Ourasi is dead at 33
Saturday, January 12, 2013 - from the U.S. Trotting Association
Ourasi, four-time winner of the Prix d’Amerique, died earlier today in France, at Haras de Gruchy in Normandy. He was put down at approximately 5 a.m. eastern time.
The famed French trotter was 33. He had been retired from racing since 1990.
Ourasi won the Prix d’Amerique in 1986, ‘87, ‘88 and 1990 and had been ill for a number of weeks.
He won 50 consecutive starts at the height of his career, during which time he won $4 million -- which led the all-time list at the time of his retirement and remains the sixth best total to date.
He participated in what to many was the greatest trotting race in U.S. -- and perhaps world -- history, the 1988 March of Dimes Trot, in which he and America’s top trotter, Mack Lobell, were upset by Sugarcane Hanover.
He was, by no measure, a success at stud, having sired only 38 foals over 10 years following his retirement, but he remained a national hero throughout his life, often visited by his many fans right up until the time he became ill late last year.
Ourasi was interred at the farm immediately following his death.
Video of the March of Dimes Trot may be seen by following this link.
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