Group 1 Winner 

Creator Dead at 29

Creator, a Group 1 winner in France, was euthanized at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital on Saturday, February 28 due to complications from colic.

The 29-year-old son of Mill Reef had been a pensioner of Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement farm in Georgetown, KY, since 2004, when he was retired from stud duty in Japan and returned to the United States.

A homebred for Sheikh Mohammed, Creator (Mill Reef - Chalon, Habitat) won seven of his16 starts for career earnings of $550,537. His most impressive victory came at Longchamp in the GR 1 Prix Ganay-a race his sire also won impressively in 1972.

Creator's final start was in the U.S in the GR 1 Budweiser International where he suffered a career-ending injury.

Creator and Old Friends stable mate Sunshine Forever were the first stallions the non-profit organization returned from overseas for U.S. retirement.

At the time of his death Creator was surrounded by Michael Blowen, president and founder of Old Friends, his wife Diane White, and others who cared for him daily at the farm.

"Creator was not only a magnificent animal, he was one of the founding fathers of Old Friends," said Blowen. "Every time we lose one of the horses it's as if they take a little part of our lives with them," he added, "and, yesterday, Creator took an enormous chunk with him."

For additional information contact Old Friends at (502) 863-1775.

(PHOTO: Creator at Old Friends. Photo Courtesy of Equisport Photos)