Old Friends at Cabin Creek in Greenfield Center has announced that Grade 1 winner and former New York sire Crusader Sword died on Saturday evening, May 10 from the complications of old age. Referring to him as “’Grandpa,’ the much-loved elder statesman at Old Friends at Cabin Creek” the farm reports that Crusader Sword “passed away, with his loving owner, JoAnn Pepper by his side, and had been surrounded by love from many of the farm’s volunteers on Saturday.”
A son of Damascus out of Copernica (Nijinsky II), Crusader Sword was bred in Virginia by Paul Mellon and trained by Mack Miller. Crusader Sword was a juvenile stand-out, winning the 1987 Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes and Grade 2 Saratoga Special and finishing third in the Grade 1 Futurity Stakes. In 1989 he was third in the Grade 2 Tom Fool. He retired with a record of 6-3-5 from 21 starts and $327,476 in earnings.
After beginning his stud career at Mockingbird Farm in Florida, Crusader Sword relocated to New York In 1997 he where he stood at Questroyal Stud and Foggy Bottom Farm. In 2010 he was pensioned to Old Friends.
Crusader Sword, whose progeny earned more than $18 million and top performer was Florida-bred multiple graded stakes winner Isitingood ($1,219,430), will be best-remembered in New York as the sire of Tin Cup Chalice, who in 2008 became the only horse to sweep the Big Apple Triple series for New York-bred sophomores. Later the same year Tin Cup Chalice, whose career was cut short by a tragic training accident in 2009, captured the Grade 2 Indiana Derby.
Described as “a favorite among the many fans and horse lovers who visit the farm,” the farm fondly recalls that “Crusader did a ‘dinner dance’ for each meal, licked the hands of volunteers and guests alike and had a beautiful spirit,” adding, “He is much missed and will always be remembered as a wonderful old friend, race horse, sire and champion.”
JoAnn and Mark Pepper, the owners of Old Friends, a non-profit thoroughbred retirement farm, have expressed their gratitude for the many expressions of sympathy and support they have received, and welcome all to the farm’s Open House on Saturdays (12:00 noon-3 p.m.) to pay their respects.
