Death of Hay List, second only to racing’s greatest

HAY List, one of the most popular and exciting racehorses of the modern era, lost his battle against laminitis last night.

Trainer John McNair revealed the decision was made to have Hay List euthanized on humane grounds rather than watch the nine-year-old gelding suffer any longer.

“I realised today we are only keeping him going for our sake, not his,’’ McNair said.

“He has been fighting this condition since mid-December and in the last few weeks he was taking two steps forward, five steps back.

“He had a terrible night (Monday) and we could not put him through that again.’’

McNair and his wife, Sue, care for their thoroughbreds like their own children and both were understandably emotional when it became apparent that nothing more could be done for Hay List.

Laminitis is the condition that afflicts many thoroughbreds and often proves fatal.

America’s legendary racehorse Secretariat, New Zealand’s mighty mare Sunline, and Black Caviar’s brother, “Jimmy”, the $5 million yearling purchase, are among those to die as a result of laminitis.

Hay List had chronic hoof problems throughout his career and it is testament to McNair’s horsemanship that he was able to take the giant sprinter from humble origins to be rated the world’s second best sprinter behind unbeaten super mare Black Caviar.

Hay List probably gave Black Caviar her toughest races, particularly the 2011 T.J. Smith Stakes showdown between the two great sprinters.

Hay List won 15 races from 28 starts, amassing more than $2.5 million in prizemoney.

McNair said Hay List’s courage enabled him to “beat the odds so many times”.

“We could have lost him in Brisbane a few years back, and nearly did, then when he fractured his leg, the vets were suggesting the horse be euthanized,’’ McNair said.

However, this was one fight Hay List could not win.