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On a hunt. Photo courtesy Anne Hambelton

Steppenwolfer’s life after Derby loss is rosy

As a tremendous wall of horses surged toward the 2006 Kentucky Derby finish line, each powerful animal and tightly coiled jockey fighting for the honor of winning the fabled blanket of roses, it was one of the losers that day whose life would become, like lyrics to a song, a “promised rose garden.” Though the gorgeous gray stallion Steppenwolfer was trounced by Barbaro and Bluegrass Cat, he finished a respectful third in racing’s most widely watched contest, but yet, in the contest for quality of life, eventually won the Triple Crown. After his owners had the stallion gelded, they agreed […]