Virginia Stallion Secret Hello Dead

Secret Hello, who was Virginia's leading sire in 1999, was euthanized because of complications from a chronic neurological disease. A grade I winner on the racetrack, the 15-year-old son of Private Account stood at Albermarle Stud near Free Union, Va., and sired 15 stakes winners.

Bred in Kentucky by Mill Ridge Farm, Secret Hello was a major winner for Joe Allbritton's Lazy Lane Farms and trainer Frank Brothers, capturing the 1989 Arlington-Washington Futurity (gr. I). In the winter of 1991, Allbritton sold an interest in Secret Hello to Mr. and Mrs. William Marquard's Eaglestone Farm.

Secret Hello, who was produced from the Silent Screen mare Ciao, won four other stakes during his career, three of which were graded. He retired with six wins from 22 starts and earnings of $784,259 in the fall of 1991 and entered stud at John T.L. Jones Jr.'s Walmac International near Lexington. He was sent to Albemarle for the 1998 season. The farm is owned by Debbie Easter in partnership with Dr. and Mrs. Reynolds Cowles.

Secret Hello, who was owned by Lazy Lane, sired such stakes winnners as Panamanian champion Golden Hello and U.S. graded stakes winners Secret Firm and Silent Greeting. Secret Firm won the 1998 King's Bishop (gr. II) and Amsterdam (gr. III) Stakes, both at Saratoga.