October 3, 2024
Horse of the Calendar year Havre de Grace Dies at 16

Havre de Grace, the 2011 Horse of the Year and winner more mature mare, died April 30 at Timber City Stables in Lexington. Her loss of life was a consequence of various hemorrhaging episodes immediately after making a colt two days before. 

Wayne Sweezey, Timber Town’s farm supervisor, claimed Havre de Grace had presented beginning to an Into Mischief   colt April 28 and commenced to hemorrhage. 

“She experienced issues foaling ahead of. … I’m sure that put a whole lot of anxiety on her system,” Sweezey reported. 

“She looked as fantastic as she’s at any time appeared going into this foaling season. Her coat, her bodyweight, every little thing was excellent.”

The original hemorrhaging episode occurred after delivering the foal. A second event transpired the evening of April 29 and then, following generating it by way of the night, a 3rd and closing episode transpired early Sunday morning. 

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“She fought the excellent battle now not lots of mares will struggle like that,” Sweezey claimed. 

For as difficult as she was on the observe, Havre de Grace confirmed a much gentler facet with her offspring.

“That was why we did not want to acquire the newborn off her,” Sweezey claimed. “For the reason that she was joyful to have a foal at her facet.”

He included, “She experienced a absolutely distinct individuality.”

Originally acquired at the 2008 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $380,000 by the late Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farm out of the Mill Ridge Profits consignment, Havre de Grace then exited the gross sales ring at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Tumble Blended Sale with Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm dropping the hammer at $10 million from the Taylor Designed consignment. 

Pope, in Kentucky for the May perhaps 6 Kentucky Derby (G1), had the probability to say goodbye to Havre de Grace. 

“She arrived in yesterday afternoon and she’s really connected to her horses and definitely Havre de Grace is the 1st mare that she bought for a ton of cash,” Sweezey reported. “When she decided to go in full bore, Grace was the to start with a person she purchased.”

The 16-calendar year-previous was a daughter of Saint Liam and out of the Carson Metropolis mare Easter Bunnette. Bred by Nancy Dillman, Havre de Grace experienced a stellar occupation on the monitor, ending exterior of the leading a few at the time in 16 profession starts. She experienced a document of 9-4-2 with 3 grade 1 wins—including the 2011 Woodward Stakes (G1) against males—and 2 times participated in the Breeders’ Cup. She earned $2,586,175.

She had eight foals, including the one particular produced Friday. 5 are winners with quality 3 winner Swish Princess , by Tapit  , the most productive. The colt born Friday has been paired with a nurse mare and is undertaking properly. 

Sweezey, who hopes Havre de Grace just one day is inducted into the Corridor of Fame, mentioned his preferred memory of the Horse of the Year is her arrival at Timber Town. 

“The memory is her arriving in buddying up with Plum Really,” he recalled. “And seeking on that pasture up coming to the household and observing all those two magnificent racemares aspect by side. I indicate, I am going to by no means ever fail to remember all that for the reason that it was as crucial occasion in our life time as any momentous point that happens in your small business life.”