Horse Racing: Global Hunter takes victory and suffers career ending injury
Jockey Brice Blanc, rode the seven year old Global Hunter past the finish line in first place to win the $150,000 American Handicap (G2) at Hollywood Park. The Argentine-bred Global Hunter followed in third place behind the Frontrunner Temple City and Hyades for better part of the race. Global hunter usurped second place as he came out of the second turn, dexterously pursuing Temple city and closing in with every yard. Global Hunter only caught up to Temple City in the final yards of the race winning by a head, as the thrilling, 1:48 1 1/8 miles race, reached its conclusion.
As soon as Global hunter finished the race, the shining moment turned soar. The Horse broke down under Brice and seriously injured his ankle. According to the track veterinarian, Global Hunter suffered a dislocated fetlock of his right foreleg.
The French Jockey was taken by surprise at the turn of events. He said that Global Hunter just took a bad step at the end of the race. The Jockey noted that his horse seemed to bobble a little before breaking down. “He was all heart,” Brice said.
The horse was taken back to Trainer A.C Avila’s stable immediately afterwards, loading on to the ambulance which took him to the barn on his own strength even with the injury. At the time of the injury it was made known that all possible efforts would be made to save the horse and they were. His racing career though has ended however he could still be designated to perform stallion duty if he survives the injuries.
On Monday Global Hunter was taken to the Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in Los Olivos, California. There he underwent a 4 and a half hour surgery before he was stabilized. Dr. Carter Judy performed the surgery with Dr. Doug Herthel assisting according to the co-owner, Shawn Turner. He said that Dr. Herthel had been in love with this horse and arranged a special van for Global Hunter, demanding he be sent over to his care overnight. Turner said that they would do all that they can to help the horse and commenting on the spirit of the horse he said that if there was any chance at all for Global Hunter, the horse would take it.
"They put in a plate and 16 screws for support. The cannon bone was okay,” his trainer reported. Ever the optimist but cautious nonetheless, Avila believed that the Horse would make a recovery and be saved for stallion duty.
"He drank water after the surgery and looked beautiful," his trainer said adding that the next couple of weeks would be decisive if Global Hunter is to avoid infections and other complications but Avila believed that the prospects for the horse were not at all grim, “it looks like the horse is cooperating,” he said.
Turner said that the facts that Global hunter was on his feet within an hour and able to put his weight on the injured leg were promising signs. Turner said that he was told a full recovery was 50-50 for the Horse but that even those odd were a significant improvement from the previous night. “I think we’ve got the right patient to try to get lucky”.
The win at Hollywood Park was Global Hunter’s 8th in 30 career starts. He also finished second 3 times and third 8 times and has $611,365 in winning after the $90,000 from the win at Hollywood park. He has only raced once before in 2010 at the Shoemaker Mile in May where he placed sixth. After coming to America from Argentina, Global Hunter’s most notable success came 11 months ago when he won the Eddie Read Stakes in Del Mar. At seven years old, not a lot of racing was in the cards for Global Hunter anyway, yet it’s always saddening to witness a career end as a victim to injury.
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