NEWS
Record-setting miler Najran dead at age 12
Posted: Thursday, February 17, 2011 4:52 PM
NAJRAN
by Frank Angst
Najran, who equaled Dr. Fager’s North American record time for one mile on dirt, died on February 9 following a paddock accident at Hopewell Farm in Midway, Kentucky.
The 12-year-old Runaway Groom stallion had been scheduled to stand at Jay Adcock’s Red River Farms in Coushatta, Louisiana, but he died before making the trip. Adcock explained that scheduled trips had been postponed because of bad weather and that another trip had been scheduled but the fatal paddock accident occurred first.
“I never did get to see him,” Adcock said. “I think he would have really fit in well in Louisiana.”
While solid throughout his racing career with three stakes wins, Najran assured himself a spot in racing history when he completed the 2003 Westchester Handicap in 1:32.24 at Belmont Park to tie Dr. Fager for the North American track record at one mile. Dr. Fager completed the 1968 Washington Park Handicap in 1:32 2/5 at Arlington Park. Nearly eight years after Najran’s record-tying day, the records still stand.
After the victory on opening day of the 2003 Belmont spring meeting, trainer Nick Zito said Buckram Oak Farm’s Najran had been training beautifully in three moves before the race.
“You could see those were real works and this is a real horse,” Zito said of the then four-year-old. “I knew he was going to run big, but I never dreamed he would run this big.”
Najran closed out the 2003 season—and his career—with a victory in the Phoenix Breeders’ Cup Stakes (G3) at Keeneland Race Course.
Najran stood seven seasons at Hopewell Farm. He is the sire of eight stakes winners including graded stakes winners Wasted Tears, Sky Cape, Muny, and Buckleupbuttercup.
Frank Angst is senior writer for Thoroughbred Times
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: WT, Harrodsburg, KY on February 24, 2011 at 03:40 PM
Robin, didn't mean to imply that horses don't have accidents. They surely do. I've seen my fair share. I'd just like to know what kind of "paddock accident." Went through the fence? Slipped and broke something? I remember when Saint Liam died Lane's End was very forthcoming about what happened to him. I appreciated that. Vagaries such as "paddock accident" and "infirmities of old age" make me suspicious.
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Posted by: Robin, Canton, MI on February 23, 2011 at 09:06 AM
Actually, some horses do have accidents in the paddock. I'm sure of it. Because, you know, even romping around in the paddock could be dangerous. You know that gophers, groundhogs and all the animals who live under ground, digs up holes in the ground. Maybe Najran stepped in one. Or maybe he twisted an ankle. Many things could go wrong in the paddock, like they could in stalls, on trail rides, in racing, and in many different things.
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Posted by: Robin, Canton, MI on February 23, 2011 at 09:04 AM
Actually, some horses do have accidents in the paddock. I'm sure of it. Because, you know, even romping around in the paddock could be dangerous. You know that gophers, groundhogs and all the animals who live under ground, digs up holes in the ground. Maybe Najran stepped in one. Or maybe he twisted an ankle. Many things could go wrong in the paddock, like they could in stalls, on trail rides, in racing, many things.
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Posted by: Cassie, Providence, RI on February 22, 2011 at 04:19 PM
Totally agree WT -- this term is also used when foals, mares die. Someone is accountable and more information should be revealed. There is someone at fault because this horse was in Hopewell's Farms care. Someone there is responsible for not watching out for him. I would like to see additional information revealed here.
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Posted by: WT, Harrodsburg, KY on February 18, 2011 at 09:42 AM
The vague reasons farms use when a horse dies is very annoying. "Paddock accident" - what does that really mean? It's like they're trying to hide something.
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