Columbus, OH – Always A Virgin p,3, 1:48.4 ($1,135,559), the all-time leading money-winning sire in Indiana with progeny earnings of more than $82 million, has passed away at the age of 22. After an incredible racing career, Always A Virgin went on to an equally remarkable 14-year stud career at Victory Hill Farm in Indiana, which includes four seasons at Pepper Tree Farm in Australia. In 2022, Virgin retired from stud duty and enjoyed the remainder of his life as a cherished member of the retirees at Bluestone Farm in New Jersey.
Always A Virgin’s son Always B Miki p,1:46 ($2,715,368) blazed to a 1:46 World Record performance in 2016 at the Red Mile. That record stood until 2022 and is still the second-fastest of all time. Always B Miki is currently the leading active pacing sire of Breeders Crown wins with 10. Always A Virgin and Always B Miki were both bred by Joe Hurley’s Roll The Dice Stable.
Always A Virgin sired three Breeders Crown winners — Always B Miki, Colors A Virgin p,4,1:49.2s ($1,070,533) and Beckhams Z Tam p,4,1:49s ($885,056), in addition to numerous Indiana Sires Stakes champions.
Following a successful racing career in which he narrowly missed sweeping pacing’s Triple Crown for owners Bluewood Stable, Val D’Or Farms, and breeder Joe Hurley’s Roll The Dice Stable, Always A Virgin was retired to Victory Hill Farm in Indiana, which is owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Dr. Jeff King and Dr. Maria King. As a son of Western Ideal out of the Big Towner mare Neverhadneverwill, he brought the important Western Hanover blood to Indiana offering Indiana breeders one of the most successful male sire lines in Standardbred breeding.
Always A Virgin’s ownership stayed the same throughout his racing and stallion career. Mitchel Skolnick of Bluewood Stable and Bluestone Farms recalls how that partnership came to be after he witnessed the early talent of Always A Virgin himself.
“It was 2007 and I had several horses training with Joe Holloway. Virgin had arrived at Joe’s barn that same year to begin training for his three-year-old season. Joe had not trained him at two.
I was often at Showplace to watch my horses – sometimes two, three times a week. Joe and I would talk about all the horses he had in training, often mentioning Virgin. I believe his exact words were ‘he might be alright.’ So, aside from my own horses, I would watch Virgin as well.
Sometime before his first qualifier, I called Bob Boni about the horse and told him he was a very nice colt; we should consider buying a piece. Bob demurred. Maybe a week later, I asked Bob to come watch the colt train. Again, Bob demurred. Just about a week before Virgin would qualify, I insisted he (Bob) come to Showplace Farms to watch him train. He finally relented. Joe took Virgin out for his final training mile that day. He may have gone in 2:02, but halfway through the mile Bob says to me ‘make the deal.’
“We purchased half of Virgin from Joe Hurley, and as often is said the rest is history.”
“Always A Virgin was a truly great champion for his ownership group, both on the track for trainer Joe Holloway, and as a sire at Victory Hill Farm. We are so grateful to have been a part of his incredible life and career.”
Trainer Joe Holloway remembers Always A Virgin as “a special horse! He was a very good and underrated racehorse, he almost pulled off the Triple Crown and all three legs would’ve been on a half mile – something we have not seen in quite some time. He was also an accomplished sire and a beautiful animal. He will be missed!”