Harness Racing Communications, a division of the USTA

The 2003 Prix d’Amerique winner Abano As, whose connections had hoped to ship him to the United States to race, have now decided not to ship the horse.

Alwin Schockemohle, who owns Abano As, had hoped to ship Abano As to the Trond Smedshammer at White Birch Farm in New Jersey within the next month. No reason was specified for the decision and Schockemohle denied that physical problems were at the root of the decision. There are no definite plans for a return to the races for Abano As.