Posted at 4:13 p.m., Saturday, June 23, 2007
Horse racing: Invasor retires with cracked bone
Associated Press
NEW YORK — Invasor, the 2006 Horse of the Year, was retired today when a cracked bone was found in his right hind leg.
The injury to the sesamoid bone was discovered following the horse's workout at Belmont Park. It is not life-threatening, and the 5-year-old colt will be sent to stud at Shadwell Farm in Lexington, Ky.
"He came back fine from the workout," trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. "But when we went to wash his feet, he took a couple of funny steps and we noticed some swelling in his right hind leg."
Invasor, owned by Sheik Hamdan of Dubai, won 11 races and $7.8 million during his career, including the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic last year and the $6 million Dubai World Cup in March.
Bred in Argentina, the son of Candy Stripes out of Quendom lost just once in 12 career races. He won all five of his starts in North America, including the 2006 Pimlico Special and the 2006 Whitney Handicap. He was training for the Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park on June 30 at the time of the injury.
"It's a very sad day for all of us," McLaughlin said. "Invasor was a superb horse and a pleasure to be around."
