Oklahoma Stallion Going Wild Dies

Going Wild (Photo by Don Shugart)
Going Wild (Photo by Don Shugart)

Oklahoma stallion Going Wild, a multiple stakes winning son of Golden Missile, died February 17 after a stall accident. The 14-year-old was standing at Equitech Services in El Reno, Oklahoma, as property of Denise Cope.

A $600,000 2-year-old purchase by Bob and Beverly Lewis who was trained by D. Wayne Lukas, Going Wild won seven of 35 career starts and banked $513,200. He recorded a total of six stakes wins, including the listed San Miguel and Sham stakes at Santa Anita, and also placed in the Grade 2 Santa Catalina Stakes and Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Sprint. Among the horses he defeated in the Sham Stakes was eventual Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo.

As a stallion, Going Wild was coming his best year in 2015 with seven winners from nine runners. His leading runner is Mancation, an earner of $84,322 who won the 2014 New Mexico Breeders’ Derby at Sunland Park. Going Wild is also the sire of multiple stakes placed Vernissage.

“Going Wild was an extremely kind and friendly stallion,” said Cope. “He would meet me at the gate and beg for attention to be petted, or for hands full of grass, or pears and apples in season from our trees, located just out of his reach. I didn’t realize how many times I looked out my kitchen window to view him, until he was no longer there.

“Going Wild’s foals exhibit the same friendly and welcoming personality. They are the greatest foal crops that I ever raised in 48 years of horse breeding. I believe over time the passing of Going Wild will reveal a severe blow to the Oklahoma Thoroughbred industry: a loss of tremendous bloodlines and of future foal crops for those many persons who cannot afford to breed in Kentucky.  My dearest Going Wild is sorely missed.”

One thought on “Oklahoma Stallion Going Wild Dies

  1. Dear Mr. Blake and Entire American Racehorse Publication Crew:

    Thank you for the beautiful Lead Articles on Going Wild and Norfield. I don’t know how long it will take for me to get over the loss of Wild, but there will be renewal with every foal born. So far 2 colts and 2 fillies have been foaled. The colt out of Mermaids N Fairies by Stormy Atlantic looks almost identical to Going Wild. I hope he exceeds his sire’s legacy.

    Norfield is similar to Going Wild in personality. He has a greater heart girth and wider chest, and perhaps a little longer body. The biggest difference is that Norfield was predominately a Turf Horse, winning up to 1 1/8 miles, but does not appear to have the early speed that Going Wild expressed. We will know in 3+ years whether he can sire in a similar fashion to Wild, and it’s a gamble. I reiterate, the loss of Going Wild will have serious effects on the regional race prospects of the “middle level breeders”. His year was going to initiate in 2016, as people saw the 2015 foals and were very excited.

    Again, thank you so much, Denis and Crew. Your magazine provides a GREAT SERVICE to the Thoroughbred Breeders in many, many states. I appreciate you so much.

    Most Respectfully,
    Denise P. Cope – EquiTech Services

Comments are closed.