Lava Man won't run again
 

Lava Man's racing career has ended.

Wednesday, co-owner Steve Kenly said that concern over Lava Man's ankles has led to the decision to retire the seven-time Grade 1 winner, who earned $5,268,706 in a 46-race career that included 17 wins.

Earlier this week, Lava Man, 7, was sent to the Alamo Pintado Equine Clinic in Santa Ynez, Calif., for a physical examination. During that exam, clinic veterinarians determined that he has problems with his ankles, confirming what racetrack veterinarians had initially diagnosed, Kenly said.
http://drf.com/news/article/96846.html

Hope he has a long, happy and healthy life.

One of my favorites. :)

Thanks for the memories. :{>:

According to a Q&A with Doug O'Neill on Bloodhorse, he hopes to make him a stable pony. Yay for second careers!

http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/breed...g-o-neill.aspx

Looking at the Lava Dude's decline in form in the last year, could it have been that the loss of his groom for such a long time upset the horse more than was appreciated? Horses like things the same - same people, same routine - and Dude's problem with traveling might be an outgrowth of the same need for 'sameness' as well.

Great career, deserves a long and happy retirement.

what a fairy tale claim.......50k turned into 5 mil.

I am not sure that the loss of the groom explains everything, but it very well might have played a role in it.