by Mike Curry

Reigning Horse of the year Curlin will be paraded at Churchill Downs on Saturday between the fifth and sixth races on closing day of the 26-day fall meeting.

After the parade, Curlin will be honored with a special salute in the paddock or winner’s circle.

The four-year-old Smart Strike colt won the $1-million Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) on June 14 at Churchill and was stabled at the historic Louisville track for much of his time in training with Steve Asmussen and majority owner Jess Jackson

“We’re thrilled to have another opportunity to showcase Curlin in front of his many fans in Kentucky,” Asmussen said. “For the past two years, he’s given our entire team numerous thrills and great memories. We’ve always considered Churchill Downs to be his home track, and we’ll always remember that standing ovation he received after winning the Stephen Foster.”

First post time is 11:30 a.m. EST on Saturday and the fifth race is scheduled for 1:28 p.m.

Curlin will begin his stud career in 2009 at William S. Farish’s Lane’s End in Versailles, Kentucky. Out of the Deputy Minister mare Shirreff’s Deputy, Curlin will stand for $75,000.

Curlin won the 2008 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) on September 27 at Belmont Park to surpass two-time Horse of the Year Cigar ($9,999,815) as the all-time leading North American-raced earner. He has won 11 of 16 career starts and amassed $10,501,800 in purse earnings in two seasons.

Unraced at two, Curlin finished third in the 2007 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) in his fourth career start. He followed with a win in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and finished second to Rags to Riches in the Belmont Stakes (G1). Curlin closed his three-year-old season with wins in the ’07 Jockey Club Gold Cup and Breeders’ Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1) to nail down Horse of the Year honors.

Curlin added wins this year in the Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (G1) and Woodward Stakes (G1). A top contender for 2008 Horse of the Year and champion older male, Curlin finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on October 25 at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor