Giant Hit euthanized at age 32

Giant Hit, 2, 1:58; 3, 1:54.2 ($646,650), passed away on November 27^th. The retired harness racing stallion was residing at Winbak Farm of Delaware. He was euthanized due to age-related issues at 32 years old.

Giant Hit was bred by White Horse Farms (formerly co-owned by Winbak Farm’s owner, Joe Thomson).

“We are proud to have had a connection to Giant Hit since the day he was born,” said Joe Thomson, Winbak Farm Owner. “He was one of the first horses that I personally co-bred who went on to have great success.”

Giant Hit was a half-brother to 1998 USHWA Dan Patch 2-Year-Old Filly Trotter of the Year, Cayster, 1:55 ($530,451), Program Speed, 2, 1:56.1 ($345,007), Rockaroundtheclock, 3, 1:56.4h ($197,485), Set The Program, 1:56.2s ($118,589), and Clasicaly Designed, 3, 1:56.2s ($100,798). Clasicaly Designed is the second dam of Southwind Frank, 3, 1:52.1 ($2,115,999).

Giant Hit was a 13-time winner. The son of Speedy Crown was trained by Per Eriksson and mainly driven by John Patterson Jr. At 2, Giant Hit won 7 of 10 starts including the Arden Downs Stakes, John Simpson Sr Stakes, New York Fair Stakes, 3 New York Sire Stakes divisions, and Peter Haughton Memorial elimination (he was third in the Final).  At 3, Giant Hit won the American-National Stakes elimination, Bluegrass – Transylvania Stakes, Breeders Crown elimination, Founders Gold Cup division, John Simpson Sr Stakes division, and Kentucky Futurity division (third in Final).

He was second in the Beacon Course Stakes elimination (third in Final), Currier & Ives Stakes elimination and Final, Hambletonian elimination (third in Final), and Historic – Dickerson Cup leg. He was third in Canadian Trotting Classic and World Trotting Derby heat.

“Giant Hit had the qualities needed to make him a successful stallion: pedigree, performance and great conformation,” said Thomson. “He was one of our first stallions that we stood at Winbak Farm of New York, and he will always have a special place in my heart because he helped put our farm on the map.”

Giant Hit stood in New York from 1997 to 2008 and Delaware from 2009 to 2017. He is the sire of 47 performers who earned $100,000. His offspring earned $14,810,594.

“Giant Hit has both sired and been the grandsire of World Champions,” said Jack Burke, Winbak Farm General Manager. “He was a consistent sire of stakes winners when he stood in New York and while he stood in Delaware.”

Giant Hit is the sire of New York Sire Stakes Final Winner, Iroquoindiangiver, 3, 1:57.1s ($525,922), World Champion, Lost Lady One, 1:54.2s ($491,737), New York Sire Stakes Winner, Tremendous Hit, 1:53.4 ($476,521), New York Sire Stakes Final Winner, RC Destiny, 1:55.2f ($445,118), and New York Sire Stakes Final Winner, Hitwiththeladies, 3, 1:54.4s ($435,877).

As a broodmare sire, Giant Hit is the sire of Indiana Sire Stakes Super Final Winner, Grand Swan, 1:52.4 ($730,732), World Champion, Smoking Jet, 1:52.1h ($665,062), and New York Sire Stakes Winner, Aruba Vacation, 1:53.2f ($659,384).

“Thank you to everyone who supported Giant Hit during his career,” said Thomson. “During his stallion career and retirement, he had the best of care from the Winbak Farm team, and he will be missed by all of us.”

by Elizabeth Cheesman, for Winbak Farm