by Debbie Little

According to co-owner Barry Guariglia, Hambletonian champ Karl has been retired and is heading off to his next career at stud.

“We gave him every chance and there’s no way we could go with him this week [in the Breeders Crown final],” said Guariglia after Karl came up sick following his Crown elimination. “He needs a little time and based on the fact that we have a stallion deal, obviously, we just retired him, and that’s that.

“The plan at the moment is get him tested in December and then he’ll go to Diamond Creek.”

The son of Tactical Landing out of the RC Royalty mare Avalicious is co-owned by Christina and Nancy Takter, Guariglia’s Black Horse Racing, Crawford Farms Racing and Bender Sweden Inc and was bred by Crawford Farms LLC.

News circulated on social media on Monday (Oct. 21), when his trainer Nancy Takter posted that Karl would not be racing in the Breeders Crown final for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters, after having scoped sick following his sixth-placed-fifth finish last Saturday.

“It’s funny, driving into the office today, I can’t believe it’s two seasons [racing Karl], it’s gone by so quickly,” Guariglia said. “It’s been great.

“I texted Nancy last night after that little press release came out, about [Karl] being sick and said, ‘It’s been a great ride and you’ve done a great job making Karl a champion, you and the whole team and there are memories that we’ll never forget.’”

For Guariglia, one of those memories that will always be with him, despite the torrential downpour, was when Karl won the Hambletonian.

“I’ve never been that wet in my life,” Guariglia said with a laugh. “Every piece of garment I had on was soaking wet, but nobody cared.

“The other thing that sticks out in my mind from that race on that day is the amount of people outside. You know, non-owners, of course, just spectators that stayed right through the whole race in the pouring rain, that was really remarkable to me, and I thought it was quite interesting.”

Karl has gone over the million-dollar mark in both of his seasons on the track and was only off the board twice in 23 starts, which included 18 victories.

Although racing in the Crown final would have been great, Guariglia said Karl’s health is the most important thing to his connections. He also mentioned that there is a 90 per cent chance that the great Manchego will be bred to Karl.

“I’ve been in the business long enough that stuff like this has happened, not necessarily when you might be the favorite or co-favorite for the final in the Breeders Crown, but it is what it is,” Guariglia said. “There’s no way we would force it. It’s not worth it. Let him rest and be ready for the next part of his career.”