Stakes Winner Olredlgetcha Euthanized
Promising Two-Year-Old Racehorse Dies From Infection
Jun 25, 2009
Two-year-old Olredlgetcha made his first lifetime start in the Victoria Stakes on June 14 and won impressively at odds of 10-1. The chestnut son of Limehouse suffered a shallow puncture wound on his right hock during the race, but showed no sign of a problem until two days later.
On June 16, there was heat and tenderness in the hock and the colt was treated with antibiotics. The next day, with the injury getting worse, the colt was sent to the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario. Despite swift treatment, the staph infection spread rapidly into the joint capsule, causing joint deterioration and severe pain. He was euthanized June 23.
Olredlgetcha was bred by Sal and Colleen Simeone’s Sienna Farms of Florida. They consigned him to the Ocala yearling sale, but bought him back for $70,000 and raced him in the name of R Own Stables. He was trained by Greg DeGannes and ridden in his only start by Emile Ramsammy.
Olredlgetcha was the first stakes winner by Limehouse. His dam, Mystical Beauty, is a daughter of Cobra King and a granddaughter of Farma Way and Devil’s Bag.
Horse Dies, Two Jockeys Hurt During Race At Woodbine
The loss of Olredlgetcha comes just six days after Oliver’s Strike fell and died during the third race on Woodbine’s Polytrack surface. The 3-year-old bay gelding by Smart Strike—Oliva, by Danzig was Queen’s Plate eligible, but owner Gus Schickedanz and trainer Mike Keogh opted to enter him in easier allowance company on June 17, four days prior to the Plate.
As he entered the far turn, Oliver’s Strike collapsed. The gelding is thought to have suffered a heart attack. He died instantly, breaking both front legs as he fell. Rider Chad Beckon went over his mount’s head and was crushed under the falling horse. Another horse, Kensington Oval, was unable to avoid the fallen horse and also went down, tossing jockey Simon Husbands.
A third horse, Naval Strike, was behind the two horses that fell. His rider, Simon’s brother Patrick Husbands, had to pull him up sharply to avoid the accident and the horse did not finish.
The injured jockeys were taken to hospital, apparently in serious condition. Husbands was treated at Etobicoke General Hospital, and was sent home later that night, having escaped the spill with only minor injuries.
Beckon was taken to Sunnybrook Hospital, where he was diagnosed with fractured vertebrae, a broken nose and a broken cheekbone. He was admitted to ICU and was placed in an induced coma as a precaution. However, he was conscious and aware the next day and had feeling and mobility in his arms and legs. Beckon, who was leading rider at Fort Erie Racetrack and one of North America’s top apprentices in 2008, is expected to be sidelined for several months.
Justin Stein Survives Spill on Queen’s Plate Day
The third race proved unlucky once again on Sunday, June 21. Following the start of the allowance race, Stein’s mount, Kinshasa’s Paradis, ducked in after the break, tossing Stein. He was taken to hospital, but suffered no broken bones.
