Winter Memories: x-rays revealed degenerative bone disease
PICTURE: EquiSport Photos/Jessie HolmesInjury ends career of turf star Winter Memories
USA: Winter Memories, arguably the top turf filly in the States, has been retired after x-rays on bruising on her off-fore cannonbone revealed a more serious degenerative bone disease.
The four-year-old daughter of El Prado won the Grade 1 Diana Stakes at Saratoga last month on her final outing of a career that featured eight wins from 12 starts for trainer Jimmy Toner.
Owner John Phillips, who raced the grey in the name of the Phillips Racing Partnership, issued a statement on Thursday.
"This was a total surprise to everyone," he said. "She had trained flawlessly up to the Diana, raced impressively, and was happy to be back on the track again.
"But two days ago her ankles were warm, precautionary X-rays were taken, and the results showed a degenerative bone disease. The irony is I've never been around a more sound horse."
Winter Memories won seven graded stakes altogether, including a pair of Grade 1s, the Diana and last year's Garden City Stakes at Belmont.
>> Belle Royale, who won the Grade 1 Gamely for owner Michael Tabor and trainer Simon Callaghan at Hollywood Park in May, has been retired owing to a tendon problem. According to the Blood-Horse, she has been sold privately to a Japanese farm.
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