Songbird Retired from Racing

Songbird has been officially retired from racing, after x-rays taken following her defeat in last Saturday's Personal Ensign revealed injuries to the two-time champion's rear hind legs, and the recurrence of bone bruising, owner Rick Porter announced today.

Posting on the Fox Hill Farm Facebook page, Porter says that Songbird was sent to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital to be examined following the Jerry Hollendorfer-trained mare's second-place finish to Forever Unbridled at Saratoga.

Here is an excerpt from the Porter's post of this morning ...

"After this past race, we thought something seemed off in her hind end, so we sent her to Rood & Riddle for an evaluation. Her lameness was readily apparent to Dr. Bramlage, and ultrasounds proved both hind suspensories were enlarged. Since suspensories are usually the result of something else amiss and he knew of her history, Dr. Bramlage shot a set of x-rays of the area of bone Songbird had issues with over the Winter. A distinct line on the bone was present. We followed up with a bone scan, and then an MRI.

Unfortunately, the results weren't what we wanted to see. We have a situation where it'd be dangerous for Songbird to continue training, and Dr. Bramlage isn't optimistic that the site will fully resolve even if given ample time.

So for this reason, we are retiring our lovely Songbird. She was an absolute joy to race, and we expect that she'll be as wonderful a broodmare as she was a racehorse. She took us on an incredible and unforgettable journey. While we're sad that we must retire her, we absolutely cannot risk having another Eight Belles kind of devastation and are ultimately happy that she is retiring in good health. May she soar to new heights in her future journey."

Songbird retires with a sparkling career record of 15-13-2-0, including 12 stakes wins, and earnings of $4,692,000. The daughter of Medaglia d'Oro was named Champion Juvenile Filly in 2015 and Champion Three-Year-Old Filly in 2016.

More on this developing story will be published, as it becomes available.