Darley Stable’s 3-year-old colt Fort Hughes broke down Sunday morning, March 13, during a breeze on the Belmont Park training track and had to be euthanized.
“He was a very talented horse who reminded me a lot of his sire (Henny Hughes),” said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, who indicated the injury was a fractured cannon bone. “This is an extremely tough part of this game. There are a lot of highs, but also a lot of lows.”
Fort Hughes’ most recent start came in winning the Jimmy Winkfield Jan. 17 at Aqueduct, a six-furlong stakes in which he registered a 104 Beyer Speed Figure, third best among all 3-year-olds this year.
With a record of 2-1-0 from three starts and earnings of $84,600, Fort Hughes, out of the Roar mare Forty Greeta, had been pointing for the Bay Shore Stakes (gr. III) April 9 at Aqueduct.
Marsha Barrs, the exercise rider who was on Fort Hughes when he broke down, was uninjured in the incident.