Charismatic at Old Friends (Photo: Laura Battles)

From Michael:

Sometimes the gods are just plain cruel. After more than a decade of working with the Japanese Bloodstock Breeders Association planning for the day when Charismatic could return to his fans in America, the dream finally came true. Last October, when Kaori Matsuda emailed me that Charismatic could retire to Old Friends, it was one of the greatest moments of my life. Then, when he arrived in December, he was as kind and beautiful and majestic as you could ever imagine. When D. Wayne Lukas arrived the next morning, he concurred. Life just never gets better than those infrequent moments when fantasies become reality.

And then, it all ended with a pre-dawn knock on the door and Tammy screaming, “Charismatic’s dead.” It ended as quickly as the snap of Charismatic’s pelvis. We are left, of course, with memories that only he could have so generously left us. His proud brown eyes. His flashy chestnut coat and four white socks, and a self-assurance that only comes with winning the biggest races on the biggest stages. As Lukas has often said, “You’d better dwell on the positives or the negatives will eat you alive.” I’m sure he gave the same advice to Charismatic.

Kentucky Derby Winner Charismatic Dies from Pelvic Fracture

GEORGETOWN, KY – FEBRUARY 21, 2017- Charismatic, 1999 dual classic winner and Horse of the Year, died suddenly at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement in Georgetown, KY on February 19, 2017.

“A necropsy performed at the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory revealed that Charismatic suffered a severe catastrophic fracture of his pelvis that resulted in fatal bleeding. Pelvic fractures will in some cases also lacerate the large arteries of the pelvis and cause severe internal bleeding. Fatal pelvic fractures are uncommon and usually unforeseeable. It is not possible to know exactly how the injury happened or any factors that may have led to its occurrence.”

–Bryan M. Waldridge, DVM, MS
Diplomate, American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Equine Practice)
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Large Animal)

–Rhodes P. Bell, DVM, MS
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons (Large Animal)

Staff members and volunteers at Old Friends are extremely grateful for the heartfelt condolences and kind words we have received.  Charismatic’s beauty and gentle spirit will remain in our hearts forever.

Old Friends is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that cares for more than 165 retired racehorses. Its Dream Chase Farm, located in Georgetown, KY, is open to tourists daily by appointment. Old Friends also has a satellite facility in Greenfield Center, New York, Old Friends at Cabin Creek: The Bobby Frankel Division, which is also open to visitors. For more information on tours or to make a donation, contact the main farm at (502) 863-1775 or see their website at www.oldfriendsequine.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: Cynthia Grisolia, (347) 423-7322, cindy@oldfriendsequine.org; Michael Blowen, (502) 863-1775, michael@oldfriendsequine.org

Photo: Shigeki Yusa.

Dual Classic Winner Charismatic Dies Suddenly

GEORGETOWN, KY – FEBRUARY 19, 2017 – Dual classic winner and 1999 Horse of the Year Charismatic has died.

The 20-year-old stallion, who returned to the United States from the JBBA Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan on December 4, 2016, was pensioned at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY.

The announcement of his sudden passing was made this afternoon by Old Friends president Michael Blowen.

The stallion was discovered early this morning. Attending veterinarian Dr. Bryan Waldridge was immediately called to the scene, but the cause of death is unknown. The results of a full necropsy are pending.

“Right now, everyone is pretty much inconsolable,” said Blowen. “Last night, at 6:30, he was fine. He was a really tough horse and he deserved a much longer retirement. But none of us, unfortunately, has a magic wand. Everyone at Old Friends takes solace from the few great months that this great Champion gave us.”

Bred by Kentucky by Parrish Hill Farm and William Farish, and trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, Charismatic (Summer Squall-Bali Babe, by Drone) won, at long odds, the 1999 Kentucky Derby after vying in claiming races just a few months earlier. He went on to capture the Preakness Stakes and found himself an unlikely Triple Crown contender.

But in the Belmont Stakes the chestnut colt suffered multiple fractures in his left front leg just a few strides before the wire. It was only through the heroic efforts of jockey Chris Antley — who quickly dismounted and held up Charismatic’s injured left front leg off the ground — that the injuries were career ending and not life ending.

Charismatic earned that year’s Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old colt, as well as Horse of the Year honors, and retired with five wins from 17 starts and earnings of $2,038,064. He entered stud at Lane’s End in 2000 and stood there for three seasons before relocating to Japan in 2002.

Old Friends is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that cares for more than 165 retired racehorses. Its Dream Chase Farm, located in Georgetown, KY, is open to tourists daily by appointment. Old Friends also has a satellite facility in Greenfield Center, New York, Old Friends at Cabin Creek: The Bobby Frankel Division, which is also open to visitors. For more information on tours or to make a donation, contact the main farm at (502) 863-1775 or see their website at www.oldfriendsequine.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: Cynthia Grisolia, (347) 423-7322, cindy@oldfriendsequine.org; Michael Blowen, (502) 863-1775, michael@oldfriendsequine.org