Turks make deal for Victory Gallop

Victory Gallop, the Eclipse winner as champion older male of 1999, appears headed for Turkey. WinStar Farm and the syndicate that owns the horse have a sale pending with the Turkish Jockey Club, the farm announced Friday.

In his championship year, Victory Gallop won the Whitney Handicap and set the Churchill Downs track record of 1:47.28 for 1 1/8 miles winning the Stephen Foster.

Victory Gallop, runner-up to Real Quiet in the 1998 Kentucky Derby and Preakness, defeated him by a nose in that year's Belmont Stakes.

Campaigned by Prestonwood Farm, he retired to that farm for the 2000 season. WinStar's owners purchased the farm and its stallions in early 2000. Victory Gallop was to stand this season at WinStar for $10,000.

The Turkish Jockey Club also stands Kentucky Derby winners Strike the Gold and Sea Hero.

WinStar's president, Doug Cauthen, said WinStar has "a side agreement" that WinStar will take the stallion back upon his retirement.