Ask Queenie, one of the most decorated Massachusetts-bred thoroughbreds of all time, has been retired after a brilliant eight-year career that included 20 state-bred stakes wins at Suffolk Downs. In recognition of her outstanding achievements, Suffolk Downs will salute Ask Queenie on Saturday, October 30.
The nine-year-old daughter of Key Contender out of Time to Ask won 27 of her 63 starts, amassing a whopping $780,365 in career earnings, more than any other Mass-bred in history. She hit the board in 56 of her 63 starts, posting a career record of 27 wins, 15 seconds and 14 third-place finishes.
Ask Queenie will be paraded in the paddock before making her way to the winner’s circle for a retirement ceremony, giving her legion of devoted followers a chance to show their appreciation for the memorable moments she has given them. The celebration is scheduled to take place after the fourth race, at approximately 2:15 p.m. Souvenir photos of Ask Queenie will be given out at the ceremony.
Ask Queenie’s success is attributable to three generations of the Lockhart family, which has maintained a presence on the New England racing scene for decades. Owned by Laurine Barreira, Ask Queenie was bred by Barreira’s grandfather Lloyd Lockhart and trained by her mother Lori Lockhart.
“Ask Queenie has meant everything to us,” said Barreira. “Our family went through some tough times, emotionally and financially, and she picked us all up and carried us for last seven years.”
Racing almost exclusively at Suffolk Downs, whose racing season runs from May to November, Ask Queenie spent the winter months resting on the farm.
“Even though she wasn’t racing, she got us through the winters because we knew that she would be there for us in the spring,” said Barreira. “She’s supported our family. Whenever we go shopping or go out to eat, we say, ‘Thank you Queenie.’ Now we’re excited to have her bred and have babies. That’ll be fun.”
Ask Queenie will be retired to one of the Lockhart’s Cedar Lock Farm locations, which are in Swansea, MA and Morriston, FL.
Ask Queenie demonstrated tremendous versatility throughout her career. She was a proven success sprinting, going long and running on turf, recording eight wins at six furlongs or less and 19 going a mile or longer, six of which were on grass.
Her most successful campaign was her four-year-old season (2005) for which she was voted winner of the prestigious James B. Moseley Award as New England’s Horse of the Year by the New England Turf Writers’ Association. She also earned top turf female and top New England-bred honors that year. She garnered top New England-bred honors again in 2006, 2007 and 2009. She received a Special Achievement Award from the NETWA at age three, hinting toward the bright future that lied ahead.
Ask Queenie competed in 32 Mass-bred stakes races, winning 20 of them and hitting the board in 11 of the remaining 12 (seven seconds, four thirds). Of her 20 state-bred stakes wins, seven of them were against males. She is a five-time winner of the Isadorable Stakes, a four-time winner of the Thomas Moran Stakes and a three-time winner of both the First Episode and Sunset Gun Stakes.