BC Classic Winner Concern Dies at 24
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Concern, the winner of the 1994 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), has died at the age of 24.
The son of Broad Brush was the only Breeder's Cup victor to race and stand at stud in Oklahoma. He moved from Maryland's Northview Stallion Station to Oklahoma Equine Reproductive Center in 2004, where he stood until being pensioned in 2011. He was buried at OERC near Washington, Okla.
Known for an exciting come-from-behind style, Concern went from last to first in the 1994 Classic, running six wide in the stretch. He caught favored Tabasco Cat in the final yards to win by a neck at 7-1 odds, avenging his loss to the same rival in that year's Preakness Stakes (gr. I).
A winner of $3,079,350 with a 7-7-11 record from 30 starts, Concern was bred in Maryland by leading breeder Robert E. Meyerhoff from the Tunerup mare Fara's Team and was trained by the late Richard "Dickie" Small.
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Concern ran 14 times in 1994, and was a top-three finisher in each contest. He won three times that year, including victories in the Arkansas Derby (gr. II) and the Classic. He was a runner-up for the Eclipse Award for 3-year-old male to Holy Bull, who was also named Horse of the Year.
His narrow defeat to Holy Bull in the Travers Stakes (gr. I) again provided drama with his closing style. Concern was 14 lengths behind Holy Bull after a half mile in the Travers before pulling within in four lengths with a quarter mile remaining and battling to the wire, losing by a neck.
While it was his patented late move that endeared him to racing fans, it was his professional personality that will be missed by all who knew him at OERC.
"Concern was such a gentleman to be around," said OERC's Dr. Joe Carter. "He wasn't your typical stallion. He honestly had the presence of a Classic's winner and many fans came just to see him."
"He was born on Valentine's Day in 1991 and he had the big heart to prove it," Carter added.
In addition to producing multiple stakes winners, Concern was the also sire of two-time Eclipse Award-winning steeplechaser and millionaire Good Night Shirt.
Named Maryland Horse of the Year and 3-year-old champion male in 1994, Concern went on to win the New Orleans Handicap (gr. III) and Californian Stakes (gr. I) as a 4-year-old. He is in the Maryland Thoroughbred Hall of Fame.