Grade 1 winner and successful sire Include euthanized at 25

Grade 1 winner and successful sire Include was euthanized in July at Airdrie Stud, it was reported this week.

The 25-year-old son of Broad Brush had been pensioned following the 2021 breeding season and continued to reside at Airdrie Stud in Midway, Ky., his home since 2003. According to the Thoroughbred Daily News, which first reported his death, the stallion had been pensioned due to a heart condition, which had recently been worsening, leading to the decision to euthanize him.

Maryland-bred Include raced as a homebred for Robert Meyerhoff and was trained by Grover "Bud" Delp. He won 10 of 20 starts for earnings of more than $1.6 million, highlighted by a victory in the 2001 Pimlico Special, then a Grade 1 event. Include's seven stakes victories also included the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap and Grade 2 Massachusetts Handicap.

Include put together a remarkably consistent stallion career at Airdrie. From 1,202 current foals of racing age – including this season's juveniles – 988, or 82 percent, have started thus far. He is the sire of 800 winners, for 81 percent winners from starters. His 66 stakes winners are led by multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Panty Raid, multiple Grade 1 winner Include Me Out, and Grade 1 winners Cash Included, Her Smile, and Include Betty.

Include also is the sire of multiple graded stakes winner Sconsin, who is active on the track this year and is approaching millionaire status; graded stakes winner and millionaire She's All In; Canadian champion Riker; and a number of champions internationally, including Puerto Rican Horse of the Year Mishegas.

As an outstanding sire of fillies, Include has been a noteworthy broodmare sire. His daughters have produced 32 stakes winners to date, including Grade 1 winner Sam's Sister, Canadian champion Amalfi Coast, and graded/group stakes winners including Gunmetal Gray, Lady Scarlet, Micheline, Pink Sands, and Why Katherine. The aforementioned Panty Raid is the dam of Micheline, as well as multiple graded stakes-placed Proxy.