Old Friends, The Mastery Retirement Facility in Georgetown, Ky., lost two beloved retirees on July 28 — graded multi-stakes winner Dumaani, 31, and European champion Swain , 30 years old. , according to the farm.
The stallions most recently stood at Lexington-based Shadwell Ranch, where they were originally bred in captivity. They were moved to Old Friends this spring as part of a downsizing of operations following the death in 2021 of Shadwell owner Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
A Kentucky half-blood of Danzig, the coveted Lord Gayle level 1 winner, Dumaani campaigned globally for four seasons from 1993-96. He has had beginnings at Newmarket, Ascot, Nad Al Sheba, Tokyo and across North America. He became a classification/group multiple bet winner who won consecutive Keeneland Breeders’ Cup Mile Stakes (G3T) races in 1995-96 for owner Shadwell and coach Kiaran McLaughlin. He also won the Keio Hai Spring (G2) Cup at the Tokyo Circuit, before retiring in 1996 with a 7-3-3 record in 26 starts and a career earnings of $1,079,098.
Dumaani prepares for Breeders ‘Cup 1996
Swain, 30, was bred in Ireland by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. A son of Nashwan in addition to Key to the Mint Love Smitten grade 1, Swain began his career in France with a streak of five wins, including the Grand Prix de Deauville Lancel (G2) at Deauville and the Prix du Lys (G3). at Saint Cloud. Owned by Godolphin and regulated by Andre Fabre and later Saeed bin Suroor, he was named the European Championship Old Horse in 1998 and the Senior Horse in the UK in 1997 and in the UK and Ireland in year 1998.
With 10 wins in 22 starts, Swain won four races at the highest level — Vodafone Crowning Cup (G1), King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Share (G1) at Ascot in 1997 -98 and the Esat Digifone Irish Championship (G1). He also hosted two Breeders’ Cup world championship events: third place in the 1996 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) at Woodbine (where former Alphabet Soup friends would win the Breeders’ Cup Classic, G1T) and third in the 1998 Breeders’ Cup Classic, where he followed Awesome Again and runner-up Silver Charm, both retired with Old Friends. Swain retired from racing in 1998 with a 10-4-6 record in 22 starts and a career earnings of $3,797,566
Old Friends chairman Michael Blowen said: “It’s always sad to lose any great person who retires but yesterday was devastating. “The only consolation is that the farm managers Antonio Marin and Rood and Dr Ashton Broman of Riddle realize that both Dumaani and Swain are in serious distress and that is best for them – not for us. – is pain relief.
“But the pain that their deaths left behind has left a lasting scar on us,” Blowen added. “Even if you try your best, it can’t beat death.”
