In Memoriam: Saluting the Fallen of 2014
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Photo:
Eclipse Sportswire
Now that 2014 has come to a close, it is time to commence
the sad but important task of remembering those we lost throughout the year.
Some we were fortunate enough to love for decades, watching them through their
racing and stud careers. Others left us far too soon, giving us just a glimpse
of their talent before journeying across the Rainbow Bridge. Perhaps the most
heartbreaking example of one we lost far too soon was the death of “Z
Princess,” the inimitable Zenyatta’s
weanling War Front filly. Regardless of whether we loved them for months or
decades, each beautiful Thoroughbred held a special place in the hearts of
their connections and fans alike and will live on through our memories.
Afleet—An
influential stallion and multiple graded stakes winner, Afleet died at age 30
at Breeders Stallion Station in Japan. In 1987, the son of Mr. Prospector took
home the Canadian Sovereign awards for Horse of the Year and Champion 3-Year
Old. Though a successful sire himself, his greatest influence has been as a
sire of sires, with his greatest legacy coming through his Grade 2 winning son
Northern Afleet.
Alidiva—Named
1997 Broodmare of the Year in both Ireland and Italy, Alidiva was a winner both
on the track and as a broodmare. She produced 12 foals to race, nine of which
were winners with 4 earning the distinction of graded stakes winners. A “blue
hen” producer, Alidiva’s first three foals were Irish-bred group 1 winners
Taipan, Ali-Royal and Sleepytime, the latter of which went on to produce stakes
runners herself. Alidiva was 27 at the time of her passing and succumbed to the
infirmities of old age.
Behrens—One of
the top handicap runners of the late 1990s, Behrens passed away at age 20 at
Old Friends at Cabin Creek. A son of Pleasant Colony, Behrens earned more than
$4.5 million on the track, winning 3 Grade 1 events and finishing on the board
in a slew of others. Though not a prolific stallion, Behrens was represented by
one stakes winner and four stakes-placed runners.
Bertrando—The
Eclipse Winner for Older Male in 1993, Bertrando passed away due to the
infirmities of old age. He was 25. He was California’s leading sire in 2005 and
2007. He sired 549 winners from 794 runners, including 60 stakes winner (14
graded races) for progeny earnings of more than $46 million. Notable runners
include Officer, Unfurl the Flag and Tamarando.
Bond Holder—Winner
of the 2013 Grade 1 FrontRunner, Bond Holder was considered one of California’s
top 3-year old prospects. Unfortunately, the Reddam owned runner developed an
abscess in a foot after an eventful trip from the West Coast to (eventually)
the East Coast. The abscess then led to laminitis which the colt was unable to
overcome.
Bridgetown—A
7-year old graded stakes winning son of Speightstown, Bridgetown suffered from
hemorrhaging complications after standing his first and only season at stud. He
compiled a racing record of 23: 9-6-3 with earnings of $993,700.
Caixa Eletronica—A
graded stakes winner, Caixa Eletronica gained his popularity for both his will
to win and his rise from claimer to top class runner. Though he never won at
the highest level, he was Grade 1 placed. A versatile type, “Cash Machine,” the
English translation for the Repole runner's Portuguese name, could win sprints and
middle distance events. He was also a rare type that could succeed at the
bullring that is Charles Town and the more traditional tracks like Belmont.
While in training at Belmont, the horse happened to be at the wrong place at
the wrong time. Six Drivers, a
4-year old maiden, unseated his rider near the starting gate on the training
track and went running loose in the wrong direction. He then collided with
Caixa Eletronica. Both horses died instantly, Caixa Eletronica suffering a fractured
skull and Six Drivers suffering a fractured neck. A 9-year old son of
Arromanches, Caixa Eletronica had 23 wins from 69 lifetime starts for earnings
of $1,863,505.
California Dane—An
11-year old son of Danehill (USA), California Dane died following post-colic
surgery. He was best known as the sire of Group 1 winning sprinter Rebel Dane.
Chriselliam—A
champion across the pond and here in the U.S., Chriselliam triumphed in both
the Fillies’ Mile at Ascot and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa
Anita. With the sky the limit for her career, Chriselliam was a leading QIPCO
1000 Guineas hope before succumbing to a poisoned foot.
Cigar—Two-time
Horse of the Year was very nearly beyond compare. If not for a sterility issue
that prevented him from proving himself in the barn as well as on the track,
the son of Palace Music very well could have entered the history books as one
of the most influential runners of the modern era. As it stands, very few can
compare to the popular champion on the track. He strung together 16 consecutive
victories, tying Citation’s mark. He was named Horse of the Year and Champion
Older Male in 1995 and 1996, was named Racehorse of the Decade for the 1990s
and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2002,
his first year of eligibility.
Commendable—The
2000 Belmont Stakes winner died due to colic caused by a small intestinal
strangulation at age 17. The Belmont winner ran 17th of 19 in his
Kentucky Derby and skipped the Preakness before his classic win. He briefly
stood at stud in the U.S. before being sent to Korea. Though he did not produce
any champions, he did consistently produce winners.
Country Side—Believed
to be the oldest living son of Secretariat, Country Side died at the age of 29
at Diamond J Farms in Texas. The son of the legendary Triple Crown winner was a
popular breeding choice for Quarter Horses, Paints and performance horses as
well as Thoroughbreds.
Crusader Sword—Aged
29, Grade 1 winner and pensioned sire Crusader Sword died due to the
infirmities of old age with his owner JoAnn Pepper by his side. A homebred for
the late Paul Mellon’s Rodeby Stables, the son of Damascus compiled a record of
21: 6-3-5 and earnings of $327,476. Standing at stud in New York, the stallion
was represented by 277 winners and 16 stakes winner from 20 crops of racing age
foals.
Dance With Fate—Toyota
Blue Grass Stakes winner Dance With Fate was prepping for the San Diego
Handicap at Del Mar when he bolted and crashed into fence during a routine
morning work. The Grade 1 winner fell hard and lost his exercise rider,
sustaining an injury to his right rear leg. Efforts to save the 3-year old colt
failed.
Dancin’ Renee—Out
of 3-time New York Broodmare of the Year Lolli Lucka Lolli, Dancin’ Renee
herself went on to earn New York honors being named the 1997 New York Horse of
the Year, New York Champion Sprinter and New York Champion Older Female. A
graded stakes winner, Dancin’ Renee retired to Old Friends after being
pensioned. The 22-year old mare lost her life after a long battle with
laminitis.
Dehere—Champion 2-year
old male in 1993, Dehere went on to become a top sire at stud. As a juvenile,
he became just the third horse in history to win the Saratoga Special, Sanford
and Hopeful stakes at Saratoga. He went on to win the Fountain of Youth as a
3-year old before a fractured right hind cannon bone brought his racing career
to a premature end. As a sire, Dehere is responsible for 1,615 foals worldwide
with earnings in excess of $100 million. In the United States, his legacy will
best be remembered through his top-earning runner, Take Charge Lady, dam of
grade 1 winners Take Charge Indy and Will Take Charge. He is also the broodmare
sire of leading sire Midnight Lute. Dehere was 23 when a heart attack claimed
his life in Turkey where he had been standing since 2010.
Delegation—Campaigned
by Mark E. Casse for owner Gary Barber, 5-year old Delegation was a grade 3
winner whose best race was arguably the 2012 edition of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt
Mile in which he finished 3rd. After a layoff and vet scratch,
Delegation was entered in the G3 Vigil Stakes but was bumped at the start and
immediately pulled up. An x-ray revealed a fractured hind leg that led to his
eventual euthanization.
Delta Princess--A multiple grade 3 winner, Delta Princess won 11 times in 30 career starts. However, it was in the breeding shed that she really made a name for herself. Of her 7 foals, 5 have won races with the youngest two yet to make a start. Of the 5, four of her foals are graded stakes placed or graded stakes winners. Her most successful foal to date is Royal Delta, a three-time Eclipse award winner, two-time Breeders' Cup Distaff winner, and earner of more than $4.8 million in purse money. Royal Delta's full brother Empire Way placed 2nd in the G2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes, and Carnival Court (by Street Sense) placed 3rd in the G1 Alabama Stakes. Most recently, Crown Queen continued Delta Princess's legacy as a broodmare by taking the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes. She gave birth to a Street Cry colt in 2013, was barren in 2014 and was in foal to Awesome Again at the time of her passing. Aged 15, Delta Princess was humanely euthanized due to a degenerative stifle condition.
Disco Rico—A Grade
3 winner, Maryland bred Disco Rico stood his stud career first in his home
state and then in New York. Aged 17, the son of Citidancer ultimately succumbed
to laminitis, a condition he had been battling for a couple years. As a sire,
Disco Rico produced 11 stakes winners, including At The Disco and Pure Disco.
Divine Light—Based
in Turkey, Divine Light, 19, passed away due to complications from a lipoma tumor
being coiled around his intestines. Bred in Japan, the stallion placed in 5
group events, eventually retiring with 4 wins from 26 starts and earnings of
$1,836,018. As a sire, he is represented by 5 stakes winners, including Divine
Heart and European and English champion Natagora.
Domasca Dan—Claimed
as a 2-year old, Domasca Dan quickly rose to be a top runner in Canada. At age
3, he ran 2nd in both the Plate Trial and the Prince of Wales and 3rd
in the Queen’s Plate, the latter two races part of the Canadian Triple Crown.
Shipping south to the U.S., he added a score in the G2 Jamaica Handicap. Though
he had a long career at stud, he produced just 178 foals, 5 of them stakes
winners. As a broodmare sire, he is responsible for Canada’s 2001 Horse of the
Year Win City and Canada’s 2010 champion female sprinter Indian Apple Is.
Infirmities of old age claimed the popular stallion at age 28.
El Vino—A gelded
son of Include, El Vino was best known as Zenyatta’s work mate. Aged 8, the
gelding passed away due to a paddock accident. Recently retired, El Vino had
been playing high spiritedly when he broke his leg.
Fast Bullet—One of
the U.S.’s leading sprinters in 2013, Fast Bullet was campaigned by Zayat
Stables and famously topped grade 1 winning stablemate Justin Phillip in the
2013 G2 True North Handicap. He stood his one and only year at stud at WinStar
Farm, and his only foal crop is due to hit the ground in 2015. A case of colic
claimed the stallion’s life at age 6.
Flatterer—A four-time
champion Steeplechase horse and the oldest living Eclipse Award winner and
Thoroughbred Hall of Famer, passed away at 35. During his six racing seasons,
he captured 24 wins, 13 of them steeplechase stakes events, from 52 starts. For
the past 25 years, Flatterer resided at Bill Pape’s My Way Farm and did some
dressage work. He was euthanized due to the infirmities of old age and buried
in his pasture.
General Challenge—California’s
top 3-year old (1999) and top older male (2000) was euthanized at 18 after his “condition
deteriorated rapidly,” according to the Golden Eagle Farm’s, where he resided,
Facebook page. A gelding, General Challenge won the 1999 Santa Anita Derby and
Pacific Classic and the 2000 Santa Anita Handicap. In total, he earned more
than $2.8 million.
Goodbye Halo—A 7-time
Grade 1 winner, Goodbye Halo had the misfortune to come along at the same time
as the legendary fillies Personal Ensign, Winning Colors and Bayakoa. Only a
season such as the one Winning Colors put together in 1988 could have topped a
year that saw Goodbye Halo win the G3 Santa Ynez, the G1 Las Virgenes, the G1
Kentucky Oaks, the G1 Mother Goose and the G1 Coaching Club American Oaks. Aged
29, Goodbye Halo passed away from natural causes.
High Chaparral—The
winner of two Breeders’ Cup Turf events, the 2002 Derby at Epsom and the Irish
Derby was euthanized following colic surgery complications at age 15. As a
sire, he was responsible for Cox Plate winner So You Think.
Intense Holiday—Grade
2 winner Intense Holiday sustained a condylar fracture to his right foreleg
while preparing for the Belmont Stakes. He underwent surgery and owner
Starlight Racing reported that while he would be retired from racing, they were
optimistic that he would recover and go on to have a successful stud career.
Unfortunately the Harlan’s Holiday colt developed laminitis in both forelegs
and had to be euthanized.
Jazil—Winner of
the 2006 Belmont Stakes in last-to-first fashion, Jazil died after sustaining
an injury in his paddock. The Sheikh Hamdan owned stallion was 11. A half-sister
to 2007 Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches, Jazil has just four crops racing
and is responsible for Venezuelan Horse of the Year Comediante.
Johar—In a
bizarre and perhaps fitting twist of fate, Johar lost his life in the same year
as High Chaparral. The two stallions dead-heated for the win in the 2003
Breeders’ Cup Turf. He also won the G1 Hollywood Derby in 2002 and finished 2nd
in the G1 Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship, caught in the stretch
after showing the way throughout the 1 ¼ mile race. A paddock injury claimed
the life of the son of Gone West. He was 15.
Laughing—A dual
grade 1 winner and 2013 finalist for the Eclipse Award for Champion Turf
Female, Laughing won 8 of her 16 lifetime starts and earned more than $1.1
million. The 6-year old mare came down with a bout of colic and unfortunately
passed during life-saving surgery. Among her victories were the G1 Diana, the
G1 Flower Bowl Invitational and the G2 Ketel One Ballston Spa.
Lammtarra—A dominant
middle distance runner, Lammtarra won the Derby, King George VI and Queen
Elizabeth Stakes and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe as a 3-year old in 1995. He
was not a huge success at stud and was 22 at the time of his death.
Lochsong—A top-class
sprinter, Lochsong paired a front-running style with her speed to post 15 wins
from 27 career starts across the pond. After winning the King George, Nunthorpe
and Prix de l’Abbaye in 1993, she was crowned European Champion Sprinter and
European Horse of the Year for the season. She also earned European Champion
Sprinter honors in 1994. A case of colic claimed the mare’s life at age 26.
Longview Drive--A multiple graded stakes placed son of Pulpit, Longview Drive was a winner of 4 races from 24 starts. The 5-year old chestnut made his last start in the G3 Cougar II Handicap in which he suffered a broken leg a quarter mile into the race. He was later euthanized after being vanned off the turf course at Del Mar.
Lucky One—Best known
as the dam of champion Blind Luck, Lucky One died at age 12.
Mars—A son of
leading sire Galileo, Mars’ best race was a 3rd place finish in the
Group 1 St. James’s Palace Stakes. He consistently faced Europe’s best runners.
Part of a large field in the 2014 edition of the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic,
Mars ran into trouble early in the 1 ½ mile race. From the rail, he bore out
sharply, eventually crossing all the way over to the outside rail and flipping
over it. He subsequently suffered a cardiac event and passed on his own. He was
4.
My Flag—A four-time
grade 1 winner, My Flag lost her life to foaling complications after giving
birth to a healthy Bernardini foal. Bred and raced by Ogden Phipps, My Flag was
the result of the pairing of two champions, Easy Goer and the undefeated Hall
of Famer mare Personal Ensign. On the track, she earned more than $1.5 million,
and her victories included the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and the Coaching
Club American Oaks. As a broodmare, My Flag produced champion Storm Flag Flying.
In addition, her filly On Parade produced dual graded stakes winner Parading.
She was 21 at the time of her death.
My Tombola—Age 25,
My Tombola was the paddock buddy of champion steeplechase horse Flatterer. The
mare was euthanized on the same day as her buddy, also due to the infirmities
of old age.
Noble Causeway—Bred
in Kentucky, Noble Causeway was from Giant Causeway’s first crop. As a sire,
his best runners were Wood Memorial runner-up Samraat and Noble Killer, a
winner at the highest level in Mexico. After battling laminitis, the 12-year
old stallion was euthanized when his condition deteriorated.
Onlyforyou—Multiple
grade II winner Onlyforyou suffered a displaced condylar fracture while
galloping out after a preparatory work for the Gulfstream Park Oaks. Undefeated
in 4 career starts, the filly was considered a top contender for the Kentucky
Oaks.
Oscar Whisky—Winner
of 16 of 28 career starts, Oscar Whisky was a popular steeplechase horse who
was particularly effective at Cheltenham. The Nicky Henderson trained 9-year
old fell at the sixth fence in the 888Sport-backed Tingle Creek and suffered a
fatal injury to his hind leg.
Patton—By Lord At
War and out of the Seattle Slew mare Slew Me Down, Patton was a grade 3 winning
sprinter. As a sire, he was responsible for grade 3 winner Patton’s Victory and
multiple graded stakes winner and millionaire Kelly’s Landing. Patton had been
retired to Old Friends after being pensioned from stud duty. The 23-year old
stallion had been facing a variety of medical issues that negatively impacted
his quality of life and was thus humanely euthanized.
Prized—Winner of
the 1989 Breeders’ Cup Turf and sire of Groupie Doll’s paddock buddy and grade
1 winner Brass Hat, Prized, 28, was euthanized due to the infirmities of old
age at Old Friends in Georgetown, KY. He won stakes on dirt and turf, and his
BC Turf victory was his first start on that surface. He amassed earnings of
$2,262,555 from a 17: 9-2-3. As a sire, he was represented by 39 stakes winners
from 19 crops including 2008 Auckland Cup winner Prize Lady. He was also a
productive broodmare sire; his daughter Fun House produced grade 1 winners
Untapable and Paddy O’Prado.
Rodrigo de Triano—A
five-time Group 1 winner, Rodrigo de Triano succumbed to pneumonia at age 25.
He won both the 2,000 Guinea and the Irish 2,000 Guineas as a 3-year old and
added victories in the Juddmonte International and the Champion Stakes later in
his career. As a sire, he was responsible for Japanese Oaks winner Erimo Excel.
S. S. Hot Sauce—A
three-time stakes winner and sire, S. S. Hot Sauce passed away from natural
causes at age 33. He had a limited but rather productive stud career. From 32
foals, 18 were winners and one was a stakes-placed runner.
Safely Kept—Winner
of 24 of 31 starts, 22 of Safely Kept’s victories came in stakes races. She ran
2nd in the 1989 Breeders’ Cup Sprint and followed that up with a win
the following year in the same event. She was awarded the 1989 Eclipse Award
for Champion Sprinter and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011. As a
broodmare, she produced 8 winners from as many starters. Aged 28, Safely Kept
was euthanized due to the infirmities of old age at Burleson Farms.
Sage Valley—Dual
grade 3 winning Sage Valley perished due to a cardiac event a sixteenth past
the finish line of an optional claiming event at Aqueduct. He was 5.
Secret Heart—Group
1 placed in four events in her Native South Africa, Secret Heart was a stakes
winner that raced both in South Africa and the United States. Her first mating
was to More Than Ready, a cross that produced 2010 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf
winner Pluck. Aged 15, the mare was found dead in her Denali Stud stall from
unknown causes. She was in foal to Point of Entry when she passed.
Socialbug—By Curlin,
Socialbug was grade 3 placed by virtue of her runner-up performance in the 2014
Winning Colors, a race that would ultimately be her last. While in training at
Churchill Downs, the 4-year old filly suffered an injury that claimed her life
and injured jockey Rosie Napravnik.
St Nicholas Abbey—It
took more than one life-threatening condition to bring down the heroic 6-time
grade1/group 1 winner St Nicholas Abbey. The winner of the 2011 Breeders’ Cup
Turf first faced surgery after fracturing his right foreleg while training at
Ballydoyle in Ireland in July. The son of Montjeu then developed laminitis in
October while recuperating from his injury and subsequent surgery. Just when it
looked as though the 7-year old would pull through both the injury and the
laminitis, “life” took another shot at him. A bout of colic sent St Nicholas
Abbey back to the surgeon where it was revealed that a severe strangulating
colon torsion could not be resolved. As with Paynter, fans worldwide closely
monitored social media for updates on the popular racer, sending prayers and
well wishes out to all connected to the stallion. Unfortunately a miracle could
not be worked in this case, leading to a global mourning. Other victories in
the stallion’s career included the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, the G1 Coronation
Cup (2011, 2012) and the G1 Racing Post Trophy.
Strategic Maneuver—A
daughter of Cryptoclearance, Strategic Maneuver was a dual grade 1 winner at 2
in 1993, taking the Spinaway and the Matron. She produced 12 foals after her retirement
from racing. At age 24, the mare was put down due to the infirmities of old age
at Brushwood Farm in Pennsylvania.
Street Cry—Darley’s
top stallion and sire of Zenyatta and Street Sense was humanely euthanized
after suffering complications relating to a neurological condition. All
together, Street Cry was responsible for 17 Northern Hemisphere Grade 1
winners. From nine crops of racing age, the stallion’s progeny earned more than
$84.3 million. Six earned championships and 49 were graded stakes winners.
Street Cry himself was a success on the track as well as in the breeding shed.
Among his victories were the Dubai World Cup and the Stephen Foster Handicap.
Sunshine Forever—A
multiple graded stakes winner, Sunshine Forever recorded a trio of consecutive
grade 1 wins in the Man O’ War, Turf Classic and Budweiser International stakes
as a 3-year old. He would go on to finish 2nd in that year’s
Breeders’ Cup Turf, but that trio of grade 1 victories coupled with additional
wins earlier in the season was enough to merit the son of Roberto the 1988
Eclipse Award for Champion Turf Horse. He retired from racing with 8 wins from
23 starts and earnings in excess of $2 million. He stood at stud in Japan
before returning to the U.S. to live out the rest of his life at Old Friends.
Aged 29, Sunshine Forever passed away in his paddock from unknown causes.
Sweet Shani—A multiple
grade 1 placed steeplechase mare for owner/trainer Jonathan Sheppard, Sweet
Shani was an iron maiden of sorts, winning 8 races from 39 starts in 8 seasons
of racing. She regularly faced males and held her own against them. Aged 14,
the beautiful gray mare passed away due to complications of foaling after
delivering a colt.
The Name's Jimmy—A
son of Encino, The Name’s Jimmy set a stakes record while winning the 1992 G2
American Derby on the turf. As a sire, he wasn’t super successful, but he did
sire 6 stakes winners from 13 racing age crops. Perhaps the most remarkable
aspect of his life came during 2005. The stallion entered stud duty in 1995 at
Crestwood Farm in Kentucky. He was then moved to Hill ‘N Dale Farm in Illinois
before being shipped to Elite Thoroughbreds in Louisiana. Elite was right in
the path of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and “Jimmy” disappeared in the bayou for
two days after the monster hurricane pounded the area. He miraculously survived
the experience none the worse for the wear. Aged 25, The Name’s Jimmy was
euthanized at Old Friends due to increasingly severe mobility issues.
The Usual Q. T.—A
3-time California champion, The Usual Q. T. compiled a 23: 8-6-6 record for
earnings in excess of $1.5 million. Graded stakes victories included the G1
Hollywood Derby in 2009 and the G1 Eddie Read in 2010. A gelded son of Unusual Heat, The Usual Q. T.
was retired in 2012. The gelding
survived a bout of colic in early 2013, but late that year he developed peritonitis,
an inflammation in the stomach lining. Every effort was made to save the
champion, but when his condition significantly worsened, the tough decision was
made to humanely euthanize him.
This Guy is Blue—By
Medaglia d’Oro, This Guy is Blue was produced by Kim’s Blues, who is likely
best known as Rachel Alexandra’s grand-dam. Still a maiden at age 3, This Guy
is Blue fractured his right foreleg and was subsequently euthanized.
Thorn Song—Winner
of the 2008 G1 Shadwell Turf Mile and the 2009 G1 Shoemaker Mile, Thorn Song
was campaigned by Zayat Stables. In a career that spanned 2005-2009, the son of
Unbridled’s Song won 8 times in 29 starts for over $1.1 million in purse money.
He suffered a career ending injury in 2009 and spent 1 ½ years at the Alamo
Pintado Veterinary Clinic recovering. He entered stud duty in 2011 and had just
29 foals in his first crop. At the time of his passing, Thorn Song also had 41
yearlings, had covered 57 mares in 2013 and 11 mares in an abbreviated 2014
season. Hoof issues that began while he was recovering from his 2009 injury
eventually led to a severe case of laminitis, the condition which ultimately
claimed his life.
Trading Leather—Winner
of the 2013 Group 1 Irish Derby, Trading Leather was one of Europe’s top
runners. The Godolphin owned son of Teofilo then took his act to another
continent, making what would be his final start in the Group 1 Japan Cup. He
sustained a serious fracture very early in the running of the race and could
not be saved. The Irish Derby winner was 4.
Unbridled Belle—A
multiple graded stakes winner, Unbridled Belle was purchased by Japanese
interests for $400,000 at the Keeneland January Horses of all Ages Sale. While
in quarantine in Japan, the 11-year old mare delivered a Bernardini foal. Two
days after giving birth, Unbridled Belle died due to foaling complications; her
newborn foal also died.
Urbane—A daughter
of Citidancer, Urbane won or placed in 16 of 18 starts and earned just over $1
million in purse money. Among her victories were the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes and
the G1 John A. Morris Handicap. As a broodmare, she turned out to be as good a
producer as she was a racer during her former career. Among her progeny are
millionaire Suave and stakes winner Worldly, both by A. P. Indy. Aged 22, Urbane
passed away after giving birth to an Into Mischief filly the night before.
Vagabond Shoes—A group/graded
winner on two continents, Vagabond Shoes was pulled up in the G2 San Luis Rey
at Santa Anita and vanned off the course. It was later revealed that the 7-year
old gelding had suffered a cannon bone injury in his left hind leg and had to
be euthanized. His two U.S. victories came in the G2 Del Mar Handicap and the
G2 San Marcos Stakes.
Vision in Gold—Winner
of the 2011 edition of the G2 Santa Maria Stakes, Vision in Gold was a 7-year
old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro and out of the Corporate Report mare Corporate
Vision. Owned by Jay Em Ess Stable and trained by Ron Ellis, the dark bay mare
succumbed to a bout of colic.
Wando—Winner of
the 2003 Canadian Triple Crown, Wando was awarded the Sovereign Awards for 2003
Horse of the Year and Champion 3-Year Old. The son of Langfuhr entered stud at
2006 but was not a huge success. However, he did produce two stakes winners,
including grade 1 winner Turallure who predeceased him. Aged 14, the stallion
died of a suspected heart attack.
Willow Woodman—A
graded stakes producer, Willow Woodman herself was not a success on the track,
winning just twice in 17 starts. Among her progeny is Willow O Wisp, a four
time graded stakes winner that set a turf course record in the 2005 G2 Del Mar
Derby. Aged 23, Willow Woodman passed away due to the infirmities of old age.
Z Princess—The weanling
offspring of Zenyatta and War Front, the promising “Z Princess,” as she was
affectionately known, was euthanized following a paddock accident at Lane’s End
Farm. Though she had yet to begin training, Z Princess already had a huge
following due to being the daughter of “Queen Z.”
Zaikov—A promising
son of Distorted Humor out of champion Wait A While, Zaikov made just 2 starts
in a career that was tragically cut short. Trained by Todd Pletcher for
owner/breeder Arindel Farm, Zaikov was euthanized after suffering an injury in
a routine workout. The 4-year old had been plagued by soundness issues but
still showed brilliance on the track.
2014 was the Chinese Year of the Horse, but ironically, the
year was anything but good to the equine athletes we love so dearly. Old
Friends had a particularly tough year, losing many among their number.
Laminitis and colic were the leading causes of death despite valiant efforts on
our part to promote research and find a cure for the former disease. Accidents
continued to happen even as horsemen took steps to further increase the safety
of the horses and riders alike, and even with the best security measures in
place, accidents will always be a part of life at the track. We salute our
brave equine athletes, whether they were included in published memorials or
not, and take comfort in knowing that their earthly pains are no more. Goodbye
2014 and fondest farewells to those we lost throughout the year.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
~Mary Elizabeth Frye
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C2 Racing Stable and Gary Barber issued the following statement Tuesday regarding the post-parade scratch of White Abarrio...
The Grade 3 Mother Goose Stakes on Saturday at Aqueduct is a competitive matchup between established Grade 1...
This week's Prospect Watch showcases young horses with elite bloodlines making their debuts and early career starts across...
While most attention was on the Breeders' Cup last week, several horses got their first wins in impressive...
The Triple Crown Tracker checks in with the horses who raced in the 2025 Kentucky Derby, Preakness and...