Retired champion Whitmore ‘wanted it,’ but what’s next?

Whitmore was retired last Saturday after sustaining an injury in the Forego Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. The 8-year-old gelding was pulled out of a sale in Ocala, Florida, as a 2-years- old. Ron bought him after the sale. He named him Pleasant Mel after his high-school basketball teammate, a freaky athlete named Wilbur Whitmore. Laura worked with him in a chute at Churchill Downs. She was able to keep asking him to move forward while the pony helped him stay on track. His exercise rider was left with his helmet over his eyes after a sudden stop caused it to slide down his face.

Whitmore finished 19th in the Run for the Roses. He chipped his knee and his future was in doubt. Ron Moquett flew his family to the Derby. After the race, Ron, Laura and Chance were left with the gelding to cool him off.  Chance remembers that moment almost like slow motion. It was disappointing. The geldering was retired. They don't know what the future holds.

Whitmore was injured in a race at Aqueduct. He recovered and became a champion sprinter. Whitmore won four straight races in 2017. His fan base started at Oaklawn and grew nationwide. Ron Moquett received an offer of a stallion deal for a gelding. He declined. The offer was not valid. It was a joke. In the end, he didn't want to sire foals.   Whitmer was retired. he was eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs. in 2018. his first Grade 1 win was the Forego.

Whitmore won the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland. He was 7 years old at the time. Whitmore finished second in his first race, the King Cotton at Oaklawn. After that he won Hot Springs and Count Fleet. His team won a lot of races. He didn't have another win until November. The team came second at Vanderbilt in July. Chance Moquett won his bet on the race. Ron Moqett's son is due soon. It was a viral hit. In October, Eclipse Award voters confirmed Whitier as a champion.

Whitmore has been retired after suffering a minor injury. The horse was not as successful as he was in the past. Chance Moquett has received many messages of support for Whitmore. He has set up an email address (Here is [email protected]) for people to send their favorite memories of Whitier. He was told by vets that he could run again in two months. It was a scary moment for Laura and Ron. They are thankful that Whitner's injury was less severe than the Derby injury and that it was treated in an ambulance. Ron doesn't want to return Whitter to racing.