The world of horse racing is in a state of shock and sadness due to the loss of Book’em, a brilliant 2-year-old filly who had her promising career cut short after she sustained a serious injury in training. On January 6, what was supposed to be a routine workout at Fair Grounds turned disastrous as the filly suffered a devastating sesamoid fracture that left her veterinary team little option.

More of a personal touch than anything for the trainer, Bret Calhoun, considering how close and attached he normally is with horses. Emotional to start with, and hands-on too, Calhoun sounded torn to bits at the passing of a colt who, to him, didn’t represent merely potential but significantly large blocks of his future stable. Still counted as among the most successful, with a huge number of more than 3,500 winners in his career thus far, a particular affection for Book’em was a different story altogether against the yardstick of the history attached to this name.

 The emotional response from trainer Bret Calhoun

For Bret Calhoun, the loss of Book’em is more than just a professional setback—it’s an emotional wound. “You hate for something like that to ever happen, but right now, I had one good horse, and it was her,” Calhoun said, his voice heavy with grief. Calhoun’s bond with his horses is well-known within the racing community. He has trained numerous champions and stakes winners, with an innate ability to connect with his equine athletes. Book’em, however, stood out as a filly of immense promise and heart. “She wasn’t just fast—she was special,” he added. Her untimely death has left a void not only in his stable but also in his heart.

It’s also a painful reminder of the inherent risks involved in horse racing. Though not uncommon, sesamoid injuries are often catastrophic due to the critical role that these small bones play in a horse’s movement and balance. The untimely death of Book’em drives home the punishing tightrope between the thrill of competition and the vulnerabilities of equine athletes.

A brilliant career, cut short for Book’em

Book’em, by Tiz the Law out of Flummoxed, by Outwork, was already one of the more promising young stars on the track. Owned by Kat Kirk and Wayne Sanders and bred by Dixiana Farms, she had been purchased as a yearling for the price of $40,000, a very quick good investment.

The horse’s career statistics had read four starts, three wins, and one second, with $190,480 in earnings. She broke her maiden in a romp on debut on June 16, 2024, in a Churchill Downs Maiden Special Weight race, adding three straight tallies after. She scored a resounding victory by 8 1/2 lengths while racing one mile in an allowance optional claiming race on November 30, 2024. Her top Equibase Speed Figure was 103, positioning her among her division’s fastest.

The arc of her career had set a high bar for her 3-year-old year. Calhoun had her primed for the Silverbulletday S. at Fair Grounds, a major stepping stone toward bigger stakes action. “She was sound, talented, and everything was going right,” Calhoun said. But it was during her breeze on January 6th that tragedy struck. Working five furlongs after the renovation break, Book’em suffered the career-ending injury while rounding the homestretch. Calhoun called it “a routine work gone horribly wrong,” and it just goes to show how cruel horse racing can be.

Book’em’s death has sent shockwaves through the horse racing world, leaving a wave of sadness and introspection. A brilliant but all-too-brief career spoke to the possibility of her becoming one of the brightest stars the sport has ever known. Though her life was tragically cut short, her memory will continue to live on through those who watched her run and the bar set so high on the track. For Bret Calhoun, the emotional toll of losing a horse like Book’em is simply too much to bear. The racing world has gathered around him, offering words of condolence and support in the wake of the tragedy. As the community mourns, they also celebrate the extraordinary spirit of a filly who gave it her all and the trainer who was behind her at every step of the way. Book’em may be gone, but her mark on the track and in the hearts of those who knew her will not be forgotten.