Lord Nelson to miss 2017 breeding season after contracting Laminitis

Spendthrift Farm’s Lord Nelson, the three-time Grade 1 winner and 2016 Eclipse finalist for Champion Sprinter, has contracted Laminitis which will cause him to miss the 2017 breeding season, the farm announced late Friday.

 

“Lord Nelson has developed Laminitis, secondary to the infection in his right foreleg that caused him to scratch out of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint,” said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift General Manager. “It’s a new setback, but we are cautiously optimistic about his prognosis. With that said, we understand the seriousness of this disease.

 

“Mr. Hughes is committed to always doing what’s best for the horse, and that means Lord Nelson will be withheld from breeding mares this season. Our team has notified all of the breeders from his full book, and our focus is now 100% on bringing him back to good health. We very much appreciate the breeders for their understanding,” he added.

 

Campaigned by trainer Bob Baffert, Lord Nelson captured three consecutive Grade 1 wins in 2016 for Spendthrift en route to becoming a finalist for the Eclipse Award for 2016 Champion Sprinter. The son of Pulpit turned in a record-setting performance in the Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at Del Mar this summer, running six furlongs in 1:07.65 and eclipsing a stakes record that had stood at Del Mar since 1962. He also won the seven-furlong Triple Bend Stakes (G1) and six-furlong Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G1), both at Santa Anita.

 

Lord Nelson was an early favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita before incurring a leg infection that forced him to scratch and retire from racing. Out of the Seeking the Gold mare African Jade, Lord Nelson had been booked full for his first breeding season in 2017 at a stud fee of $25,000 S&N.