Financingavailable, Canada's champion older mare last year and one of the favorites for the same title this year, has been retired from racing because of a small ligament tear. The 6-year-old daughter of Kiridashi was being pointed to the $150,000 Bessarabian Stakes Nov. 25 at Woodbine.
Trainer Lorne Richards said the issue is minor, but not worth risking a more serious injury. For the ligament to heal completely, Financingavailable would need to be off for an extended period of time.
"She would be out six or eight months," Richards said. "To come back is asking a lot. There's always a chance of it happening again. We had a good run. It had to end sooner or later."
Richards trained Financingavailable for K.K. Sangara, who acquired the mare privately from owner/trainer Mark Casse in the second half of 2004.
Financingavailable won all 10 of her stakes for Sangara. They included last year's Bessarabian. Her four stakes wins this year included the Ontario Fashion and Ballade Stakes, both in track-record time at Woodbine, plus the Classy 'n Smart for the second consecutive year.
Financingavailable retired with 16 wins and 10 placings from 28 races and earnings of $1,257,832. Bred in Ontario by Michael C. Byrne and Helen Irving, she is out of the L'Emigrant mare Fascigrant. Breeding plans are undecided.
