I'll Have Another has been retired.
by George
I’ll Have Another has been scratched from Saturday’s Belmont Stakes due to tendonitis in his left front foreleg and has been officially retired from racing.
Seen to the right and in the video below taking light exercise this morning at Belmont Park, I’ll Have Another was the heavy favorite to win the 144th running of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 9 and become the first Triple Crown winner in 34 years. He apparently injured the leg in his stall, but that report was unconfirmed.
Trained by Doug O’Neill and owned by Paul Reddam of Windsor, Ontario, the game 3-year-old colt by Flower Alley was attempting to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed, who staged fierce battles with Alydar in the 1978 Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont, winning all three races by diminishing margins of 1 1/2-lengths, a neck and a head respectively.
Eleven horses have had a chance to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed. All were favored in the Belmont Stakes. All lost. I’ll Have Another was thought by many to have had an excellent chance of making history in the 2012 Belmont, due to his rare combination of pedigree, class, courage and stubborn will to win. An emotional Paul Reddam spoke at a press conference just minutes ago.
“I’m afraid history is going to have to wait for another day.”