Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Rainbow Blue Injured

June 15, 2005

Horse of the Year Rainbow Blue, who was scheduled to make her next start in Friday's $215,000 Lady Liberty at the Meadowlands, has a tendon injury and could be sidelined for the year.

"I jogged her Sunday, and she was super," said trainer and co-owner George Teague. "She trained like Godzilla. I noticed afterwards a filling in her leg, left front. We made an appointment Monday to have an ultrasound. It showed a tear. I'm not sure how or when she did it. The likelihood is that she'll miss the rest of the season. She could have bumped her leg or bruised it anywhere. I'm going to see a couple of different vets and get a few more opinions."

Rainbow Blue, who has won 30 of 32 career races and was four-for-four this season, would have brought a 12-race winning streak into the Lady Liberty, Friday night's featured sixth race. The last time Rainbow Blue lost was in the Mistletoe Shalee on Hambletonian Day [August 7, 2004] at the Meadowlands.

"She's always been a perfectly sound horse, never mind any vet work," Teague said of the four-year-old mare. "She's never had an injection of any kind. I'm comfortable in my decision to give her time, all she needs. Because of who she is, the tendency is to be a little more cautious. I'm going to take my lumps and aim to bring her back for next year, try the same circuit I did this year."

Rainbow Blue will have stall rest at Teague's farm in Delaware. Rainbow Blue's has banked $1,428,934 for Teague; his sister, Brenda Teague, and K&R Racing LLC [Kevin and Ron Fry], all of Houston, Delaware.

"It is important to address this issue now, before it possibly becomes a career-threatening one," Teague added. "It's disheartening."