Preakness Stakes winner Journalism has been retired after an injury suffered before last weekend’s San Diego Handicap, and the multiple Grade 1 winner will head to stud at Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky., for the 2027 breeding season.
His owners announced the move Friday after the colt was injured in the starting gate before Saturday’s Grade 2 race at Del Mar. Journalism was left five to six lengths behind the field when the gate opened, but he still surged from last to win anyway. Post-race examinations confirmed the injury, and the decision was made to end his racing career rather than push on.
“What Journalism did at Del Mar was the mark of a true champion,” trainer Michael McCarthy said in a statement. “To suffer an injury in the gate, give away that much ground, and still win purely on heart and class tells you everything you need to know about him. He owes us absolutely nothing.”
Bred by Don Alberto Corporation, Journalism built a résumé that made him one of the standout horses of his generation. The son of Curlin won the Los Alamitos Futurity at 2, then added the Santa Anita Derby, Preakness Stakes and Haskell Stakes during his 3-year-old season.
He also finished second in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes and was steady almost every time he ran. In 14 starts, Journalism was in the top three in every race except for a fourth-place finish in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Ashford Stud manager Charlie O’Connor praised the colt’s profile as a future stallion, calling Journalism “everything you could hope for in a racehorse.”
“He had exceptional talent, tremendous consistency and an attitude that set him apart,” O’Connor said. “We firmly believe he has all the qualities to become a top-tier sire.”
Journalism’s stud fee will be announced later.
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