Leo Castelli, sire, dies in Texas

The stallion Leo Castelli was euthanized Feb. 22 at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University because of a chronic intestinal infection, college officials reported Monday. He had been donated to Texas A&M last November after standing the past several years at Huisache Farm near Houston.

Leo Castelli made news when he was exported to stand in Russia in 1990. He returned to the United States in 1992.

Leo Castelli's latest stakes winner is Leo's Last Hurrahy, who won the $150,000 colts and geldings division of the Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity at Lone Star Park near Dallas.

Other stakes winners sired by Leo Castelli include Almaz, a two-time horse of the year in the Slovak Republic; Da Devil; Cmdte Pepe Rios; Preciosa; Miguel V.; Soviet Sojourn; and Leo's Gypsy Dancer.

Leo Castelli, an 18-year-old son of Sovereign Dancer, won three of 11 starts, including the Grade 2 Peter Pan. He is out of the Raise a Native mare Suspicious Native, making him a half-brother to Meadowlake.