Lotka, Grade 1 winner and successful broodmare, dead at 30

Cindy Evans Photography/courtesy Our Mims Retirement HavenLotka

Lotka, a Grade 1 winner on the racetrack and a prolific broodmare, died Sept. 10 at Our Mims Retirement Haven in Paris, Ky., at age 30. The Danzig mare had been a resident at the facility, operated by Jeanne Mirabito, since 2008.

Lotka was bred and campaigned by the late Henryk de Kwiatkowski, whose Kennelot Stables was named after her dam. Lotka won 10 of 20 starts over three seasons, capturing eight stakes races. She posted a Grade 1 win in the 1986 Acorn Stakes at Belmont and also won the second running of the Grade 3 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup on Keeneland’s turf course. Lotka also placed in two Grade 1 stakes. She was trained by Hall of Famer Woody Stephens throughout her career.

As a full sister to multiple Grade 1 winner and millionaire Stephan’s Odyssey and from the family of Cannonade and Halo, Lotka also proved to be successful as a broodmare. She produced nine winners from 11 foals to race, led by Grade/Group 3 winners Lotta Dancing and Mambo Twist and stakes winner Moonee Ponds. Lotta Dancing is the dam of Super Derby winner Fantasticat.

“We have had many great mares at [Our Mims], but none as full of life as Lotka,” Mirabito said. “She was magnificent, the heart of the farm. As crushed as I am at her passing, I was honored to be part of her life.”

The mare was buried in the retirement facility’s cemetery.