by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

Workaholic, 31, who was the first winner of a Breeders Crown race and later was sold to the French National Stud, died in France on Tuesday (Feb. 19).

Workaholic, who was sired by Speedy Crown and out of Ah So, was bred by Pine Hollow Stud Farm and was campaigned by Continental Farms Stable. Besides the Breeders Crown, Workaholic won the Matron and American-National.

He went to stud in New Jersey in 1986, but without much luck, and in 1988 he was sold to the French National Stud.

This was a remarkable move by the National Stud, as except for two offspring by Star’s Pride and Ayres out of the legendary French mare Roquepine, the French stud book had been closed since early in the 1930s.

Workaholic had some success as a stallion in France. One of his first foals was Cygnus d’Odyssee, who became a classic winner and later a very popular stallion. The mare Premiere Steed has shown her talent, winning the Finnish speed race St Michels in a world record time of 1:52f.

But it was as a grandsire that Workaholic had his biggest impact on French breeding. He was the champion grandsire from 2006–2011 and last year he was second, beaten by Coktail Jet.

This past Sunday his granddaughter Avila (sired by Ready Cash) won the classic Criterium des Jeunes.