HALLANDALE, Fla. -- The 1994 Horse of the Year broke down yesterday, suffering what may have been a career-ending injury.
With bands playing, sun shining, clouds drifting and a shirtsleeve crowd of 18,963 witnessing a Florida farewell to racing's star of the decade, Holy Bull pulled up lame in the $300,000 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park.
It was to have been Holy Bull's last race in Florida before traveling next month to the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap. Now, it appears it was his last race, period.
Though ultra-sound tests scheduled to be taken this morning will provide a definite answer, it appears that Holy Bull suffered a tear in his superficial flexor tendon in his left front leg. The injury is not life-threatening, and the 1994 Horse of the Year was resting comfortably in his stall last night.
However, owner-trainer Jimmy Croll confirmed that Holy Bull will never race again.
"It's over. . . . It's over," he said. "We would never jeopardize him. It's a great loss to everybody. It's a great loss to all of us. He's been great for racing. His next career will be at stud, that's all."
The 1994 Horse of the Year and 3-10 favorite in a field of 10, Holy Bull was running neck and neck on the lead with the eventual winner, Cigar, when he was eased by jockey Mike Smith as the horses turned onto the backstretch in the 1 1/8 -mile race, just before the five-eighths pole.
"I heard a pop and then I heard Mike yell, 'Oh, no,' " said Jerry Bailey, who was aboard Cigar.
Smith jumped off Holy Bull midway on the backstretch and held him until a horse van and veterinarian arrived seconds later. Peter Hall, Holy Bull's veterinarian, who examined him at the barn, said he believed the injury was not life-threatening.
"He has strained ligaments below the left front ankle and strained ligaments on the tendon," Hall said after a preliminary observation. "I am fairly certain that the injuries are not life-threatening."
A steel cast was placed on Holy Bull's left front leg when he was taken off the van, and he spent the night in his stall with a metal support on his left front foot.
Smith, who rode Holy Bull in all but his first race, could hardly speak of the incident long after the race. He was crying when he told his wife, Patrice, "He's gonna be all right."
Later, Smith said Holy Bull warmed up well and felt fine as he pranced in front of the grandstand in the post parade. He had won easily at Gulfstream in his 1995 debut at the Olympic Handicap three weeks ago.
"He was well in hand through the lane the first time," Smith said. "He pinned his ears and then about two strides later he went. I tried to pull him up as quickly as I could, but I also wanted to keep him as straight as I could. When they go side to side, it can be worse.
"Devastating," Smith said. "I can't put it into words. I feel like the life has come out of me."
The loss was the third in the Cinderella career of Holy Bull, a modestly bred horse by Great Above who was left to Croll in a will in 1993 by a longtime client. It was the second major disappointment for The Bull on this track.
He was pulled up here last winter during the Fountain of Youth Stakes because of a breathing problem, which was corrected quickly. His only other loss came in last year's Kentucky Derby, when he finished 12th as the favorite, a sluggish performance that Croll never has been able to explain.
But until yesterday, Holy Bull has been virtually injury-free, a big, strapping, long-striding horse. He had won 13 of 15 races and earned almost $2.5 million in 16 months of racing.
The win yesterday was worth $180,000 to Cigar, a 5-year-old who was the 4-1 second choice and has won four straight.
"My horse broke fine and he ran what I consider a super race," said Mott. "He might have beaten Holy Bull, anyway, but now we'll never know."
But, said Mott, "It is a terrible blow. No one wants to win like this."