Journalism Retired After Courageous Final Victory, Bound For Ashford Stud
The remarkable career of Preakness Stakes winner Journalism has come to a close, with connections announcing Friday that the son of Curlin has been retired from racing following the injury he sustained during his unforgettable victory in last weekend’s Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar. Rather than risk the colt’s long-term future, his ownership group elected to send him to the breeding shed, where he will stand at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
For a horse that built his reputation on determination and consistency, the final chapter was fittingly dramatic.
Journalism’s last start was one of the most courageous performances seen in recent memory. After being compromised by a gate incident that left him well behind the field—and later found to have caused an injury—the 4-year-old somehow regrouped, circled his rivals, and powered home to capture the San Diego Handicap. The post-race examination confirmed the injury, prompting owners and trainer Michael McCarthy to make retirement the prudent decision.
“What Journalism did at Del Mar was the mark of a true champion,” McCarthy said in announcing the decision. “To suffer an injury in the gate, give away that much ground, and still win purely on heart and class tells you everything you need to know about him. He owes us absolutely nothing. Protecting him is our priority, and he retires at the top of his game.”
Journalism leaves the racetrack with a résumé that places him among the elite of his generation. Trained by McCarthy, the colt earned more than $4.7 million while winning seven of 14 starts. He was the only horse to contest all three legs of the 2025 Triple Crown, finishing second in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes behind Sovereignty while securing Classic glory in the Preakness Stakes.
His accomplishments extended well beyond the Triple Crown trail. Journalism also captured the Santa Anita Derby and Haskell Stakes during his sophomore campaign, while competing with distinction against the nation’s best older horses this season. His final appearance before the San Diego came in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Saratoga, where he finished third behind Nysos and Knightsbridge.
Ashford Stud will now welcome one of the sport’s most accomplished young stallion prospects.
“Journalism was everything you could hope for in a racehorse,” said Ashford’s Charlie O’Connor. “He had exceptional talent, tremendous consistency, and an attitude that set him apart. To do what he accomplished at Del Mar last weekend—overcoming adversity and an injury to win once again—showed exactly the kind of warrior he is. He is an outstanding physical specimen with a world-class pedigree, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to Ashford.”
While his racing career ends sooner than anyone anticipated, Journalism exits the sport having repeatedly demonstrated the qualities horsemen value most: toughness, consistency, and a relentless will to compete. His final victory served as one last reminder of the grit that defined his career, and his legacy now shifts from the racetrack to the breeding shed at Ashford Stud, where connections hope the next generation will inherit the same championship qualities.
