Tinners Way

Long dirt roads like the tracks Thoroughbreds traverse crisscross the flats and hill lands of Texas. This heartland is ranch country where cattle is raised, and mares and stallions are brought together to replenish Equine populations. Key Ranch is nestled here, about 50 miles north of Austin, and is known for holding several outstanding Thoroughbred stallions. One that stands among them is a 16.1 hands chestnut by the name of Tinners Way. What makes Tinners Way (aka Tinners) special is not merely the success of his progeny, but his pedigree: he is the last surviving champion racehorse sired by the timeless champion Secretariat. Tinners Way was foaled from Secretariat's last crop, conceived in 1989, the very year his father was laid to rest due to an insurmountable battle with laminitis. Tinners Way came by way of Secretariat and Dam Devon Diva. In the spirit of his sire, Tinners grew into a strapping chestnut with one white stocking painting his rear ankle and a white stripe descending between his eyes to his nostrils. With long straight hind legs, a wide girth and well muscled rear and front ends, he was destined to become a graded stakes champion. His record tells the story.

Bred by and running for Juddmonte Farms his career began auspiciously with a maiden win on British turf in his first and only race in 1992. In 1993, running turf courses in England, France and in the United States, he captured two wins and two shows for a record of 4 for 7 in the money. In 1994 he remained in the United States competing in California for 8 starts and at New York's Belmont Park for another two. Under the conditioning of Hall-of-Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, he began the season’s bids on dirt courses and of these races he finished 6 in the money with 2 firsts, 3 seconds and one third. He recorded a place in Santa Anita’s G3 Arcadia Handicap, his only turf competition for the year. But for two heats, all were graded, including his first winning of the G1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar. In 1995 he ran 6 more times, 5 of which were on dirt courses. Of the latter, Tinners Way secured a record consecutive win in the Pacific Classic, 2 places including a second to the great Cigar in the G1 Hollywood Gold Cup, and one show. His only turf competition for the year was booked in the G1 Arlington Million at Arlington Park where he finished 4 1/4th lengths behind the winner Awad. All starts for the season listed graded competitions. The 1996 slate opened propitiously with a win in the G1 Californian at Hollywood Park, but in a turn of events, the victory was followed by a loss in his second running of the Hollywood Gold Cup. In his next race, his third running of the Pacific Classic, Tinners Way pulled up injured and in the wake of this performance he never competed again. For the season he finished one for three, one first, and two no-shows.

In all, Tinners Way led the way to the finish line 7 times in 27 starts, and placed or showed in an additional 10. He ran successfully (win, place, or show) in 6 of 10 starts on grass and in 11 of 17 on dirt. He participated in 22 graded competitions completing 14 among the first 3 finishers with 4 firsts. He competed against such notables as Cigar and Holy Bull and bested such champions as Bertrando, Best Pal, and the 1994 Breeders Cup Classic winner Concern. His Speed Figures (Equibase) ranged from a modest 102 to a strong 123 in his final career win in the Californian. He competed in three countries on 6 foreign tracks and on 7 courses in the United States. Of the American tracks, but for Belmont Park's main course and Arlington Park's turf, he recorded wins, places, or shows. He equaled two track records and won a record two consecutive wins of the Pacific Classic. He was boarded by such riders as Ken Desormeaux, the champion jockey who nearly won the 1998 Triple Crown on Real Quiet and who more recently piloted Big Brown’s triple bid in 2008; and Hall of Fame inductee Ed Delahoussaye, the rider of Secretariat’s greatest racing son, Risen Star. Tinners’ earnings approached two million dollars placing him among the top moneywinners of his sire’s offspring and establishing him as one of the best handicap runners in the United States in the mid 1990s.

Tinners Way stands today at Joe and Sharon Kerby's Key Ranch in the mid-regions of Texas near Bartlett. He brings a unique line to the genetic stock of Thoroughbreds that breeders have long been keen to distribute. To date, in a package of returns that continues to grow, his progeny accounts for close to 3 million dollars in earnings. Fans and friends are welcomed to stop by and visit with Joe and Sharon and catch up on the track talk of the day; and of course, fans and friends are welcomed to stop by and visit with Tinners Way, one last gem that Secretariat had left in the coffers to saddle. To be sure, Tinners Way has been Secretariat's way of leaving something behind to remember him by.