Bayakoa

Bayakoa was a Thoroughbred Champion racehorse bred in Argentina. A descendant of the very important sire Nearco through both her sire and dam, after racing successfully in Argentina, Bayakoa was sold to Americans, Janis and Frank Whitham.

Racing in the United states, she was trained by U.S. Hall of Famer Ron McAnally. She won the 1989 and 1990 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Older Female Horse, winning the Breeders' Cup Distaff in both of those years. During the 1990 Breeders Cup Distaff at Belmont Park she had been chasing a filly named Go For Wand for the lead. When they turned of the final bend and were into the final furlong, Go For Wand's leg shattered at the same spot where the great Ruffian is buried. She then had a deadly breakdown, while Bayakoa continued on to the wire. Her trainer, Ron McAnally, said after this tramatic race, "These horses give their lives for our entertainment."

Bayakoa is ranked Number 95 in Blood-Horse magazine's top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century.

Retired to broodmare duty, she produced four foals: Trinity Place (m. 1992, by Strawberry Road), De Sarmiento (c. 1993, by Seattle Slew), Morocha (m. 1995, by Kris S.), and Arlucea (m. 1997, by Broad Brush), before her death from laminitis (foundered) in 1997.

Bayakoa was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1998.