Before today’s 144th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes, the 31st horse to win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness had a ceremonial retirement in the Belmont Park winner’s circle.
On Friday, owner J. Paul Reddam announced that I’ll Have Another would be retired with a tendon injury one day before he would have attempted to become racing’s 12th Triple Crown winner.
On Saturday, I’ll Have Another’s grooms led him to the paddock shortly after the conclusion of the Woodford Reserve Manhattan, and then walked him to the winner’s circle where trainer Doug O’Neill removed his saddle. The ceremony was shown live on NBC.
“We felt that this would be a fitting ceremonial retirement for an incredible racehorse,” said O’Neill. “There are many fans who traveled from near and far to see I’ll Have Another today, and we wanted to give them a chance to help us send him off to retirement.”
The chestnut son of Flower Alley retired with $2,693,600 in earnings, winning all four of his starts as a 3-year-old – the Robert B. Lewis (G2), the Santa Anita Derby (G1), Kentucky Derby (G1), and the Preakness (G1).
He did not lead the post parade with Mario Gutierrez, as had been previously planned.
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