Popular downunder pacer Karloo Mick passed away on Tuesday afternoon.
Often referred to as ‘The People’s Champion’ or the ‘Dubbo Destroyer’, Karloo Mick was humanely euthanized after suffering from a suspected brain aneurysm.
Naturally owners Barry and Ronda Lew are devastated.
“I came home from the farm yesterday afternoon and Mick was crook in the paddock,” Barry stated. “I called the vet straight away and apparently he had a brain aneurysm.
“He was suffering so at 6pm we decided it was best to put him down.
“We just buried him (Wednesday) standing up as warhorses don’t lie down.
“He is buried with all of his harness on including his shadow roll and Murphy blind.”
Karloo Mick ran his last race at Tabcorp Park Menangle on January 26, 2013, which he won. Yet even though he has not raced in all this time, ‘Mick’ still had his fans.
“Just two weeks ago people from Victoria flew to Newcastle then hired a car and drove all the way to Dubbo just to see Mick,” Ronda said.
“They knew everything about him and that was Mick, he was the people’s horse.
“Just yesterday he was galloping around in the paddock with a young horse so it is hard to believe this has happened.
“Barry lay with him until he took his last breath . . . the horse just loved Barry.
“Mick is buried in our backyard facing the house so will be with us forever.
“He was a great horse that was part of the family.”
Karloo Mick (Panorama - Miss Jogalong) had many great achievements in his career which spanned from when he was three until he was a 12-year-old.
Passing away just over a day shy of turning 16, Karloo Mick raced in all the major races and even came close to winning a Miracle Mile in 2011 when finishing second to Smoken Up.
He won an Inter Dominion Consolation at Globe Derby in 2007 and two years later finished third in an Inter Dominion Final behind the likes of Mr Feelgood and Blacks A Fake.
Racing against the best of them, Karloo Mick had 159 starts in Australia for 64 wins and 59 placings, earning $1,493,155 in purses.
He also raced twice in New Zealand which included his win in the Group Two Ashburton Flying Stakes.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Karloo Mick.
(with files from HRNSW)