Exclusive Ribot dies at 32

Exclusive Ribot, believed to be the last living direct offspring of the champion Ribot, died Aug. 8 at Dormello II Stud near Decatur, Texas, according to his owner, Brian Wallis.

Exclusive Ribot was 32 years old. On his final day, the stallion did "20 or 30 laps" around his paddock before collapsing of heart failure, Wallis said.

"He looked like a million bucks," said Wallis, who named his farm in honor of the stud farm owned by Ribot's Italian breeder, Federico Tesio. "You couldn't tell he was 32."

Exclusive Ribot was out of the mare Exclusive, who foaled five stakes winners, including Exclusive Native, a two-time leading sire. Exclusive Ribot stood most of his career in Florida, but was moved in his final breeding years to farms in California, Washington, and Oregon. During his stud career, he sired six stakes winners, including Men's Exclusive and Exclusive Partner.

Wallis said that Exclusive Ribot covered several mares at Dormello in 1999 and 2000, but for the last three years, the horse had been turned out in his paddock to live in retirement. "He was like a pet to me," Wallis said.