Sunday Silence Succumbs

L.A. Times Archives

Aug. 19, 2002 12 AM PT

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From Associated Press

TOKYO — Sunday Silence, winner of the first two legs of the 1989 Triple Crown, died Monday in Japan of complications from a disease in his left foreleg, his stable’s spokesman said.

“For the last three days, his condition has been getting worse, and we used a lot of strong medicines,” said Eisuke Tokutake, spokesman for the Shadai Stallion Station. “But today, he lay down and couldn’t get up.”

The 16-year-old horse died of heart failure around 11 a.m. local time (6 p.m. PDT) on Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan.

The stable said last week it was pondering whether to put the horse down. Sunday Silence had developed laminitis--a debilitating disease of the hoof--more than two weeks ago. The stallion’s condition gradually worsened.

Sunday Silence was the son of Halo, by Wishing Well. He was taken to auction both as a yearling and as a 2-year-old, and both times he was bought back by principal owner Arthur Hancock after bidders didn’t meet his minimum price.

Sunday Silence won nine races in 14 career starts, earning $4,968,554. He was inducted into horse racing’s Hall of Fame in 1996.

“He was the perfect example of an ugly duckling that turns into a swan with age,” Hancock said. “Like the skinny teenager that develops into a big strong athlete, some horses are just a little late in maturing.”

In 1989, Sunday Silence’s battles with Easy Goer during his Triple Crown chase stirred memories of Affirmed’s duels with Alydar a decade earlier.

Sunday Silence was chosen 3-year-old champion and horse of the year in 1989.

In June 1990, the horse was sold to Shadai Farm in Japan and was the country’s champion sire from 1994 to 2000. During that span, his progeny produced 457 winners, 43 in stakes races.

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Run at Greatness

Horses that have won the first two legs of the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness (x-won triple crown):

2002 ... War Emblem

1999 ... Charismatic

1998 ... Real Quiet

1997 ... Silver Charm

1989 ... Sunday Silence

1987 ... Alysheba

1981 ... Pleasant Colony

1979 ... Spectacular Bid

1978 ... x-Affirmed