George Washington put down after Classic

By Rick Lang

OCEANPORT, New Jersey (Reuters) - Jockey Mick Kinane paid tribute to Irish raider George Washington who had to be put down after breaking his leg in the $5 million Breeders Cup Classic on Saturday.

The Aidan O'Brien trained four-year-old had raced among the leaders early on but began to lose touch before halfway and Kinane quickly dismounted. Racecourse veterinary staff were swiftly on hand but the horse could not be saved.

"He did well to stay up, he was brave," said Kinane, who could have been seriously injured had the horse gone down right away.

"He didn't go down. He stayed up on it. He saved me."

It was a tragic end for the colt who had returned to racing at the beginning of the season after failing at stud following a high-class, though sometimes chequered, career as a racehorse.

The son of Danehill, bred by Lael Stables in Ireland, swept three successive stakes following his maiden score at the Curragh.

"It was a hopeless injury as far as repair, and he has been euthanized," said Dr. Wayne McIlwraith, the on-call veterinarian of the Equine Association of Practitioners.

"The decision was made very quickly. Aidan O'Brien was on the racetrack with the horse right after it happened and he requested euthanasia."

The European champion never appeared to be comfortable over the sloppy strip at Monmouth Park, which had been drenched by rain for the last two days.

"You know, at times, a sloppy racetrack at the end of the day, you could have some concerns, because they are running in the base; and then obviously the base is not made for running on directly," said McIlwraith.

Until the tragedy, the Classic had lived up to all the pre-race hype as Street Sense, Preakness champion Curlin and Kentucky Derby runner-up Hard Spun roared around the final turn into the homestretch.

Street Sense could not stay with Curlin and jockey Robby Albarado pulled away for a commanding 4 length win ahead of Hard Spun.

But the cheers of more than 40,000 spectators quickly turned to gasps as George Washington broke down in front of the main grandstands.

Workers quickly rushed to the injured horse and held up screens blocking the view as the colt was put down.