Strike the Gold was put down On Dec. 13, 2011, at Karacabey Stud Farm in Turkey after suffering a fractured left front pastern in his paddock. He was 23.

Born March 21, 1988, the chestnut stallion had front white socks with a white star, small stripe and snip.

He had battled laminitis throughout the year but was considered in relatively good health.

According to a Turkey racing official, the stallion had a heart attack in his paddock and fell, leading to the fracture.

Veterinarians were able to wake the horse but chose to put him down due to the injury.

Strike the Gold was the 1991 Kentucky Derby champion and the oldest living Derby winner. He had been a stallion in Turkey since 1999.

Bred at Calumet Farm, he was by Alydar out of Majestic Gold (by Hatchet Man).
He won six of 31 career starts for earnings of $3,457,026 and was Nick Zito’s first Derby winner.

Strike the Gold entered the breeding shed at Vinery in Lexington, Ky., but was sold to Turkey in 1998.