I'll Have Another will have a retirement ceremony at the winner's circle before the 2012 Belmont Stakes. The horse was all set to go for the Triple Crown on Saturday, but a tendon injury on Friday morning forced trainer Doug O'Neill to pull him out of the race and announce his retirement. O'Neill believes this move will satisfy the horse's fans:
"We felt that this would be a fitting ceremonial retirement for an incredible racehorse," said O’Neill. "There are many fans who traveled from near and far to see I’ll Have Another today, and we wanted to give them a chance to help us send him off to retirement."
After the Woodford Reserve Manhattan undercard race concludes, I'll Have Another will be brought out to the winner's circle and have his saddle removed by O'Neill. NBC will have the broadcast of this around 5:53 p.m. ET.
I'll Have Another won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, putting him in line to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed accomplished the feat in 1978. The drought of Triple Crown winners will carry over into 2013.
For more on the 2012 Belmont Stakes, please be sure to check out our blog And Down The Stretch They Come along with SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.