By Joe Nevills and Nicole Russo

Smart Strike’s death March 25 due to complications from laminitis brought an end to one of the most complete résumés a modern Thoroughbred has known.

A product of Canada’s most prominent modern family, Smart Strike lived up to expectations on the racetrack, becoming a Grade 1 winner in the U.S. He then became a cornerstone member of a deep stallion roster at Lane’s End in Versailles, Ky., where he led the North American sire list twice by earnings and sent out high-level runners in every division laid before him.

For more than five years, there has been no doubt that Galileo is the best sire in Europe and indeed the world. Dubai World Cup day, though, highlighted the stallion many consider the second best in Europe, Dubawi, who sired his second World Cup winner in Prince Bishop and was the only stallion to have two winners on the day.

The Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association named its year-end award winners for the 2014 season at Parx Racing on Wednesday, highlighted by Horse of the Year Favorite Tale.

Eligibility for the awards was open to Pennsylvania-breds who met the minimum requirement of starts at Parx, of which the PTHA is the certified horsemen’s group.

The Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, Keeneland Race Course, and Churchill Downs have formed a partnership to generate funds for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance through a per-start donation from participating owners.

The agreement signed by the leaders of the three organizations calls for Kentucky HBPA member owners to contribute $5 to the TAA for each of their horses that start in races at the two tracks. Churchill Downs and Keeneland would then match each contribution generated in their respective races.

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Grade 2 winner and sire Sharp Humor was reported to have died March 18 at Let’s Run Stud Farm on Korea’s Jeju Island.

The 12-year-old son of Distorted Humor was in the midst of his fourth season at stud in Korea after beginning his career at WinStar Farm in Versailles, Ky., in 2007. He was sold to the Korean Racing Authority, the country’s governing body for racing and breeding, in 2011 and debuted there the following year. His first Korean-sired foals are 2-year-olds of 2015.

The Thoroughbred Horse Show Association will host its fourth annual show on Sunday, May 3 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., benefiting Our Mims Retirement Haven for broodmares.

This year’s event is held in conjunction with the Thoroughbred Alliance Show Series and the Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program. Both groups offer year-end awards to nominated entries.

Classes featured in the show include western, jumping, dressage, pleasure and in-hand classes. Entries for the show close April 18.

I'm a Chatterbox stamped herself as one of the clear favorites for the Kentucky Oaks over the weekend, winning the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks by 2 1/2 lengths to complete a sweep of Louisiana's prep series for the filly classic.

The filly is from the first crop of Munnings, who posted three victories on the weekend to continue his 2015 season. According to DRF's SirePowered Results, 18 foals by Munnings have combined to win 22 races since Jan. 1, led by I'm a Chatterbox's three stakes triumphs.

Champion Groupie Doll’s first foal, a Tapit colt, arrived ahead of his due date, on March 5, and remains under the care of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital near Lexington, Ky.

Groupie Doll, a 7-year-old Bowman’s Band mare boarded at Timber Town Farm near Lexington, was due to deliver March 11. A normal equine gestational period is considered to be 345 days, with foals arriving prior to 320 days considered premature. Foals delivered early may be weak and are particularly vulnerable to illness or infection.

In the year since the passing of Clarence Scharbauer Jr., the Valor Farm operation he founded in Pilot Point, Texas, has continued his legacy of producing quality horses. My Golden Song ranks third on the state’s general sire list on the strength of his recent Grade 2 winner Thegirlinthatsong. Silver City has emerged as the hottest young stallion in Texas, and Scharbauer’s final stakes winner, Fiftyshadesofgold, has been bred to leading stallion Tapit.