Opening Verse

Opening Verse
Opening Verse
Sire	Allen E. Paulson (USA)
Trainer	1) Henry Cecil (UK); 2) Richard J. Lundy (USA)
Record	30: 10-7-2
Earnings	US$1,669,357
Major wins
	Somerville Tattersall Stakes (1988); Strensall Stakes (1989); Razorback Handicap (1990); Oaklawn Handicap (1990); Fort Harrod Stakes (1991); Turf Classic Stakes (1991) Opening Verse Handicap at Churchill Downs
	Last updated on January 24, 2010

Opening Verse (1986–2002) was a Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in England and the United States.

Background

Bred in Kentucky, his sire was the 1977

Trained in England by

Sold to American,

Oaklawn Park then finished seventh in the 1¼ mile Breeders' Cup Classic, held that year at Belmont Park

Racing on grass at age five in 1991, Opening Verse had his most successful year. He won the Fort Harrod Stakes at Keeneland, and the Turf Classic Stakes at Churchill Downs. Entered in the 1991 Breeders' Cup Mile, held that year at Churchill Downs, Opening Verse was up against what racecaller Tom Durkin described as "an exceptionally strong field" with stars such as Priolo, the French Champion Three-Year-Old Colt, and In Excess, the American Horse of the Year contender and betting favorite who came into the race having won four Grade 1 races that year. Sent off as a longshot at 26:1 odds, under jockey Pat Valenzuela, Opening Verse rallied from fifth place in the field of fourteen to take the lead in the homestretch and won the race by 1¼ lengths.

Retired to stud duty, Opening Verse's progeny met with modest success in racing, the best of which was Grade I winner and millionaire, Colstar.