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It is with great sorrow that we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of Red Hot Iron, TRRAC's oldest resident and a beloved homebred of Maui Meadow Farm. Red Hot Iron passed away peacefully on March 29, 2023, at the age of 31, only a few weeks shy of her official foaling date.
Red Hot Iron was sired by "Iron," an unraced son of Mr. Prospector out of a Buckpasser mare. The mare was bred by Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Lyman Jr. of Maui Meadow Farm, which is known as Pennsylvania's oldest thoroughbred farm in the state, and raced in partnership with Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Holman.
As a youngster, Red Hot Iron appeared to lack the talent to be a successful racehorse and was noted to be quite lazy and extremely unmotivated, often never moving faster than a slow lope at the farm's training track despite encouragement. However, upon her transfer to Philadelphia Park, which is now known as Parx, she quickly transformed, and in a remarkable turn of events, Red Hot Iron went on to win her next four starts in a row after failing at her first start. Red Hot Iron earned an impressive $344,079 in her career as a graded stakes-placed horse. Her final statistics were impressive, with 32 starts and 12 wins, most of which were under jockey Anthony (Tony) Black.
Red Hot Iron's notable victories included winning the Duo Disco Handicap twice (1996 & 1997), the Race Street Handicap (1997), and the Pistol Packer Handicap (1997). She retired from her racing career after earning the title of Philadelphia Park's Horse Of The Year in 1997 and returned to Maui Meadow Farm, where she went on to foal three foals, including "Hot Smile," a 2006 filly by Ops Smile, who earned an impressive $293,822.
Red Hot Iron was related to Rich Strike through her dam's side, with her first dam's sire's dam being out of "Apple Bomb," who was bred by Maui Meadow Farm and is listed on Grade 1 winner Rich Strike's dam's side.
Red Hot Iron was retired by her partners into permanent sanctuary in her older age, where she lived comfortably until her passing. She was a beloved mare whose memory will always be cherished by those who had the privilege of knowing her.
Should anyone wish to donate in Red Hot Iron's memory to our other residents,
you may do so at the link below