Jim Simpson, the president of Hanover Shoe Farms, and the members of the the Captaintreacherous racing group have announced that 'The Captain' will be officially retired at Lexington's famed Red Mile during the races on Thursday, October 2.
Tony Alagna, the colt's trainer said that "'Captain' just hasn't been himself for the last several weeks. He's been fighting a low respiratory bug and we just haven't been able to overcome it. Rather than take the chance of doing irreparable harm to this great horse, I think it would be wise for everybody concerned to have him retired at Hanover Shoe Farms. I have no doubts that he is destined to become a great sire. I very much look forward to the day when I will be looking at, buying and training his babies."
Jim Simpson said that he looks forward to having the greatest son of the sport's super-sire Somebeachsomewhere stand at Hanover. "Captaintreacherous was one of the greatest two and three-year-old pacers in the sport's history. It's now time for him to excel in the next stage of his remarkable career."
Myron Bell, the colt's racing manager throughout his career said, "I've been involved in harness racing for half a century. I've seen all of the greats during that time. Captaintreacherous has to rank right up there among the very best. In my entire career in the sport I've only predicted two horses as being "can't-miss" sires. Those two were Artsplace and Western Ideal. The one quality that all three horses share is extreme courage. I have no doubt whatever that Captaintreacherous will follow in their footsteps in the stallion ranks. I look forward to buying and training a large number of his yearlings."
Captaintreacherous was voted "Pacer of the Year" in the U.S. at both two and three. At two, he won eight of 10 starts and earned $911,277. At three, he won 13 of 16 starts and earned $2,065,533 winning almost all of the Classic events including the three richest: the North America Cup, the Meadowlands Pace and the Breeders Crown. Captaintreacherous retires with earnings of $3,153,541.
Dr. Bridgette Jablonsky, whose hands 'The Captain' will be literally be in at Hanover, can't wait until the horse gets to his next home. "I don't think I've ever been more excited about an incoming stallion. 'The Captain' has it all, great performance on the racetrack, great courage, a fantastic pedigree and perhaps most important of all, he's drop dead gorgeous and correct, something that I'm certain he will transmit to his foals."
Captaintreacherous will begin his stallion career in February of 2015.
(Hanover Shoe Farms)