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Wigmore Hall fatally injured at Doncaster
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| Wigmore Hall scored in back-to-back editions of the Northern Dancer Turf at Woodbine
(WEG/Michael Burns Photography) |
Globetrotter
Wigmore
Hall, best known to North American fans for his consecutive victories in the
2011-12 Northern Dancer Turf at Woodbine, was euthanized Saturday after breaking
down in a
handicap on the St Leger undercard at Doncaster.Owned by M.B. Hawtin and trained throughout his career by Michael Bell, the
seven-year-old son of High Chaparral earned more than $2 million from his
42-7-6-5 record.
Wigmore Hall just missed in his first two stakes attempts as a
three-year-old, going down by a neck in the 2010 Newmarket and finishing a
hard-charging, if unlucky, third in the Hampton Court (now known as the
Tercentenary) at Royal Ascot.
Even then, Bell had regarded him as an ideal type to take around the world.
He sent him on his first international travel to Arlington for that summer's
Secretariat Stakes, and Wigmore Hall did his best work late to finish second to
Paddy O'Prado. His next foreign venture came at the 2011 Dubai Racing Carnival, where his
late-running heroics finally garnered him a stakes victory in the Group 2 Jebel
Hatta. Unfortunately, Wigmore Hall's old nemesis -- traffic trouble --
resurfaced in the Dubai Duty Free, and he had to settle for third to Presvis.
After stamping his passport in Hong Kong and Singapore, without success,
Wigmore Hall returned to Chicago for the 2011 Arlington Million. But he once
again had a frustrating passage en route to a fourth-place effort behind Cape
Blanco and Gio Ponti.
Woodbine, however, would prove a tonic for him. Wigmore Hall drove to his
first Grade 1 coup in the Northern Dancer Turf, and repeated the feat in 2012.
That marked his only win during a campaign that took him to Dubai, France, and
back to Arlington for a seventh in the Million.
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In 2013, Wigmore Hall kicked off the year in Dubai, and later made his fourth
consecutive trip to Arlington, this time for the American St Leger, checking in
fifth. But the bay gelding stayed home more often and posted his best results in
England, with placings in the Jockey Club Stakes, York Stakes and Godolphin
Stakes.
This season, Wigmore Hall made no international forays. His sights were also
lowered, and he plied his trade in handicaps. The old veteran was unplaced in
five of six starts going into Saturday, his best effort a near-miss second at
Newmarket on August 16.
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| Wigmore Hall shown in full flight over the Arlington turf, which he visited for four straight years
(Four Footed Fotos) |
A 16-1 chance in Saturday's 1 1/2-mile handicap, Wigmore Hall was anchored in
his customary spot in the back before tragedy struck. He broke down and fell
more than a quarter-mile from home, unseating Adam Kirby.
"He will leave a huge hole," Bell told Racing Post. "We'd had him
since he was a yearling and has given everybody involved with him an enormous
amount of fun. It is very tough for all concerned. I have spoken to the owner
and he was obviously very upset."
Bred by K. and Mrs. Cullen in Ireland, Wigmore Hall was a $109,105
Tattersalls October yearling purchase. He was produced by the winning Theatrical
mare Love and Laughter, who is also responsible for German stakes scorer Lady
Liberty.
Poignantly, Wigmore Hall died on a significant weekend of racing at his
favorite course, Woodbine. Saturday marked the renewal of the Natalma, won by
his second dam, Hoh Dear, in 1999, and the Northern Dancer Turf will be staged
Sunday.
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