Issue link: http://nytbreeders.epubxp.com/i/471532
42 New York Breeder | nytbreeders.org | March 2015 New York-bred gelding earned $1.8 million for the Gatsas family NYRA PHOTOS Gander won 15 of 60 starts and placed 19 times IF YOU HAVE EVER owned a pet, you can understand when you hear people re- gard them as being part of the family. You normally don't hear that when it comes to Thoroughbreds. Regardless of how close an owner gets to his horse, there usually is a boundary that separates the admiration and affection one might have for it from being regarded a family member. That has not been the case with the Gatsas family of New Hampshire, whose initiation into Thoroughbred ownership began with a horse who became an integral part of their lives, as well as the lives of their children and grandchildren. Brothers Mike and Ted Gatsas had no idea what they were in for when they decided to own horses, purchasing a 2-year-old out of the 1998 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s 2-year- olds in training sale. Nor did they have any idea that the New York-bred gray son of Cormorant—Love - ly Nurse, by Sawbones, named Gander would change their lives through his exploits on the racetrack over a seven year period and several near-death experiences. "We have a lot of great memories from that big gray guy," Mike Gatsas said. "Ev - ery time he went to battle he fought hard. He ran against some very good horses, and they might have been one step better than him, but he always gave his all." Racing until he was 8, Gander won 15 of his 60 starts, with 10 seconds and nine thirds for earnings of $1,824,011. He earned that money the hard way, compet - ing against the best of his and future generations in some of the top stakes in the country. Bred by Angela Rugnetta, Gander captured the grade II Meadowlands Cup Handicap, defeating Broken Vow and Include; the Empire Classic Handicap twice, and the Albany, Evan Shipman, and Kings Point handicaps. He was second, beaten three-quarters of length, by Lido Palace in the 2002 Woodward Stakes (gr. I); second Gallant Gander B Y S T E V E H A S K I N