On Thursday, October 21, 2010 the Kentucky Derby Museum will retire a longtime friend and favorite, former Thoroughbred racehorse Phantom on Tour. Phantom has greeted hundreds of thousands of guests at the Derby Museum since first arriving in March of 2002. In 2006, Phantom battled EPM (a neurological disease caused by a parasite) and after rigorous treatment and rehabilitation returned to the Derby Museum.
After eight years in service to his fans, it is time for the 16-year-old Phantom to enjoy a life of leisure on the pasture of a farm. He will be turned out to a paddock with another horse who suffered from EPM. Phantom was on loan to the Derby Museum from the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and he will return to TRF’s Blackburn Farm in Lexington, KY.
Phantom’s bloodlines include Derby winners, Secretariat (1973), Northern Dancer (1964) and Reigh Count (1928). During Phantom on Tour's impressive racing career he won the Rebel Stakes, the Florida Stallion Stakes and the New Orleans Handicap. He ran sixth in the 1997 Kentucky Derby only six lengths behind the winner, Silver Charm. His race earnings were $724,605.
Phantom on Tour shared his time at the Derby Museum with full size miniature horse, Winston and vacationed annually at Upson Downs farm. For the last few years, Perfect Drift who finished third in the Kentucky Derby in 2002 has traded places with Phantom during vacations. Perfect Drift will now become the primary thoroughbred for the Derby Museum.
Phantom will depart for Blackburn farm between 10:30-11:00 a.m. Thursday morning.
To watch a video of Phantom and Winston at the museum: http://www.youtube.com/user/kyderbymuseum
TRF, a nonprofit organization, provides humane retirement for Thoroughbreds at satellite and TRF-operated farms in Connecticut, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Vermont, and Wisconsin as well as through private adoptions.
Kentucky Derby Museum Retires Phantom on Tour
