Point Given, foaled on March 27, 1998, is a celebrated Thoroughbred racehorse who became the 2001 American Horse of the Year. He etched his name in the annals of horse racing history by becoming the first horse to win four $1 million races consecutively. He was honored with an induction into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2010.
Background
Point Given was bred in Kentucky by The Thoroughbred Corp, owned by Prince Ahmed bin Salman. He was sired by Thunder Gulch, a dual Classic winner, and his dam was the stakes-winning mare Turko’s Turn, by Turkoman. Standing at 17.1 hands high, Point Given was lovingly referred to as “The Big Red Train” or “T-Rex” by his trainer Bob Baffert.
Early Career: The Two-Year-Old Season
Point Given made his racing debut on August 12, 2000, at Del Mar, finishing second. He broke his maiden in his next start on August 26. His stakes career began on September 16 in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile Stakes at Turfway Park, where he secured a win by 3+1⁄2 lengths despite a rocky start.
Rising Star: 2001 Three-Year-Old Season
After a brief layoff, Point Given returned to the track for the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park on March 17, 2001. He went on to win the race by 2+1⁄4 lengths, silencing critics and proving his readiness for the Triple Crown trail. On a muddy track in the Santa Anita Derby, he clinched another win by 5+1⁄2 lengths.
The Triple Crown Journey
Point Given was a favorite for the 2001 Kentucky Derby, but a combination of a foot infection and a fast racing surface led to a fifth-place finish. He redeemed himself in the Preakness Stakes, where he executed a three-wide move to secure a win by 2+1⁄2 lengths. Despite acting up in the week leading to the Belmont Stakes, he turned in a dominating performance and won by 12+1⁄4 lengths.
Additional Triumphs
After a short break, he returned for the Haskell Invitational, which increased its purse to $1.5 million to attract the horse. He won the race by half a length. His final start was in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga, where he secured another win by 3+1⁄2 lengths.
Legacy and Honors
Point Given was the first horse since 1967 to win the Preakness Stakes, Belmont, and Travers Stakes, joining an elite club of racing greats. He was the unanimous selection at the Eclipse Awards for American Champion Three-Year-Old Colt and also won Horse of the Year honors.
