Formal Gold

Background

Formal Gold is a dark bay racehorse sired by Black Tie Affair, who was the 1991 Horse of the Year and the sire of 35 stakes winners including Evening Attire. Formal Gold was the fourth foal out of the Screen King mare Ingoldsby, who ultimately produced seven winners from ten foals.

Formal Gold was sold as a yearling at the 1994 Keeneland September sales for $65,000, then was resold at the Fasig-Tipton New York sales for $72,000 to John Murphy, a steelmaker from Quincy, Massachusetts. Formal Gold was conditioned by William Perry, who was a successful trainer on the mid-Atlantic circuit of racetracks including Monmouth Park and Suffolk Downs.

Racing career

1996: 3-year-old season

Formal Gold was a late developing horse, not making his initial start until June 12, 1996, halfway through his three-year-old season. His talent had already been noticed though, as he went off as the odds-on favorite in a maiden special weight race at Monmouth Park, and won by 18+3⁄4 lengths. The performance earned him a Beyer Speed Figure of 112, the highest ever given to a first-time starter.

Moving up to allowance company, he won his next three starts as well, all as the heavy favorite by open lengths. Formal Gold then stepped up to graded stakes company in the Pennsylvania Derby run at Philadelphia Park on September 2. He was the even money favorite in a field of six but was bumped at the start and fell to last place. He gradually made up lost ground and struck the lead in mid-stretch, but the early leader Devil's Home rallied and eventually won by 3⁄4 of a length. On October 4, Formal Gold entered the Grade I Meadowlands Cup Handicap, facing older horses for the first time. He again broke poorly and raced near the back of the back for the first half mile, then started to make up ground on the far turn while racing four wide. He closed well in the stretch but fell 3⁄4 of a length short of the winner Dramatic Gold.

Formal Gold finished his three-year-old campaign with a fifth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic, behind Alphabet Soup, Louis Quatorze and favorite Cigar. Formal Gold was again hampered by a poor start and a wide trip, but made up ground late.

1997: 4-year-old season

At the age of four, Formal Gold developed into one of the fastest horses of the 1990s, repeatedly running Beyer Speed Figures in the 120s. However, he raced at the same time as several excellent older horses, especially Skip Away, who was the champion three-year-old of 1996, champion older horse of 1997 and 1998, and would later be rated #32 on the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century.

Formal Gold started the year in the Grade I Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park on February 8, 1997. Perry noticed that the track was favoring early speed and instructed jockey Joe Bravo to go for the early lead. Accordingly, Formal Gold led every step of the way with Skip Away unable to close the gap, finishing 1+1⁄4 lengths back in second. "It was like a workout", said Bravo. "We galloped right down the lane. He has speed, and he used it today." Skip Away's trainer Sonny Hine pointed out that Formal Gold benefited by carrying 10 pounds less than Skip Away (nicknamed Skippy) and received a perfect trip on the rail. "Skippy made an effort," he said. "We'll see that other horse next time."

Formal Gold shipped across country to run in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 4. He raced close to a fast early pace set by Siphon but weakened in the stretch, finishing sixth. He then shipped to Nad Al Sheba racetrack in the United Arab Emirates for the Dubai World Cup on April 3. He again raced close to the pace and was second turning into the stretch but weakened and eventually finished fifth behind Singspiel and Siphon.

After a brief layoff, Formal Gold next raced on May 31 in the $500,000 Massachusetts Handicap at his trainer's home racetrack, Suffolk Downs, where he once again faced Skip Away. Topsy Robsy set the early pace followed by Skip Away with Formal Gold a few lengths back in fourth. Skip Away moved to the lead around the far turn, where Formal Gold also started his drive, racing four wide. Formal Gold and Skip Away battled down the stretch, with Skip Away prevailing by a head. The time was just 1⁄5 of a second off the track record and both horses earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 122.

On June 14, Formal Gold won the Brooklyn Handicap at Belmont Park by 4+3⁄4 lengths in an excellent time of 1:46.21, despite a track that had been downgraded from fast to good by rain. Just three weeks later in the Suburban Handicap, Formal Gold and Skip Away hooked up for the third time, with Travers Stakes winner Wills Way also considered a major contender. "If there had been another race in two weeks, I wouldn't be running here," said Perry. "But there's nothing else to run in until the (Aug. 23) Iselin. I know we may be squeezing him a little bit, but he's doing good, so it's worth taking a shot." Ormsby and Formal Gold challenged each other for the early lead, while Skip Away and Wills Way tracked close behind. Turning into the stretch, Ormsby dropped back while Skip Away surged forward, eventually winning by 1+1⁄2 lengths. Wills Way and Formal Gold battled for second, with Wills Way prevailing by 3⁄4 of a length.

Retirement

Formal Gold was initially retired to stud at Gainesway Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. He was relocated in 2004 to Rancho San Miguel in California and then to Esquirol Farms in Canada. Formal Gold has had limited success at stud, with his best offspring being Grade II winner Adore the Gold plus Grade III winners Trickle, Semaphore Man, Miss Matche and Transduction Gold.

Hall of Fame nomination

On March 29, 2021, Formal Gold was one of three horses named as a finalist for induction in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in its Thoroughbred Veteran Category.

Pedigree

Formal Gold is inbred 5s × 4d to Nashua, meaning Nashua appears once in the fifth generation of the sire's side of the pedigree (as the sire of Gold Digger) and once in the fourth generation of the dam's side. He is also inbred 5s × 4d to Bold Ruler.