Late last Wednesday night, Stonestreet Farm announced that 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra had been taken to Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital following complications from foaling. After giving birth to a filly on February 12, the seven-year-old mare was found to have suffered an injury to her colon, resulting in an infection that required a section of her intestine to be removed. Though the champion racehorse came out of anesthesia without incident, her veterinarian said that it was too early to offer a prognosis and that Rachel Alexandra was doing “the best that can expected.”
A year ago, after giving birth to her first foal, Rachel Alexandra was brought to the same hospital for pain management; at the time, Stonestreet did not notify the public, resulting in a social media outcry from fans when the news was leaked.