Chambers Discusses JM Vangogh Injury, Retirement

Having won an O'Brien Award, major stakes and over $2.2 million in career earnings, JM Vangogh knows a little something about stepping up to the plate and overcoming long odds

. After having recently suffered a serious, career-ending injury, the bay son of Earl now faces another big hurdle off the track.

JM Vangogh's co-owner Paul Chambers spoke about the standout horse with Trot Insider. He revealed that the injury the horse sustained during an August 25 Open Handicap at Harrington Raceway was extensive.

"We (Paul and his wife, Wilma) were racing at Saratoga, so my daughter, Colleen, had him at Harrington," Chambers told Trot Insider. "We were watching the simulcast and saw that he made a break and then was out of the picture. We knew that there was something wrong because he doesn't make breaks."

Chambers explained to Trot Insider that he called Colleen, who, with gracious help by fellow horsepeople at the track that night, was able to get JM Vangogh stabilized on the track before getting the horse to the New Bolton Center in Pennsylvania.

Once at New Bolton, JM Vangogh would ultimately end up under the care of Dr. Dean Richardson, who made headlines for his efforts with Barbaro, the top thoroughbred which underwent extensive surgery and care after breaking down.

"He sustained severe fractures to one of his pasterns," explained Chambers, who cited multiple fractures throughout the area. "He ended up going through a seven-hour surgery and had a total of nine screws inserted."

Chambers explained that before he awoke from the surgery, JM Vangogh was under supervision in the pool to facilitate the healing process.

"I saw him on Friday and he was a little groggy," Chambers told Trot Insider, "but once I opened up the bag of carrots he perked right up. I went back up to see him yesterday (Sunday, August 29) and he was much better -- he showed that he wanted to go home."

Chambers said that although the surgery seems to have been successful to this point, the prominent concern going forward is the possible onset of infection and/or laminitis.

"It's a long healing process and he isn't out of the woods just yet," Chambers said. "He'll be at New Bolton for at least another two weeks, in which time they will remove his cast and assess where the healing process is at."

When asked about what JM Vangogh has meant to him and his family, Chambers had a lot to say. He summed up his feelings for the horse by saying, "He's just been a dream. It was impossible to expect what he has done for us."

After having stood stud for test breedings, JM Vangogh currently has five mares in foal, and Chambers explained that a couple other mares are pending.

From 206 career starts, JM Vangogh has recorded 65 wins, 33 second-place finishes and 22 thirds. He lowered his mark to 1:52.4 with a win at Mohawk Racetrack as an eight-year-old. In addition to multiple Preferred and Open victories, JM Vangogh has recorded wins in Ontario Sires Stakes Gold finals, in finals of Georgian Downs' Earl Rowe Memorial and Masters Series, and in the $345,000 final of The Classic Series' Classic Trot.

Please join Standardbred Canada in wishing JM Vangogh a complete and full recovery.