Photo by Laura Battles

Secretariat - Mine Only by Mr. Prospector

Obit:
Academy Award, a graded stakes-winning son of Secretariat, was euthanized Aug. 24 at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement near Georgetown, Ky., because of complications from chronic laminitis. He was 24.

A foot injury prevented Kentucky-bred Academy Award from competing until age 4. Campaigned as a homebred by Peter Blum, Academy Award won the 1991 Early Times Manhattan Handicap (gr. IIT) at Belmont Park. He retired with five wins from 19 starts and earnings of $226,943. He was produced from the Mr Prospector mare Mine Only.

Academy Award originally stood at the Hancock family’s Claiborne Farm near Paris, Ky. He ended his breeding career at Win Row Farm in Lebanon, Ohio. He is represented as a stallion by 10 stakes winners, including Canadian grade I winner Four On the Floor and Brazil champion Mr. McCartney.

Academy Award was retired from stud duty and relocated to Old Friends with the help of Win Row’s Chris Rosell; Secretariat’s owner, Penny Chenery through the Secretariat Foundation; actress Angie Dickinson; and television producer Barbara Bowen.

“Academy Award had a perfect disposition for Old Friends,” said Old Friends founder and president Michael Blowen. “And visitors loved the idea that he was Secretariat’s son. He was a lot smaller than his sire. We called him Little Red.”