Steve Haskin, senior correspondent for The Blood-Horse, gives a behind-the-scenes look at Irish Thoroughbred racing champion St Nicholas Abbey's battle to overcome a life-threatening fracture that was ultimately ended by a severe bout of colic.

Some stories are not destined to have happy endings. Although each chapter in St Nicholas Abbey’s remarkable fight for life seemed to end happily, pointing to the feel-good ending everyone had hoped for, it was not to be.

After surviving a catastrophic fracture, several complications from that fracture, a severe attack of colic, and appearing to be on the road to recovery from the dreaded laminitis, St Nicholas Abbey lost his battle for survival when he had to be euthanized Jan. 14 after suffering a second, more harsh bout with colic. Surgery revealed he had a severe twist that had robbed his large colon of blood for too long. Repair was not possible, and St Nicholas Abbey was euthanized on the operating table.

A little over two years ago at Churchill Downs trainer Aidan O’Brien’s face had lit up as he stood in front of a television monitor in the Churchill Downs winner’s circle, along with Coolmore partner Derrick Smith, and watched St Nicholas Abbey carry O’Brien’s oldest son, Joseph, to a stunning victory in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Turf, making the 18-year-old the youngest jockey to win a Breeders’ Cup race