Knicks Go to Make Korea Great

“Hard to see him go – he has started off so well,” said former Keeneland director Tom Thornbury with the highly successful Knicks Go to pursue his career in Korea.

“I wish all the best for the Korean Breeders,” as it’s the Korea Racing Authority who stated “Knicks Go has achieving remarkable success both on the racetrack and as a sire in the United States.”

Exciting news from Tom Thornbury as he celebrates that Knicks Go sits 6th as Leading US Sire of 2YO Winners with 28 winners from 72 runners and a 117 first crop foal base, against all sires.

In also being 2nd on the Leading Freshman Sires of Winners he’s equal-first on the Graded Stakes Winners table in siring a Grade 2 winner and has a 7.07 furlong Average Winning Distance.

And from a 2024 first yearling crop of 97 yearlings offered at sale, he averaged $53,979 per yearling, with his 37 colts at $66,068, and his Siempre Mi Amor colt Gethsemaul his $425,000 top lot.

Standing at the KRA Jeju Stud Farm in Korea, Knicks Go has his unbeaten Gade 2 Saratoga Special ‘Rising Star’ Ewing is in the market for the Run for The Roses, being a $525,000 Ocala 2YO.

With so many winning on dirt and turf at 8f to 8.5f world-wide, his Grade 1 Natalma Stakes third La Culasse won over 8.5f at Woodbine, and My Gray Honor being Grade 1 third in Puerto Rico.

Rated the Longines World’s Best Racehorse, Eclipse Horse of The Year and Champion Older Horse in 2021, and was the wire-to-wine winner of the $6m Breeders’ Cup Classic with a 112 Beyer.

Setting a new track record of 1:33.85 Knicks Go won the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile by 3½ lengths, the Whitney Stakes by 4½ lengths with a 111 Beyer and the Pegasus World Cup with a 113 Beyer.

The best of his Haskell Invitational sire Paynter, he was a $87,000 buy at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearlings by the KRA ‘Overseas Bloodstock Program’ to identify stallion prospects.

In following, Tom Thornbury stated “Back in 2000 Keeneland began developing relationships with breeders and owners from many countries around the world, in earnest.”

“Keeneland presented seminars to introduce best practices in South America, Canada, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Korea, Japan, China, Australia, and South Africa. Eventually, buyers from over 40 racing countries appeared at the Keeneland yearling and breeding stock sales.”

“Foreign buyers were immediately rewarded by the dominance of their American-bred horses, and their success led to the presence of even more interested buyers looking to compete.”

“The success of American horses in Korea has led to a significant investment, over the years, by owners and breeders that have now developed competitive Korean-bred horses within Korea itself.”

“The move to Korea of the highly successful racehorse Knicks Go, who has become a leading sire of 2 Year-Olds in the U.S. is a case in point. Keeneland has always placed great emphasis on developing racing and breeding in foreign countries.”

“Not only is it the intent of Keeneland to create new buying markets for American breeders. It’s also their intent to assist breeders and owners in those countries in developing the infrastructure of their racing venues, breeding, and sales establishments.”

“Keeneland was created by a group of altruistic breeders, and their initial generosity has been continued through this recent outreach. Breeders in the U.S. have benefited by the presence of a great many interested international buyers at American sales.”

“Owners and breeders from other racing countries have elevated their breed, as well as having improved their breeding, sales, and racing programs through Keeneland’s complimentary introduction of best practices over the years.”