Journalism retired following injury in San Diego Handicap

Journalism, winner of the 2025 Preakness Stakes and six other graded stakes, has been retired because of an injury sustained in a win in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap last Saturday at Del Mar.

The announcement was made Friday by Coolmore America and the group that owns the 4-year-old colt.

Journalism will stand at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky., beginning in 2027. A fee has not been announced.

The nature of the injury was not disclosed and occurred in the starting gate prior to the San Diego Handicap, according to the statement. The injury was confirmed after the race, leading to the decision to retire Journalism.

Journalism was unsettled in the starting gate moments before the start of the San Diego and began several lengths behind his rivals. He rallied to win the $300,000 race at 1 1/16 miles by three-quarters of a length as the 1-5 favorite.

Journalism, who is by Curlin, won 7 of 14 starts and earned $4,770,755.

:: Play to Win at Del Mar! Get DRF Past Performances, Expert Picks and Clocker Reports

As a 2-year-old, Journalism ended the year with a win in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity.

Last year at 3, Journalism rated as one of the leading runners in the division. Aside from the Preakness, he won two other Grade 1 races in 2025 – the Santa Anita Derby and Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park.

Journalism finished second by 1 1/2 lengths to Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby and second by three lengths to that rival in the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga.

Earlier this year, Journalism was third in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap and Grade 1 Metropolitan Mile Handicap at Saratoga before the win in the San Diego Handicap.

Trained by Michael McCarthy, Journalism was purchased for $825,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale. He raced for a partnership that included Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne 5 Stables, and the Coolmore syndicate.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.