Spectacular Bid, a champion from two to four, has died at the age of 27. The son of Bold Bidder had been standing at Millfer Farm in New York for the past few years. The grey died of an apparent heart attack.  

A winner of 26 of 30 starts, Spectacular Bid was Horse of the Year at four when winning all nine starts, including a walkover for the Woodward Stakes. At three he won the Kentucky Derby, becoming the last two year old champion to win the Run For The Roses, and Preakness Stakes before losing to Coastal in the Belmont Stakes. The loss was attributed to the colt’s stepping on a pin prior to the race and an over confident ride by controversial jockey, Ron Franklin. The colt later overturned the form. A loss to Triple Crown hero, Affirmed, in the Woodward cost the colt Horse of the Year honours at three. 

Trained by Buddy Delp, the grey was described as “the greatest horse to ever look through a bridle” by his trainer. Legendary jockey Bill Shoemaker, who rode him in the later stages of the colt’s career, described “Bid” as the best he ever rode. 

At stud Spectacular Bid was considered disappointing siring 44 stakes winners in a stud career of over twenty years. His best son was Spectacular Love, winner of the Grade 1 Futurity and a successful sire in New Zealand.

Bid has become a decent broodmare sire with the likes of champion Mozart, Group 1 winning fillies Cara Rafaela, Amonita and Janet, and the Majorca winner Outstanding Star produced by daughters of his. 

Spectacular Bid, who was purchased for just 37,000 dollars, was produced by the stakes placed Promised Land mare, Spectacular.