Personal Flag euthanized

Personal Flag, one of New York's leading stallions from 1999 to 2003, was euthanized Monday at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in New York after suffering health problems for several years, according to the farm's co-owner, Joe McMahon. Personal Flag was 22.

Personal Flag, a three-time Grade 1 winner on the racetrack who earned $1.2 million, sired 34 stakes winners in a 14-year career at stud, including Say Florida Sandy, who earned $2 million in a 98-race career. Personal Flag was pensioned three years ago, McMahon said, because of his health problems.

Bred by Ogden Phipps in Kentucky, Personal Flag was sired by Private Account and was out of Grecian Banner, by Hoist the Flag, making him a full brother to Personal Ensign, the winner of the 1988 Eclipse Award for champion filly or mare.

Personal Flag began his stallion career in New York, but was moved to Kentucky in 1994. McMahon and John Hettinger, a member of the syndicate that originally owned Personal Flag as a stallion, bought out the syndicate and moved the horse back to New York in 1999.