by Peter Wharton

The Camluck horse Northern Luck, a top racehorse himself and a leading sire in Canada, was humanely put down at Charles Sturt University, Wagga, New South Wales (Australia) following complications after colic surgery on February 13. The 18-year-old stallion had just completed his first season at the Lonsvale Stud, Young, of prominent breeder Neil Wilkes.

Racing only at 2 and 3, Northern Luck won 18 of his 40 starts and $907,974 in stakes. Among his list of successes was the $408,000 Tattersalls Pace, during which he took his lifetime mark of 1:49.2 — the fastest time put by any pacer in 1997. He also captured three Ontario Sires Stake Gold championships, the Nassagaweya, the Woodbine Gold Cup, Canadian Breeders Championship and an elimination of the North America Cup.

First at the stud in New Jersey and later in Ontario, Northern Luck left six in the 1:50 list, 165 in 1:55, 123 $100,000 winners and progeny earnings of almost $38 million. Perhaps his best performer was the outstanding Free-For-Aller Silent Swing 1:48.8, the winner of $1.6 million.

In Australia, Northern Luck, who stood at Royalstar Farm near Perth, sired more than 80 individual winners and they have won $1.9 million so far. He was the leading sire of 2 and 3-year-olds in Western Australia with his first two crops including the WA 3-year-old Sires Stake champion Edna Anne, Touch Of Tango (WA Country Derby), Moonlight Rockhole (WA North East Derby)and Primo Hammer (SA Mermaid Stakes).