Alysheba Is Retired by Owners

One week after Alysheba became horse racing’s all-time leading money-winner, owners Dorothy and Pamela Scharbauer announced Saturday that he will retire to stand at stud on a farm near Lexington, Ky.

The 1987 Kentucky Derby winner won the $3-million Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 5 and raised his earnings to $6,679,242, passing John Henry’s record of $6,597,947.

Bred in Kentucky by Preston Madden, Alysheba is a 4-year-old son of Alydar out of Bel Sheba, by Lt. Stevens. He was purchased for $500,000 in 1985.

Alysheba overcame adverse conditions in his only two appearances at Churchill Downs.

In the Derby, he stumbled after clipping heels with Bet Twice but gathered himself to come back and win by three-quarters of a length.

In the Classic, run over a muddy track, Alysheba held off Seeking the Gold by a half-length to earn the winner’s share of $1.35 million.