Old Friends Resident Flick Dies at 24
Description:
Stakes winner Flick died Jan. 8 from complications of colic. The 24-year-old gelding resided at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement farm in Georgetown, Ky.
Bred in England by Side Hill Stud, Flick (Kris—Thakhayr, Sadler's Wells) had three starts in England before coming to the U.S. near the end of his 2-year-old season in 1994. He made his first start for new owner Judith Carmel at Hollywood Park, placing 5th.
His first stakes win came on the grass at Turf Paradise in the Paradise Mile Handicap in 1997.
In 1998 he captured the Wicked North Handicap at Santa Anita Park. That same year he finished third in the San Pasqual and Mervyn LeRoy handicaps (both gr. II).
At the age of 8 in 2000, Flick tore a suspensory ligament and became one of the first Thoroughbreds to successfully undergo autologous stem cell and bone marrow treatments. He returned to the track and continued racing in claiming races until he was 10, making his final start at Santa Anita in 2002.
In his 51 lifetime starts Flick had an 8-10-12 record and career earnings of $515,826.
"He was all heart every time he went to the track, and he always went to win," Carmel said from her home in California. "He was everything you wanted a horse to be and he was always my favorite."
Carmel made an attempt to retrain Flick for a second career but said "he was just a racehorse at heart. He didn't enjoy it." Carmel donated Flick to Old Friends in January of 2009.
"Our consulting vet Dr. Bryan Waldridge did all he could for Flick, who was taken to the Park Equine Clinic in Versailles on Tuesday," said Old Friends' founder and president, Michael Blowen. "But the horse's health continued to deteriorate and it was decided that we should not prolong his suffering. Bryan was with him until the end and for that we're very grateful.
"He was a wonderful horse and a favorite among our volunteers and our visitors. We're also so thankful to Judy Carmel. She's been a great friend and a great supporter, and we're so glad she let us care for her terrific athlete all these years."