Star Guitar, an 8-year-old Louisiana-bred stallion who was bred and owned by Brittlyn Stable, was another familiar figure at the track during the last few years.
Trained by Al Stall Jr., Star Guitar once occupied the stall next to 2010 Horse of the Year Blame.
"Barn 10, what a famous neighborhood. Stall No. 4, Blame," said Star Guitar's owner Evelyn Benoit. "And then there is his next door neighbor, Stall No. 5, Mr. Star Guitar.
Memories that I will have in my life forever." He won 24-of-30 races (22 of them stakes), including 10 at the Fair Grounds.
Star Guitar amassed $1,749,862 in his career, breaking the previous Louisiana-bred mark owned by Grade I winner Happy Ticket. He won 10 straight races from 2010-12 before
closing out his career in last summer's Louisiana Legends Classic Stakes. But beyond the thrill of the wins, Benoit recalled memories of sneaking into the barn at night to
feed her horse treats — much to the exasperation of the night watchman, and concocting plans with assistant trainer Pam Fitzgerald to ride Star around the shedrow.
For Benoit, Star Guitar was the realization of a lifelong dream.
"When my parents were alive, they always said to me, Evelyn, you will get out of life all that you have put into it. ... Well, many people put a lot of hard work and time
out of their life into this horse. And the ride with Star gave it all back."
Star Guitar had his first winner as a sire September 24, 2016 at Churchill Downs. Senor Guitar covered six furlongs over the fast main track in 1:11.90 and won the
$50,000 maiden claimer by 1¼ lengths under Ricardo Santana, Jr.
Prior to Friday night’s Starlight Racing at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the newly renovated Star Guitar Bar on the west end of the paddock
will be officially unveiled with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 4:30 p.m.
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Brittlyn Stable's Star Guitar, a perfect 3-for-3 in 2012 before being retired to stud, was named 2012 Louisiana Horse of the Year for the
fourth year in a row June 8 at the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association annual meeting.
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On Monday night, March 4, 2013, in the Black Gold Room at the Fairgrounds, Star Guitar was one of three inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Katherine Terrell of The Times-Picayune recaps the evening.
