Kip Deville Recovering From Colic Attack

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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

Kip Deville

Kip Deville, who survived a near-fatal case of laminitis earlier this year, is resting comfortably at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington after undergoing surgery for his third attack of colic.

“There are no new lesions, and it was a simple procedure,” said owner IEAH president Mike Iavarone. “He continues to amaze everybody with his incredible will to live. Most horses would not have survived all he’s been through. He was all set to be discharged and sent to a private facility, but we agreed to leave him at Rood and Riddle for a few extra weeks just to be on the safe side. He wasn’t going to get better care anywhere else, so there was no downside. By him being there when he suffered the colic attack, they were able to get right on top of it and he didn’t need to be re-sectioned.

“We’re not even thinking about the money aspect of it. We’re going to help him anyway we can as long as it’s humane.”

The surgery was performed by Dr. Scott Hopper, who had treated Kip Deville's in his previous bouts with colic.

Kip Deville’s problems began last October, beginning with what was thought to be a routine bout of colic. But over time, the colic progressed into laminitis, the dreaded foot disease that is often fatal and claimed the life of Barbaro.

The 7-year-old son of Kipling  —Klondike Kaytie, by Encino, made his last start Aug. 2 at Saratoga. In all, he won 12 of 30 starts and earned $3,325,489. His biggest win came in the 2007 NetJets Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT). He also won the nine other stakes including three additional grade I races. He was second in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Oak Tree.

Bred in Oklahoma by Center Hills Farm, Kip Deville also raced for Pegasus Holdings Group and Resolute Group Stables. He was purchased by a group led by IEAH in June 2006 and went on to become one of the top turf horses in the country. He is the leading Oklahoma-bred earner of all time.

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