[OldDog]

Rough month continues for Old Friends with the loss of Dancin' Renee.

GEORGETOWN, KY - JANUARY 13, 2014 - Dancin' Renee, a graded-stakes-winner and 1997's New York Horse of the Year, has died.

The 22-year-old mare lost a long battle with laminitis and was euthanized on January 11 by Dr. Brian Fraley at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement farm in Georgetown, KY, where she had been pensioned.

"It's been a tough month," said Old Friends president and founder, Michael Blowen. "We lost Patton and Sunshine Forever in the last week, and now Renee. I mourn the losses but thank all of their fans for their support-particularly the thoughtfulness of Jeanne Mirabito of Our Mims for sending a colorful bouquet of flowers in memory of Sunshine Forever.

A homebred for owner Sanford Bacon, Dancin' Renee was the New York-bred daughter of Distinctive Pro out of three-time New York Broodmare of the Year Lolli Lucka Lolli.

For three seasons, Dancin' Renee had a stellar career on the track earning 14 wins from 21 starts. In her banner year, 1997, she claimed seven consecutive victories, including the GR3 Honorable Miss at Saratoga, the Broadway Handicap at Aqueduct, and the Monmouth Park Regret Stakes, which was her final start. Her earnings totaled $490,258.

For her efforts she was crowned 1997's New York Horse of the Year as well as Champion Sprinter and Champion Older Female by the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc.

As a broodmare Dancin' Renee was well represented by numerous winners, including her first foal to earn black-type, the Limehouse daughter Risky Rachel who, on Saturday, won the Minaret Stakes a Tampa Bay Downs.

"I don't know what to say," said a heart-broken Sanford Bacon. "Dancin' Renee, who was named after my mother-in-law, a Ziegfeld girl, meant everything to us." A few hours later, Bacon was in the winner's circle at Tampa Bay accepting a trophy in celebration of Risky Rachel's impressive performance.