Tiz the Law retired to Ashford Stud

Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law has been retired, according to a social media post from Sackatoga Stable, which cited veterinary advice as the reason for cutting short the 3-year-old’s racing career.

The post said the son of Constitution out of Tizfiz, by Tiznow, will stand at Ashford Stud for the 2021 season.

Jack Knowlton, operating manager of Sackatoga Stable, later elaborated on the development with HRN.

"We're sad that Tiz's racing career is over," Knowlton said. "We had hoped to see him compete at the highest level in 2021. We're also thankful that Robin [assistant trainer Robin Smullen], the astute horsewoman that she is, identified that there was something that wasn't right with him."

Knowlton added that Smullen is "on him every day and she knew coming off the track [Tuesday] that something was not the way it normally is. We had some X-rays done and, unfortunately, we were at a point where there could be a catastrophic injury. That's something we would not want to see with any of our horses."

Tiz the Law was the second Classic-winning horse for Sackatoga, following Funny Cide, who won the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

Tiz the Law had four Grade 1 victories in his career: the Belmont, the Travers at Saratoga, the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park and the Champagne at Saratoga as a 2-year-old. He finished second in September’s Kentucky Derby and sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 7 at Keeneland, which turned out to be his final race.

“While it is unfortunate that Tiz’s racing career has been cut short, we have been extremely fortunate and blessed to have had him in our lives,” trainer Barclay Tagg said in a press release. “... He has taken his owners and Barclay Tagg Racing Stable to places that most owners and trainers only dream about.”

Though his 3-year-old campaign was rewarding for Sackatoga, Knowlton had big hopes for 2021.

"What we saw in the Travers was the best we had this year." he said. "He won at a classic distance. He had a 109 Beyer speed figure. Did I think he would have been better next year? Yeah. What most people will tell you is that these horses continue to mature at 4 and even 5. We had every expectation that he would be able to win some big races and run some big numbers next year."

Asked about the chances of the modest New York stable hitting it big again, Knowlton said: "It's pretty hard to hope for that in the league we play in." Additional reporting by Tom Pedulla.