Meadowlands: Retirement ceremony for Always B Miki slated for Friday

Always B Miki will make one final trip to the winner’s circle before he goes off to his second career as a stallion. The world’s fastest Standardbred of all-time will officially be retired in a ceremony at the Meadowlands on Friday, November 18.

The 5-year-old son of Always A Virgin capped off his brilliant career last Saturday at the Meadowlands by winning the $400,000 TVG Free-For-All Final by four lengths in 1:48 2/5. He retires with 30 wins, 13 seconds, and three third-place finishes in 53 lifetime starts for earnings of $2,715,368. ‘Miki set the all-time speed record of 1:46 when winning the Allerage Farms Open Pace in October at Lexington. He is one of the likely favorites to be voted the sport’s Horse of the Year.

“I think it’s really poetic to end his career where it started,” said co-owner Bob Boni. “My partner Mitchel Skolnick and I made the deal to buy half of the horse after his third baby race at the Meadowlands. It’s all of our home track, from myself and Mitchel, to Jimmy Takter, and David Miller. It all comes full circle. I’ve been at the Meadowlands since day one so it’s nice to have this happen here.”

The retirement ceremony will take place after the fourth race of the evening. ‘Miki will jog from the back paddock to the winner’s circle while a highlight video of his career plays throughout the building. He will be presented with a commemorative blanket and pose for photos while his connections are interviewed on the Meadowlands TV broadcast.

“It is our honor to send this tremendous racehorse out with a ceremony that honors his legendary career,” said Meadowlands GM Jason Settlemoir. “All of us have watched with such excitement the battles that ‘Miki waged with his rival Wiggle It Jiggleit this season and I don’t think anyone that was here at the Meadowlands for the Breeders Crown will ever forget ‘Miki prevailing after that epic stretch duel.”

Always B Miki will begin his stallion career at Diamond Creek Farm in Pennsylvania. He will stand for a $12,500 stud fee.

-edited release (Meadowlands)