It has been announced that Hurrikane Kingcole (p,3,1:47.3 [$580,102]), the sire of speedy three-year-old Hurrikane Emperor, has passed away.
Kevin and Kay Seymour, together with Peter and Leean Bell, are devastated to advise that Hurrikane Kingcole has passed.
Hurrikane Kingcole was a stallion that had enormous racing potential, which was cut short due to injury. In the breeding barn before he left the United States, he sired prodigious talent in the form of Hurrikane Empress, Hurrikane Emperor and Hurrikanesky, to name a few.
His first season at stud in Australia produced winners such as Youaremy Sunshine, Frost En Ice, Sugarcane, and the list goes on.
“It’s a very sad loss not only for his connections in the USA, but also has been a black day for Egmont Park Stud and our families, Peter and Leean Bell, Egmont Park Stud staff and of course ourselves, as we have grown to love him as one of our own,” a statement from Egmont Park Stud said in part.
Earlier this year, one of Hurrikane Kingcole’s owners in the US, John McDermott, travelled to spend some time with his ‘boy,’ who was the apple of his eye.
“I’m so grateful that I was able to travel to see my ‘son’ this spring,” McDermott conveyed via email. “To know my boy was with people who loved him in the way no businessman could. I thank you all, Kevin, Kay, Peter and Leean. I love you all. Rest in peace my sweet ‘King.’ Daddy loves you.”
Egmont Park Stud’s statement on the matter explains that the loss of Hurrikane Kingcole has been one of the most disappointing in the breeding operation’s 50-year involvement in the industry. “We nearly lost him just after he arrived to a snake bite,” said the Egmont release, “but he survived that scare, however couldn’t overcome this one.”
Egmont Park Stud has explained that it will look after all broodmare owners who hold bookings with Hurrikane Kingcole.
Hurrikane Kingcole – a son of Cams Card Shark out of the mare Blazing Yankee – won 14 of his 49 career races and earned $582,807. He took his lifetime mark in 1:47.3.
In 2015, Hurrikane Kingcole turned up sore after a training mile. Subsequent ests revealed that he suffered a broken splint bone in his left front leg. Although McDermott said at the time that the injury was minor, and a return to racing was deemed probable following surgery, the trainer decided it was time to stop.
Hurrikane Kingcole, who in 2012 paced 1:48.1 at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono to equal the then-world record for a three-year-old on a five-eighths-mile track, was retired after the injury.
Hurrikane Kingcole struggled with immune system issues as well as breathing difficulties throughout much of his racing career. Still, he managed to produce memorable performances – even if not always in victory.
As a three-year-old in 2012, Hurrikane Kingcole jumped and went off stride behind the gate in his elimination for the North America Cup at Mohawk, spotting the field more than two dozen lengths. That he rallied to miss advancing to the final by only one and a quarter lengths was impressive, but not nearly as much as what track officials told McDermott following the race: A transponder carried by Hurrikane Kingcole clocked the horse in 1:46.1 for his mile.
“The speed that he went that night was just insane,” McDermott said.
Later that summer, Hurrikane Kingcole missed advancing to the final of the Meadowlands Pace by a whisker, but won the consolation the following week by eight and three-quarter lengths in 1:47.3. The Pace final went in 1:48.1. Less than a month later, Hurrikane Kingcole led the field in the New Jersey Classic to three-quarters in a record 1:18.2 only to lose by a head to Panther Hanover.
Hurrikane Kingcole’s top career victory came in a division of the Nassagaweya Stakes in 2011 at Mohawk.
“His gait is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before,” McDermott said at the time. “His front leg stands so far out beyond his nose when he’s in full gear, it’s ridiculous. He wears a 64-inch hobble, but he strides out so far that it’s not a true measurement of his gait. That’s what really made him special.”
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Hurrikane Kingcole.
(With files from Egmont Park Stud)
R.I.P. big fellow was the
R.I.P. big fellow was the fastest horse i have ever seen