Subzero, Hero On and Off the Track, Dead at 32

One of the racing industry's most beloved ambassadors, Foster's Melbourne Cup (G1) winner Subzero, was humanely euthanized Aug. 29 at the age of 32. 

Media personality Bruce Clark, a close friend of Subzero's caretakers, the Salisbury family, announced Subzero's death on social media Saturday. It comes only weeks after the Salisbury patriarch, Graham—frequently referred to as "'Subbie's' best mate"—died after a long battle with illness.

The announcement triggered an outpouring of emotion as tributes flowed right across the racing world and beyond. 

Richard Freedman, who with his brothers prepared Subzero for his 48-start career, told The Age's Damien Ractliffe: "He was the greatest living Thoroughbred before he died and now he's the greatest ever, not just because of what he did on the track but the joy he gave people after he finished racing and the service he gave to racing. He was a clerk of a course, visiting schools, being an ambassador; there'll never be one like him. He was one of a kind, a freak of nature."

Former Racing.com presenter Shane Anderson said: "Subzero, the most magnificent horse of all… touched more hearts and simply did more good than what most people could comprehend, let alone try to replicate. Now peacefully with his best mate Graham Salisbury once again. Legend." 

Outside the racing industry and beyond Australia's shores, the impact of Subzero was recognized far and wide.

Channel 7 producer Kate Jones reminisced: "I was honored to meet Subzero and have him slobber on my jumper when he visited the (Seven News Melbourne) building five years ago. He transcended racing, and brought joy to countless people over many years. Vale the people's horse."

Candice Hare, international racing presenter for American broadcaster TVG, led the global tributes: "There have been over 100 Melbourne Cup winners, but there will only ever be one Subzero. The sport of horse racing is better simply for having had 'Subbie' as a participant. A fantastic horse on the racetrack and an even better one off of it. Truly one of a kind."

Few horses in Australia or around the world have formed a similar connection with humans in the manner that Subzero did. His bond with every person he encountered was legendary: from the school kid touching their first horse to the elderly resident meeting a long-lost friend for the first time; from the casual racing fan to the ardent racegoer; from the equine novice to the pony enthusiast.

He had a number of factors in his favor, of course, being a gray who won the race that stops the nation, the Melbourne Cup, at a time when the winner would instantly become an Australian hero, a household name. 

Subzero was a three-time group 1 winner on the track when prepared by Lee Freedman, taking out the Malaysia Airlines South Australian Derby (G1) and the West End Adelaide Cup (G1) in addition to his Melbourne Cup success in 1992. With that sort of résumé, he had done enough to remain an idol even if he did nothing again under the public's gaze.

As a gray, though, he was a natural candidate to join Graham Salisbury as a clerk of the course. And it was through that work that he became Australia's most famous retired Thoroughbred, becoming a fixture at Melbourne race meetings from 1994 until 2008.

It was while he was working as a clerk of the course that he, along with Salisbury, became an ambassador for Racing Victoria. He visited schools and retirement villages, traveled the world, and brought his calm, docile, inviting attitude to a new audience.

"'Subbie' was racing's most famous equine ambassador and we were privileged to have had him headline our 'Subzero Goes to School' program for many years traveling to every corner of the state and beyond," Racing Victoria chief executive Giles Thompson said Saturday.

"Many youngsters have grown up having only had the chance to meet and pat one horse. That horse was 'Subbie' and the laughter that emanated from those kids when 'Subbie' nodded his head to a question of whether he had a girlfriend is something that will live long with many of us.

"From school children to the elderly, those battling ill health to Hollywood A-listers, 'Subbie' and Graham did plenty to bring joy to their lives whilst promoting the sport of Thoroughbred racing at the same time."

The decision to humanely euthanize Subzero was made Saturday by Salisbury's widow Anita, in consultation with Bendigo Equine vet Sarah Jalim.

"I've never been confident of anything in my life, this was sadly the right time and this was what we had to do for 'Subbie,'" Jalim told Clark for Racenet.

"I looked at him today and knew he'd been holding together for so long, sure he'd been missing Graham, but he'd accumulated fluid on his chest. 

"Heart disease isn't common in horses, he'd had a heart murmur for some time, but eventually the heart decompensates so that it can't push the blood back. He hasn't suffered at all.

"He was a gentleman, a thorough gentleman with an unbelievable heart. If you want to compare him to champions: Black Caviar was unbeaten; Winx won lots of races; 'Subbie,' he did so much for so many people and that's how he should be remembered, a very special horse."

When Subzero won his Melbourne Cup, it was forever punctuated by the soundtrack of racecaller Bryan Martin: "Subzero might be the one … it's the gray's Cup!"

For many racing fans, Subzero was the one, on that gloomy first Tuesday in November in 1992 until his death Saturday.

Vale 'Subbie.'