THE Mid North Coast’s first million dollar prizemoney galloper, nine-year-old Taree gelding Youthful Jack, broke down in trackwork on Monday and has been retired.
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The Ross Stitt galloper was having a hit-out for a race at Taree Wingham Race Club’s big Taree Cup meeting on Sunday when he went amiss.
The gelding injured a sesamoid in an off-side leg and was treated by vets.
Stitt said: “We will be able to save him but he won’t race again.”
He said the gelding had done a great job over the years in winning in Sydney, Queensland and Tasmania, as well as the country.
In 74 starts, Youthful Jack won 18 races and was placed another 13 times for prizemoney around $1,144,200.
His last win was in last year’s Ramornie Handicap over 1200m at Grafton.
He won stakes and listed races for his age and won races from 1000m to 1600m.
Stitt said: “I didn’t want him to go out that way - this was to be his final gallop for Sunday’s race.”
He is confident that Youthful Jack will recover and be destined for a life as a show horse.
Meanwhile, Stitt's other injured racehorse, Southern Shimmer, which would have been one of the favourites for the $60,000 Taree Cup over 2000m, is responding to treatment.
The $80,000 Coffs Harbour Cup winner got a mystery infection in a leg after the race and is expected to be back in work soon.
“Unfortunately he will miss his hometown cup but should be ready for other major country cups,” Stitt said.