Kentucky Derby Horse ‘Intense Holiday’ Euthanized
On May 27, 2014, the three-year old colt underwent surgery for a condylar fracture in his right front leg, suffered during training two days earlier, according to the stable.
The colt was retired from racing following the surgery.
He was expected to fully recover and begin his new career at stud, according to the release.
In the days following the surgery, ‘Intense Holiday’ developed laminitis in both forelimbs, which became irreversible.
"To lose such a strong and vibrant athlete like Intense Holiday just underscores the insidious, nondiscriminatory nature of acute laminitis," said attending veterinarian Dr. Patty Hogan.
"No horse is immune to this disease and it can strike at any time and with little warning. Intense Holiday was an incredibly stoic patient and his toughness humbled those of us caring for him. To this day, laminitis in the horse remains such a poorly understood disease process and our treatment options are so limited. I regret that we could not prevent the progression of the disease in this wonderful colt. It is a tragedy to lose him," Dr. Hogan said.
"It’s a tough day for me, our partners and our team," said Jack Wolf, Starlight Racing co-managing partner. "This horse was a fighter and he fought for his life in the same way he battled on the track-with tenacity. It’s a terrible loss for all of us."
‘Intense Holiday’ finished 12th in this past May’s Kentucky Derby.
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