California Stallion Lord Carson Dies

Lord Carson, who was standing his third season at Tom Stull's Tommy Town Thoroughbreds near Santa Ynez, Calif., died March 16 of a head injury. "He fell and hit his head after dismounting a mare," said farm manager Mike Allen.

Thirteen-year-old Lord Carson, who began his stallion career at Vinery in Kentucky when the farm was owned by Ben Walden Jr., is represented by seven stakes winners, 15 stakes-placed runners, and the earners of $9 million. He ranks 15th on California's leading sires list this year, with $332,675 in progeny earnings.

Lord Carson sired multiple stakes winners Windsor Castle, Mt. Carson, The Herc, and Andiroba, a Puerto Rican champion. Windsor Castle won three graded stakes, including the Remsen Stakes (gr. II) in New York, and earned $591,715. Mt. Carson set a mile course-record at Colonial Downs in one of his three stakes wins.

Campaigned as a homebred by David P. Reynolds, Lord Carson was plenty fast himself. He won the Boojum Handicap (gr. II) over Honour and Glory in 1:08.72 for six furlongs at Belmont Park and ran that same identical time in equaling a track record at Churchill Downs. In the Kentucky Cup Sprint Stakes at Turfway Park, he equaled a six-furlong mark of 1:08.60. Lord Carson retired from racing with 12 wins from 27 starts and earnings of $654,742.

Lord Carson (Carson City--Bedgay's Lady, by Lord Gaylord) was buried at Tommy Town.