Jimmy Fenwick has confirmed the heartbreaking news that Star Sports/ARC Derby favourite Ice On Fire has probably run his last race after picking up a gracilis injury while galloping earlier today writes Floyd Amphlett.
He said: “He was having his regular gallop leading up to his next trial and I saw the leg flick out, and he slowed up. It didn’t look good and I will be getting a second opinion from George Drake on Thursday. But with the Derby on ten weeks away, I have to be realistic.
“Gracilis injuries are never good and we have to do what is right for the dog which means putting him to stud almost right away. We may try him in the future but if there was any sign that he wasn’t back to his absolute best, there is no way would we ever consider running him again.
“You do get dogs come back from gracilis injuries, but not many. Ice On Fire has always about explosive place, and that is what I fear he would lose.
“It is devastating, it is never easy when these things happen in greyhound racing. I am particularly gutted for Dave and Pat Spraggon and family.
“When you have been in greyhounds as long as I, and my family have, you always hope to get a greyhound that all the others trainers will look up to as the best. Ice On Fire was that dog.”
A winner of 17 of his 20 races, Ice On Fire’s most notable victories were the Nottingham Puppy Classic, the All England Cup, the Eclipse, the Laurels and the Racing Post Juvenile. He is the reigning Greyhound of the Year.
