“From Near Death to Stakes Glory: Washington Star’s Golden Boy Rises Again”

Papa’s Golden Boy is the kind of horse that brings horse racing fans together. The Washington-bred has brilliant speed—regularly setting 22- and 43-second fractions—which has made him a major factor in the older male division at Emerald Downs since 2020.

“Papa,” as he is affectionately known by the owners comprising Lusk Racing, almost met a tragic end in December 2023.

The blaze-faced, bay gelding had just completed an approximately 1,390-mile trek from Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Ariz., to trainer Vince Gibson’s farm in Eatonville, Wash., and Gibson’s wife, Pam, felt there was something wrong with the horse.

A vet was called to the farm, and it was determined that Papa’s Golden Boy had shipping pneumonia. He was immediately sent to Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital in Snohomish, Wash.

Also known as pleuropneumonia, the illness occurs
when pneumonia extends from the main airway to the thin membrane on the surface of the lung (the pleura) and the thoracic cavity.

When a horse has pleuropneumonia, the slits between the right and left sides of the thoracic cavity become inflamed, preventing the movement of fluid. The condition often requires long-term hospitalization and intensive care.

“He was very, very close,” said Kyle Lusk. “When we went up to see him, it was actually pretty hard to see.”

When Papa’s Golden Boy was released from the hospital, Gibson took him to Emerald Downs so a track veterinarian could look him over.

“The whole time [Papa’s Golden Boy] had this sad look on his face,” said Lusk. “You could just tell he wasn’t feeling good.

“And then he came off the trailer at the track, and his head perked up. His ears perked up. He looked around like: ‘Oh, I know where I’m at.’”

Lusk continues: “So we’re like, ’Oh, okay, the guy still has life in there.’”

After two weeks of hospitalization and six weeks of stall rest at Gibson’s farm, Papa’s Golden Boy had lost 250 pounds. Gibson slept outside his stall in the bed of his truck as Papa recovered, where the winter nights could reach as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

“He had the whole [2023] off, just recovering,” said Lusk. “We took it slow with him and didn’t rush him at all. Just let him tell us when he was ready.”

By this point, Papa’s Golden Boy was already a success story.

He was the first yearling purchased by Gary Lusk, father of Kyle, when he brought $9,000 at the Washington Thoroughbred Breeders Yearling and Mixed Sale in 2017. He was twice named the Washington-bred champion sprinter for 2020 and 2021, after victories in the open company, six-furlong Budweiser Stakes at Emerald Downs.

Gary’s family convinced him to name their yearling Papa’s Golden Boy, a reference both to Gary and the gelding’s sire, Harbor the Gold.

Papa was selected by Vince Gibson’s father, Claude, who retired from training in 2021.

“He was a big yearling,” said Lusk.

Papa’s Golden Boy was unraced as a 2-year-old because he was too big and “clunky.” He remained a maiden in his four starts as a 3-year-old, but began to show signs of promise.

“It wasn’t until his 4-year-old season that he really kind of figured it out,” said Lusk. “Once he did, he took off.”

After breaking his maiden and winning an allowance, Papa’s Gold Boy finished second by a half length to veteran Elliot Bay in the Mt. Rainier Stakes and finished fifth in the then-Grade 3 Longacres Mile.

He began his 5-year-old season with wins in the Budweiser Stakes and Governor’s Stakes in advance of finishing fourth in the Longacres Mile.

It was around then that Papa’s Golden Boy gained popularity with the horsemen and fans at Emerald Downs.

“We have a lot of people that every time he runs, they come up to us before the race and tell us how excited they are to see him,” said Lusk. “My mom made these shirts that say ‘Papa’s Golden Boy,’ and she will always wear them to the track. Some of the grandkids would wear them. And random fans will come up and they’re like ‘You guys know Papa’s Golden Boy?’ and we’re like ‘Yeah, we own him.’”

As a 6-year-old, Papa’s Golden Boy won the Budweiser Stakes again and finished second, beaten 2 ½ lengths by two-time Washington-bred Horse of the Year Slew’s Tiz Whiz in the Longacres Mile. Papa got his revenge in his next start, when he beat Slew’s Tiz Whiz by a neck in the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic Stakes.

As the meet at Emerald Downs came to a close, the Lusks sent Papa’s Golden Boy to Turf Paradise with Gibson’s assistant trainer, Ashley Potts. After finishing tenth in two stakes at Turf Paradise, they had Papa’s Golden Boy shipped back home; that’s when he fell ill.

Papa’s Golden Boy spent all of 2023 on the sidelines as his connections nursed him back to health, but in February 2024, Gibson wanted to put Papa on the hot walking machine at his farm.

“When [Gibson] put him on the walker, he would start sending us videos,” said Lusk. “Papa would be kicking and bucking and snorting like nothing ever happened.

“At this time, he was eight years old, so he’s already an older horse, and then he went through all these issues, and he was acting like he was four again.”

Encouraged by his energy levels, connections decided to reintroduce him to race training.

“We all had low expectations,” said Lusk. “We didn’t want to get too excited, because a hot walker versus the race track is a completely different animal.”

Papa’s Golden Boy continued to impress in his training at Emerald Downs. Lusk said Papa would pull exercise riders around the track: “They’re like, ‘Oh man. He’s full of energy. Full of power.’”

After 554 days away from the races, Papa’s Golden Boy was entered in a 5 1/2 furlong allowance at Emerald Downs on June 2, 2024. Among his competitors was the familiar face of Slew’s Tiz Whiz. As the field neared the gate, the Lusks were on edge.

“I always get butterflies for every horse that I run, but I could feel my heart beating through my chest,” said Kyle. “And then you have the thought that runs through your head of, ‘Are we just being selfish to want to see him run even though he shows us that he can do it and still wants to do it?’”

Sent off as the second-longest choice in the field of seven, Papa’s Golden Boy rocketed away from the gate. He ran the first quarter in :21.40 and the half in :43.02. By the time they reached the stretch, he was three lengths in front while running five furlongs in :55.05. Papa won his comeback by a length with a final time of 1:01.89.

“I remember in the winner’s circle, my dad’s like, ‘You’re talking,’ because his eyes were watering,” said Lusk. “My mom was straight crying. I was trying not to cry. You get so attached to these animals, and they make you so proud.”

After his comeback win, Papa’s Golden Boy was put on the path to the Longacres Mile. In his next start, he finished third in the Budweiser Stakes. Papa finished seventh in the Governer’s Stakes and was one of 14 nominated to the Longacres Mile– but only 12 could be entered.

Papa’s Golden Boy and his connections were stuck on the outside looking in. Of the 14 nominated, he was ranked 13th based on earnings within the last two years.

“He might not win it, but he’s going to affect the race to where other horses have to plan on it,” said Lusk. “Then for them to not have an also eligible [list] for the race and to see horses scratch out of it… It was frustrating.”

Papa’s Golden Boy ran twice more in 2024, finishing fifth in an allowance and the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic Stakes.

He began his 2025 campaign by finishing second in an allowance, beaten three lengths by Slew’s Tiz Whiz.

“I actually thought the first race back this year was better than his first race back last year,” said Lusk.

Now a 9-year-old, the goal is once again the Longacres Mile. Papa’s Golden Boy takes another step toward that goal in the June 22 Budweiser Stakes, seeking a third win and first stakes victory since his return to racing.

He is the outside speed in the Budweiser, which Lusk thinks helps his chances.

After the meet ends, Papa’s Golden Boy will winter at the Gibson’s farm. The Lusks will let Papa tell them if he will race at 10, or begin a second career as a hunter jumper prospect for Kyle’s daughter, or as a track pony.

“We won’t run him in a claiming race,” said Lusk. “Once he’s done showing that [he can’t compete] in those allowance-type races, we’ll retire him.”