Sintra retired

Sintra (Mach Three), Canada’s 2017 Older Pacing Horse of the Year, has been retired from harness racing.

Anthony MacDonald, operator of The Stable, the group that owns the horse, announced the decision in a video on Friday (Oct. 13).  MacDonald said the 10-year-old gelding had wear-and-tear issues with his left hind ankle and was therefore retired to preserve his welfare and to avoid a drop-off in performance.

Sintra earned $1,691,168 in his 145-start career and was given the O’Brien Award for Older Pacing Horse for his 2017 campaign. He was bred by Louie Camara of Puslinch, foaled in Cream Ridge, New Jersey, and sold for $22,000 at the 2014 Harrisburg sale. The gelding raced at an elite level for most of his career. His major wins include the Mohawk Gold Cup, the Graduate Series Final, the Canadian Pacing Derby, and most recently the Gold Cup and Saucer. He also won the top-level Preferred at Woodbine Mohawk Park 19 times.

For most of his career, he was trained and co-owned by Dave Menary. MacDonald said in his statement that he will return Sintra to the Menary family for the horse’s retirement.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink