Clever Allemont dies at Old Friends

Clever Allemont, a Grade 1-placed stakes winner, was euthanized due to colic Monday morning at Old Friends Equine Retirement in Georgetown, Ky.

The 32-year-old son of Clever Trick was the oldest resident of Old Friends at the time of his death. He arrived at the farm in January 2009 after being discovered two months earlier in a kill buyer’s pen in Kansas.

“Clever Allemont was such a great asset to Old Friends,” said Old Friends President Michael Blowen. “He was the kindest, friendliest stallion on the farm. He inspired deaf people because he was deaf, visually impaired people because he enjoyed life though he’d lost an eye, anybody who knew what it’s like to overcome hardship. People call Clever Allemont a ‘rescue,’ but it’s really the horses who rescue us.”

Bred in Illinois by A.J. Sweeney, Clever Allemont won eight of 47 races during his on-track career for earnings of $316,329. Racing for owner W. C. Partee and trainer Lynn Whiting, and later E. V. Klein and trainer D. Wayne Lukas, the horse won the 1985 editions of the Rebel Stakes and Southwest Stakes. He later placed in the Grade 1 Arlington Classic, the Grade 2 Sheridan Stakes, and the Grade 3 Fairmount Park Derby.

Upon retirement, Clever Allemont began his stallion career at Rainier Stables in Enumclaw, Wash., and was later relocated to Double D Farm in Kishwaukee, Ill., where he stood until 1997. He sired 167 foals over 10 crops, highlighted by stakes winners Haley D and Allerascal.

Eleven years after being pensioned at stud, Clever Allemont was discovered at the Kansas auction looking thin and missing his right eye. Money to purchase the horse was raised by the group Fans of Barbaro, and he was sent to Donegal Ranch in Williamsburg, Kan. before moving to Old Friends.