Rainbows for Life, a three-time Canadian champion who was a leading sire in the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic, was euthanized Sept. 1 because of the infirmities of old age, according to the Racing Post. The son of Lyphard out of Canadian Broodmare of the Year Rainbow Connection (by Halo) was 24.
Rainbows for Life raced his first three seasons (1990-92) for his breeder, Ernie Samuel’s Sam-Son Farm, and the 1993 season for Sam-Son and Josephine Abercrombie’s Pin Oak Stable. Rainbows for Life won such major Canadian stakes as the Dominion Day Handicap (gr. III), the Summer Stakes (gr. IIIT), the Coronation Futurity, and the Cup and Saucer Stakes. He was voted Canada's champion 2-year-old male and leading older male and grass male at 4.
Rainbows for Life contested two of the three Canadian classics open to males, the Queen’s Plate and the Prince of Wales Stakes, but finished fourth in both events to Sam-Son’s great filly, Dance Smartly.
Rainbows for Life proved successful in the United States, winning three graded stakes including the New Hampshire Sweepstakes Handicap (gr. IIIT) and the Hawthorne Derby (gr. III), both in course record time.
Trained by Jim Day, Rainbows for Life was retired with a record of 15-5-3 from 36 starts and earnings of $1,105,926. Instead of entering stud at Pin Oak Stud near Versailles, Ky., as planned, Rainbow for Life started his stallion career in Ireland.
Rainbows for Life has sired six Czech and/or Slovak champions and is the maternal grandsire of Irish-bred 2011 American Handicap (gr. IIT) winner Ryehill Dreamer.
