Canadian stallion Wando, the most recent winner of his home country’s Triple Crown, died of a suspected heart attack Jan. 22 at Schonberg Farm near Nobleton, Ontario. The son of Langfuhr was 14.
Prominent South African sire National Assembly, who stood at Highlands Stud in Western Cape, South Africa, has died. The son of Danzig was 30.
Multiple stakes-placed He’s So Chic has been retired from racing and will stand the 2014 breeding season at Flying P Ranch in Hope Hull, Ala. for an advertised fee of $2,000.
The Keeneland January sale of horses of all ages concluded Jan. 9 with enough positive sentiment to maintain the generally uplifting outlook for 2014 prevalent in the bloodstock industry. Moreover, it offered an early look at how first-year sires of 2013 are being received by owners and breeders. Among several standouts from that group, it was multiple classic-placed Grade 1 winner Bodemeister who finished the sale with the most distinction.
Breeders’ attitudes toward horses with the congenital throat malady that leads to partial paralysis of the larynx have changed markedly since the 19th century.
Black Fighter’s victory in a maiden claiming race on Sunday at Turfway Park was a historic first on multiple levels. The 3-year-old colt became the first Thoroughbred to win a race in the U.S. bred in Azerbaijan, a country straddling southwestern Europe and the Middle East. Black Fighter raced as a homebred for Mammad Huseynov’s Royal Pegasus operation.
Grade 2 winner Lewis Michael is relocating to Questroyal North in Stillwater, N.Y., to stand the 2014 breeding season. The 11-year-old Rahy horse previously stood at Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Ky. He will stand at Questroyal for a $3,000 fee, payable when the foal stands and nurses.
Kathleen Womack, a Battle Creek, Mich.-based breeder, died Jan. 16 following a prolonged battle with cancer. She was 72.
Grade 1 winner Dance Card has been retired from racing and will be bred to Medaglia d’Oro, her connections announced Friday.
Betterbetterbetter, who Mandy Pope purchased for a sale-topping $5.2 million at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky winter mixed sale, delivered a War Front filly Thursday night at Timber Town Stable near Lexington, Ky.
