Gone West, who carved out a successful branch of the Mr. Prospector sire line all his own as the sire of 98 stakes winners, was euthanized the night of Sept. 7 because of complications following colic surgery. The 25-year-old stallion, who was pensioned after this year’s breeding season because of declining fertility, had been taken two days earlier to Hagyard Equine Medical Institute near Lexington.

“On Saturday morning, Sept. 5, Gone West colicked and was taken to Hagyard where Dr. Bob Hunt examined him and determined it necessary to perform surgery,” according to a statement issued by Headley Bell of Mill Ridge. “His surgery revealed a lipoma, a mass nearly the size of a football that was attached to a cord and had wrapped around his small intestine. Dr. Hunt removed the mass and did not find it necessary to resect any of his small intestine.

“Gone West’s recovery went fairly well on Saturday and Sunday with the exception of elevated heart rate and reflux, liquid build up that would not pass through his small intestine. Regretfully, the intestine never opened up, and he grew more uncomfortable with time. Monday, at 6 p.m., we made the humane decision to put Gone West down.

“On behalf of my mother, Alice Chandler, and everyone at Mill Ridge, I want to thank everyone for their support of Gone West over the years. It is a privilege to associate with such a classy horse and he has left a lasting legacy. He has been buried next to Diesis at Mill Ridge Farm