Pensioned stallion Smoke Glacken put down at 22

Smoke Glacken, the champion sprinter of 1997 and a pensioned stallion, was euthanized last Thursday due to the infirmities of old age.

The 22-year-old son of Two Punch had resided at Gainesway in Lexington, Ky., since retiring to stud for the 1998 breeding season. He was pensioned in 2013 and continued to receive full daily care at the operation’s stallion division until his death.

“Smoke Glacken was a tough, fast racehorse, and he sired competitive horses like himself,” said Gainesway president Antony Beck. “We were very fortunate to stand him here at Gainesway. He was part of our family for 18 years, and he will be missed.”

Bred in Maryland by Perry Rosebrock, Smoke Glacken was campaigned by the partnership of Alex Karkenny, William Roberts, and Robert Levy and was trained by Henry Carroll.

He began his career on the East Coast, winning his maiden in his second start at Monmouth Park by 8 1/2 lengths before scoring stakes victories in the Tyro and Grade 2 Sapling at Monmouth and the Grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga.

Smoke Glacken’s 3-year-old campaign earned him champion sprinter honors and began with a three-race winning streak in the Black Gold Handicap at Fair Grounds and the Mountain Valley Stakes and Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

He was given time off after finishing third in the Grade 3 Louisiana Derby and second in the Grade 2 Lexington Stakes and began his Eclipse campaign in earnest that summer, taking the Grade 3 Riva Ridge Stakes at Belmont, the Grade 3 Jersey Shore Breeders’ Cup Stakes at Monmouth, and the Grade 2 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash at Laurel in the span of six weeks.

Smoke Glacken was retired at the end of his sophomore campaign and went on to sire 16 crops, with 561 winners and progeny earnings of more than $53.3 million.

His top runners include Grade 1 winners Irish Smoke, On Fire Baby, and Persistently; Grade 2 winners Smok’n Frolic, Delaunay, Smokey Fire, Read the Footnotes, Smokume, Bachelor Blues, and Frolic’s Dream; and Grade 3 winner Carthage. As a broodmare sire, his daughters have produced Canadian champions Hunters Bay and Go Greeley as well as U.A.E. Group 2 winner L’Amour de Ma Vie.

Sons of Smoke Glacken currently at stud include More Smoke, Bachelor Blues, Come Out Smokin’, Just Cash, Read the Footnotes, and Smoke Warning.

Smoke Glacken will be buried at Gainesway alongside stallions In Reality, Cozzenne, Broad Brush, and Mr. Greeley.