Rich Strike , the 80-1 upset winner of the 2022 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs, has been retired, owner Rick Dawson announced Nov. 9.
In a portion of a social media post "to all family, friends and fans of Rich Strike" and in a text to BloodHorse, Dawson wrote: "As you are aware for the last several months 'Richie' has been performing light exercise while being treated for front leg issues that has kept him from traditional training and obviously from racing. Unfortunately, these nagging issues remain. Therefore, after conversations with (veterinarians) and a number of great horsemen, I have decided to retire Richie from racing and move toward a stallion career.
"This has been an extremely difficult decision for me. However, as always, it came down to 'what's best for Richie is what's best.' Thank you to all who have supported and prayed for Richie."
In a Thursday afternoon interview, Dawson said that Rich Strike's physical issues were related to his suspensory ligaments. An ultrasound checkup at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital Nov. 7 indicated his condition had deteriorated slightly under relatively easy jogs and gallops this fall in Kentucky at Margaux Farm. Renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Larry Bramlage has been evaluating Rich Strike this year, Dawson indicated.
On Thursday morning, Keeneland announced that Rich Strike will be offered as a stallion prospect at its November Horses of Racing Age Sale Nov. 17.
Rich Strike, a 4-year-old chestnut Keen Ice colt, retires with a 2-1-3 record in 14 starts with more than $2.5 million in earnings. He initially raced for breeder Calumet Farm and trainer Joe Sharp before being claimed for $30,000 by Dawson's RED TR-Racing and trainer Eric Reed from his second race, a 17 1/4-length maiden claiming win at Ellis Park in September 2021.
Sonny Leon was his regular rider under Reed's care, including in the Kentucky Derby, when Rich Strike closed to catch Epicenter and Zandon . Rich Strike posted the second-largest upset in the race's 149-year history, returning $163.60 for a $2 win wager, a payoff surpassed only by Donerail, who returned $184.90 in 1913.
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Bettors were not the only ones shocked. Reed said his knees buckled in excitement soon after the race, and he fell to the ground as he watched his colt cross the wire in front.
"Can you believe this, man?" Reed later exclaimed to friends as people rushed to congratulate him.
According to NBC Sports, the telecast of the Derby reached 16 million viewers, peaking at 19 million in the aftermath of Rich Strike's astounding closing charge.
For many in attendance, this was a result that wasn't supposed to happen—and it nearly didn't. Rich Strike was not even in the original field of 20, lacking the Kentucky Derby qualifying points of other competitors, leaving him as an also-eligible in need of a scratch to start.
From the time of entries until the early morning hours of the day before the Derby, it did not look like he would get the chance. But opportunity knocked in the waning minutes before closing scratch time at 9 a.m. on Kentucky Oaks Day, when Ethereal Road was pulled from the race, clearing the way for him to start.
As an also-eligible, he secured a spot in the race on the far outside in post 20, a position from which only one horse, Big Brown (2008), had won in 17 previous attempts.
But Leon—who rode not at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Oaks Day but at his base at the time, Belterra Park—never rode like a jockey daunted by the wide draw. Quickly easing his mount back off the pace, he rallied Rich Strike to score, darting in and out through traffic.
In an interview with BloodHorse Thursday, Reed called winning the Derby the thrill of a lifetime and relished the experience of enjoying it with his father, Herbert, who mentored him in training horses.
"I was glad for the little guy, the small trainer, the small jockey, the small owner," Reed added.
He said Rich Strike's upset was one of the "underdog stories for the ages."
He provided Calumet Farm with a 10th Kentucky Derby win as breeder, extending its record, with eight coming from horses that raced for the farm when the Wright family operated Calumet in the mid-to-late-20th century. Brad Kelley currently owns Calumet, where Keen Ice stands at stud. Keen Ice's fee is $7,500 in 2024.
Rich Strike was winless in six starts following the Kentucky Derby, though he came close to victory when second to Hot Rod Charlie in the Lukas Classic (G2) at Churchill Downs in September 2022. Also that year, he ran sixth in the Belmont Stakes (G1), fourth in the Travers Stakes (G1), fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), and sixth in the Clark Stakes (G1).
He made one start at age 4, finishing fifth in the May 5 Alysheba Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs. That would be his final race. Dawson and Reed parted ways shortly after the Alysheba over a dispute about film rights.
The previous fall, just before the Lukas Classic, Dawson, Reed, and six others associated with the colt went under the needle to receive Rich Strike tattoos, asking for the number 21. That was his program number in the Kentucky Derby and where he ranked on qualifying points before the scratch of Ethereal Road.
Rich Strike was given time off for what Dawson said were some physical issues, and he resumed light training this fall. He had been scheduled to join Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott in South Florida this month before Dawson's announcement on Thursday.
Reed said it "took a long time" for him and his employees to get over not seeing Rich Strike at his Mercury Training Center base near Lexington, "but everybody was hoping to see him get back to the races, and it didn't matter if he was with us or not. He's like our family."
Consigned to the upcoming Keeneland sale by Candy Meadows Farm, Rich Strike is available for inspection in Lexington by appointment. Dawson said Rich Strike would remain at Margaux Farm through approximately Nov. 15 before arriving on the sales grounds.
He is out of Canadian champion Gold Strike (Smart Strike) and a half-brother to grade 2 winner Llanarmon. In addition to his Derby win and his runner-up finish in the Lukas Classic, his other stakes placing came when he showed in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park in 2022.
"Keeneland is excited to showcase Rich Strike, a rare offering who will appeal to international buyers as a stallion prospect and to fans of racing worldwide," Keeneland vice president of sales Tony Lacy said.
Dawson said he received telephone calls last year from Saudi and Japanese interests but declined offers for racing or stud duty. He was told the colt's pedigree did "not thrill" Kentucky horse farms, and he felt that racing provided the highest earning potential at the time.
It is not uncommon for some stallion prospects to be withdrawn from public auctions and for private transactions to be made between parties.
