Sand Cove, Canadian champion, dies after battle with laminitis

Sand Cove, a winner of nine stakes and more than $1 million and Canada’s champion older horse in 2010, died at the Rood & Riddle veterinary clinic in Kentucky on Feb. 13 following a month-long battle with laminitis.

Retired to stud last fall with a record of 12-5-7 from 36 starts, the 7-year-old Sand Cove was scheduled to stand at James and Janeane Everatt and Everatt-Meeuse’s Shannondoe Farm in St. Thomas, Ontario, and had been booked to 40 mares.

“He tried very hard,” said Arika Everatt-Meeuse, manager of Shannondoe Farm. “He was a very stoic horse and an excellent patient. He was true class.”

Purchased for $60,000 at the local select yearling sale of 2006, Sand Cove was owned by Ralph Johnson and was trained throughout his career by Roger Attfield. Richard Dos Ramos rode Sand Cove to 10 of his 12 career victories and in 33 of his races.

“He was an iron horse,” said Attfield. “He showed up every year.”

Sand Cove, an Ontario-sired son of the late Bold Executive, was bred in Ontario by the Everatt family.