Top veteran trotting sire Chiola Hanover has been destroyed after fracturing a hind leg at Rakaia.
Ado Lodge studmaster Chris Priest and Melbourne owner Tony Assetta agreed to have the 25-year-
old stallion put down.
``Old age caught up with him. The leg was too brittle to be fixed.''
Chiola Hanover had a full season, serving 30 mares, including 20 owned outside the stud.
He was a former top Grand Circuit racetrack performer in North America, taking a 1:57.8 mark and winning $US684,958 ($NZ1.6 million). He was the 1979 North American Trotter of the Year.
At stud in North America, he sired the winners of more than $US4m.
Chiola Hanover was one of New Zealand's leading trotting sires over the last decade, leaving, most notably, Special Force (1:55.5 in Sweden) - the 1999 Auckland Interdominion Trotting Grand Final victor and winner of more than $407,000.
Other stars included 1999 Rowe Cup winner Mountain Gold, Chiola Cola (18 wins), and New Zealand three- year-old mile record holders Now Another Look (1:59.4) and Enthusiast (filly, 1:59.5).
Veteran sire put down
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