World Record-Priced Colt The Green Monkey Euthanized

The Green Monkey, who'll forever be etched in Thoroughbred history for his world-record $16 million price tag as a 2-year-old, was euthanized at Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds in May due to laminitis, according to Randy Hartley.

"He was a once-in-a-lifetime horse," Hartley said. "(The record price) was life-changing for us."

Hartley, said the 14-year-old son of Forestry had battled health issues for the past four years, and earlier this year the issues became insurmountable. The horse was buried at the farm. The Green Monkey's death was first reported by Paulick Report.

Since the decision was made to euthanize the horse, Hartley said it had been an emotional time at Hartley/DeRenzo near Ocala, Fla., because The Green Monkey had an indelible impact on the farm and sales entity.

"He had been struggling physically for about four years. He had had some laminitis, and we had done everything we could to make him as comfortable as we could. He had gotten better, but then about six months ago it got worse. Everybody was putting (euthanasia) off, but he was basically down more than up and then It became the right thing to do."

Record-Priced Forestry Colt Named The Green Monkey

Bred in Florida by Satish Sanan's Padua Stables, The Green Monkey was bought by Hartley/DeRenzo for $425,000 from Taylor Made Sales Agency at the 2005 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling Sale in July.

"We stretched to get him," Hartley said. "At $400,000 I was done. Dean is the one who decided to go to four-and-a-quarter. The whole way home he asked, 'Do you think we paid too much?' I said, 'I guess not, we have him now.' When we got him home (to the farm) and turned him out, I said he will be the fastest horse we ever have because he's just a freak."

Pinhooked into the following year's Fasig-Tipton Florida Select 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale at Calder Race Course, the colt turned heads when he sizzled an eighth-mile in :09 4/5 in the pre-sale under tack show workout.

The Green Monkey electrified the sale ring, too, with Demi O'Byrne, representing the Coolmore Stud connections of Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, and Derrick Smith, outlasting Sheikh Mohammed's then-agent John Ferguson in a protracted bidding war as the hammer fell on the $16 million record.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, The Green Monkey was unable to live up to expectations on the track, with an injury-plagued career in which he finished third once in three starts and was eventually retired with earnings of $10,440.

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Hartley/DeRenzo purchased a half-interest in The Green Monkey after he retired, and the horse entered stud at its Florida farm, servicing 40 mares in his first year. The stallion was unable to generate much interest from mare owners after that.

As The Green Monkey's health worsened, Hartley and DeRenzo built a large stall for him that provided access to his own paddock.

The best horses sired by The Green Monkey were Monkey Business, winner of the filly Triple Crown in Panama, and North American black-type winners Kinz Funky Monkey and Green Doctor.

Hartley said there is a daughter of The Green Monkey on the farm who has produced successful runners when mated to Quarter Horse stallions.