Justify honored at Derby Museum as he adapts to retirement

A banner displaying the likeness of WinStar Farm’s silks was raised Wednesday at the Kentucky Derby Museum to commemorate Justify, the 2018 Triple Crown winner.

Museum visitors filled the great hall, toasting a Mint Julep to Justify’s legacy as they watched the stretch runs of his Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes victories on the 360-degree video screen. 

The two-story great hall displays 12 other banners from the ceiling, all featuring the silks of previous Triple Crown champions. Justify’s banner, featuring WinStar’s silks to represent what jockey Mike Smith wore in the Kentucky Derby, is now hanging at the head of them all.

Winstar’s marketing coordinator, Bethany Wurl, said Justify is acclimating “pretty well” since arriving to the Versailles, Ky., farm last week.

“It’s very different from what he’s used to on the track,” Wurl said. “Even just the grass has been something a little different for him. We’ve just been, again, taking it day by day and we’re very pleased with how he’s handling it so far.”

Wurl said Justify’s daily routine includes time in his stall as well as turnout while he adjusts to his surroundings. He is also walked in front of WinStar’s other stallions, the beginning of a transition to his next career. Justify is also expected to be available for WinStar tours, which sold out almost immediately, starting Aug. 13, .

“Some people are asking us to start more tours, but we’re just kind of seeing how he handles all of this,” Wurl said. “This is all a very new experience for him. The people have definitely spoken. They want to see him, understandably so, so we’re going to try and accommodate them as much as we can.”

Justify’s retirement was announced July 25 once, due to swelling in the colt's ankle, trainer Bob Baffert said there may not be enough time to ready him for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The son of Scat Daddy was unbeaten in six starts, going from a maiden winner to a Triple Crown winner in just 112 days, and earned almost $3.8 million on the track.

Owned by WinStar, China Horse Club and SF Racing, Justify is adjusting to life away at the track while the future location of his stud career remains uncertain.

“There’s certainly talks of a deal with Coolmore,” Wurl said, “but at this time nothing’s been finalized, so we won’t know for a little while. We’re just trying to enjoy him at least for now in the moment while we can.”