Milord (horse)

Milord (January 16, 2022 – February 16, 2025) was an Indonesian racehorse. Despite his relatively small stature, Milord gained popularity in North Sulawesi, where he was regarded as the region's favorite racehorse and a potential contender for the next Triple Crown winner. However, he was involved in a mid-race collision with another horse at the Jateng Derby, before the start of the Triple Crown series, and died shortly afterward.

Milord was a bay horse who was bred in Indonesia by Bendang Stable. He was foaled on January 16, 2022, in Pinabetengan, West Tompaso, Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi.^[1] He was sired by Da Vinci Eclipse out of Fitri Nagari. Through his damsire Red Giant, he was a descendant of Kingmambo.

According to Pordasi's classification of racehorse breeds, he is a KP5 breed horse, meaning that he is the 5th generation of crossbreeding between a Thoroughbred and a local horse.^[1] His short height of around 153 cm classified him within the C/D class in competitions.

He was transferred to the ownership of Miranda Stable on August 2, 2023. Milord made his debut at the Maesa Tompaso Racecourse, Minahasa Regency on January 27, 2024.

Milord was known for his rivalry with King Argentin, with whom he fought twice, even beating him into second place at the 2024 Pordasi Chairman's Cup (Indonesian: Piala Ketum PP Pordasi). Other than that, he also raced alongside Kamaka Eclipse, fighting against him four times in both series of the 2024 Tiga Mahkota and Kejurnas races.

Though his stature was smaller compared to the other racehorses he raced with, his achievements in competitions gained him popularity and appreciation from the people of North Sulawesi, eventually earning him the title of "North Sulawesi's Flagship Racehorse^[a]" and "The Little Challenger"^[b].

In the 2025 Jateng Derby, Milord was involved in a fatal racing incident with another contender from West Sumatra, Salvator Minang. This happened at the 18th race, a 1,600-meter event for three-year-old derby horses at Tegalwaton Racecourse, Semarang Regency, Central Java. The race featured potential contenders for the Indonesian Triple Crown series, like King Argentin and Wonder Land.

Earlier in the race, Salvator Minang's jockey, Yanni Rondonuwu, was thrown from the saddle at the first corner, leaving the horse running uncontrollably. Milord led the field by about two lengths over Wonder Land after the backstretch. But as all eyes were laid on Milord as he enters the final spurt, he collided head-on with Salvator Minang, who had turned and was running in the opposite direction. The impact threw Milord's jockey, Jones Paendong, from the saddle.^[2]

Both Milord and Salvator Minang died shortly afterward, while the jockeys had to be taken to hospital to receive intensive care.^[3] Following the tragedy, organizers declared the 3-year-old derby 1,600-meter division race void and divided the prize equally among the eleven participants.^[4] Many horse racing fans from North Sulawesi expressed regret and sadness over the incident.

The data below are mostly based on information available on YouTube.^{[5][6][7][8][9][10][11]}

On March 1, almost a month after the tragedy, a regional horse racing competition known as the Milord Memorial Cup was held in his memory.^[12] Later, on June 5, 2025, a monument dedicated to him was also erected in his hometown of West Tompaso. The monument was unveiled by Minahasa Regent Robby Dondokambey and Vice Regent Vanda Sarundajang.^[13] A picture of Milord, a short biography, as well as the words "Farewell, Milord. Your fighting spirit and dedication will always be an inspiration, a boost to morale, and a patriotic spirit^[c]" are engraved on the pedestal.

• Horse racing in Indonesia