Columbus, OH — Sergeant York, a Standardbred who served for 25 years as an equine member of the United States Army’s Caisson Platoon, died Jan. 1, 2026, at the age of 35.
Originally named Allaboard Jules, the jet-black pacer raced from 1994 through 1996, winning five times from 23 starts. He was accepted into the Caisson Platoon in 1997 and renamed Sergeant York in honor of World War I hero Alvin York.
For over two decades, Sergeant York served as the platoon’s primary riderless horse. In this role, he took part in numerous military and state funerals, including for former President Ronald Reagan in 2004 and General Colin Powell in 2021. He retired from military service in 2022 and lived out his final days at Equine Advocates Rescue and Sanctuary, a 140-acre facility in upstate New York.
Sergeant York was featured in the Life After Racing department of the October 2022 Hoof Beats. To read the story, click here.