RacehorseGirl

(On Bloodhorse.com) 8 year old Leading Second Crop SIre Vindication has been euthanized due to complications from colic. The stallion was taken to Rood and Riddle equine hospital in Lexington on the evening of July 9 after showing signs of discomfort around 9:30 pm. Exploratory surgery was determined to be the best course of action, and during the procedure an inoperable gastric rupture was found.

Vindication had been standing at Hill ‘N Dale farm for $60,000.

Hollywood Park has committed to the spring/summer 2009 season, and will possibly even conduct a 2010 meet, according to DRF.com. Track president Jack Liebau reported this during a monthly meeting of the California Horse Racing Board on June 27th. He stated that they would give six months notice before ceasing to operate, and that Bay Meadows would remain open at least through the San Mateo County Fair meet in August.

Declan’s Moon has run his last race after coming in last in an optional claimer on Thursday at Hollywood Park, according to trainer Ron Ellis. The 2 year old Champion of 2004, the gelding won 6 of 18 total starts and just over $700,000.

Trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr. has been handed a 15 day suspension by the Kentucky Racing Stewards in regards to a drug test violation. Salute the Count, who ran second in the gr.IIIT $100,000 Aegon Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs the day before Big Brown won the Kentucky Derby, tested positive for Clenbuterol, a drug that acts as a bronchial dilator. John Veitch, Chief State Steward, said that Salute the Count had just over 40 pentagrams of the drug in his system, more than twice the limit of 20 and the highest he’d seen in four years at his current job. (article at Bloodhorse.com)