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The fastest trotter in harness racing history, Sebastian K made his long-awaited return to the trotting ranks in early July and appeared to be poised for another big season. Reports indicate that those plans have been derailed.
Trainer Åke Svanstedt stated in an update that the nine-year-old trotter has suffered an injury and will be sidelined indefinitely.
"Sebastian K was amazing in his first race of the year but after his last workout home at the farm, we noticed a small pressure damage on his hind leg that came from a shin boot," Svanstedt noted. "The vet has checked him up with an ultrasound and it showed that there is [a] little bleeding in the suspensory."
Svanstedt continued by confirming that the horse is not lame, nor is there any swelling in the area.
"We are going to rehabilitate him as instructed by our veterinarian. I can not say today whether it will take one, two, three months or even more before he can race again. It is entirely up to how the injury heals. Really sad but I’m glad we noticed it in time."
In his first start of the year, Sebastian K trotted a mile in 1:51 over Mohegan Sun Pocono -- the same track over which he established his 1:49 world record in 2014. The horse that defeated him in that 2015 start was JL Cruze, the trotter that set a 1:49.4 world record over The Meadowlands last Saturday.
Owned by Knutsson Trotting Inc. of Vero Beach, Fl., Sebastian K (Korean - Gabriella K) is entering what is scheduled to be his final season of harness racing. His owners have previously stated that the trotting stallion will stand stud in North America in 2016. He boasts nearly $3 million in lifetime earnings with 34 wins in 77 starts.