Smoke Glacken Euthanized at Age 22

Champion and pensioned sire Smoke Glacken, 22, was euthanized April 21 due to the infirmities of old age, Gainesway announced April 25.

The gray son of Two Punch was pensioned since 2013 and lived out the remainder of his days at Gainesway's stallion division.

Bred in Maryland by Perry M. Rosebrock from the Magesterial mare Majesty's Crown, Smoke Glacken was a $65,000 purchase out of the 1996 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old sale by trainer Henry Carroll, agent. Carroll would train the colt for owners Alex Karkenny, William Roberts, and Robert Levy.

Smoke Glacken provided an immediate return for his new owners by sweeping Monmouth Park's pair of juvenile features—the Tyro Stakes and Sapling Stakes (gr. II)—before shipping to Saratoga Race Course, where he dominated the prestigious Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) by nine lengths.

 At 3, Smoke Glacken won six of eight starts, including the Southwest Stakes (gr. III), Riva Ridge Stakes (gr. III), and Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup (gr. III) against fellow 3-year-olds, and the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (gr. II), where Smoke Glacken defeated older horses and confirmed his reputation as the fastest horse in North America. He was later honored with the Eclipse Award as the year's champion sprinter.

Smoke Glacken entered stud at Gainesway in 1998 and went on to sire 58 stakes winners and 16 graded stakes winners. His top progeny include two-time grade I winner On Fire Baby (bred by Anita Cauley), Spinaway Stakes (gr. I) winner Irish Smoke (bred by Stoneway Farm); and Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I) winner Persistently (bred by Phipps Stable). Smoke Glacken also sired multiple graded stakes winners Smok'n Frolic (bred by Cherokee Farms) and Delaunay (bred by Fitzhugh), both millionaires, Read the Footnotes (bred by Lawrence Goichman), and Smokey Fire (bred by Mel P. Lawson). Smoke Glacken's lifetime progeny earnings stand at $53,341,566 through April 20.

As a broodmare sire, Smoke Glacken has been represented by the Canadian champions Hunters Bay and Go Greeley and Dubai group II winner L'Amour de Ma Vie.

"Smoke Glacken was a tough, fast racehorse and he sired competitive horses like himself," Gainesway president Antony Beck said. "We were very fortunate to stand him here at Gainesway. He was part of our family for 18 years and he will be missed."

Smoke Glacken will be buried at Gainesway alongside former stallions In Reality, Cozzene, Broad Brush, and Mr. Greeley.