While I was looking forward to this morning to post an exciting, inspiring, story about “I’ll Have Another” and past Triple Crown hopefuls and winners, I instead discovered that this amazing equine athlete has been benched for the big game!

Trainers said he looked a little “off” yesterday, and after this morning’s workout, it was decided that it was best to pull him from tomorrow’s race – the Belmont Stakes.

This is a big disappointment for many who were looking forward to possibly witnessing history in the making as “I’ll Have Another” reached for the Triple Crown.  “I’ll Have Another” was potentially going to be the first horse in 34 years to win the Triple Crown, since “Affirmed” in 1978.

More importantly, however, this hard decision speaks volumes for the owners, trainers, and race industry as a whole, for choosing the horse’s long term well being and recovery over the chance at a title.

In this business, we are committed to the maintenance, well being, and extended performance of our horses, and so we at Equus Athletics are relieved to hear the decision, as much as we too were rooting for his big win.  We wish him a speedy recovery, and we hope to see him back again soon with a long and successful career ahead of him!

The injury is not said to be a career threatening one, and an official press release will be announced later this afternoon.

Click here to read more about the injury and the decision to scratch from the Belmont Stakes.