Leading USA sire Salt Lake was put down last week after undergoing a colic operation. The Deputy Minister stallion was 21.
Salt Lake was a G1 winner of the 1991 Hopeful Stakes and the following year added the G2 King’s Bishop Stakes.
He was originally based at Walmac International in Kentucky before transferring to Golden Eagle Farm in California four years ago. “His condition started to worsen after surgery,” Golden Eagle manager Janine McCullough said. “Salt Lake was a fighter but he finally told me it was time. Great horses like him will always tell you when.”
Salt Lake has sired 69 stakes winners from 15 crops of racing age. He’s had 779 winners who have earned $55.71 million as at July 19.