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Pink Lloyd Goes Out Victorious, Wins Kennedy Road In Final Start

Already a Canadian icon, Pink Lloyd showed why in his final start, taking the Grade 2 Kennedy Road in a driving finish at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Midpack early, the 9-year-old gelding surged to the lead in the race's final sixteenth to cap off his illustrious career with his 26th stakes victory.

In a field of eight, Pink Lloyd and jockey Rafael Hernandez were fifth early in the G2 stakes, with Clayton and Richiesinthehouse 1-2 through a first quarter in :22.75 and a half-mile in :44.72. Around the far turn, Clayton had a length and a half lead, as Hernandez and Pink Lloyd had to go three-wide to find racing room as they entered the stretch.

Down the Woodbine straight, Pink Lloyd was driving down the center of the track, catching Richiesinthehouse and then passing Clayton in the race's waning yards. The legend was first under the wire, his last hurrah a victorious one.

The final time for the six furlongs was 1:08.84.

Pink Lloyd paid $9.40, $5.80, and $3.20. Richiesinthehouse paid $6.80 and $4.80. Clayton paid $4.60

Bred in Ontario by John Carey, Pink Lloyd is by Old Forester out of the Great Gladiator mare Gladiator Queen. He is owned by Entourage Stables and trained by Robert Tiller. Consigned by John Carey, the gelding was purchased by Frank Di Giulio, Jr., agent, for $28,446. With his win in the G2 Kennedy Road, a race he has won twice before, Pink Lloyd has three wins in five starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of 29 wins in 37 starts.

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‘An Absolutely Fantastic Ride’: On Eve Of Final Start, Robert Tiller Reflects On Pink Lloyd’s Career

Pink Lloyd, one of Canada's most decorated champions, will make the final start of his illustrious career in Saturday's Grade 2 $175,000 Kennedy Road Stakes at Woodbine in Toronto, Ont.

Campaigned by Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Robert Tiller, 9-year-old Pink Lloyd is set to chase his 26^th career stakes victory in the Kennedy Road, a six-furlong main track test for 3-year-olds and upward, a race that he won in 2017 and 2019.

“We made a decision this week to retire him after this race,” said Tiller of the seven-time Sovereign Award-winning gelding, who was named Canada's Horse of the Year in 2017. “It will be a bit of a sad situation because all good things come to an end, but it's been an absolutely fantastic ride. To me, he's the greatest sprinter we've ever had at Woodbine. It's been a wonderful ride, with some sadness, but on the other hand it will be a big relief for me, certainly, because it's not easy training a horse like this where everyone expects him to win all the time.”

Owned by Entourage Stable and bred by John Carey, the son of Old Forester launched his career in 2016 with straight three straight victories.

It was only the beginning for Pink Lloyd, a $30,000 purchase at the 2013 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale.

His trophy haul includes four consecutive (2017-2020) champion male sprinter trophies and a pair of champion older male titles in 2017 and 2019.

Pink Lloyd, who went 8-for-8 in 2017, won four consecutive editions of the Vigil Stakes and Jacques Cartier Stakes, along with three triumphs in both the Shepperton and Kenora.

The chestnut arrives at his final start off a win in the Ontario Jockey Club Stakes on November 7 at Woodbine. He brings a record of 28-3-2 from 37 starts, accompanied by over $2.3 million (CDN) in purse earnings, into the Kennedy Road.

“We're so proud of him,” said Tiller. “On one hand, it will be over, and I'll be very sad to see him get on the van and go, but I don't think anyone should shed too many tears because what he's done has been fantastic. We want to give him what he deserves.”

The fan favorite has built up an impressive following over his years on the racetrack.

That popularity will live on when he starts his post-racing life with LongRun, one of the continent's most respected horse retirement and adoption organizations.

He'll join over 50 retired thoroughbred horses at LongRun's farm in Erin, Ont., a little less than an hour's drive north of Woodbine.

“It's just an awesome privilege for LongRun to be chosen to give Pink Lloyd his happy retirement home,” said Vicki Pappas, a founding member and longtime chairperson of LongRun.

Michelle Gibson, Pink Lloyd's groom, will be a frequent visitor to the picturesque property.

“I have mixed emotions,” said Gibson, recipient of the Jockey Club of Canada's 2020 Outstanding Groom Award. “I'm elated that he is retiring but at the same time, I'm going to miss that face greeting me every morning. He deserves a happy life now. I would love to be there the first time he gets turned out in a huge paddock, just being a horse. Even though he will be gone from my stalls, he will never be gone from life. He is my heart horse.”

Regular rider Rafael Hernandez, a lifetime winner of over 2,800 races, continues to marvel at the veteran campaigner's ability to show up every time the gate opens.

He's hoping to end Pink Lloyd's racing career on a high note.

“When you ride him, you don't feel yourself going fast because he spends so much time in the air,” Hernandez recently told Woodbine. “He has a big, big stride. He's unbelievable… he's push button. When you're in a race car and you push the nose and say, 'Bye-bye,' that's him. When you turn for home and push the button, it's, 'Bye-bye, come and get me.' Every time I talk about him in an interview after the race, I tell them I am just a passenger. You need the horse to win the race. You can't say that you won the race. You need a good driver. With this horse, I am happy to be the driver.”

His connections are grateful to have been along for the thrill ride.

“He'll be a tourist attraction at LongRun now,” offered Tiller. “Vicki and her crew, they're going to love him, and he's going to be great for people to come out and see. I plan on being out there myself and having a few chats with him.”

They'll no doubt have plenty to talk about.

First post for Saturday's 11-race card is 12:55 p.m. The Kennedy Road goes as race eight. Fans can watch and wager on all the action with HPIbet.com and the Dark Horse Bets app.

To learn more about LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement click on the link.

$175,000 KENNEDY ROAD STAKES

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Lenny K – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard
2 – Red River Rebel – Luis Contreras – Kevin Attard
3 – Tap It to Win – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse
4 – Clayton – Antonio Gallardo – Kevin Attard
5 – Pink Lloyd – Rafael Hernandez – Robert Tiller
6 – Richiesinthehouse – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Francine Villeneuve
7 – Smokin' Jay – Shaun Bridgmohan – Kelsey Danner
8 – Souper Stonehenge – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
9 – Malibu Secret – Ademar Santos – Ross Armata, Jr.

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‘All Good Things Come To An End’: Pink LLoyd Won’t Return To The Races In 2022

Trainer Robert Tiller revealed on Instagram this week that multiple Canadian champion Pink Lloyd will make Saturday's G2 Kennedy Road Stakes at Woodbine the final start of his storied career. The 9-year-old gelding will then retire to the LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society, where fans can visit him.

“There's definitely mixed feelings,” Tiller told the Daily Racing Form. “When it's all over, it will be a big sigh of relief. It hasn't been easy training this horse. I'll be happy for him and happy for everybody involved. I knew this day would come, and we've made the joint decision to retire him. All good things come to an end. He's not going to run as a 10-year-old against top horses. He's done enough. He's been amazing.”

A 28-time winner from his 37 starts thus far, the Entourage Stable-owned Pink Lloyd has current earnings of $1,786,083. He has earned seven Sovereign Awards over the past four years, including Canada's Horse of the Year title in 2017 when he put together a perfect 8-for-8 campaign. Tiller raced him exclusively over the main track at Woodbine, where the gelding's talents shone brightest.

This season, Pink Lloyd has left the starting gates four times, winning two and finishing second in the other two.

Among Pink Lloyd's victories are: G2 Kennedy Road (2017, 2019), G3 Bold Venture (2020, 2021), G3 Vigil (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020), and the G3 Jacques Cartier (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020).

Canadian Star Pink Lloyd to be Retired After Kennedy Road

In the all-good-things-must-come-to-an-end department, the venerable 9-year-old Ontario-bred Pink Lloyd (Old Forester) will make his final career start in Saturday's GII Kennedy Road S. at Woodbine, trainer Bob Tiller has announced.

“He's getting old, like me,” Tiller said. “What does he have to prove? I just don't want to put him out there against the very best anymore. He deserves to be retired. He was never going to go out there and run in $20,000 claimers. The decision has been made and we will stick to it. It's been a great run.”

Win or lose Saturday, Pink Lloyd has put together one of the more remarkable careers in the history of Canadian racing. He goes into the Kennedy Road, a race he won in 2017 and 2019, with 28 career victories from 37 starts and 25 stakes wins. All of his races have been at Woodbine. When converted to U.S. dollars, his career earnings stand at $1,786,083.

“He's the angel from heaven,” Tiller said. “He's the Muhammad Ali of all the horses I've trained over the years and I've been doing this for 48 years here at Woodbine. He's the man. He's the king. Anytime you find another horse who has won 25 stakes and 28 times you let me know about it.”

Pink Lloyd was purchased for $30,000 at the 2013 Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society yearling sale by owner Frank Di Giulio, Jr. He didn't make his first start until his 4-year-old year. He went three-for-five that year, but the best was yet to come. At five, he went eight-for-eight in 2017 and was named Canadian Horse of the Year.

Tiller campaigned him carefully. He never ran on the turf, outside of Canada or in any races longer than seven furlongs. The reward was more than five years of sustained excellence. He was named the champion male sprinter in Canada every year from 2017 through 2020. He was also named champion older horse in 2017 and champion older dirt male in 2019.

“I'll tell you what makes him so great–heart and desire and liking what he's doing and wanting to win,” Tiller said. “He goes after horses and he did that from day one. On day one, we put a horse three-four lengths in front of him and he'd blow by them by the time he hit the turns. He always wanted to do it.”

Following his last race, Pink Lloyd will be sent to the LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society in nearby Hillsburgh, Ontario.

“I have so much respect for this animal” Tiller said. “I say that truthfully. I have tremendous respect and love for this animal and we don't want to do anything that would make him look bad.”

Pink Lloyd is being retired at a point where he is still competing at a high level. He's two-for-four on the year and is coming off back-to-back wins in the GIII Bold Venture S. and the Ontario Jockey Club S. But he may not have been at his best in the Ontario Jockey Club, where he had to fight to win by a neck as the odds-on favorite.

Since the Kennedy Road is for open company, it figures to be a tough race for the 9-year-old. While Tiller would like to see him go out with a win, he said there are more important things than one more victory.

“I'm looking forward to this race, but it's not a matter of life and death,” he said. “He's been beaten before for different reasons. Every great horse gets beat. At end of the day, it's more important for him to come back from the race safe and sound.”

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