Gosger Recovering from Career-Ending Injury

Grade 3 winner and dual grade 1-placed Gosger is recovering from surgery to repair a career-ending injury sustained during a morning workout April 24 at Churchill Downs, owner Scott Clarke said. Clarke said the 2025 Lexington Stakes (G3) winner and Preakness Stakes (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) runner-up broke both sesamoids in his right front leg. The sesamoids, which sit on the back of the fetlock, anchor the suspensory apparatus that allows a horse's foot and fetlock to move properly. Because of their location and anatomy, the injuries can be difficult to repair and even catastrophic, according to the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine website. Following the injury, Gosger was sent to Kentucky Equine Hospital in Shelby County, Ky., where Dr. Wes Sutter completed a fusion surgery. Despite the life-threatening nature of the injury, Clarke said doing everything possible to save Gosger's life was never a question. Clarke, his mother, Donna, and their family race as Harvey A. Clarke Racing Stables in honor of his late father, Harvey Clarke, who died in 2019. Gosger stems from one of Harvey Clarke's most successful families. His dam, Gloria S, is a half sister to 2012 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner I'll Have Another, who was also bred by Harvey. Gosger's half sister, Harvey's Lil Goil, took the 2020 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland just a year after Harvey's passing. READ: Gosger Carries Clarke Legacy Back to Triple Crown That family connection made the Clarkes want to pay back Gosger for all the joy he brought the family last year competing on racing's highest level, giving him a chance to overcome the odds. "They all deserve every chance, but he deserves even extra," Clarke said. “(Gosger) is as important as it gets. We're not a gigantic operation; we have a small string of horses. So to have a horse of his ability is hard to replace." The surgery went well and Gosger was in good spirits the morning of April 28, with Clarke reporting he was "bright, alert, and eating well." Should all go well over the next few days, Clarke said it is expected that Gosger would spend about two weeks in the hospital before the cast comes off. "From there, it'll be months of podiatry," Clarke said. Luckily for Clarke, Gosger's personality and intelligence should help aid his recovery. "Something that's going to really help him out with this is he's always had a really good brain, and he's a calm and cool guy," Clarke said. "He's not a high-strung horse that's going to do something stupid. He's been a good patient, got right up, and went right to the hay bag." Trained by Brendan Walsh, the son of Nyquist raced to a record of 2-4-1 from nine starts for earnings of $960,865.