Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I’ll Have Another has paraded between races at Hollywood Park, giving fans at his home track a chance to cheer him one last time before he heads off to stud in Japan.
His bid to become racing’s first Triple Crown winner in 34 years ended with his sudden retirement on the eve of the June 9 Belmont Stakes because of tendonitis in his left front leg.
Last month, owner J Paul Reddam sold the colt to Japanese breeders.
I’ll Have Another will enter quarantine on Sunday (Monday AEST) for 30 days before going to his new home at Big Red Farm on the island of Hokkaido.
“It’s sad,” trainer Doug O’Neill said. “We all wanted so badly for him to stay in the United States.
“I was actually pushing for him to stay in California, but there was just very little interest.”
Before the races began, fans carrying I’ll Have Another posters, hats, magazines and Kentucky Derby glasses waited in a long line near the paddock for O’Neill and jockey Mario Gutierrez to sign their souvenirs.
“It just tells you how many people really love this horse and how horse racing is still alive,” O’Neill said.
“I know a lot of people want to throw dirt on the sport and through this I’ve learned that horse racing is still alive.
“This is an amazing horse that people fell in love with, including us of course.”
O’Neill has yet to begin a 45-day suspension handed down by the California Horse Racing Board for a carbon dioxide offence.
At the Belmont, O’Neill had said he would appeal his punishment. However, on Saturday he said he was “still on the fence”.
“I’m trying to not put much energy into fighting stuff,” he said. “I may spend more energy into giving back instead of fighting.”
O’Neill was under intense scrutiny throughout the Triple Crown series because of his history of medication violations, although none of them involved I’ll Have Another.
“You win the Derby, you should be held to a higher standard,” he said.
“I know now because I’d never had it before, but having a horse like I’ll Have Another you are going to get pecked at a little bit.
“Though it was a little bit uncomfortable at times, it was something that I’ve learned a lot from.”
