Before today’s 144th running of
the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes, the 31st horse to win the
Kentucky Derby and Preakness will have a ceremonial retirement in the Belmont
Park winner’s circle.
On Friday, owner J. Paul Reddam announced that I’ll Have Another would be retired with a tendon injury one day before he would have attempted to
become racing’s 12th Triple Crown winner.
On Saturday, I’ll Have Another’s grooms will lead him to
the paddock shortly after the conclusion of the Woodford Reserve Manhattan
(5:37 p.m. post), and then walk him to the winner’s circle where trainer
Doug O’Neill will remove his saddle. The ceremony will occur at
approximately 5:53 p.m. and will be shown live on NBC.
“We felt that this would be a fitting ceremonial retirement for
an incredible racehorse,” said O’Neill. “There are many fans
who traveled from near and far to see I’ll Have Another today, and we
wanted to give them a chance to help us send him off to retirement.”
The chestnut son of Flower Alley retired with $2,693,600 in earnings,
winning all four of his starts as a 3-year-old – the Robert B. Lewis
(G2), the Santa Anita Derby (G1), Kentucky Derby (G1), and the Preakness (G1).
He will not lead the post parade with Mario Gutierrez, as had been
previously planned.