It's been a tough month for champions in the TB world. As mentioned in a previous post Gone West was lost. The others are also major horses that have left fans reeling.
There's the loss, to a heart attack in his pasture, of popular sire El Prado of the 21st.
On the heels of hearing that was news of Summer Squall being euthanized due to age. Summer Squall chased Unbridled in one of the most memorable Derby races of all time. Summer Squall came back in the Preakness to the race that defined the gutsy race horse.
Sitting fourth down the backside Summer Squall put it in gear with Unbridled on the outside as they sat down for a drive and they collared the leader with Unbridled and Summer Squall head to head for several strides then drawing off to an impressive win.
Today news came of two more major losses in Cryptoclearance and Kona Gold.
Cryptoclearance maybe didn't win a Triple Crown but he was always right there knocking at the wire. Now 25 he had a heart attack from complilcations following colic surgery.
A fan favorite, Kona Gold had retired to the Kentucky Horse Park as his third career. A successful race horse to ten he then became a ponny horse and then TB Ambassador. He started in 5 Breeders Cup races and set a record from a hard charging Honest Lady. A track and race record.
Geldings with no breeding career can compete as long as soundness and age hold, and Kona Gold showed the heart of a champion every out, never giving up. A spiral fracture was found in his upper front leg, which was inoperable. It is saddening and ironic that he stayed sound where activists criticize - on the track - for so long and was injured in retirement in the pasture. winer of nearly $2.3million with 14-7-2 from 30 starts he showed his class time and time again on the track. He also represented the TB with that same champion style.
Worldwide sire Ishiguru was lost to a knee injury, and age caught up with Laughing Look, dam of Coronado's Quest and out of a half sister to Ruffian.
So many great horses in such a short time.
Keywords: Breeders Cup, champion, Cryptoclearance, El Prado, horse racing, Ishiguru, Kona Gold, Laughing Look, Summer Squall
