I'll Have Another was officially retired on Friday due to the early stages of tendinitis in the front leg, one day before the horse was supposed to race at the 2012 Belmont Stakes in hopes of becoming the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.
"This is extremely tough for all of us. Though it's far from tragic, no one died or anything like that, it's extremely disappointing. I feel so sorry for the whole team. We've had such an amazing run," trainer Doug O'Neill said during a press conference Friday afternoon.
Though O'Neill felt the horse still could have run in Saturday's Belmont Stakes, he and the team decided to use caution while making I'll Have Another a last-minute scratch.
They also used caution in retiring I'll Have Another. O'Neill admitted "you could give him three-to-six months and start back with him," but the team unanimously decided to retire him instead.
For more on the 2012 Belmont Stakes, please be sure to check out our blog And Down The Stretch They Come along with SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.