Retiring record-setter Curlin honored at Churchill. November 30th, 2008
Horse of the Year Curlin closed out his record-setting career at Churchill Downs on Saturday during a parade on the final day of the tracks Fall Meet.
The 4-year-old colt, whose career earnings of $10.5 million set a North American racing record, made his final bow in a procession from the barn of trainer Steve Asmussen to the paddock at Churchill, where he circled with the starters for the fifth race before appearing in a winners circle retirement ceremony.
Its very emotional, said Asmussen, who led Curlin to all but one of his 11 career victories. The things hes done for us that we hadnt done, everything hes accomplished, leaves us with a great sense of pride.
Asmussen said Curlin will leave Churchill for Lanes End Farm in Versailles, Ky. on Sunday, where he will begin his stud career next year.
Were so happy to see him retiring sound, 100 percent, not even slightly phased and so spectacular, said Barbara Banke, the wife of Curlins majority owner, Jess Jackson. He couldnt be in any better health, and Jess is looking forward to seeing a lot of baby Curlins running around.
Jackson, the founder of Kendall-Jackson wine estates, watched the ceremony from the couples home in California.
Unraced as a 2-year-old, Curlin nevertheless brought home $10,501,800 in purse earnings during a campaign that began in 2007.
That year he finished third in the Derby, took the Preakness Stakes, finished second in the Belmont before ending the year with victories in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Breeders Cup Classic.
In 2008 his victories included the Dubai World Cup, the Stephen Foster Handicap, the Woodward Stakes, and a second Jockey Club Gold Cup score that boosted his earnings past the previous mark set by Cigar. He retires off his only out-of-the-money finish, a fourth-place effort over Santa Anitas synthetic track last month in the $5 million Breeders Cup Classic. He was ridden by jockey Robby Albarado in all but his first start.
Jackson purchased majority interest in Curlin in 2005, leading a group of investors that he has since bought out. A remaining 20 percent interest is maintained by former attorneys William Gallion and Shirley Cunningham Jr., who bought the colt at auction for $57,000 in 2004 for their Midnight Cry Stables.
Gallion and Cunningham, involved in a $42 million civil suit in which they are accused of defrauding former clients in a settlement over the diet drug fen-phen, have been ordered to sell their share of the colt. Jackson bid $4 million for the remaining share and although a court-appointed receiver has recommended that the offer be accepted, attorneys for Gallion and Cunningham say the bid should be much higher. That transaction is being worked over in court at this time.
Earlier this month, an appraiser set Curlins value at $20 million. But Banke said the colts worth transcends monetary value.
I wouldnt trade this year for anything, she said.