On of the great chasers of the last two decades, Florida Pearl, has sadly died aged 20. The Irish National Stud released the following statement:
“We are saddened to inform you that on the evening of May 5, 2012, a decision was made on veterinary advice to euthanise Florida Pearl. The 20-year-old gelding, in residence at the Irish National Stud for five years, was diagnosed with a condition known as haemangisarcoma, a word deriving from ‘malignant cancer of the blood vessels. It is a rare condition which swiftly affects many organs once it spreads from its primary focus – in this case it originated in the spleen. Florida Pearl was a firm favourite among visitors to the INS and earned his retirement after a career which contained Grade One wins in seven seasons. One of the greatest steeplechasers we have seen, his speed was also obvious in his Cheltenham Championship Bumper success. Our thanks and sympathies go to the O’Leary family and the Mullins family, who have many memories to treasure.”
Willie Mullins trained Florida Pearl to 16 career wins under six different jockeys. James Nash was in the saddle for the initial Leopardstown bumper win and it was Richard Dunwoody who guided Florida Pearl to Cheltenham Bumper and RSA Chase success. The horse later landing big races under Adrian Maguire, Paul Carberry , Barry Geraghty and in 2004 under Richard Johnson. Florida Pearl’s 16 career wins are tabled below:
| Date | Race | Course | Dist | Jockey | SP |
| 08-Feb-04 | Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup | Leopardstown | 24f | R Johnson | 5/1 |
| 18-Jan-04 | Normans Grove Chase | Fairyhouse | 17f | R Johnson | 8/1 |
| 24-Apr-02 | Punchestown Heineken Gold Cup Chase | Punchestown | 24f | B J Geraghty | 13/8f |
| 04-Apr-02 | Martell Cup Chase | Aintree | 25f | B J Geraghty | 5/2 |
| 26-Dec-01 | Pertemps King George VI Chase | Kempton | 24f | A Maguire | 8/1 |
| 09-Dec-01 | John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase | Punchestown | 20f | P Carberry | 5/1 |
| 04-Feb-01 | Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup | Leopardstown | 24f | R Johnson | 5/4f |
| 06-Feb-00 | Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup | Leopardstown | 24f | P Carberry | 8/11f |
| 23-Jan-00 | Bax Global Ext. Handicap Chase | Leopardstown | 19f | P Carberry | 2/5f |
| 06-Nov-99 | James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase | Down Royal | 25f | P Carberry | 11/10f |
| 07-Feb-99 | Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup | Leopardstown | 24f | R Dunwoody | 8/15f |
| 18-Mar-98 | Royal & Sunalliance Chase | Cheltenham | 25f | R Dunwoody | 11/8f |
| 08-Feb-98 | Dr.P.J.Moriarty Memorial Novice Chase | Leopardstown | 21f | R Dunwoody | 8/11f |
| 29-Dec-97 | Farming Independent Beginners Chase | Leopardstown | 19f | R Dunwoody | Evsf |
| 12-Mar-97 | Weatherbys Champion Bumper | Cheltenham | 16f | R Dunwoody | 6/1 |
| 26-Dec-96 | Ballyfree (4 Y O) I.N.H. Flat Race | Leopardstown | 16f | Mr J Nash | 6/4f |
Arguably Florida Pearl’s greatest victory came in the 2001 King George VI Chase :
Florida Pearl was particularly effective around Leopardstown landing successive Hennessy Gold Cups between 1999-2001:
