Veteran Ben's Cat (Parker's Storm Cat) has been retired from racing at age 11, according to owner/breeder/trainer King Leatherbury.
“It's the end of an era,” Leatherbury said Tuesday. “He got me in the Hall of Fame and gave me many thrills and glory.”
Ben's Cat first stepped onto the racing scene in his home state of Maryland as a 4-year-old in May of 2010, opening his account with eight straight victories. The hard-knocking gelding won 26 stakes, including two renewals of the GIII Turf Monster H. and two editions of the GIII Parx Dash.
The dark bay lasted visited the winner's circle in May of 2016 when he scored his fifth Jim McKay Turf Sprint victory and has been off the board in three starts this season. Ben's Cat retires with a record of 63-32-9-7 and earnings of $2,643,782.
“He's had minor excuses, but you have to draw a line somewhere,” Leatherbury commented. “I had hopes for him since we brought him back because he was training well. It was sad to see him run and not get anything. I'm so used to him winning.”
The Hall of Famer added, “He's going to a lady named Chris Welker in Kentucky. She's been a huge fan of him. She's had her order in for two and a half years.”
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