North Light, winner of the 2004 Epsom Derby (G1), and a stallion on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, was euthanized March 20 due to complications of laminitis. The 23-year-old stallion will be laid to rest at Adena South in Ocala, Fla., where he has been pensioned since 2020.
An Irish-bred son of Danehill, North Light raced three seasons for his breeder Ballymacoll Stud. He finished in the top two in six of seven starts and banked $1,989,577 in career earnings. In addition to the prestigious Epsom Derby, he was also second in that year's Irish Derby (G1) for trainer Sir Michael Stoute.
Upon North Light's retirement, a majority interest in the horse was sold to Frank Stronach's Adena Springs. North Light began his stud career at the Versailles, Ky., nursery and would be just the fourth Epsom Derby winner to stand in the United States in the last 40 years. He had almost immediate success as a stallion, siring Arctic Cosmos, the 2010 champion 3-year-old colt in England as well as graded stakes winners Celtic New Year and Chips All In.
After five years in Kentucky, North Light was relocated to Adena Springs North in Canada for three years, before returning to the country of his greatest triumph to stand at Lanwades Stud in Newmarket, England, on a lease agreement in 2014. He was repatriated to Canada after one season and pensioned from stud in October 2019.
North Light was represented by 14 crops prior to being pensioned. He lived the remainder of his days in retirement at Adena South.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
