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Description
Kip Deville, who made his last start on Aug. 2 at Saratoga, won 12 of 30 starts and earned $3,325,489. He also won the nine other stakes, including three additional grade I races – the Woodbine Mile at Woodbine, Frank E. Kilroe Handicap at Santa Anita, and Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland. He was second in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. I) at Santa Anita to champion Goldikova.

Kip was one of my favourite racehorses at the time. I had seen him in person in 2007 and followed his races for the next year.

In November of 2009 Kip Deville was officially retired from racing. According to his owner, he had gone through several surgeries from colic, and was diagnosed with laminits. As many know, laminitis is the disease that took Barbaro's life back in 2007.

On December 10, 2009, Kip Deville was suffering from laminitis in both front feet and was given a 20 percent chance to survive. On December 29th, the bloodhorse published an article stating he was still in critical condition and would have to clear a major hurdle in being reshod and regrowing hoof. On January 27th, 2010, his owners stated that he had improved significantly.:

“He is doing great,” said Mike Iavarone, president of IEAH Stables. “Every day has been better and better for him. He is walking around well, eating well, and is full of himself. He is clearly headed in the right direction, but it is important to never get too excited.” (Bloodhorse)

On March 2nd (my birthday actually) the bloodhorse published a very hopeful article, stating:

The improbable story of Kip Deville’s battle with life-threatening laminitis is nearing a happy ending, as the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT) winner is set to be discharged from Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital as early as next week.

IEAH president Mike Iavarone said, “Everyone told me there was no shot of this happening and that we would be better off financially with an insurance claim, but I told them I don’t care what we spend and how much it costs, he deserves the chance to try to beat this. If it wasn’t for him none of us at IEAH would be where we are now. He’s the one that got it all started.”

On June 11, 2010, bloodhorse announced that Kip Deville had taken a turn for the worse, and had to be euthanized. He had fought laminitis and colic for over 8 months.

“It had been under control, but with laminitis, no one knows what under control is,” Iavarone said. “It’s such a disastrous situation with laminitis; you think it’s going in right direction, but it can change so quickly. This tears the heart out of me; it kills me. He had no earnings potential as a stallion; we kept him alive for so long because he wanted to be alive and he deserved every chance. He fought hard every step of the way.

"It’s beyond frustrating, because things had been so quiet, and then I got that e-mail this week. I just wanted him to live a happy life; he deserved that. But when you’re told how much suffering he’s in and that he has no chance of living a normal paddock life, what else can you do? It’s always hard to make a decision like this, but the decision was made for us. All I know is I’m not going to sleep tonight.”

Read the rest here: [link]

It's been months and it still breaks my heart, I cry everytime I see a photo of him.

Kip Deville
May 3rd 2003- June 11 2010

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9x12 inches, watercolors on watercolor paper. Started in the summer and finally finished now.

Description
Kip Deville, who made his last start on Aug. 2 at Saratoga, won 12 of 30 starts and earned $3,325,489. He also won the nine other stakes, including three additional grade I races – the Woodbine Mile at Woodbine, Frank E. Kilroe Handicap at Santa Anita, and Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland. He was second in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. I) at Santa Anita to champion Goldikova.

Kip was one of my favourite racehorses at the time. I had seen him in person in 2007 and followed his races for the next year.

In November of 2009 Kip Deville was officially retired from racing. According to his owner, he had gone through several surgeries from colic, and was diagnosed with laminits. As many know, laminitis is the disease that took Barbaro's life back in 2007.

On December 10, 2009, Kip Deville was suffering from laminitis in both front feet and was given a 20 percent chance to survive. On December 29th, the bloodhorse published an article stating he was still in critical condition and would have to clear a major hurdle in being reshod and regrowing hoof. On January 27th, 2010, his owners stated that he had improved significantly.:

“He is doing great,” said Mike Iavarone, president of IEAH Stables. “Every day has been better and better for him. He is walking around well, eating well, and is full of himself. He is clearly headed in the right direction, but it is important to never get too excited.” (Bloodhorse)

On March 2nd (my birthday actually) the bloodhorse published a very hopeful article, stating:

The improbable story of Kip Deville’s battle with life-threatening laminitis is nearing a happy ending, as the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT) winner is set to be discharged from Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital as early as next week.

IEAH president Mike Iavarone said, “Everyone told me there was no shot of this happening and that we would be better off financially with an insurance claim, but I told them I don’t care what we spend and how much it costs, he deserves the chance to try to beat this. If it wasn’t for him none of us at IEAH would be where we are now. He’s the one that got it all started.”

On June 11, 2010, bloodhorse announced that Kip Deville had taken a turn for the worse, and had to be euthanized. He had fought laminitis and colic for over 8 months.

“It had been under control, but with laminitis, no one knows what under control is,” Iavarone said. “It’s such a disastrous situation with laminitis; you think it’s going in right direction, but it can change so quickly. This tears the heart out of me; it kills me. He had no earnings potential as a stallion; we kept him alive for so long because he wanted to be alive and he deserved every chance. He fought hard every step of the way.

"It’s beyond frustrating, because things had been so quiet, and then I got that e-mail this week. I just wanted him to live a happy life; he deserved that. But when you’re told how much suffering he’s in and that he has no chance of living a normal paddock life, what else can you do? It’s always hard to make a decision like this, but the decision was made for us. All I know is I’m not going to sleep tonight.”

Read the rest here: [link]

It's been months and it still breaks my heart, I cry everytime I see a photo of him.

Kip Deville
May 3rd 2003- June 11 2010

---

9x12 inches, watercolors on watercolor paper. Started in the summer and finally finished now.