If you’ve been a regular listener of Jim Rome, you’ll know that he has become a player in horse racing, owning all or partly owning shares in several champion horses. One of those was Shared Belief which beat 2014 Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome this year in the San Antonio Invitational Stakes as well as winning the San Anita Handicap.
After recovering from a hip fracture earlier this year and seemingly training well, Shared Belief died this week. Rome said the horse showed signs of colic after a training run and medics immediately rushed him to the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine where surgery was attempted, but Shared Belief could not be saved. He died Thursday.
In a statement on Rome’s Jungle Racing Facebook page, he said he’s had the highest of highs in horse racing, but Shared Belief’s death was very devastating:
Shared Belief was a once in a lifetime horse. A champion, fighter and unbelievable talent who impacted and changed all of our lives. The little horse that feared no one and could do anything. He absolutely loved his job and to compete and run. As heartbreaking as this is, we all consider ourselves so fortunate to have been a part of this amazing animal’s life. He was a super horse from day one. He would end up winning 10 of 12 starts, including 5 G1’s and an Eclipse Award. The Big Horse was a champion in every sense of the word. There will never be another like Shared Belief. Our hearts are broken. RIP, Champ.
Here’s video of Shared Belief in a light training run from September.
https://youtu.be/0NYtXkg-NaE
Rome was part of the ownership group brought in by Alex Solis II and Jason Litt. Shared Belief won 10 of his 12 starts and almost $3 million in earnings.
