8-year-old Bango (Congrats), Churchill Downs's winningest horse, has been retired, his connections announced on social media Friday.
In a video posted to X, trainer Greg Foley said, “Mr. Churchill Downs has blessed Barn 11 in so many ways. Career has been just a testament to what horse racing is all about. Thanks for everything Bango. Enjoy the next chapter.”
Retired with career earnings over $1,644,000, Bango raced 42 times, winning or placing in 24 of them. Nearly all of his starts came at Churchill Downs and he became their winningest horse of all time when he picked up his 12th total, an allowance victory in Sept. 2024. He raced just twice this year and finished up a well-beaten seventh in his final start Thursday.
His career highlights include a placing in the GII Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes in 2023. He was a nine-time stakes winner, picking up wins in consecutive editions of the Aristides Stakes in 2021 and 2022 and the Kelly's Landing Overnight Stakes in 2021 and 2023.
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