There are some things that money can't buy. One of them is having your breeding program produce that "special" animal that gives you the pleasure of witnessing it's success. Another would be finally owning that "great one" you've been wanting for years. Prolonging their careers could only prolong that irreplaceble feeling of being a winner and making a place in history. It's possible - actuallly it's highly likely that you won't be able to reproduce it. Zenyatta is great example of this. I'm sure the connections were more than happy with the money she made but the thrill they got every time she won a race and became more famous would be pricless and the likelihood of it happening for them again is miniscule. Also there are many examples of great race horses who do NOT move on to become famous sires or broodmares.

Many years ago at the Westminster dog show in New York someone from Japan offered an acquaintance of mine a great deal of cash for her top show dog which she had bred and owned. When she turned it down she asked me "What could I buy with that money that would give me more fun than I'm having showing this dog?" "I don't know that I could breed or buy another one this good".

So think not about what you can do for the breeding program and your wallet and consider what you can do for your personal satisfaction and perhaps the continuation of the racing industry as well.

Lynne~I take in off the track standardbreds on my farm, New Horizons Equine Center; I re-train them for a second career, and most of them are not past the age of 6 years old, so I can see your point about providing a home for them if they are not successful on the racetrack. But I must agree with Jeremy with respect to the fact that purse money needs to increase in aged competitions. There seems to be virtually no incentive to keep a good horse racing longer when there's no money in it. If we knew there was a high profile series for 6 year olds (similar to a Triple Crown Series for older horses), owners and trainers would keep them around longer. Personally, the OSS, while it is a fantastic, competitive series, is geared for 2 and 3 year olds, and to me, this gives people a false sense of hope as far as breeding goes.

How can we look at a three-year old colt and say that he will/will not be a great sire when he's not even fully grown? He could very well have been racing against a poor crop of competitors that year, and/or has not shown any genetic deformities that may arise as he ages. Just my 2 cents.

While I respect the owners' decision in this matter, it does seem a shame to lose the stars of the racing game when they are so young and just starting to get their names up in lights. Retiring a 3 year-old could lead the breeder to believe that the horse isn't tough enough to get past one or two years of racing and could pass that trait on to their offspring. What to do with them then? They become burdens for the owners and many end up at the slaughter house which is a tragedy. Not all can be adopted or sent to the horse and buggy communities. Where is the responsibility of horse ownership? Owners with horses of this calibre reap the benefits of racing and then standing them at stud. How many of them give a retired horse a home for life after it gives so much to them?

Nothing against The Lemons, Daylon Magician was a great racing story....and they did what 90% of people would have done if you ask me....

It is however so unfortunate that the fans of racing only see the stars of racing, go to the shed after such short racing careers...almost every great horse remains great for many years after their 3 year old campaign and arguably the best condition to watch and wager are the older horse preferred and invitations...A new rule of not being able to stand stud until the age of six unless seriously injured or deemed not able to race would produce the events the sport needs...but whose problem is it..COME ON TRACKS...Step up and give the pacing a trotting open class a 5 Million dollar race - isnt that what the thoroughbreds(6 million) do-

How do you expect B. Mcgrath and the Lemons to stick around for a banner year and only make a million in purses..give them the money to race and they'll stay. Then we'd see Daylon Magician tackle San Pail...The Beach tackle Lis Mara and so on...When Zenyata beat the boys in the Classic, people I work with talked about the race...just so yas know, where I work nobody knows who Somebeachsomewhere is.

Karry~I do agree with you as far as the Lemon's decision to not sell so that he could remain in Ontario-that definitely benefits Ontario racing and its future. Granted he has had a tough 2011 campaign, but with 17 starts, he's been in the money 16 times; with 11 wins, 2 places, and 3 shows. To me, this doesn't equate to a horse that is not fit, sound, consistent or competitive among his peers.

While I must respect their decision to stand him at Tara Hills for the 2012 season, and not knowing what I would do in their situation (its a tough call sometimes), I would have hoped, because he's so popular within the industry, that they would have gave him some much deserved time off and brought him back to defend some of his titles. I do thank them though for all their hard work and dedication-they're obviously doing something right.

Yes it would have been great to have watched Daylon Magician race another year. But it was obvious from his last couple of races that this was not the same horse that won the Canadian Trotting Classic. The Beach, Donato, Dewey, Muscle Hill - all were sent to stud at the height of their racing careers. I don't believe that this is the case here. Perhaps Daylon Magician was sending a message to his trainer in his last start and perhaps his trainer chose to listen. Rumour has it that a large amount of money was turned down to sell Daylon Magician to the Europeans. Kudos to the Lemons for keeping the horse in Ontario. I look forward to breeding my mares to him.

Lynne~Seems to be the trend for top rated three year old stallions..."From Wire to Sire"...At least Monkey On My Wheel is returning for a four year old campaign!

Bring em back

Ian~Unfortunately for the industry, you are correct.

I agree with Brenda, as for Claudette, the reason is simple---MONEY

claudette - the reason is called $$$$$$$

Too bad he cannot come back to the races next year.

Congrats to the connections of Daylon Magician. A great horse. Will be a great sire. Tremendous will to win.

Congratulations on a great year but a shame that Magician not returning to race next year. The industry needs horses like this to come back at 4 and race.

Any reason why he isn't returning for a 4-year-old campaign?