Canada's Triple Crown Winner Wando Retired

(from Woodbine report)
Wando, who swept Canada's Triple Crown of Thoroughbred racing in 2003, was retired Thursday morning because of a leg injury.

Wando was injured as he finished seventh in the Westchester (gr. III), a one-mile race at New York's Belmont Park, on May 4.

"He has a slight tear in his left hind suspensory," said trainer Mike Keogh. "He suffered it in the Westchester on the turn."

Keogh said after conferring with the 5-year-old's vets late Thursday morning, he called Gus Schickedanz, Wando's owner, and recommended retirement. Schickedanz agreed.

Future plans, which will no doubt include a stud career, have not yet been finalized for the chestnut son of Langfuhr  -Kathie's Colleen.

"He was brilliant for us," Keogh said. "It was just a thrill to be around him. He's a very special horse. He gave us a lot."

Wando retires a multi-millionaire with 11 wins, two seconds, two thirds and purse earnings of (Canadian) $2,566,060 from 23 lifetime starts.

He is only the seventh horse in Canadian horse racing history to capture the Triple Crown (Queen's Plate, Prince of Wales, Breeders' Stakes) and the first to do so since Peteski in 1993. Wando was named Canada's Horse of the Year in 2003.