On January 3rd NCh. Dark Demand was retired. After a bout with colic, leading to surgery and after his recovery the vet suggested he be retired from stud. He now spends his days leisurely munching grass and watching the new foals.
I asked Shelbie if she would go a write up for me and it is below. Thank you Shelbie it is an awesome write up.
Dark Demand’s retirement came suddenly in the new year, with just a single weanling expected in 2024. However, the daunting 17hh multi-millionaire leaves behind over 230 foals and a full crop expected this year. Bred by Final Furlong, he is the only song of Black Knight to enter stud and only one of two foals to carry on his dam’s name. On the track, he debuted in the spring of his freshman year, breaking his maiden on his third attempt by an incomparable 102-3/4 lengths. That summer he captured the G1 Futurity Stakes by another 23 lengths, and used the Ungr. Cowdin Stakes as a winning stepping stone (a race he took by 6 lengths) before making the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile a walkover with a 29 length victory. He hit the board in additional stakes races such as the G1 Hopeful, G1 Highland Bandit Breeders’ Stakes, and the G2 Planet Hollywood Breeders’ Stakes. When he ran his best he flew, and even when he wasn’t winning by daylight he concluded his 2yo season with 3 wins from 15 outings, finishing off the board just once. He was named that year’s Two Year Old Colt Champion.
The Triple Crown trail was his next target and he rattled off two immediate wins his sophomore year, including the G3 Holy Bull Stakes. He had two bad outings but bounced back to sweep the G1 Florida Derby by 15 lengths. In the Crown he finished 2nd in the G1 Kentucky Derby (a full 5 lengths ahead of the next horse) and took the G1 Preakness Stakes by nearly 5. He ran 2nd three times in a row that summer: in the G1 Travers Stakes, G2 Jim Dandy Stakes, and G2 Jerome Stakes. Like the year before, he returned to the Breeders’ Cup winners circle with a 11 length victory in the G1 Dirt Mile. He finished the year with an easy victory in the G1 Spectacular Bid Breeders’ Stakes, completing his stallion qualification and adding another $3.5 million to his earnings.
At four he captured the G1 Santa Anita Handicap in record-breaking fashion, and the G1 Woodward, with board hits in the G1 Pimlico Special, G1 Suburban Handicap, G1 Pacific Classic, and G2 San Fernando Breeders’ Stakes. His third attempted in the Breeders’ Cup, returning to the Dirt Mile, would be a third-place finish. He began to lose steam afterwards, with his final three starts that year and his single start at five being unplaced. In all, he won 14 of 47 starts, earnings over $6.4 million, and hit the board 77% of the time. He race exclusively on dirt, winning at sprints, classic distances, and endurance alike while retiring completely sound.
At stud there was much expectation but he was slow to start. In all, he has sired 88 winners from 152 starts (58% winners), and 15 SW’s with 9 being MSW’s and another 5 millionaires. At this time he has no sons at stud, but his son, GCh. Dark Debate, has five of his seven needed stakes wins at just five years of age this year. Some of Dark Demand’s offspring include GCh. Dark Debate (2022 Older Horse of the Year; G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, G1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, G1 Florida Derby), GCh. Susurro (G3 Flash Stakes, 2nd G1 Blue Diamond Stakes, G1 Japan Cup), Ch. Dark Keeper (G1 Santa Anita Oaks, G1 Donn Handicap, G1 Test Stakes), Ch. London Gala (G1 Highland Sorceress Breeders’ Stakes), Ch. Good Hillside (G1 Vosburgh Stakes), and Ch. Holiday Road (G1 Santa Anita Derby).
Several of Dark Demand’s daughters are broodmares, and it will be interesting to see how he performs as a damsire. For now, we tip our hat to the dirt speed demon and wish him the best and happiest of retirements.
Shelbie