By Bill Finley
After on-again, off-again attempts to bring Rich Strike (Keen Ice–Gold Strike, by Smart Strike) back to the races, owner Rick Dawson has decided to retire the 2022 GI Kentucky Derby winner. Dawson revealed the news in a Facebook post on New Year's Eve.
“I have entered into a P&S Agreement to stand Richie as stallion at Mountain Springs Farm in Palmyra PA w/ owner Rich Miller,” he wrote. “A final contract should be executed very soon & Richie will ship shortly thereafter. I personally plan to support Richie with several quality mares each season. GO RICHIE & OFFSPRING!!”
Mountain Springs Farm is located in Palmyra, PA, and is owned by Miller.
“This is more than a little exciting,” Miller said. “I don't know what to expect yet, but we're seeing that there's a lot of interest in him.” Miller said he was not aware if a stud fee had been set yet.
When it comes to highs and lows, few horses have had careers quite like that of the chestnut 6-year-old.
After running 10th in his debut, a maiden special weight turf race at Ellis Park, he was claimed for $30,000 out of his next start by Dawson and trainer Eric Reed. That was in a maiden claimer going a mile on the main track at Churchill Downs, which he won by 17 1/4 lengths. Five starts later he managed to finish a distant third in the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park, but earned enough points to be on the bubble for the Derby. Rich Strike only got into the race because there was a late scratch and he drew in off the also-eligible list.
In a shocking performance, he won by three-quarters of a length at odds of 80-1. Rich Strike became the second longest priced horse to have won the Kentucky Derby after Donerail in 1913. Donerail was 91-1.
The Derby was the last race he would ever win and he made just one start in 2023, finishing a distant fifth in the GII Alysheba S. Dawson said the horse was suffering from suspensory injuries, but he held out hope they could be healed to the point that he could return to the races. Meanwhile, Dawson and Reed parted ways over a dispute involving the rights to a movie about Reed, his father and Rich Strike. Rich Strike was turned over to Hall of Famer Bill Mott and more time was given for him to get over his injuries. This time stem-cell treatments were tried, but he was never able to get back to his self.
He recovered to the point that Mott was able to work him four times this summer at Saratoga, but injury problems persisted and he was retired with a record of 14-2-1-3 and earnings of $2,526,809. He was bred by Calumet Farm.
“I was approached about him weeks ago and we just kept discussing it,” Miller said. “It looks like there's quite a bit of interest coming from out of state. But the breeding program here in Pennsylvania is excellent and that's probably why they decided to come here. They approached me and I must have watched the Derby 20 times. I still can't figure out how he got from last to first. What a run. What a race.”
Miller is a veteran Pennsylvania breeder, whose farm stands some of the best stallions in the state. The most notable is Uptowncharlybrown (Limehouse), who was the leading stallion in Pennsylvania in 2024. They also have, among others, Uncle Benny (Declaration of War), who was second in the 2018 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, and Enticed (Medaglia d'Oro), a two-time graded stakes winner.
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