Quality broodmare Blitey dies at 28

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Phipps family's Blitey, the dam of three Grade 1 winners, died Nov. 26 at Claiborne Farm, the nursery confirmed Tuesday. Blitey, a Riva Ridge mare, was 28 and was euthanized due to the infirmities of old age, according to Claiborne representative Charles Koch.

Blitey, a daughter of 1966 champion 3-year-old filly Lady Pitt (Sword Dancer), produced 12 winners from 12 starters. Most important, she was the dam of a trio of Grade 1 winners in Dancing Spree (by Nijinsky II), Fantastic Find (by Mr. Prospector), and Furlough (by Easy Goer). Blitey's other stakes horses were Grade 2 winner Dancing All Night and Grade 1-placed Home Leave. Three other foals did not race.

As a racehorse, Blitey won five stakes - including the 1979 Maskette and Test, both Grade 2 that year - for her owner and breeder, Ogden Phipps. She placed in six others, most notably the Grade 1 Ruffian, Delaware, and Top Flight handicaps.

Blitey left the races at age 4 with 8 wins from 23 starts, 5 seconds, 5 thirds, and $297,746 in winnings.

Blitey's last foal, the 1998 Seeking the Gold colt Over the Horizon, was a winner.

Blitey was pensioned from the breeding shed in 1999 and lived out her life at Claiborne. She has been buried in the farm's historic Marchmont cemetery.