Bolt The Duer Injured, Retired

Trot Insider has learned that multiple world record setter Bolt The Duer has been retired after suffering a career-ending injury.

Trainer Peter Foley confirmed on Saturday morning that the speedy son of Ponder has a torn hind suspensory. Foley was gearing up Bolt The Duer for his six-year-old campaign, kicking it off last Saturday at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

"He went a big trip last Saturday night, coming home in :26.1. There aren't many that come home in :26.1 at Pocono."

Foley's not sure if that's when the injury first happened as it didn't show up all week...until his first training trip on Thursday. Foley, 65, easily considers Bolt The Duer to be the best horse he's trained

"I trained in California for 20 years; to come across a horse like that...it's once in a lifetime."

In 2012, Bolt The Duer became the fastest horse in history on a five-eighths-mile track with a 1:47.4 world record in the $500,000 Adios final at The Meadows.

He also won the $250,000 Kentucky Sires Stakes final at The Red Mile in 1:48.2, the $415,820 Messenger Stakes at Yonkers in 1:51.2, and capped his sophomore season with a 1:51 triumph in the $130,000 Cleveland Classic at Northfield Park. He returned to the races at four in a year many consider to be one of the deepest older pacing divisions on record.

At four, Bolt The Duer matched his sophomore world record effort, becoming the first horse to record two sub-1:48 wins on a five-eighths mile surface. He equalled a second world record with a 1:49 mile in the Gerrity Memorial at Saratoga, becoming the fastest horse on a half-mile and five-eighths mile track.

"He was so easy on himself; he only did what you asked him to do...and he had fierce determination. He put his head down and went forward.

"I've never had a horse do this: I hooked him to the racebike at Pocono and the cart was actually broadsiding around the corner. You could feel the cart moving sideways."

Bolt The Duer (Ponder - Wonderbolt) retires with 23 wins from 67 starts and more than $1.82 million in purses. Foley told Trot Insider that a stallion career is certainly in the plans now with discussions underway.

"That's the next move, we have to try to find a stud career for him somewhere," said Foley, who notes that onwer John Como Jr. of All Star Racing is as devastated as he is.

"This is probably the best horse he's ever had and he's had horses all his life, him and his father (the late John Como Sr.). Horses like this are dear to your heart."