After Major Storm was claimed from VOP, he was raced hard and often by his new stable, at varying distances and claiming prices. His performance for his new stable was poor at best, managing only a couple of 4th place finishes. Those of us who knew Major felt bad for the horse, because he was just too old and banged up to be raced every ten to fourteen days, and especially in routes. We watched, sadly, as Major sank to the bottom of the Chicago claiming ladder, competing less and less successfully with horses he'd beaten easily just a couple of months before. And we worried that his declining performance and many ailments would earn him a trip to the dogfood factory.
Throughout the remainder of the Sportsman's meet, VOP's trainer approached the new owners about buying him back, but the answer was always the same: "If you want him you'll have to claim him", which we all thought was a steep price for a horse we just wanted to retire.
Major took the Arlington meet off, and came back at Hawthorne, running a respectable but non-winning race or two, and then his form began to decline again. Still the company line was "Claim him." Early in October Major was entered in a race from which he was inexplicably scratched, and then ran a horrid last place effort on October 19. Our trainer got word that the owner would sell him at a reasonable price.
On October 21 one of the VOP partners bought Major back, to be permanently retired from racing. He was in pretty tough shape, down in weight about 100 lbs, dull coat and bad color, and a very very sore left front ankle that he could hardly walk on.
Major stayed in trainer Liane Davis' barn for a couple of weeks to get reasonably healthy and sound, and then was turned out to pasture for the winter for a much deserved rest. When Spring came, and time had healed some of his wounds and taken some of the racetrack is out of his blood, a permanent retirement home for Major was found as a pleasure horse for a young lady in Minneapolis, to whom VOP is very grateful.
Major's retirement was made possible by help and kind contributions from the Liane Davis Racing Stable, VOP partners, CRT partners, subscribers to the Derby List, and the good folks at Tower Farm, Somonauk, IL. Thank you all very much!