HORSE RACING

• New career awaits Curlin

  
  

  Louisville, KY (Sports Network) - Curlin, the 2007 Horse of the Year, is apparently finished racing and will begin his career as a stallion.

  The Monday edition of the Louisville Courier-Journal is reporting that trainer Steve Asmussen does not expect Curlin to race again this year. Asmussen told the newspaper, "I don't see anything worthy of him," during a telephone interview.

  Curlin's majority owner, Jess Jackson, released a statement over the weekend indicating that the colt will begin his stud career in 2009, but left room for one more start in 2008.

  "I am proud to announce that he will start a new career in 2009," Jackson said in the release, "and contribute his soundness, stamina, durability and athleticism to the breed. I am looking forward to seeing his foals compete and possibly exceed his unequaled racing record." The four-year-old has been stabled at Churchill Downs since a fourth place finish in this year's Breeders' Cup Classic, a race he won in 2007. However, the track's Clark Handicap on Saturday, November 29 is not under consideration with the purse being cut $100,000 to $400,000.

  "We've eliminated ourselves from the Clark," Asmussen told the paper. "With the purse cut and it being a Grade II, there's not enough incentive to be ready for it, even if the possibility was so." A stud farm has not been decided upon for Curlin's career as a stallion. Jackson will consider offers or could retain the stud rights for his Stonestreet Farms.

  Curlin is the richest racehorse in North American history with earnings of $10,501,800.

  Ridden primarily by Robby Albarado, Curlin won 11 of 16 career starts.

  As a three-year-old in 2007 Curlin won the Arkansas Derby, Preakness Stakes, Jockey Club Gold Cup, along with the Breeders' Cup Classic, and was voted Horse of the Year as well as champion male three-year-old.

  This year the colt won the Dubai World Cup, Stephen Foster and Woodward Handicaps and a second Jockey Club Gold Cup.

  11/17 10:51:01 ET