George Washington put down

[Owenmoresider]

From the Racing Post:

Curlin's runaway success overshadowed by fatal
George Washington injury

by PA Sport staff


GEORGE WASHINGTON'S Breeders' Cup Classic bid ended in tragedy as he suffered a fatal injury in a race won in brilliant fashion by Curlin at Monmouth Park.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained four-year-old showed up handily early in the $5million contest, which was run on mud-splattereddirt track, but soon began to struggle.

As Curlin powered away to beat Hard Spun, George Washington's rider Mick Kinane dismounted his horse, who was quickly attended by racecourse veterinary staff.

He could not be saved, however, and the decision was taken to have him humanely destroyed.

O'Brien's wife Anne-Marie was in floods of tears on the rail and was then consoled by her husband as the family walked back into the paddock.

On-course veterinarian and equine joint expert Dr Wayne McIlwraith said George Washington suffered an open fracture of both sesamoid bones.

Dr McIlwraith added: "The decision was made very quickly. The injury was bad and Aidan O'Brien made the request for euthanisation. He was with the horse."

George Washingtonwas never far from the headlines throughout his mercurial career.

An emphatic winner of last year's 2,000 Guineas, he was then beaten by Araafa in the Irish equivalent in heavy ground.

However, O'Brien used all his skills to return the son of Danehill to his very best and he gained his revenge on his Irish Guineas conqueror in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot - a race which saw him crowned as the champion three-year-old miler.

He was then sent off to stud and was obviously a very popular proposition for breeders, but it was discovered very early that he was only managing to get a small percentage of his mares in foal.

He was sensationally returned to training, a move which saw leading Classic prospect Holy Roman Emperor retired early to take his place in the breeding sheds.

It is fair to say that George Washington has only shown flashes of his brilliance this season, but still offered enough to suggest he had retained plenty of ability.

He was not beaten far in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot, the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown and Prix du Moulin at Longchamp and always sparked excitement and interest wherever he ran.

Monmouth Park 10.35

1 Curlin (Robby Albarado) 9-2
2 Hard Spun (Mario Pino) 8-1
3 Awesome Gem (David Flores) 33-1
9 ran

[magickingdom]

very sad news.... great horse