Old Friends’ Private Zone euthanized in Versailles

GEORGETOWN, KY (WTVQ)- According to Old Friends Farm, Multiple grade 1 winner Private Zone was euthanized Saturday at Park Equine Hospital in Versailles.

Old Friends says the attending veterinarian, Dr. Bryan Waldridge, cited the cause of death as complications of duodenitis/proximal jejunitis (anterior enteritis).

“This is a small intestinal colic characterized by inactivity of the small intestine and large amounts of reflux from the stomach,” said Dr. Waldridge.

A full necropsy will be done.

The nine-year-old gelding came to Old Friends in Georgetown last April.

He made his first nine starts in Panama where he became a group 1 winner.

Former jockey Rene Douglas bought him and campaigned him under Doug O’Neill, Alfredo Velazquez, Jorge Navarro, Brian Lynch, and others.

Private Zone retired with 10 wins from 33 starts and $2,924,620 in earnings.

“We were so grateful when the owners of Private Zone retired him to us, and that only increases our sadness that he died this morning,” said Old Friends President Michael Blowen.

“He was a marvelous animal, and we are thankful to everyone who cared for him at Park Equine Hospital for the last two weeks trying to help him overcome this difficult illness.  Private Zone was a fighter to the end, trying to help us help him.”