Pink Lloyd, an iconic figure in Canadian horse racing, holds a prominent place in the sport's history. In 2023 Pink LLoyd, a male horse of the Thoroughbred breed achieved the prestigious honor of being inducted into the Hall of Fame. He is widely recognised as one of the greatest sprinters in Canada and has an impressive collection of accolades, including eight Sovereign Awards, making him the most decorated horse in the history of the award. Throughout his six seasons on the track, Pink Lloyd left a lasting legacy.
This tall and leggy chestnut gelding holds another distinction as the most financially successful offspring of Old Forester, an Ontario stallion. Additionally, Pink Lloyd is the wealthiest graduate of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society's renowned yearling sale at Woodbine.
The story of Pink Lloyd began in 2012 when he was born at John Carey's T.C. Westmeath Stud in Shelburne, ON. Bred by John Carey, Pink Lloyd was the third foal of Gladiator Queen, a stakes-placed mare, and Old Forester, the stallion.
Frank DiGiulio, Jr. acquired Pink Lloyd for a modest sum of $30,000 at the 2013 CTHS sale. The horse raced under the ownership of the Entourage Stable, which consisted of DiGiulio, Ed Longo, John Peri, John Lucato, and Victor Mele. The name "Pink Lloyd" pays homage to the rock band Pink Floyd and the character Lloyd from the television series Entourage.
Under the guidance of Hall of Fame trainer Robert Tiller, Pink Lloyd required time to mature and overcome minor physical issues. Consequently, he didn't make his career debut until the late summer of his fourth year. However, once he started racing, Pink Lloyd quickly proved his exceptional abilities by winning his first three races.
Teaming up with jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva, who was also celebrated as a 2022 Hall of Fame inductee, Pink Lloyd embarked on a magical 2017 season. He clinched his first stakes victory in the Jacques Cartier race at Woodbine in April. Throughout that year, the fiery and fiercely competitive Pink Lloyd triumphed in seven more stakes races, including two graded events, amassing over $512,000 in earnings. He completed the season unbeaten, earning him the title of Canada's Horse of the Year for 2017 and the first of five consecutive Champion Sprinter titles.
In 2018, Pink Lloyd extended his winning streak to 11 stakes wins. However, a couple of losses occurred due to gate behaviour and a bleeding incident. Nevertheless, he concluded the year with an impressive record of five wins in eight races.
Returning in 2019 after a winter break at Buttigieg Farm, Pink Lloyd delivered an exceptional performance, winning all six of his races that season. Notably, he overcame a gate breakage to secure victory in the Grade 2 Kennedy Road Stakes, showcasing his remarkable abilities.
In 2020, Pink Lloyd partnered with a new jockey, Rafael Hernandez, following Eurico's retirement. They began the season, which experienced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, by winning the Jacques Carter Stakes for a record fourth time. During that summer, Pink Lloyd carried 128 pounds to victory in the Bold Venture Stakes and almost broke his own track record for six furlongs in the Grade 3 Vigil Stakes.
Pink Lloyd's final racing season occurred in 2021 when he was nine years old. Once again, he dominated the field of local sprinters. His last race, the Kennedy Road, showcased his signature style as he expertly manoeuvred through tight traffic, made a wide turn for home, and surged to victory. Remarkably, this marked his 26th stakes win.
In total, Pink Lloyd, who was initially groomed by Kris Pion and later Michelle Gibson, achieved an impressive record of 29 wins out of 38 starts, accumulating over $1.8 million in earnings.
Pink Lloyd retired to the LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society in Hillsburgh, where he enjoys his remaining years as an ambassador for the organisation. He continues to receive numerous visitors eager to meet one of the most remarkable racehorses in Canadian history.