The owners of Sebastian K announced on Friday morning that their trotting star has been forced into early retirement due to injury.
Earlier this week, trainer Åke Svanstedt stated that the nine-year-old world record holder would be sidelined after an ultrasound found some bleeding in a hind suspensory. Further examination of the injury prompted the owners -- brothers Michael Knutsson and Tristan Sjoberg of Knutsson Trotting Inc. -- to shut down Sebastian K permanently.
In his one and only start of 2015, Sebastian K (Korean - Gabriella K) finished second by a nose to JL Cruze in a $75,000 Invitational Trot at Mohegan Sun Pocono. His owners have previously stated that the trotting stallion will stand stud in North America in 2016. He retires as the fastest trotter in harness racing history by virtue of his 1:49 mile at Mohegan Sun Pocono in June 2014.
The official release from the owners appears below.
It is with a heavy heart that Michael and I have to announce the enforced retirement of Sebastian K from racing. Two separate ultrasound examinations have confirmed a significant tear in the left hind suspensory ligament. Although it is impossible to determine the exact cause of the injury his last race was most certainly a truly valiant effort all things considered.
We are immensely proud of the privilege to own Sebastian K and he has given us so much joy over the years. We are also very thankful to the North American harness racing fans whom have taken 'Seabass' to their hearts and voted his all-aged world record mile of 1:49 at Pocono Downs 28th June 2014 as the Racing Moment of the year. This means a lot to us and we are sincerely grateful for this award.
Sebastian K finished his career with a record of 77 34-15-2 and lifetime earnings of $2,963,252. He retires as the fastest trotter of all times.
Tristian Sjoberg
Knutsson Trotting Inc.
With all due respect to the
With all due respect to the connections of JL CRUZE i think Sebastian k was poised to dominate the age trotting division once again this year. He was only beat a nose in his first race off a eight month long layoff and he was only going to get better off of that start. In his short time in North America he stamped himself as one of the all-time greatest aged trotters.
Hard to describe how good he
Hard to describe how good he was. It brings to mind Stanley Dancer's description of Cardigan Bay when asked how good was he. Mr Dancer said "well he does not have to carry his racetrack around with him"!!