Australian racing has farewelled one of its most celebrated mares, with Golden Slipper winner Ha Ha passing away at the age of 27.
The daughter of Danehill etched her name into racing history during a brilliant two-year-old campaign that culminated in victory in the 2001 Golden Slipper. That success delivered trainer Gai Waterhouse her first triumph in Australia’s premier juvenile race and established Ha Ha as one of the standout fillies of her era.
Ha Ha’s achievements extended beyond the Golden Slipper. She also captured the Group 1 Flight Stakes, showcasing her class and versatility against elite competition. Her performances on the track earned her widespread admiration and secured her place among the most accomplished racehorses of her generation.
Following her racing career, Ha Ha continued to contribute to the thoroughbred industry as a broodmare, where she wasn’t as successful.
Her passing marks the end of a remarkable life that spanned nearly three decades. Remembered for her speed, determination and historic victories, Ha Ha retired from breeding 2016 at Strawberry Hill Stud and lived out the rest of her life at Yvonne Clerke’s Glastonbury Farms in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales.
