After examining a second set of X-rays, it was determined that the leg injury suffered by Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Animal Kingdom was more serious than initially thought and he will not race again this season, Team Valor International president Barry Irwin said June 29.
The left hind leg injury, which is thought to have occurred at the start of the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), was initially diagnosed June 15 as a small fissure on the tip of the cannon bone where it joins the lower part of the hock. At the time, Irwin and trainer Graham Motion were hopeful Animal Kingdom would be able to make a return to racing in the fall. But after veterinarians re-examined him earlier this week, a more severe problem was detected.
“A second set of films has revealed a slab fracture just above the small fissure noted in the previous images,” said Irwin, who consulted veterinarians Dr. Dean Richardson of New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa. and Dr. Larry Bramlage of Rood and Riddle Veterinary Clinic in Lexington
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