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Hansen and Bodemeister Retire before Travers Stakes

Our beloved Great White Hope Hansen was supposed to be entering the Travers Stakes today but instead announced possible Retirement. Bodemeister is also out of Saturday’s Travers Stakes after being diagnosed with nerve damage to his right shoulder.

Bodemeister retires after nerve damage in his shoulder.

Hansen, who was most likely going to be a Travers Stakes favorite, has a 20%-30% tear in a tendon on his left front leg. Hansen’s owner, Dr. Kendall Hansen announced that the racehorse champion would retire. “I’m heartbroken,” Hansen said shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday. “We were supposed to be entering right now. There was no other speed in the race. We were going to put him on the lead and people thought we couldn’t go 10 furlongs and they were going to leave us alone.” Hansen said he received a call from trainer Mike Maker Wednesday morning. Hansen, the horse, had arrived in Saratoga on Monday. “He said there was swelling in left tendon,” Hansen said. Dr. Hansen said he was going to get some other opinions, but he said most likely the horse would be retired. “If I can’t be assured he could come back 100 percent I probably won’t race him again,” Hansen said.

Dr. Hansen announced Hansen’s retirement due to a tendon tear.

Bob Baffert’s Bodemeister, has been officially retired and will stand stud at WinStar Farm. Bodemeister has not competed in a race since the Preakness on May 19th. After a thorough investigation a diagnosis was finally made that the beautiful Bodemeister suffered from severe nerve damage in his right shoulder. Trainer Bob Baffert suspected the shoulder injury occurred a couple of weeks ago at Del Mar when Bodemeister stumbled significantly during routine training, enough to throw his exercise rider to the ground. “He was just never quite right after that and we couldn’t figure out what was going on with him,” Baffert said. “It’s extremely unfortunate. We wanted to win the Breeders’ Cup with him.”

If you read our website and Facebook updates you’ll know Lady and The Track is a huge fan of both Bodemeister and Hansen. We are saddened by their injuries and wish them both a speedy recover.