Sumwonlovesyou injured, retired

Unfortunate news to report as Sumwonlovesyou has been sidelined with a suspensory injury and we have decided that it will be in her best interests to retire her. Here is a copy of Steve's letter to the partners.

It's taken me the better part of the day to complete this note as the news today was exceedingly difficult to deal with... Sumwonlovesyou has torn the upper suspensory ligament in her lower left front and will be unable to continue her racing career.

 

The injury made itself apparent Tuesday, and though the swelling had come down today, scans revealed the extent of the damage. Given her age and prior injury/illness, we would be forced to sit her out at least 6 months before re-evaluating, and there would still be no guarantee she could return at that point. As a result, Chuck has made the call that she be retired.

 

We have spent the day making arrangements to have Sumwonlovesyou bred in the next 17-21 days so she could deliver approximately an April 2010 foal. We will seperately address the future of the original 'Dee Tee 01' partnership and the options regarding the morphing of it into a breeding deal of some kind.

 

Needless to say, for us collectively, this is both a sad day and one filled with many emotions. For the majority of you, this was your 'first horse' as an owner, and marks your involvement in racing on a very different level. Sumwonlovesyou brought us into the sales ring and to four of the games most famed racing ovals: Keeneland, Churchill, Arlington and Saratoga.

 

In many ways, no matter where the Dee Tee Stables experience takes us long term, those first 8 months with "SWLY" may never be duplicated for the sheer excitement, drama, tension and exhileration produced. Sumwonlovesyou took us from anonymous fandom to owners of the public betting favorite on a Saratoga Sunday.

 

Though she could not get us into the winner's circle, it certainly wasn't for lack of effort on her part. The harrowing second place finishes in top company Derby Week, through the Arlington summer try, made 2007 a thrilling blur for our fledgling stable, and helped give rise to another 7 runners that carry or are soon to carry our Lime and Royal silks. And while there will hopefully be many more wins to go with the two by Kickin N Screamin, the agonizing but emboldening efforts of Sumwonlovesyou will always be the foundation of friendships on which Dee Tee Stables was built. 

 

Thanks of course go to Chuck first and foremost for identifying SWLY in the catalog, authoring her improvement and shouldering a financial burden while trying to get her back to the races. Thanks to the entire CES Racing Team for their efforts with her and Cherie particularly who was frequently worn out by Sumwon in the mornings.

 

Bethani White gets our unending thanks as well. If Sumwonlovesyou goes on to a productive career as a broodmare, it is because Bethani likely saved her life with a decisive call for veterinary intervention on her infected hoof last summer.

 

Thanks of course to the 50 or so of you who eagerly sent $500 apiece into the mail to make an unlikely dream come true for yourselves and people you didn't know. And finally, thanks to the mint-crazed daughter of Came Home and Mysterious Moll who will never stop being our favorite racehorse... the perfectly named Sumwonlovesyou.

 

With unending appreciation for your support and enthusiasm,

Steve Byk and Chuck Simon