Grade I Winner Ticker Tape Retired

Ticker Tape, an Eclipse Award runner-up as 3-year-old in 2004, has been retired after suffering a leg injury earlier this year. The daughter of Royal Applause underwent surgery in June to have two screws inserted in a cannon bone. The injury was detected following her seventh-place finish in the May 29 Gamely Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park.

Owner James Peyton and trainer James M. Cassidy considered putting millionaire Ticker Tape back in training later this year, but Peyton decided to retire her. She is expected to arrive in early August at Peyton's Forging Oaks Farm near Lexington. Among the stallions Peyton is considering breeding Ticker Tape to are Empire Maker   and Giant's Causeway  .

Ticker Tape, who was bred in Great Britain by Car Colston Hall Stud, enjoyed her greatest season as a 3-year-old when she raced for previous owners Jim Ford, Deron Pearson, and Jack Sweesy. Ticker Tape beat fillies and mares, 3-year-old and up, in that year's American Oaks Invitational (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park and took the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (gr. IT) from fellow 3-year-olds at Keeneland. She also won that year's Pucker Up Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Arlington Park and the Providencia and China Doll Stakes on grass at Santa Anita. Also that season, Ticker Tape was beaten a nose in the Del Mar Oaks (gr. IT) and placed in three other turf stakes, including the Matriarch Stakes (gr. IT) at Hollywood in her last start of the year.

Following her Queen Elizabeth victory that October, Ticker Tape was a leading contender for an Eclipse Award in the female turf division and a strong case could be made for her in the 3-year-old filly division even though all her races had been on grass. Ticker Tape was withheld from the Breeders' Cup and pointed instead to the Matriarch. Her loss in the Matriarch didn't help matters. Ouija Board, who won the VO5 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) in her sole North American start that year, was voted an Eclipse Award, with Ticker Tape finishing second. Ashado captured the Breeders' Cup Distaff - Presented by Nextel (gr. I) and was voted champion 3-year-old filly.

Peyton privately acquired Ticker Tape following the Matriarch. She scored her major win for him in this year's Tuzla Handicap on grass at Santa Anita and placed in six stakes in 2005-06, including this year's San Gorgonio Handicap (gr. IIT).

Ticker Tape, who began her racing career in England and was stakes-placed there, retired with eight wins and 14 placings from 31 starts and earnings of $1,452,396. She is out of the Silver Hawk mare Argent Du Bois and her third dam, grade II turf winner Chapel of Dreams, is a half-sister to leading sire Storm Cat, sire of Giant's Causeway  .