Horse Racing Icon Paynter Euthanized Due to Lameness, Here Is the Millionaire Legend?s Rich History

Rarely does a horse ever storm into the horse racing realm and cause a massive impact. WinStar Farm’s Grade 1-winning stallion, Paynter, born March 4, 2009, at Diamond A Racing Corporation in Kentucky, set the stage on fire with his skills. His sire, Awesome Again, was a Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, and his dam was Tizso, a full sister to the two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Tiznow.

Initially known as MC’s Dream, Paynter underwent a noteworthy transition when he changed hands at the Keeneland yearling sale. Ahmed Zayat, the new owner. Throughout his life, he faced numerous ups and downs in terms of triumphs and health. However, he was euthanized on Friday, November 10, due to lameness, as announced by the farm, much to the chagrin of equestrian lovers the world over.

A look at the glorious horse racing sojourn of Paynter

Paynter was a bay horse with a slight uneven snip on his nose, a white left front pastern, and a white star on his forehead. Born on March 4, 2009, this American-bred stallion embarked on a promising three-year-old season that saw him secure a remarkable second-place finish in the Belmont Stakes and a resounding victory in the Haskell Invitational. However, the narrative took an unexpected turn as Paynter faced a near-fatal bout of colitis, further complicated by the onset of laminitis.

Post-surgery, Paynter swiftly gained 35 pounds in two weeks and, despite initially weighing 912 pounds at Fair Hill, showed rapid progress. Engaging in various therapies, including a hyperbaric oxygen chamber and AquaPacer, he reached nearly 1,000 pounds by November 15. Notably, he developed a fondness for red peppermint candies. Against all odds, he not only survived but thrived, captivating the racing world with his resilience.

Paynter, a 2009 son of Awesome Again, left an indelible mark on the sport with his impressive victory in the 2012 Grade 1 Haskell Invitational Stakes and a close second-place finish in the Belmont Stakes that same year. Despite encountering setbacks, including a battle with colitis, Paynter’s courage and tenacity led to a remarkable recovery, chronicled on social media through the hashtag #PowerUpPaynter. This journey earned him the 2012 Vox Populi Award and the NTRA’s “Moment of the Year.”

Paynter’s influence beyond the track

After taking victory home in 2013, he retired and moved to WinStar Farm as he was never the same horse he used to be. At Winstar farm, he again started his racing as a stallion. According to the BloodHorse, Paynter has sired 323 offspring, including 132 winners. His most successful offspring to date is Knicks Go, as he too achieved many medals and also won the 2021 Breeders’ Cup. Paynter’s impact as a sire is evident in his 49 black-type horses and 24 black-type winners. His total lifetime earnings at this age were $39,281. This showed his ability to pass on talent across various distances and surfaces.

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Paynter, a yearling acquired for $325,000 at the prestigious 2010 Keeneland September Sale, traces its origins to Kentucky under the careful breeding of Diamond A Racing Corp. His mother, Tizso, emerges as a distinguished producer of multiple graded stakes winners and holds the prestigious title of being the full sister to the illustrious Tiznow. Tiznow, a two-time victor of the Breeders’ Cup Classic and a renowned sire throughout his stallion career, adds an extra layer of distinction to Paynter’s pedigree.

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