Countdown to the Kentucky Derby: The Green Monkey Retired

The horse that sold two years ago for a world record $16 million, The Green Monkey is being retired. (AI Wire Images)

The four year old horse will soon be entered as a stud at Randy Hartley and Dean De Renzo’s Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds.

The Green Monkey while training at Saratoga the summer of his 2-year-old season had ended up pulling a gluteal muscle. The trainers tried to bring him back to par in March 2007, but with little success, however prior to his injury The Green Monkey had a total purse earnings of $10,240.

"We purchased half of him to stand at stud in 2009, and he arrived at our farm four or five days ago," Dean De Renzo said Feb. 11. "We’re waiting until 2009 because he came in late, and I feel that a lot of people have already booked their mares. Also, because he had injuries, the stress levels could hurt his breeding, so we didn’t want to take that chance this year.

The owners of The Green Monkey plan on building a barn especially for the horse and are thinking of giving tours of the stable to the fans.

There is no stud fee as of yet, but we will make it reasonable enough to make people have to breed their good mares to him," De Renzo said.

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