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Perennial Leading Turf Sire English Channel Succumbs to Illness

Calumet Farm's perennial leading turf sire English Channel (Smart Strike–Belva, by Theatrical {Ire})'s health rapidly declined in the past 24 hours under the care of top equine specialists at Rood and Riddle and he passed away Thursday morning.

“English Channel certainly went out on top,” a release from Calumet Farm read. “He was the number one turf sire for the past two years and you could consistently find his progeny on the board in the top turf races across the country. English Channel has meant so much to Calumet throughout the years and we appreciate all the breeders who also supported him.”

English Channel will be buried in the famed Calumet cemetery alongside many other champions from the farm's storied history. “It is a well-earned and fitting final resting place for such a spectacular horse,” a release from Calumet read.

Currently ranked second on the leading turf sires list for stallions standing in North America and 17th on the general sires list, again for North American-based stallions, English Channel was the 2007 Eclipse champion grass horse and tallied six Grade I wins during his racing career, highlighted by victory in the 2007 GI Breeders' Cup Turf at Monmouth. The $50,000 Keeneland September graduate was campaigned by James T. Scatuorchio and trained by Todd Pletcher. He was bred in Kentucky by Ann McBrayer's Keene Ridge Farm.

The 19-year-old stallion has produced six Canadian champions during his sire career, as well as the 2020 Eclipse champion turf male Channel Maker. His 11 crops of racing age include 62 Northern Hemisphere black-type winners and 32 graded winners, including 2021 Grade I winners War Like Goddess, Two Emmys, and Channel Cat. War Like Goddess rallied from last of 12 to finish third as the 2-1 favorite in Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar.

English Channel is the sire of 12 Grade I winners.

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Galilean to Stand at Hidden Lake Farm

Multiple stakes winner Galilean (Uncle Mo–Fresia, by El Prado {Ire}), who hails from the female family of the influential Smart Strike, has been retired from racing and will take up his new career as a stallion at Hidden Lake Farm in New York, where he will stand the 2022 breeding season for a stud fee of $7,000 S&N.

“We are proud of what Galilean accomplished on the racetrack,” said West Point Thoroughbreds' Terry Finley, “and we're excited for him to write his next chapter as a stallion. He was precocious, fast, and he proved his class repeatedly in top company. We believe he has the looks, the pedigree, and the type of dangerous miler speed to make his mark as a stallion. We are committed to supporting Galilean with some of our top mares, and we're excited to offer him to New York breeders.”

Campaigned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Denise Barker, and William Sandbrook, Galilean was bought by West Point Thoroughbreds for $600,000 out of Eddie Woods' consignment at the 2018 Barretts 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. He picked up victories in the Barretts Juvenile S. and King Glorious S. as a juvenile and added a score in the California Cup Derby as well as a third in the GII Rebel S. at three in 2019. He also captured the Soi Phet S., California Dreamin S. and California Flag H. last year. The bay, who was trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, retires with a record of 16-6-1-3 and earnings of $592,522.

For more information on Galilean or to schedule a viewing, contact Chris Bernhard at (914) 850-9769 or by email at cjbern@hotmail.com.

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Stallion Manager Bill Sellers To Retire From Lane’s End

Lane's End Farm's longtime Stallion Manager, Bill Sellers, will retire in September of this year after 39 years of service to the farm. Bill has overseen the management and care of influential Lane's End stallions including the legendary A.P. Indy, champion sires Kingmambo, Smart Strike, Dixieland Band, Gulch, Lemon Drop Kid, Mineshaft and City Zip in addition to current top stallions Quality Road, Candy Ride (ARG), Union Rags and Twirling Candy.

Bill has been a valued member of the Lane's End Farm team since 1982, when he was hired in a foreman capacity to work with the farm's first yearling crop and with mares and foals. He became stallion manager at the beginning of the development of the Lane's End stallion division in 1985. In this position, Bill established the foundation of best practices that would ensure the health and safety of the stallions and result in smooth management of the breeding shed.

Will Farish, Lane's End Farm owner, said: “Bill Sellers has contributed significantly to the success of Lane's End as a leading Thoroughbred breeding farm. Billy's exceptional diligence and hard work have been instrumental in building the Lane's End stallion division into a world renowned operation known for the highest level of horse care and management. We take this opportunity to thank Billy for dedicating his career to Lane's End Farm. We will miss him greatly and wish him the very best in his retirement.”

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Bill Sellers to Retire as Lane’s End Farm Stallion Manager

Lane's End Farm's longtime Stallion Manager Bill Sellers will retire in September after 39 years of service. Sellers has overseen the management and care of influential Lane's End stallions including the legendary A.P. Indy, champion sires Kingmambo, Smart Strike, Dixieland Band, Gulch, Lemon Drop Kid, Mineshaft and City Zip in addition to current top stallions Quality Road, Candy Ride (Arg), Union Rags and Twirling Candy.

Sellers has been a valued member of the Lane's End Farm team since 1982, when he was hired in a foreman capacity to work with the farm's first yearling crop and with mares and foals. He became stallion manager at the beginning of the development of the Lane's End stallion division in 1985. In this position, he established the foundation of best practices that would ensure the health and safety of the stallions and result in smooth management of the breeding shed.

Will Farish, Lane's End Farm owner, said, “Bill Sellers has contributed significantly to the success of Lane's End as a leading Thoroughbred breeding farm. Billy's exceptional diligence and hard work have been instrumental in building the Lane's End stallion division into a world renowned operation known for the highest level of horse care and management. We take this opportunity to thank Billy for dedicating his career to Lane's End Farm. We will miss him greatly and wish him the very best in his retirement.”

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