Rahy, sire of champions, is pensioned at 24

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Kentucky's Three Chimneys Farm has pensioned the 24-year-old stallion Rahy, a foundation sire at the farm, because of declining fertility, the farm announced Wednesday night.

A son of Blushing Groom, Rahy will remain at Three Chimneys throughout his retirement. He has stood there since 1990 and had an advertised $50,000 stud fee in 2009. He bred 74 mares last year, and foals born from those coverings will make up Rahy's last crop. He has no mares reported in foal in 2009, according to Three Chimneys.

Rahy's 84 stakes winners include Hall of Famer Serena's Song, the 1995 champion 3-year-old filly and an 11-time Grade 1 winner; 2001 champion grass male and Breeders' Cup Turf winner Fantastic Light; 2006 champion juvenile filly Dreaming of Anna; and English champion Noverre.

He also is the broodmare sire of prominent sire and Irish and English champion Giant's Causeway, a son of multiple graded winner Mariah's Storm.

He has lifetime progeny earnings of more than $85.7 million, and he was one of the nation's leading sires in 2000 and 2001.

He has lifetime progeny earnings of more than $85.7 million, and he was one of the nation's leading sires in 2000 and 2001.

Case Clay, president of Three Chimneys, called Rahy "one of the most important stallions we've had" and noted that the stallion was successful despite being only 15.1 hands tall, according to stallion directories.

"He's definitely done his part to carry on the Blushing Groom line," Clay said of Rahy. "He's so small, and he just kind of reminds us all that it doesn't matter how big the stallion is, it's the instincts that he passes on."

Hill 'n' Dale Farm bred Rahy from the Canadian Horse of the Year Glorious Song, a Halo mare who was three-time champion in Canada. As a yearling at the 1986 Keeneland July yearling sale, Rahy brought $2 million from Sheikh Maktoum al-Maktoum, who campaigned him in England and the United States. A Group 1-placed stakes winner in England in 1987, he won the Grade 2 Bel Air Handicap in 1989.

Rahy's Grade 2-winning son Lewis Michael also stands at Three Chimneys for $12,500 in 2009.