Legendary Stallion Game Patriot Passes Away

Game Patriot passed away Tuesday morning peacefully at Robicheaux Ranch in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana

@ Plugged In Equine Marketing

BREAUX BRIDGE, LA, JUNE 4, 2024–The legendary Louisana stud Game Patriot passed away peacefully this morning of natural causes. The 27-year-old stallion stood his entire career at Robicheaux Ranch in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, for owner Robert "Bobby" Touchet.

In 1998, Bobby Touchet of Texas visited the Vessels/Schvanveldt Sale in California with $25,000 in his pocket and enough money for travel expenses. The then trainer dogeared Hip #37 and Hip #153 in his catalog. Both were colts, both by Chicks Beduino; they were Separatist and Game Patriot.

Separatist's bidding had surpassed his pocketbook to $26,000, and he couldn't swing the extra grand, so he waited for Hip #153 to make his entrance. He was the one. He walked away with the yearling who would go down in the record books, for $25,000 and enough money in his pocket to get him home.

Dr. Gary Wright bred Game Patriot, the 1997 sorrel colt who looked a lot like his dam, Fire And Nice by First Downs Dash, in Sonora, California. After Touchet bought him, he hauled him back home, where he would begin his racing career in Oklahoma and Texas.

Toby Keeton trained Game Patriot, racing his two and three-year-old years before retiring to stud. He lit the board 13 of 15 starts with seven career victories, banking over $225,000 for Touchet.

Game Patriot won the Retama Park Futurity [G1], placed second in the Longhorn Futurity [G2], third in the Sam Houston Futurity [G1], and was a finalist in the Dash For Cash Futurity [G1] during his freshman campaign.

He returned for this three-year-old campaign to earn a place in the Retama Park Derby [G1], show in the Remington Park Derby [G1], and was a finalist in the Dash For Cash Derby [G1]. The last race of his running career was on November 26, 2000, when he placed second in the Goodnight Trail Handicap. He was named The Texas Hi-Point Three-Year-Old Colt that year.

In 2001, Touchet took Game Patriot to Jude Robicheaux, owner of Robicheaux Ranch, where he would start his lifetime career at stud and dominate as a leading stallion.

"His first crop of foals to race won the Mardi Gras Futurity and Lassie Futurity right off the bat, and he has been a dominant sire ever since," said Robicheaux Ranch manager Ryan Robicheaux.

Game Patriot with his owner Robert "Bobby" Touchet. 
© photo courtesy of Robert Touchet

"Having a stallion in the barn like Game Patriot makes my job easier. These days, stallions come and go and move from ranch to ranch. I would like to thank Mr. Bobby Touchet for letting us handle Game Patriot's entire stallion career. But more than that, he became a member of our Robicheaux family," stated Ryan.

Game Patriot will go down in the history books as one of the nation's all-time leading sires, topping the charts at #13 with over $32 million in Quarter Horse progeny earnings. He sired 57 stakes winners and 66 stakes placed, averaging $32,000 per starter.

His top money earner is three-time stakes winner and new track record setter Jet Black Patriot, who earned $876,921 on the track. Jet Black Patriot went on to be a leading sire in his own right who also stood at Robicheaux Ranch, siring over $20 million himself.

Some of Game Patriot's other top stakes winners include Game ($508,994), Game Show Special ($383,323), Ab Hope For Cash ($364,842), Bbs First Beduino ($348,613), Streakin Patriot ($346,153), Gametime ($344,601, NTR), World On High ($303,253, NTR), just to name a few.

Game Patriot has been a staple at Robicheaux Ranch since the beginning.

Game Patriot will remain an iconic stallion for years to come. © Plugged In Equine Marketing

"It's hard because I thought that Game would live forever! He has been with us for 24 years since Robicheaux Ranch opened. He was the first stallion my Dad (Jude Robicheaux) signed. To see him for 24 years and to say I won't see him anymore is very emotional," said Ryan Robicheaux.

"We were blessed to have Game Patriot over the years. Along with Heza Fast Dash, these two stallions put Robicheaux Ranch on the map. Thank you to Bobby for entrusting his care to us all these years. Thank you to all the breeders who supported him. And most of all, thank God for the blessing in having him," remarked Jude Robicheaux.

Game Patriot was a tremendous stallion and will remain an icon in the breeding industry for years to come.

Ryan said, "Game made us who we are and provided a life and career for my family. I will always remember him for that. I am so thankful to have spent half my life with such a great horse!"