Madam Gay (25 February 1978 – 1983) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. She showed some promise as a two-year-old in 1980 before developing into a top-class middle distance performer in the following year. Her only victory in a thirteen race career came when she won the Prix de Diane in 1981, but she was placed in many important races including the Oaks Stakes, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Arlington Million and Prix Vermeille. Having been originally bought for 8,000 guineas she was eventually sold for a reported $1.4 million.
Background
Madam Gay was a dark-coated bay mare with a small white star and a white sock on her left hind leg, bred by the Worksop Manor Stud in Nottinghamshire. She was one of the best horses sired by Star Appeal, an Irish-bred, German-trained horse who won the Eclipse Stakes and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1975. Madam Gay's dam Saucy Flirt was a sprinter who won handicap races at York and Leicester.
As a yearling, the filly was sent to the Tattersalls sales at Newmarket in October and was bought for 8,000 guineas by Geoffrey Kaye. She was sent into training with Paul Kelleway a former National Hunt jockey at his Shalfleet stables on the Bury Road in Newmarket, Suffolk.
Racing career
1980: two-year-old season
Madam Gay finished unplaced in her first two races, including the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot. Despite these defeats she was moved up in class to contest the Group 3 Waterford Candelabra Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse. She finished strongly to take second place in a field of ten runners behind Fairy Footsteps. In their annual Racehorses of 1980, the independent Timeform organisation described her as being "sure to win, when her sights are lowered".
1981: three-year-old season
Kelleway showed no inclination to "lower the sights", running the filly against the best available opposition in Europe and North America in 1981. After finishing third in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes on her first appearance she contested the Classic 1000 Guineas over Newmarket's Rowley Mile course. Ridden by Tony Murray, she started a 50/1 outsider, but was beaten less than one and a half lengths as she finished fifth behind Fairy Footsteps. In the Musidora Stakes, a trial race for The Oaks, Madam Gay reversed the Newmarket form with Fairy Footsteps but was beaten four lengths into second place by the Irish filly Condessa.
On 6 June, Madam Gay was moved up in distance for the Oaks over one and a half miles at Epsom Downs Racecourse and started the 10/1 fifth choice in the betting. Ridden by John Reid she was one of very few runners able to stay in contention with the strong pace set by Leap Lively. She eventually finished second, seven lengths behind Blue Wind, but ten lengths clear of the other runners. Madam Gay was still without a win in seven starts when she was sent to France to contest the Group 1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) over 2100 metres at Chantilly Racecourse eight days later. Ridden by Lester Piggott she started at odd of 9/1 in a field which included April Run, Val d'Erica ( winner of the Oaks d'Italia), Tootens (Prix Saint Alary) and Ukraine Girl (Poule d'Essai des Pouliches). Madam Gay was restrained by Piggott towards the back of the field before moving into contention in the straight. She sprinted past her opponents, went clear of the field and won by four lengths from Val d'Erica in a race record time of 2:06.5 despite being eased down in the closing stages. Madam Gay was then matched against colts and older horses in the Eclipse Stakes on 4 July over ten furlongs at Sandown Park Racecourse where she finished fifth of the eight runners behind Master Willie. Three weeks later, she contested Britain's most prestigious all-aged race, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot Racecourse. She was ridden by Greville Starkey and started a 40/1 outsider in a field which included Shergar (the 2/5 favourite), Master Willie, Light Cavalry and Pelerin (Hardwicke Stakes). Although she was no match for Shergar, Madam Gay stayed on strongly in the straight to finish second, four lengths behind the winner.