General Quarters retired after giving McCarthy the best times of his life
The winner of Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes back in 2009 and the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic winner last year, 5-year-old horse General Quarters is retired from racing after finishing 13th in his last race the Grade 1 Clark Handicap on dirt
at Churchill Downs over at 1 1/8 miles on 25 November, 2011, to winner Wise Dan.
General Quarters wasn’t suffering from an injury but according to his owner/trainer Thomas McCarthy the horse has shown lack of interest in his recent races and it is about time that he should take him off.
“It’s time,” said McCarthy, 77. “He walked over there Friday like an old cow. Usually, he’s all full of vim and vigor, so maybe he’s telling us something. Funny, but he was kicking the barn down this morning [Monday]. He’s done enough for me, that’s for
sure. He gave me one of the best times of my life, and I’ve been working with horses since I was 9.”
The Kentucky bred son of Sky Mesa, out of mare Ecology by Unbridled’s Song, General Quarters this year had a disappointing season, with a lone second place finish to show in the Grade 2 Kentucky Cup Classic at Turfway Park race course on 24 September, 2011.
Over at 1 1/16 mile, General Quarters finished marginally behind the winner Future Prospect who covered the race in good time in 1 minute and 44.71 seconds.
General Quarters was claimed by Thomas McCarthy in May 2008 for $20,000 and since then the 5-year-old has gone on to win just 4 races out of 27 starts with career earnings of $1,226,655.
Prior to the Grade 2 Kentucky Cup Classic, General Quarters kicked of his 2011 season with a second place finish in the in a seven furlong dash in an allowance claimer at his home track of Churchill Downs.
Twice finishing seventh in his next two races and probably the two most important ones that would have set the tone for the rest of the season for General Quarters were ended with two unplaced finishes.
There are about six offers for General Quarters as a stallion prospect, but McCarthy will take his time before making a decision.
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