Bayern euthanized at 15
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Bayern, whose victories included the 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic, was euthanized on July 5 after complications following surgery, Great Hill Farm of Korea shared on its Instagram account. The 15-year-old Bayern, who entered stud at Hill 'n' Dale Farm in Kentucky, had stood in Korea since the 2022 season.
According to the translated Instagram post from Great Hill, Bayern developed a "sudden hernia" and had surgery for a small bowel resection.
"While he bravely endured the surgery itself with his signature strength and unwavering spirit, he tragically developed colitis – one of the most severe and dreaded post-operative complications," the farm wrote. "We fought alongside him day and night, exhausting every possible medical intervention and providing intensive care. . . . Heartbreakingly, his condition did not improve, and we were ultimately left with no choice but to make the agonizing decision to euthanize him.
"His extraordinary presence, his gentle eyes, and the magnificent, overwhelming power of his stride on the track can never, ever be replaced by any other horse. Right now, this immense loss and the empty void he leaves behind feel completely unbearable. However, I hold onto the earnest hope that his outstanding progeny will carry on their father's fierce bloodline and grow to be just as brilliant."
Bayern, by Offlee Wild, was trained by Bob Baffert and hinted at his ability by finishing third in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby and second in the Grade 3 Derby Trial before breaking through to win the Woody Stephens, then a Grade 2, in June 2014. He went on to stretch out for wins in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational and then-Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby.
He prevailed in a close finish in the 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita, nosing out Toast of New York, with champion California Chrome another neck back in third in the full field. The win was controversial, as Bayern came in at the start and horses such as champion Shared Belief were impeded in a chain reaction, but the result stood after an inquiry.
That was the last win for Bayern, although he was third in both the Grade 1 Awesome Again and Grade 2 San Diego Handicap in 2015. He retired with a record of 15-6-1-3 and earnings of more than $4.4 million.
From his first seven crops, with 244 foals of racing age, Bayern is the sire of 174 winners from 200 starters as of July 7, exceptional strike rates. His top runners include Korean champion Raon the Fighter, Canadian champion Hazelbrook, Grade 1 winner Speed Boat Beach, and additional graded stakes winners Biddy Duke and Leggs Galore. This spring, his son Funny Wild won two legs of the Korean Triple Crown, the KRA Cup and Minister's Cup, along with a third-place finish in the Korean Derby.
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