El Picha with Terrance Millard
The Sporting Post is sad to share the news that El Picha, South Africa’s only surviving dual July winner, died during the night on 20 October 2016.
Earlier today, Woodruff Racing’s Facebook page posted, “It is with great sadness that our beloved El Picha passed away last night at the ripe age of 22 years old in his sleep at our home in Randjesfontein. What an incredible horse he was to us and all involved in him. Good Bye old man, and thanks!”
The Argentinian-bred, selected on a buying trip by Terrance Millard, famously only ended up in South Africa by chance, but proved one of the toughest and gamest horses ever to set foot on our tracks.
From 39 career starts, El Picha posted 12 wins and 19 places with highlights including back to back July wins (1999 and 2000) and the 1999 Summer Cup. He was the country’s only surviving dual July winner. El Picha retired from racing in 2002 as South Africa’s highest earning Thoroughbred and fittingly, spent the rest of his days living as a treasured pet at the Woodruff family home.
Geoff Woodruff relates that his charge was still full of life at 22 years young and had spent Thursday afternoon careering up and down the property with his paddock mate, Andy the pony, refusing to be caught for dinner.
For anyone in the mood for a stroll down memory lane in memory of one of our turf greats, the Sporting Post published this tribute to El Picha a few years ago.
You can also relive his biggest wins below.
RIP El Picha (Tough Critic – Anayasi). 1994 – 2016.
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- El Picha with Terrance Millard
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- El Picha wins the 1999 Summer Cup
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- El Picha after his second July win in 2000
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- El Picha’s retirement tribute
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- El Picha in retirement
