Dornoch retired from racing, will stand at Spendthrift in 2025
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Dornoch, a leading 3-year-old of 2024 and winner of the Belmont Stakes in June, has been retired to stand stud at Spendthrift Farm, his connections announced Saturday evening.
Winner of the Remsen at age 2 and the Fountain of Youth this past spring, Dornoch pulled a career-defining double this summer capturing the Belmont at Saratoga and going on to win the Haskell Stakes in July. Dornoch most recently finished fourth, beaten more than eight lengths, in the Travers Stakes on Aug. 24 at Saratoga. The colt hadn’t posted a timed workout since that start, and now will no longer be working or racing after being diagnosed with “bone bruising.”
“Dornoch’s performance in the Travers really wasn’t what we expected, and we just have not been happy with the way he’s trained since,” trainer Danny Gargan said in a press release. “The Breeders’ Cup was going to be his last race anyway, so, given the timing, the right thing to do is to retire him.”
Gargan has been involved with Dornoch since the colt was purchased for $325,000 at Keeneland’s September yearling sale in 2022. By Good Magic out of Puca, by Big Brown, Dornoch’s stature grew well before his first start when his full brother, Mage, won the 2023 Kentucky Derby. Dornoch’s ownership group has grown on multiple occasions, and at the time of his retirement he was campaigning for West Paces Racing, R.A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing, and Pine Racing Stables. Spendthrift acquired Dornoch’s breeding rights before he won the Haskell by 1 1/4 lengths over Mindframe on July 19.
Dornoch after his Fountain of Youth win was fourth in the Blue Grass and 10th in the Kentucky Derby before bouncing back to his best form in the Belmont, where he turned back a determined homestretch bid from Mindframe.
“He’s the best horse I’ve ever trained, and our team is going to miss having him around the barn,” Gargan said.
Dornoch goes to stud after compiling a record of 5-2-0 from 10 starts while earning $2.4 million.
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