HGG Community Forums

levesel2 · Jul 25, 2018 8:55 PM

Justify has been retired and will return to WinStar in August. He apparently has some filling in his ankles that won’t go down and they can’t get him ready for a fall campaign so he is going to see the ladies

Cheers · Jul 26, 2018 1:45 AM

Glad they retired him instead of risking his health....though the lack of longevity in American race horses is becoming seriously worrying.

EasternShowBarn · Jul 26, 2018 3:19 AM

I’m glad he’s been retired. He’s was an amazing racehorse and deserves to finish out the rest of his life! I know this answer is obvious but is he a stud still or was he gelded?

Amour33 · Jul 26, 2018 3:49 AM

@Cheers a lot of the problems seem to come from to much inbreeding causing weak bones not to mention how young theses babies are pushed to their limits. I've worked security at Churchill Downs for many years during the oaks and derby time and spoke with a lot of the trainers who even agree with that. There are other issues as well that's just become one of the biggest Justify has Mr. Prospector 3 times in the same generation both sire and dam side but with how bad things are that's nothing. If anyone is interested in checking out some of the thoroughbred pedigrees here's a link https://www.pedigreequery.com/ you can follow a line all the way to the 3 founding Arabians.

best friend · Jul 26, 2018 5:57 AM

He is a stud. His breeding rights were sold after he won the derby. I think he will stand both here and in China as well. I watched all 3 races and loved it. I will say I was looking forward to the Breeders Cup Classic with him.

levesel2 · Jul 26, 2018 8:07 AM

Many of the big name horses that have broken down recently have a lot of Native Dancer blood in them, including Eight Bells and Barbaro. Native Dancer himself was retired young with an injury. Our horses sadly have been breed for lighter bone to help increase their speed and this is what happens. :(

DevilsParadise · Jul 26, 2018 4:24 PM

Not just the breeding, but they race them before they're physically ready. Most intense equine sports don't start babies. They let them hit about 4 years old before they even start training for their specialization. I don't like the racing because they don't and I feel that's extremely irresponsible of both the owners and the trainers. At 2 years old their growth plates aren't even closed up yet. Let them grow up first. Eeesh.

RoseFlute · Jul 26, 2018 4:53 PM

Wasn't Justify famous for not being raced before 3?

Haltanny · Jul 26, 2018 7:22 PM

His first race was in Feb this year. His real birthday is in March, so technically he raced just before his 3rd birthday.

I think it is stupid to continue to breed horses prone to injury. All that creates are more horses even more prone to injury. Somewhere people need to realize safety/health trumps speed, or eventually they'll end up with horses breaking legs just by walking.

RoseFlute · Jul 26, 2018 7:52 PM

If the Arabian breed is anything to judge by, they won't stop. There might be a split-off of fancy thoroughbreds vs. "oldstyle" thoroughbreds, but as long as a halter class is possible, riding and health is unnecessary to consider.

best friend · Jul 27, 2018 3:26 AM

Yes he did not race as a 2 year old. He had his first start in February. I think his total races was 6 or 7. I am just glad that they are retiring him instead of racing him unsound.

HunterUnderSaddleGirl · Jul 27, 2018 5:31 AM

There was a couple times before even the second two races where people said he looked sore. Sometimes it’s just bad luck but sometimes you have to wonder

pfrsue · Jul 30, 2018 1:05 AM

I don't think Justify was overly prone to injury, but they stopped on him too long to get him back to the races this year.

The bottom line is that Justify is the best son of Scat Daddy--who died just when his brilliance as a sire was being noticed--so they want him in the breeding shed as soon as possible. That consideration pretty much cancelled any possible plans of racing at four.

I honestly don't see him being shuttled to China. Yes, China Horse Club is a part owner, but they have stock and interests all over the world. China isn't a horse racing country, so the China Horse Club tends to do its business internationally.

levesel2 · Jul 30, 2018 11:15 AM

It was announced that he had filling in his ankles and he was retired bc it wouldn’t come down. They would need at least 60-90 days to get him ready for a fall campaign and they didn’t have that. It was due to injury.

NorthernStars · Jul 30, 2018 12:28 PM

If they left thoroughbreds as long as they leave other horses, there bones wouldn't adapt to the intense force of a racing as the bones become less plastic after a while.
I do agree that inbreeding plays a role in it, in the UK at least racehorses aren't inbred (an ever increasingly difficult to accomplish task) and most race until they are at least four.
I'm glad they retired him relatively healthy though I hate people racing their horses into the ground.

Members log in here:
Username:
Password:
By hitting the above you signify that you agree with our rules and conditions.
Forgot your password?

HGG Community Forums

Join our discord server!

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Who's Online (0)

Join our discord server!

Enlarge Your Pastures

Reminders!