Injured Valhol retired from racing

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Valhol, who won the 1999 Arkansas Derby as a maiden and was later disqualified when his rider was found to have carried an electrical device, has been retired because of a torn suspensory, said his longtime trainer, Dallas Keen.

Valhol, a 7-year-old gelding, will be retired to owner Jim Jackson's farm in Rockdale, Texas.

Following the Arkansas Derby, Valhol developed into a top regional handicap horse. He won three handicaps at Fair Grounds - the Diplomat Way and Tenacious in 2001 and the Whirlaway in 2002. He earned his fourth career stakes win this past January, when he won the $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup at Sam Houston.

Overall, Valhol won six races from 21 starts and earned $444,850. He last raced March 2 and finished seventh in the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap.