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Illustration for Arabian racing champion First Classs joins Kentucky Horse Park Hall
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Arabian racing champion First Classs joins Kentucky Horse Park Hall

· Source: Kentucky Horse Park

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Cre Run Farm announced that First Classs, the richest U.S.-bred Arabian racehorse in history, has been selected to join the Hall of Champions at the Kentucky Horse Park.

The 8-year-old grey gelding, bred in Virginia, won the 2026 Group 1 Obaiyah Arabian Classic, a $2 million race at the Saudi Cup in February. His achievement marked another milestone in a storied career that has established him as the sport's most successful Arabian racehorse.

First Classs has won four races worth $1 million or more, a record for any Arabian racehorse. His victories span international competitions, including wins at the Dubai Kahayla Classic in both 2022 and 2025, making him the first horse ever to claim that title twice. According to his owner and Cre Run Farm breeder Deborah Mihaloff, the gelding has earned over $4 million, surpassing all other U.S.-bred Arabians.

The Hall of Champions has long served as home to racing's most decorated horses. The facility, established in 1979 when legendary Thoroughbred Forego arrived at the park, now houses retired racing legends including Thoroughbreds and horses of multiple breeds. The park's annual attendance reflects the draw of these elite equine athletes, with the facility attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.

First Classs began his racing career in the United States at Delaware Park before competing internationally in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates under a lease partnership arrangement. His success in major international events has elevated the profile of Arabian racing globally.

"The excitement of the racetrack is brought to life by the elite group of champion horses that reside at the park's Hall of Champions," according to the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation. First Classs will now join this exclusive group of racing legends available for public viewing.

This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Kentucky Horse Park, enriched with 2 web searches. The original source is available at https://kyhorsepark.com/first-classs-to-join-kentucky-horse-park-hall-of-champions/. How we make these.
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