Broussard Loses Stonehouse

Arlington’s Prairie State Festival, a group of six races restricted to Thoroughbreds in the Illinois program, takes center stage June 19 at the Chicago oval, but unfortunately will be without the participation of Richard Rudolph and Michael Vranich’s Stonehouse, one of the top Illinois-bred Thoroughbreds of recent years.

Stonehouse finished fourth in Arlington’s Black Tie Affair Handicap in 2008 and was third in the Springfield Stakes of 2007, but died suddenly a fortnight ago without an immediate explanation.  However, trainer Spanky Broussard explained the cause of death this week.

“Between the large intestine and the small intestine of a horse there is a little extra appendage that is similar to the appendix in a human,” said Broussard.  “What happened was that somehow that section got twisted and wrapped around inside him.  The vet tried his best to save him but he was gone in an hour.  I’ve never had anything like that happen to any of my horses before.

“He was a good horse,” said Broussard, who saddled his first winner at Arlington 40 years ago this month.  “He won the Grade III Mineshaft for me in New Orleans last winter.”