Canadian champion Rainbows for Life dead at age 24

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Three-time Canadian champion Rainbows for Life has died in the Czech Republic at age 24, the Racing Post reported.

The Lyphard horse was put down Saturday due to the infirmities of old age at Hrebcin Napajedla, according to the Racing Post. The Sam-Son Farms homebred was Canadian champion juvenile in 1990 and earned two divisional titles two years later as champion grass male and older horse. He won 10 stakes, half of them graded, and set a pair of course records. The first was over 1 1/8 miles at Hawthorne when he won the Grade 3 Hawthorne Derby in 1:44.70 and the other was at Rockingham when he won the Grade 3 New Hampshire Sweepstakes Handicap over about 1 1/8 miles in 1:46.83. He won 15 of 36 lifetime starts, including a pair of stakes on dirt, and earned $1,105,926. He also had five second-place finishes and three thirds.

He was a leading sire in the Czech Republic, where he got such champions as Ray of Light, Ready for Life, Vacaria, and Monolit, but he also sired such group performers Lady Elsie, Scapolo, and Rhenium.