Canadian champion Shillelagh Slew dies at 14

Canadian champion and classic winner Shillelagh Slew was euthanized earlier this summer in Cyprus, where he resided at stud, after an infection became too severe to treat. He was 14.

The son of Chief Seattle stood at P.C. Palmas Stud Farm in the southeastern European island nation since being exported from the U.S. in 2009. He has sired 50 foals since 2010, according to Cyprus Turf Club records.

Bred in Quebec by Haras Du Chevrillard, Shillelagh Slew raced for owner Dr. David Harold Thomas James and trainer Michael De Paulo. He won a Sovereign Award as Canada’s champion 3-year-old male of 2006 by winning the second leg of Canada’s Triple Crown, the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie, along with the Grade 3 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park and the Grade 3 Ontario Derby at Woodbine.

Shillelagh Slew retired with five wins in 17 starts for earnings of $736,401.

Prior to the horse’s death, James was making arrangements to pension Shillelagh Slew at Old Friends Equine Retirement in Georgetown, Ky., but he received news in July that the horse had died earlier in the summer. A plaque will be placed outside the main barn at Old Friends in Shillelagh Slew’s memory.