Iconic Stayer Vintage Crop Euthanized
Description:
Vintage Crop, the first Northern Hemisphere runner to win Australia's Melbourne Cup (Aus-I), was euthanized July 13 at the Irish National Stud where he lived in retirement.
Vintage Crop won the Australia's most famous race in 1983. He raced in the colors of Dr. Michael Smurfit and was trained by Dermot Weld.
The son of Rousillon—Overplay, by Bustino, had a nephrosplenic entrapment that caused him to colic.
"As a 27-year-old the treatment options are restricted, his response to pain control was disappointing," John Osborne, CEO of the Irish National Stud, said in a statement.
"Vintage Crop was a true equine celebrity, a horse who pioneered the concept of truly global competition when he traveled from the Curragh to Flemington to win the Melbourne Cup, the richest race in Australia," Osborne continued. "The scale of that achievement is revealed by the number of horses who have since tried and come up short.
"He was a great feature of our visitor experience here at the Irish National Stud, his story was told to hundreds of thousands, who saw him as a true warrior. He was lovingly cared for here by Annette Boland, Fiona Doggett and Leona Harmon and will be missed by us all."
Vintage Crop's record includes back-to-back wins in the Irish St. Leger (Ire-I) in 1993 and 1994. He also won the Cesarewitch at Newmarket and over hurdles at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown.
A statue of Vintage Crop overlooks the paddock at the Curragh.