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Toronto Sun
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Patches O'Houlihan, Canada's reigning horse of the year, euthanized after injury
Published Jul 11, 2025 • 1 minute read Jockey Sofia Vives guides Patches O'Houlihan to victory in the $200,000 dollar bet365 Highlander Stakes in Toronto in a June 28, 2025, handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Woodbine, Michael Burns Photo by Michael Burns / THE CANADIAN PRESS Patches O'Houlihan, Canada's reigning horse of the year, was euthanized Thursday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Patches O'Houlihan, ridden by Sofia Vives, held off My Boy Prince to win the Grade 2 Highlander by a neck at Woodbine Racetrack on Saturday. Patches O'Houlihan was pulled up after the race and left the track in a van for further examination. Veterinarians determined the horse had suffered a soft tissue injury. In a statement issued by Woodbine, owner/breeder Frank Di Guilio said Patches O'Houlihan's condition worsened. 'We consulted with veterinarians and surgeons on an ongoing basis and it was determined surgery was not a viable option for a sustained quality of life,' Di Guilio said. 'We are going to dearly miss watching him run, as will his many fans. 'Patches O'Houlihan was an amazing animal that was beautiful both inside and out. He absolutely loved to race and possessed outstanding heart and desire, and was as honest as they come. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Patches, but we are truly blessed and grateful to be part of such a true champion. The five-year-old Ontario-bred horse posted a record of 13 wins and one second from 16 career starts.
Daily Mirror
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Champion racehorse injured during latest victory euthanised 12 days later
Patches O'Houlihan, crowned Canada's Horse of the Year in 2024, was vanned off the track after scoring in gutsy fashion at Woodbine last month A champion racehorse has been humanely euthanised 12 days after recording his latest victory. Patches O'Houlihan, named after a character in the hit movie Dodgeball, was crowned Canada's Horse of the Year in 2024 after a campaign in which he was defeated once in five starts. He had begun the new campaign with two wins from two races taking his career score to 13 from 16 and earnings to £629,000. The sprinter was last in action at Woodbine, Toronto, at the end of June when he captured a Grade 2 race under regular rider Sofia Vives. He secured the win by a diminishing neck margin after he veered alarmingly across the track in the final stretch. The Equibase footnotes said Patches O'Houlihan had 'drifted out considerably to be in the ten path when clinging up front with a furlong from the prize, lost the lead momentarily with a sixteenth to run, showed his heart late digging back in to prevail in the stretch drive by a photo at the wire, was eased shortly after the race and left via equine ambulance'. Vives dismounted the five-year-old after crossing the line> He was reported at the time to be 'back at the barn and resting comfortably after being assessed by the veterinarians'. However on Thursday his owner and breeder Frank Di Giulio Jr shared the news that his star horse had passed away. 'We are heartbroken to announce that 2024 Horse of the Year Patches O'Houlihan was humanely euthanized on Thursday, July 10th,' he said. 'After sustaining a soft tissue injury while galloping out after winning the Highlander Stakes, it was hoped that he would recover well enourgh to be retired to pasture. 'However, in the time since then, his prognosis worsened. We consulted with veterinarians and surgeons on an ongoing basis and it was determined surgery was not a viable option for a sustained quality of life.' Di Giulio offered condolences and thanks to those closest to his horse including trainer Bob Tiller and his team, Vives, the vets who treated him plus 'the Woodbine starting gate crew for attending to Patches so quickly after the accident.' He continued: 'Everyone at the barn is devastated. We are going to dearly miss watching him run, as will his many fans. He gave us so much pleasure and so many thrills during his career. 'Patches O'Houlihan was an amazing animal that was beautiful both inside and out. He absolutely loved to race and possessed outstanding heart and desire, and was as honest as they come. 'We are deeply saddened by the loss of Patches, but we are truly blessed and grateful to be part of such a true Champion.'
