Harness: Southwind Frank retired; will stand at Diamond Creek Farm

Southwind Frank, who won last year’s Breeders Crown and this year’s Colonial Trot, has been retired from racing due to a chronic lameness issue, as advised by a team of veterinarians.

“I’ve trained a lot of horses, but none have had Frank’s package of speed, power and smarts. I truly believe he is one of the all-time greats, and would love to continue racing him so he could prove it on the track, but due to an injury, I can’t take that risk” said trainer Ron Burke of Southwind Frank.

Southwind Frank was bred by Southwind Farms and is owned by the Southwind Frank Partners. Trained by Burke, Southwind Frank was immensely successful during his 2-year-old campaign. He won 11 out of 12 starts that year, including wins in the Haughton Memorial and the Wellwood. He continued to end up in the winner’s circle in his 3-year-old year with wins in the Beal, Stanley Dancer and Colonial Trot, among others, finishing in the top 3 in 24 of 26 career starts.

[DRF HARNESS NEWSLETTER: Sign Up for the FREE DRF Harness Newsletter. Fresh content and insights delivered each Friday.]

“A great horse that was dominant as a 2-year-old but I’m even more impressed by the grit and determination he showed as a 3-year-old. “said driver Yannick Gringras. “He was never fully healthy and sound but he tried 150% each and every start. This is the sign of a true champion.”

Southwind Frank will stand stud at Diamond Creek Farm in 2017 for a stud fee of $10,000.

“We are very excited about Frank, the best son of Muscle Hill, joining our rising stars in the stud lineup” said Diamond Creek’s Adam Bowden. “He will add even more star power to our ever expanding and powerful stallion roster.”

The 2015 Dan Patch and O’Brien 2-year-old Trotting Colt of the Year is a son of successful stud Muscle Hill out of the Cantab Hall mare Flawless Lindy.

-edited release (Diamond Creek Farm)