Lazarus N, the 'Wonder from Down Under', has been retired from racing and will begin his dual hemisphere stud career.
Taylor Made Stallions announced on Friday (Nov. 30) that international superstar Lazarus N (Q 1:48.3 - BT 1:46.3), New Zealand's greatest and most accomplished racehorse of all time, has been retired from racing and will start his North American stud career at Deo Volente Farms in New Jersey for a fee of $10,000.
Named New Zealand Horse of the Year twice, three-year-old Pacer of the Year, four-year-old Pacer of the Year and five-year-old Pacer of the Year, as well as Australasian Grand Circuit Champion for two years, Lazarus N compiled an international race record of 51 starts, 37 wins, eight seconds and four thirds with lifetime career earnings of $4,125,988 in true racing dollars (no conversions), making him the richest Standardbred stallion in history to stand at stud anywhere in the world.
A multiple stakes winner at two, the precocious Lazarus N flashed his brilliance as a juvenile winning six times from eight starts, pacing the fastest two-year-old mile ever Down Under in 1:52.4 with a :25.1 final quarter.
Bred on Australasia's golden cross, being by breed-defining stallion Bettors Delight out of a Christian Cullen mare, Lazarus has eight crosses to Meadow Skipper in his five generation pedigree similar to Sweet Lou, McWicked, Foiled Again and Anndrovette. Noted pedigree expert Bob Marks commented, “Lazarus has an All-American pedigree. For all intents and purposes, he could have been bred and foaled in North America. Given his precocity and All-American pedigree, there is no reason to conclude that he won’t perform like a great American stallion and represent the logical extender of the Cam Fella line.”
Lazarus N was a 15-time Group 1 winner, establishing five track records in New Zealand and another three records in Australia. Sent to race in North America, Lazarus N won the $325,000 Dan Patch in his North American stakes debut. The mile went in 1:48.4. His next U.S. stakes victory came in the $177,000 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby where he paced the mile in 1:48.4.
Perhaps his greatest performance on U.S. soil came at The Red Mile. The mighty Lazarus N, parked the entire mile — much of it without cover — finished in 1:46.3 while gaining at the wire. This made believers of those in attendance of his extraordinary talent. Lazarus N's trainer, Hall of Famer Jimmy Takter, stated in an interview with Michael Guerin, "His (Lazarus N's) official time, if you were to have it on him, he did break the world record,” (as Yannick Gingras was forced wide and to check while going for the lead at the first turn). “This is just a great, great horse. I urge breeders to breed their top mares to him,” added Takter.
"We were so fortunate to have raced such an extraordinary talent as Lazarus,” said Duncan Taylor. “We are extremely pleased that he is standing at Deo Volente Farms in New Jersey. His sire Bettors Delight has truly been a breed shaper and a renewable annuity. Our expectations are that Lazarus will follow in his sire’s footprint."
Mike Gulotta, CEO of Deo Volente Farms, added, “Lazarus N is arriving in New Jersey at the beginning of our renaissance. Both the legalization of sports betting and the expected financial support from our state government will result in a revitalization of Standardbred racing in this state and a positive environment for Lazarus N. Just as Lazarus was raised from the dead, so too will New Jersey Racing.”
Shares in Lazarus N are now becoming available at the rate of $50,000 per share with payment options. Share owners will be entitled to two breedings per year in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 with one breeding per year thereafter. Additionally, North American shareholders will share in Southern Hemisphere revenues.
(Deo Volente Farms)