Escape from Slaughter

Danzig Colt Narrowly Escapes Slaughter in Canada

Media Empire
Courtesy Lost and Found Horse Rescue
Thoroughbred Times | Jul. 23, 2004

By the time Media Empire's strong though undernourished physique caught Kelly Young's eye at the New Holland Auction in Central Pennsylvania on Monday, the three-year-old son of Danzig already had been sold for $175 to a Canadian horse slaughter company.

Young operates Lost and Found Horse Rescue in York, Pennsylvania, and despite a sold tag already adorning Media Empire, Young knew the colt was one she had to have. She found the buyer, negotiated a $225 price, and took the colt back to Lost and Found.

"This horse was just gorgeous," Young said the day after the sale. "He had just received a sedative and was getting ready to load the van, so I acted fast."

Young was eventually able to piece together the colt's history with help from a veterinarian and information on his Coggins test once she returned to York. Bred in Kentucky by Juddmonte Farm, Media Empire is the third foal out of Group 3 winner Media Nox (GB), whose first two foals are 2003 Prix de Diane (Fr-G1) (French Oaks) winner Nebraska Tornado and Group 2 winner Burning Sun. A condition affecting the colt's hind end precluded Media Empire from ever racing and Juddmonte sold Media Empire in August 2003 for an undisclosed price to William Rickman Sr., an owner-breeder who owns Delaware Park in Stanton, Delaware.

Garret O'Rourke, manager of Juddmonte's Kentucky operation, would not provide details of Media Empire's condition but confirmed his identity and that he was sold to Rickman last year for future use as a stallion since he could never race.

Rickman tried to breed Media Empire this year, but the colt could not mount mares properly, so Rickman used him as a teaser at Williams Grove Farm near Chesapeake City, Maryland, where Rickman stands another son of Danzig, Zignew.

"He's got a bad back—he's sort of a wobbler—but we tried to breed him anyway," Rickman said on Wednesday. "He was a good teaser … but we couldn't breed him, so I gave him to a guy who had five mares and said he could stabilize the horse to breed."

Rickman declined to identify the individual he said he gave Media Empire to, and Young said the name Bob Thompson was listed on the Coggins report drafted a week before the sale. O'Rourke said Juddmonte had no knowledge of Rickman giving the horse away or that he had ultimately ended up at the New Holland Auction.

"For as much care as we give our horses, this is an embarrassment," O'Rourke said. "We made sure it worked out as well as it could have, and hopefully, this won't happen again. The end result will be good for the horse and the retirement foundation."

Rickman overnighted Young a check for $500 on Wednesday to cover the expenses of saving the colt and he told her that he wished to discuss the possibility of him further helping Lost and Found financially as well as find Media Empire a good home.

"I feel terrible about what happened, but I have no control over what these rotten [people] in the business do with horses," Rickman said. "I'm getting all the bad publicity for this, but it's not my fault. There are more crooks in the horse business than in Sing Sing Prison."

Young said her veterinarian examined Media Empire on July 21, and he tested negative for any neurological problems but had what Young called a "sticky right hock" as well as a recently popped abscess on the same leg. Young added that Media Empire had been "trotting, bucking, walking, and playing in his paddock" since arriving at Lost and Found, and the veterinarian said Media Empire could be a stallion with time off and conditioning.

As for pursuing a future for the colt, Young is working with Kim Zito, wife of trainer Nick Zito, on speaking with several agents to help her appraise Media Empire's value if he is able to breed. Young said she received a $25,000 offer for the colt on Tuesday, and others have come in since.

Ed DeRosa

"Help us lead Canada's horses away from barbarism . .
and into the protected pastures of a civilized nation."