Grindstone, 1996 Kentucky Derby winner, dies at 29

Grindstone, winner of the 1996 Kentucky Derby, has died at age 29.

Ben Root, operations manager for Oakhurst Equine Veterinary Services, told Horse Racing Nation that Grindstone was humanely euthanized because of the infirmities of old age. He had been retired and living on Oakhursts's farm in Newberg, Ore.

"He already had some old age, old man issues going on and he just kind of took a took a pretty hard turn the last 48 hours," Root said. "… He just wasn't himself, and he was extremely uncomfortable."

Grindstone, a son of 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled, was trained by D. Wayne Lukas. He won the Louisiana Derby (G3) and was second in the Arkansas Derby (G2) on his way to the Kentucky Derby.

Shortly after his win at Churchill Downs, he was retired after a bone chip was discovered in his right knee. With a career record of 6: 3-2-0, he earned $1,224,510.

Among Grindstone's progeny was Birdstone, who finished eighth in the Kentucky Derby and went on to win the Belmont Stakes and Travers (G1).

Grindstone was the oldest living winner of a Triple Crown race. Silver Charm, who is at Old Friends, is now the oldest living Kentucky Derby winner.

Root's parents, Dr. Jack Root and his wife, Margaret, own Oakhurst and acquired Grindstone in 2009, Ben Root said, adding that he became a top stallion in the area.

"He put out a lot of very decent – for the region – runners. He also has horses competing at fairly high levels in other disciplines."