Retired in 2012, But Not Forgotten
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Photo:
Eclipse Sportswire
The New Year, a time for new beginnings, is fast approaching, but before we look ahead to a new racing season, I think it is fitting that we pause to say good-bye and good luck to those that are leaving the track and moving on to their second careers. It is obviously nearly impossible to provide a comprehensive list of every single horse retiring this year, but I have provided below a list of the major movers and shakers that have called it quits.
Aikenite—Dual Grade 2 winner and multiple graded stakes placed
Algorithms—Undefeated; winner of the 2012 G3 Holy Bull Stakes
Astrology—Grade 3 winner and multiple graded stakes placed
Awesome Feather—Undefeated in first 10 career starts; Dual Grade 1 winner; winner of the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and 2010 Eclipse Award for Champion Juvenile Filly
Awesome Gem--Grade 1 winner; multiple graded stakes placed; 3rd in the 2007 Breeders' Cup Classic
Awesome Maria—Multiple graded stakes winner
Belle Royale—Grade 1 winner
Bodemeister—Grade 1 winner; multiple graded stakes placed; never worse than 2nd in 6 career starts; Runner-up in both the 2012 Kentucky Derby and 2012 Preakness Stakes
Boys At Tosconova—Grade 1 winner; multiple graded stakes placed; never worse than third in 9 career starts; runner up in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Brilliant Speed-Grade 1 winner; multiple graded stakes placed; third in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Turf and third in the 2011 Belmont Stakes
Caleb's Posse—Dual Grade 1 winner; multiple graded stakes placed; winner of the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile
Calibrachoa—Five time Grade 3 winner; multiple graded stakes placed
Country Day—Multiple stakes winner; multiple graded stakes placed; runner up in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint
Creative Cause—Grade 1 winner; multiple graded stakes placed; earned over a million dollars in ten career starts
Danedream—Five-time Group 1 winner, including the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes
Dean's Kitten—Grade 2 winner; multiple graded stakes placed
Dialed In—Dual graded stakes winner; winner of the 2011 Florida Derby
Empire Way—Runner-up in Robert B. Lewis Stakes
Field Commission—Multiple graded stakes winner
Frankel—multiple Group 1 winner; undefeated in 14 career starts; 1st in World Thoroughbred Rankings in 2011; European Horse of the Year in 2011 and 2012; European Champion 2-Year Old in 2010; European Champion 3-Year Old in 2011; European Champion Older Horse in 2012
Gemologist—Multiple graded stakes winner; undefeated in first 5 career starts
Get Stormy—Three time Grade 1 winner; multiple graded stakes placed
Hansen—Multiple graded stakes winner; undefeated in first 3 career starts; winner of the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile; 2011 Eclipse award winner for Champion 2-Year Old
Havre de Grace—Three time Grade 1 winner; winner of the 2011 Woodward Stakes versus males; 3rd in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic; 2011 Eclipse Award winner for Horse of the Year and Champion Older Female
I'll Have Another—Three time Grade 1 winner; winner of the 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes; will likely be voted the 2012 Champion 3-Year Old
In Lingerie—Multiple graded stakes winner and graded stakes placed
It's Tricky--Three time Grade 1 winner; multiple graded stakes placed; runner up in the 2011 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic
Jackson Bend--Dual Grade 1 winner; multiple graded stakes placed; 3rd in the 2010 Preakness Stakes
Jersey Town—Multiple grades stakes winner and graded stakes placed
Kauto Star—Five time winner of the King George VI Chase; National Hunt Order of Merit for 2006/07 and 2007/08; Top rated steeplechase horse for 2006/07, 2008/09, 2009/10, and 2011/12
Maclean's Music—Earned a 114 Beyer for his first and only race, the highest ever for a first time starter
Mission Impazible—Dual Grade 2 winner; multiple graded stakes placed
Musketier--Multiple graded stakes winner and graded stakes placed
Nahrain—Dual Group 1/Grade 1 winner; undefeated in first 4 career starts; runner up in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf
Now I Know—Grade 3 winner
Overdriven—Grade 2 winner
Plum Pretty—Dual Grade 1 winner; multiple graded stakes placed
Princess Arabella—Stakes winner; undefeated in 3 career starts
Rapid Redux—Won 22 consecutive races, including 19 in 2011 to equal Citation’s modern-day United States record; winner of the 2011 Secretariat Vox Populi Award, the 2012 Maryland Horse Industry Touch of Class Award, and the 2011 Eclipse Special Award
Redeemed—Grade 2 winner; multiple graded stakes placed
Rule—Multiple graded stakes winner and graded stakes placed
Santiva—Grade 2 winner; multiple graded stakes placed
Shackleford—Three time Grade 1 winner; winner of the 2011 Preakness Stakes; Second in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile
Smart Bid—Multiple graded stakes winner and graded stakes placed
So You Think—Multiple stakes winner; 4th in the 2012 Dubai World Cup
Soaring Empire—Grade 3 winner; multiple graded stakes placed
Star Guitar—Multiple stakes winner; graded stakes placed; all time leading Louisiana-Bred earner
Stay Thirsty—Dual Grade 1 winner; multiple graded stakes placed; 2nd in the 2011 Belmont Stakes
Tapizar—Multiple Graded stakes winner and graded stakes placed; winner of the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile
The Factor—Dual Grade 1 winner; multiple graded stakes placed
Thunder Moccasin—Grade 2 winner; undefeated in 2 career starts
To Honor and Serve—Dual Grade 1 winner; multiple graded stakes placed
Turbulent Descent—Four time Grade 1 winner; multiple graded stakes placed
Union Rags—Dual Grade 1 winner; multiple graded stakes placed; runner up in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile; winner of the 2012 Belmont Stakes
Unzip Me—4 time Grade 3 winner; multiple graded stakes placed; 3rd place in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint
Vision in Gold—Grade 2 winner; multiple graded stakes placed
Winter Memories—Dual Grade 1 winner; multiple graded stakes winner and graded stakes placed; runner up in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
Zazu—Dual Grade 1 winner; multiple graded stakes winner and graded stakes placed; 3rd in the 2011 Kentucky Oaks
Two superstars that are not on this list that deserve to be recognized are Black Caviar and Paynter. Black Caviar was retired following her Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes victory at Ascot, but she was subsequently brought back out of retirement after further consideration. On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, Paynter was not even expected to live following a colitis diagnosis and after developing laminitis in three of his four feet. But courageous Paynter beat the odds, and the Zayats have decided to try to race him again next year rather than retire him should his health allow that to be an option.
This year’s retirements include those that never had the opportunity to realize their full potential due to injury and those that had long, happy careers on the track. Good-bye dear friends and beloved competitors. Good-bye and good luck. We look forward to seeing your progeny pick up where you left off.
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