by Paul Ramlow, USTA Internet News Editor

Columbus, OH — Dragon’s Lair, who upset Nihilator in the first Breeders Crown for 2-year-old pacing colts in 1984, was euthanized today at Lindwood Farm in Greensburg, Pa. He was 25 years old.

“His hind legs just gave out,” said Logan Dickerson, owner of Lindwood Farm, where the son of Tyler B had been standing at stud for the past 10 years. “His injuries had just gotten worse and this morning he couldn’t stand up. We just had to do what we had to do.”

Dickerson also owned the horse for the past 10 years with David Prushnok of Andray Farm under the stable name AAA Studs, Inc.

Dragon’s Lair raced in 1984-85 as a freshman and sophomore, and again in 1987-88 at ages 5 and 6. He won 30 of his 66 lifetime starts and banked $1,085,317. He took his mark of 1:51.3 as a 5-year-old at Vernon Downs.

Without a doubt, his most memorable moment came in the 1984 Breeders Crown at the Meadows, when he turned in a magnificent 1:54.1 world record mile in defeating the previously unbeaten Nihilator, who finished third. He was driven that night by Jeff Mallet, who also trained and co-owned the bay colt at the time with Harvey Heller and Gary Kornfeld.

As a sire, Dragon’s Lair’s sons and daughters banked more than $48 million. 190 took marks of 1:55 or better, and 138 earned more than $100,000 lifetime.

His fastest and richest was Dragon Again, who earned more than $2.3 million and paced to a record of 1:48.3s.