NEW YORK (AP) — I’ll Have Another and his handlers visited the winner’s circle at Belmont Park for a retirement ceremony before the Belmont Stakes.
The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner was retired Friday with a swollen left front tendon, preventing him from competing for a Triple Crown sweep on Saturday.
Jockey Mario Gutierrez was aboard the colt and wore a white shirt and tie; I’ll Have Another was accompanied, as usual, by his stable pony Lava Man. Trainer Doug O’Neill removed the chestnut colt’s saddle for the last time while the crowd cheered.
O’Neill says he would have preferred to be in the winner’s circle unsaddling a Triple Crown winner.
I’ll Have Another was originally scheduled to lead the parade of horses to the starting gate for the Belmont, but that plan was scrapped over concerns he would become too agitated.
