Beautiful Pleasure, champion of 1999, dead

Beautiful Pleasure, 1999’s champion older mare, was euthanized Aug. 11 because of complications from chronic laminitis, owner John Oxley announced Thursday.

A Maudlin mare, Beautiful Pleasure was 16 and produced her final foal, a Medaglia d’Oro colt, on Feb. 27. She also is the dam of Grade 1-placed Dr. Pleasure.

Beautiful Pleasure had had laminitis for several months and spent time in an equine clinic. According to a release Oxley issued Thursday, she had “appeared to be on course for recovery, however progressing laminitis in recent months caused her demise.”

“She was afforded the ultimate care from veterinarians and Fawn Leap Farm personnel, but her decline was progressing toward and imminent end, and it was only humane to end her suffering,” Oxley said.

Trained by John Ward, Beautiful Pleasure won the Matron at 2 and went on to take five other Grade 1 races: the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Beldame, and Personal Ensign in 1999 and the Personal Ensign and Hempstead Handciaps in 2000. She earned $2,734,078 from 10 victories – seven of them in stakes company – in 25 lifetime starts. She also finished second five times and third twice.

Beautiful Pleasure, a daughter of the unraced Baldski mare Beautiful Bid, was a full sister to three-time Grade 1 winner Mecke. Farnsworth Farms bred her in Florida. She was Florida’s Horse of the Year in 1999 and 2000.

Beautiful Pleasure has been cremated and plans call for her ashes to be buried at Debby and John Oxley’s Fawn Leap farm in Midway, Ky.