09/19/2012 2:59PM

Spurious Precision, Saratoga Special winner, euthanized after fracturing knee

By David Grening
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Barbara D. Livingston
Spurious Precision won the Saratoga Special by five lengths.

Spurious Precision, among the leaders of the 2-year-old division, had to be euthanized Tuesday morning after fracturing a knee during a workout Monday at Aqueduct, trainer Rick Violette said in a press release.

Spurious Precision had just completed a mile workout in 1:43.66 at Aqueduct, but was pulled up by exercise rider Rodney Payne soon after completing the move.

“He went a mile and looked super,” Violette said. “But Rodney felt his stride change as they finished the work, and he pulled him up right away.”

The horse was vanned back to Violette’s barn and then shipped to the Hogan Equine Clinic, where it was initially believed that the injury could be repaired surgically. But, according to Dr. Patty Hogan, Spurious Precision “shattered two major weight-bearing bones of his knee, as well as incurring other smaller fractures of the lesser-supporting bones, thus rendering the knee unstable and unable to support his frame.”

Spurious Precision, owned by Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence, won his debut by 3 1/2 lengths at Belmont on July 21. He followed that win with a five-length victory in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special on Aug. 12. His work Monday was in preparation for a scheduled start in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont on Oct. 6.

Spurious Precision, a son of High Cotton, was a $105,000 purchase from the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s 2-year-old in-training sale in April.

chad mc rory More than 1 year ago
Some of these injuries may reduced by training equally to the left and to the right... All tracks will mandate this within 3 years.
Grass Is Greener More than 1 year ago
Spurious Precision was brought back early to run in the Saratoga Special (3 weeks break) because his stablemate, Carried Interest, owned and trained by same connections, had a sore shin. It's their money and their property. They are the only ones who should be making the decision. Anyone who doesn't think that horses should race as 2yo, they should just boycott all 2yo races.
Terry Marshall More than 1 year ago
Spurious Precision's dam has produced five foals. The first one a filly, Two Franks Ally, made 18 starts and won 2 races. The next three colts have no record of making it to the races until Spurious Precision, who unfortunately could only get two starts. The dam Scarlet Combo made 7 lifetime starts. The times have changed in that years ago, a sales catalog would declare for instance, "dam of 11 foals, 4 to race, 2 winners". A prospective owner could then assess the soundness of the breeding by these facts. Today, the catalog will read, "dam of 4 foals to race and 2 winners". The omission of fact is stark for obvious financial purposes. Unsoundness is hereditary and it is well disguised in the catalog pages by omitting the total number foals produced, instead placing the emphasis on "foals to race" and the number of winners. The fact is many horses don't make it to the races because of physical unsoundness and also "mental" unsoundness, or the inability for the animal to develop and learn a racing mentality, i.e. "rogues". It seems the norm today to expect these troubles when a horse gets good. I'll Have Another's dam made one start, won it and retired. He managed a few more starts than her and then bowed. They don't breed horses for soundness anymore, they breed them for quick, early speed at two and a quick early return on the owner's investment. The strategy of course is to take these speed horses and try to stretch them out for the classic distances and sometimes a Baffert or a Dutrow (to name but a few) will employ "other artificial means" to do so. When I see an exceptional racer appear on the scene, I check its breeding and many times hope that it "will last". But sad to say, not many seem to do so.
chad mc rory More than 1 year ago
Terry, Did you see the autopsy and report from 'Kinsella', along with photos of cross section of his limbs? Do you have your own publication and how can you be reached?
richard montgomery More than 1 year ago
We will be racing em at two years old till the end of time cause we have to do what our very wise slaveowning forefathers did....and juice em up real good too while we're at it. RIP Spur.
Grass Is Greener More than 1 year ago
You betcha. Average amount of $$ spent to race horses at a major American track: Average $$ spent on a horse: $40,000 Average $$ earned as 2yo: $3000 Average $$ earned as 3yo: $7500 Average $$ earned as 4 and 5yo: $6000 Average $$ earned 6yo and older: $3500 So if you own a stable with 100 thoroughbred racehorses, you are likely to have $4mil tied up in assets. After all is said and done, you will lose about $2mil. If you don't race your horses at 2, you will lost $300,000 more. How many of us here have $300k to throw around like it's nothing? By the way, their expenses are much more than the assets or the earnings of the race horses. Owners can only hope to be able to resell some of their horses at enough values to cover their expenses. Expenses include vet bills, travel, stabling, training, agent fees, jockey fees, other fees. Owners of racehorses do not make $$. You do it for the love of the sport. You do want to minimize your losses while you're at it.
Forego137 More than 1 year ago
My condolences to the connections on this time of sorrow and RIP S.P.
Leonard Martinez More than 1 year ago
As much as I hate to hear this kind of news the reality is that it does happen in the game, the only thing I wish is that these incident's don't end in loss of life. RIP my friend
redboy More than 1 year ago
For those that actually have connections to Spurious Precision ,my deepest felt codolences. He was no doubt a part of your family. Best wishes.
Melissa Warfield More than 1 year ago
I am deeply moved by Spurious Precision passing away. What a courageous horse and the owners also. I know what it means to lose a precious animal of any kind. Spurious Precision was a beautiful Thoroughbred who will be sadly missed by all. My thoughts and prayers go out to all who owned the horse and to Spurious Precision too.
Grass Is Greener More than 1 year ago
Please define, how are the owners courageous? Nothing against them. They made a business decision to bring back Spurious Precision early, with 3 weeks' break, to run in the Saratoga Special after his fast maiden score on opening Saturday of the Saratoga meet. It was because his stablemate Carried Interest got hurt. The normal time frame would be to run Spurious Precision in the Hopeful, the traditional closing day feature at SAR.
Joe Rotell More than 1 year ago
i tired of reading bad news, its depressing and i can't take it any more
Susan Huart More than 1 year ago
Another heartbreaking headline and sad day for all. RIP Spurious Precision and condolences to your connections. You were a contender.