As the calendar moves into the summer months, juvenile races will become more plentiful at Ontario’s racetracks, and the province’s freshman stallions will begin to sort out who will be the stars of the class.
John G. Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm has acquired a 50 percent interest in Bubbler, the dam of champion Arrogate.
Lord Nelson retired to Spendthrift Farm as one of the hottest incoming stallion prospects of the 2017 class, but things from that point didn't go as planned.
In a racing milieu dominated by Europe’s two best sires Galileo and Dubawi, the undoubted star sire of last week’s Royal Ascot meeting was the late, much lamented Scat Daddy. Winner of the 2007 Grade 1 Florida Derby, Scat Daddy died Dec. 15, 2015, at Ashford Stud, only 11 years old, just as his stud career was hitting high gear on the international stage.
Benchmark, a multiple Grade 2 winner and California sire, was euthanized Friday due to the infirmities of old age. He was 26.
Megagray is a product of the Gustav Schickedanz breeding program on both sides of the family, and given the Canadian Hall of Fame horseman's two wins in the Queen's Plate as an owner, that's not bad.
Norumbega, a Grade 2 winner and young Maryland stallion, was euthanized June 6 due to complications from colic surgery. He was 7.
Stormin Fever, a Grade 3 winner and pensioned California sire, was euthanized Thursday due to the infirmities of old age. He was 23.
Classic sire and former world record-holder Elusive Quality has been pensioned from stallion duty. The 24-year-old stallion will live out his retirement at Darley’s American base at Jonabell Farm in Lexington, Ky.
Hargus Sexton, a prominent Kentucky Thoroughbred breeder, died June 15 at his home in Versailles, Ky. He was 96.
