Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom will not race again this year after it was revealed the colt has a fracture in his left hind leg, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported Wednesday.
Recent radiographs exposed the extent of the injury that will force the 3-year-old Derby champion to miss the year's remaining premier races, including the Breeders' Cup and Travers Stakes.
Animal Kingdom suffered a "tiny crack" in his left hind leg when he was bumped, clipped heels and stumbled at the start of his sixth-place finish at the Belmont Stakes two weeks ago.
According to the Herald-Leader, Dr. Dean Richardson of the New Bolton Clinic in Pennsylvania will insert a screw into the colt's leg to compress the fracture Thursday.
Veterinarians said Animal Kingdom will undergo 90 days of rehabilitation following the procedure.
The goal is to get the thoroughbred racing again by the 2012 Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse in March.
"No decision will be made for a while but running Animal Kingdom in the World Cup without a prep is definitely something to consider," said Barry Irwin, CEO of the racing syndicate that owns Animal Kingdom.
