Originally Posted by Pedigree Ann

Hail to Reason did not 'break down' in the usual sense. According to a source that should know (was a racing fan at the time), HtR was working when he stepped on a shoe that had been shed by another horse earlier in the morning. Caused an injury that ended his racing career. As a stallion, he has been a reliable source of soundness and stamina.

Hoist the Flag ran only 4 times at 2, a maiden, an allowance, the Cowdin and the Champagne, all in the space of two months. He came out the next spring, aired against allowance foes at Bowie and ran away from some colts that placed in the classics in the Gotham. Was working when he put a foot down wrong and had a Barbaro-type injury. (I was a racing fan at the time and have written the profile for HtF for the upcoming book "Great Sires of the Century". Shameless plug.)