Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom was recovering on Thursday after his owners announced the colt had undergone surgery on June 30 for a fracture in his near-side hind leg.
The Team Valor International ownership group said the horse underwent the operation at the New Bolton Centre in nearby Pennsylvania, with veterinarian Dean Richardson inserting two screws to compress a hairline slab fracture.
The break, discovered in a CAT scan, would have healed on its own but the insertion of two screws will provide the best chance to prevent arthritis from developing in the leg.
Animal Kingdom, who should resume walking in a few weeks, captured the Derby at only his fifth career start, doing so as a 20-1 longshot.
Not since Exterminator in 1918 had a horse won the Derby after so few career starts.
And not since Needles in 1956 had a horse won the Derby after a six-week layoff like Animal Kingdom did.
AFP AAP TURF
