Airdrie Stud's Proud Citizen (Gone West–Drums of Freedom, by Green Forest), the sire of two GI Kentucky Oaks winners, was euthanized June 4. The 17-year-old stallion had suffered from chronic laminitis since 2012 and his condition deteriorated last week.
“No one could have done a better job for a horse than Dr. [Scott] Morrison,” said Airdrie's Brereton Jones. “He and our stallion team kept Proud Citizen happy and healthy over the last few years, and when his condition began to worsen last week we made sure that he was treated humanely.”
Proud Citizen's progeny have earned nearly $35 million, led by 2008 champion sophomore filly and GI Kentucky Oaks winner Proud Spell. He is also the sire of 2012 Oaks winner Believe You Can.
The stallion's Mark Valeski won the GII Peter Pan S. in the Airdrie colors and the farm currently stands him in partnership with Woodford Thoroughbreds in Reddick, Florida. Other graded stakes winners of note included Went the Day Well, Miz Ida, It Happened Again, River Proud and the South American champion and GII Santa Ana S. winner Vamo a Galupiar.
“We've been very fortunate to stand some top stallions over the years, but I don't think any have ever brought us more joy or left us with greater memories than did Proud Citizen,” Jones said. “He was unbelievably good to us and there was not a kinder or more personable horse in the stallion barn. We are forever grateful to him and he will be greatly missed by our Airdrie family.”
Proud Citizen won the 2002 GII Coolmore Lexington S. and was second in that year's GI Kentucky Derby and third in the GI Preakness S.
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