Reineman Included in War Emblem Stud Deal

The $17-$18 million deal to send Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner War Emblem to Japan to stand at stud includes the 10% stake Chicago industrialist Russell Reineman had in the horse.

Reineman, who bred War Emblem along with Charles Nuckols Jr., sold 90% of the son of Our Emblem to the late Prince Ahmed Salman's The Thoroughbred Corp. three weeks before the colt won the Kentucky Derby. The Thoroughbred Corp. struck a deal with the Shadai Stallion Station earlier this week that will send War Emblem to Japan after he runs in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Arlington Park Oct. 26.

Reineman said he had spoken to Richard Mulhall, president of The Thoroughbred Corp., on the phone Sept. 12. "I assumed I was in there and he said, 'yes, your 10% is included,' " Reineman said. "It's a very good deal. We sure did okay with this horse. I never expected all this, but you never know what can happen, do you?"

Reineman sold 90% of War Emblem for $900,000. Including that sum, plus his share of the stallion deal and the horse's racetrack earnings since the sale, and Reineman has made nearly $3 million with War Emblem since mid-April. Reineman added there has been "no action" on the additional disputed $1 million bonus the horse earned for winning both the Illinois and Kentucky Derbys. War Emblem raced in Reineman's name in the former race, but apparently the sale to The Thoroughbred Corp. did not outline who would be entitled to the bonus if War Emblem won a subsequent Triple Crown race, which he did. "It's still in the courts and nothing has been settled at all," Reineman added.