Salt Lake euthanized at age 21

Salt Lake, a Grade 1 winner and sire of Grade 1 winners, was euthanized July 20 at a veterinary clinic in California, Golden Eagle Farm has announced.

A 21-year-old Deputy Minister horse, he previously had undergone colic surgery.

“He had minor colic surgery a few weeks ago and appeared to initially recover well,” Golden Eagle manager Janine McCullough said. “However, within a week of being home his condition started to worsen and we sent him back to the clinic. We did everything we could, Salt Lake was a fighter, but finally he told me it was time.”Salt Lake began his career at Walmac International in Lexington, Ky., before relocating to Golden Eagle in Ramona, Calif., for the 2006 breeding season. At his death, he was California’s fourth-ranked sire by progeny earnings with $1,312,229.

Salt Lake won the 1991 Hopeful Stakes and five other stakes, four graded, in two seasons with trainer D. Wayne Lukas. He won 7 of his 21 lifetime starts, finished second three times and third four times, for earnings of $536,218. At stud, he sired Canadian champion Fantasy Lake, Argentine champion and U. S. Grade 1 winner Salt Champ, Grade 1 winners Ordway and Salty You, California Cup Mile winner Indiahoma, and more than 60 other stakes-winners. His progeny earnings to date total nearly $56 million.McCullough called Salt Lake “a special horse” and said he would be buried at Golden Eagle next to top California sire General Meeting and the popular gelding Best Pal.

– Glenye Cain Oakford