred Times, her articles have appeared in Keeneland Magazine, Blood-Horse, Daily Racing Form, Thoroughbred Daily News, Breeders' Cup website, Horse Illustrated, European Bloodstock News, KyForward, Horse Illustrated, Young Rider and other publications.  She is a seasonal member of Keeneland's media department.

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Because of COVID restrictions, the facility can't host a big party to mark this milestone, but a small, socially distanced party is perfectly safe, with a few lucky friends. Will you be in the Lexington, KY, area on Wednesday, March 31st? Want to celebrate this momentous occasion with Alphabet Soup and his BFF Gorgeous George?

Send your info to the email address below for a chance to join the soiree. Once received, the team at Old Friends will draw 15 lucky guests from the entries and they will be invited to the party.

HOW TO ENTER

Send your name, address, email, and daytime phone number to barbara@oldfriendsequine.org by March 19, 2021; 15 names will be drawn and guests will be notified by March 21.

The party will be held at Old Friends Farm, 1841 Paynes Depot Rd., Georgetown, KY 40324, on Wednesday, Mary 31, from 12 to 3 p.m. Masks and social distancing rules will be strictly enforced.

Read more here.

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