Impactful Generational Sire Uncle Mo Passes Away Following Injury At 16

According to a tweet by Mike Repole on X and post on the Coolmore America website, Champion 2-Year-Old Colt and impactful sire Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie–Playa Maya, by Arch) was euthanized at Ashford Stud on Thursday morning after suffering a left foreleg injury. Surgery was performed on Wednesday. He was 16-years-old.

“I am devastated and saddened to share with you that Uncle Mo was euthanized earlier today following a left foreleg injury,” said Repole. “He had surgery yesterday. Unfortunately, this morning the recovery process was too much for him to endure.

“The Repole Stable family, Todd Pletcher family and the entire Coolmore family are heartbroken,” he said. “Uncle Mo was so much more to me than a champion and iconic stallion–he was and always will be a part of my family. Uncle Mo is the patriarch of Repole Stable. There will never be another horse that makes me feel or will impact my life the way that Uncle Mo has.

“I want to thank Todd Pletcher and his barn, Johnny Velazquez, the Coolmore Family, especially Uncle Mo's personal groom, Rene, and for everyone who loved Uncle Mo, for all the love and support they gave Uncle Mo,” Repole said. I am so grateful for the time that Uncle Mo and I spent together this May. Thank you Uncle Mo for fulfilling my childhood dreams of owning a special racehorse.

“I love you Uncle Mo,” he said. Rest In Peace.”

I am devastated and saddened to share with you that Uncle Mo was euthanized earlier today following a left foreleg injury.

He had surgery yesterday. Unfortunately, this morning the recovery process was too much for him to endure.

The Repole Stable family, Todd Pletcher… pic.twitter.com/ZHIo0yJGn8

Repole Stable (@RepoleStable) December 19, 2024

Coolmore added their own post on their website and paid homage to the sire.

“We're all still in shock,” said Coolmore America's Dermot Ryan. “He will be greatly missed by everyone here in particular by his personal groom Rene. He was an exceptional sire both on the racetrack and in the sales ring. I would like to thank Mike Repole for giving us the opportunity to stand him in the first instance and for being a truly fantastic partner, Todd Pletcher for training him to perfection, the Coolmore partners for placing such faith in him and our loyal clients for their unwavering support over the years.

Ryan added, “I would also like to thank Dr. Barry David, Dr. Bob Hunt and Dr. Cole Sandow of Hagyards for their efforts to save him along with all the team here at Ashford for the excellent care they afforded him throughout his time here.”

Uncle Mo (2008 – 2024).
Hugely successful Ashford stallion and brilliant racehorse Uncle Mo was euthanised earlier today on veterinary advice following an… https://t.co/aK19V87W47 pic.twitter.com/BG6Ti3wnez

Coolmore America (@coolmoreamerica) December 19, 2024

Bred by D. Michael Cavey DVM, Uncle Mo was sold as a weanling for $160,000 at the 2008 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale and then it was Repole who purchased Uncle Mo during Keeneland September for $220,000.

Debuting on the Travers undercard at Saratoga, the Todd Pletcher trainee broke his maiden and earned a 'TDN Rising Star' for his effort. Uncle Mo then caputured the GI Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park and won the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs. The undefeated colt received the Eclipse Award as the top 2-year-old.

Uncle Mo breaks his maiden at the Spa and becomes a 'TDN Rising Star' | Sarah Andrew

Uncle Mo's 3-year-old campaign began with a score in the Timley Writer Stakes at Gulfstream Park in March and he finished third in the GI Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct. The GI Kentucky Derby second choice on the morning-line, Uncle Mo was forced to scratch on the day of the race with a gastrointestinal issue.

Sent to WinStar Farm to deal with what was diagnosed as cholangiohepatitis–a liver and bile passage inflammation–the colt returned after nearly six months and was the runner-up in the GI King's Bishop Stakes at the Spa. Getting back to the winner's circle, he took home the GII Kelso Handicap at Belmont. In his final race, the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill, Uncle Mo finished 10th behind longshot Drosselmeyer (Distorted Humor) before being retired to stand at Coolmore with five wins in eight starts and with over $1.6 million in earnings to his credit.

In the breeding shed, the prolific Uncle Mo is responsible for 12 crops, 2,127 foals, 10 crops of racing age and 1,899 foals of racing age. He produced three champions, 56 graded winners and 109 black-type winners. The top sire has 887 winners at this point, who have collected nearly $125 million in purse money.

One of Uncle Mo's top accolades was he set the record as a freshman sire for earnings in 2015 with $3,717,490, which dethroned the great Tapit. Ashford's stud held that record until 2021 when Gun Runner eclipsed the mark.

The Ashford Stud stallion claims the following Grade I winners: Nyquist (Kentucky Derby, Florida Derby, Breeders Cup Juvenile, Frontrunner Stakes & Del Mar Futurity), Bast (Del Mar Debutante Stakes, Chandelier Stakes & Starlet Stakes), Golden Pal (Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint), Mo Donegal (Belmont Stakes), Mo Town (Hollywood Derby), Dream Tree (Starlet Stakes), Mo Forza (Hollywood Derby), Yaupon (Forego Stakes), Adare Manor (Clement L Hirsch Stakes (x2) & Apple Blossom Handicap), Arabian Knight (Pacific Classic Stakes), Kingsbarns (Stephen Foster Stakes), Gomo (Darley Alcibiades Stakes), A Mo Reay (Beholder Mile Stakes), Outwork (Wood Memorial Stakes), Unbridled Mo (Apple Blossom Handicap).

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