Flick pictured at Old Friends retirement farm in Kentucky. Photo by Rick Capone
GEORGETOWN, Ky.—Stakes winner Flick has died. The 24-year-old gelding, who resided at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, KY, was euthanized Friday morning due to complications from colic.
Michael Blowen, founder and president of Old Friends, made the announcement Jan. 8.
Bred in England by Side Hill Stud, Flick (Kris (GB) – Thakhayr (IRE), Sadler’s Wells) had three starts in England before coming to the U.S. near the end of his 2-year-old season. He made his first start for new owner Judith Carmel at Hollywood Park, placing 5th.
Flick continued beating good horses at major West Coast tracks on both the dirt and the turf. His first stakes win, in fact, came on the grass at Turf Paradise in the one-mile Paradise Mile Handicap in 1997.
The following year he captured his greatest career victory, the Wicked North Handicap at Santa Anita. That same year he placed in the Grade 2 Mervyn LeRoy and the Grade 2 San Pasqual.
In 2000, at the age of 8, Flick tore a suspensory ligament and became one of the first Thoroughbreds to successfully undergo autologous stem cell and bone marrow treatments. He returned to the track and continued racing until he was 10, making his final start at Santa Anita in 2002.
In his 51 lifetime starts Flick had 8 wins and career earnings of $515,738.
“He was all heart every time he went to the track, and he always went to win,” said Carmel from her home in California. “He was everything you wanted a horse to be and he was always my favorite.”
Carmel made an attempt to retrain Flick for a second career but “he was just a racehorse at heart,” she said. “He didn’t enjoy it.” Carmel donated Flick to Old Friends in January of 2009.
“Our consulting vet Dr. Bryan Waldridge did all he could for Flick, who was taken to the Park Equine Clinic in Versailles on Tuesday,” said Old Friends’s Blowen. “But the horse’s health continued to deteriorate and it was decided that we should not prolong his suffering. Bryan was with him until the end,” added Blowen, “and for that we’re very grateful.
“He was a wonderful horse and a favorite among our volunteers and our visitors,” Blowen continued. “We’re also so thankful to Judy Carmel. She’s been a great friend and a great supporter and we’re so glad she let us care for her terrific athlete all these years.”
Flick was a handsome gentleman beloved by many and was a faithful friend to Dan. He awaits us all patiently. Love to ALL who loved and miss him, Mary in Boone