Easy Goer

Alydar - Relaxing by Buckpasser

Easy Goer, a remarkable American Thoroughbred racehorse, left an indelible mark on the sport during his brief but brilliant career in the late 1980s. Foaled in 1986, he was bred and owned by Ogden Phipps and trained by the legendary Shug McGaughey.

Easy Goer’s racing career was defined by his exceptional talent and his famous rivalry with Sunday Silence. As a two-year-old in 1988, he dominated his peers, winning the Champagne Stakes and finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, which earned him the Eclipse Award for Champion Two-Year-Old Colt. His three-year-old season in 1989 was even more impressive, despite finishing second to Sunday Silence in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

Easy Goer’s crowning achievement came in the 1989 Belmont Stakes, where he defeated Sunday Silence by eight lengths, running the second-fastest time in the race’s history, behind only Secretariat. He went on to win several other major races that year, including the Whitney Handicap, Travers Stakes, Woodward Stakes, and Jockey Club Gold Cup. His victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup was particularly noteworthy as he defeated older horses, a rare feat for a three-year-old.

Known for his striking chestnut coat and powerful closing kick, Easy Goer was renowned for his classic American bloodlines and his ability to handle longer distances. Despite his rivalry with Sunday Silence, many racing experts consider Easy Goer to be one of the most talented horses of his era. His career was cut short by injury, but he retired with 14 wins from 20 starts and earnings over $4.8 million. Easy Goer was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1997, solidifying his status as one of the great American racehorses.

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