Equestrian story by Brian Watters, Sat, 03 Dec 2005 03:40:01 GMT


NEW YORK - This year's Preakness and Belmont Stakes champion, Afleet Alex has been forced to retire after picking up another injury, trainer Tom Ritchey announced on Thursday. Afleet Alex, a part of the Cash Is King Stable won over $2,765,800 in 12 career starts.

But Alex was injured in June this year and a new ankle injury which was discovered recently meant that the colt's racing days are over. "This injury probably started with that Preakness and, unfortunately, it's been something we haven't seen," Ritchey said. "It's going to take too long to heal and he has to go on to another career where he'll be safe and happy."

He added that the injury was centered on a bruised bone at the Preakness. This injury caused a fracture in the colt's left foot ankle, but had healed well. The new injury is basically a brittle bone that has lost blood supply.

"It will heal, but you're looking at six to eight months. And with a horse of his value and his credentials, he just needs to be retired and go to stud," Ritchey commented. Patricia Hogan, a veterinarian of The New Jersey Equine Center was the first one to raise an alarm of the new injury, which had appeared consistently on X-rays, said Ritchey adding that they would not have risked Alex if they were aware of this problem earlier.

Jockey Jeremy Rose rode Alex all season and nearly picked up a 12th Triple Crown. Chuck Zacney, the managing partner in Cash is King said that they were all frustrated and disappointed with the new injury.

"We were really looking forward to racing Alex next year and to showing just how great a horse he was. I don't think horse racing fans saw the best of Alex. They saw a lot of very good races," he said. Zacney said that now they would like to find a new home so that Alex can rest comfortably.

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