Photo Caption: Laura Battles Photo

In March of 2022 an exciting six-horse package of pensioners arrived at Old Friends from the late Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Farm. Several of those big-name stallions had already celebrated their 30^th birthdays, so we knew our time with them would be precious and brief. What we didn’t know is that the youngest of them all, 18-year-old Albert Maximus, would leave us so soon.

Albertus had a special place in our hearts since his sire, Albert the Great, had resided here until his passing two years ago. On the track, Albertus Maximus captured the second Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile for breeders Marianne and Brandon Chase, after which he was sold privately to His Highness. For the Sheikh, he won the Grade 1 Donn Handicap before an injury in the Dubai World Cup halted his racing career.

Albertus Maximus stood at Shadwell, ultimately getting 76 winners from eight crops—the best being a Panamanian champion. When Sheikh Hamdan passed in 2021, Shadwell downsized and the pensioned stallions needed a new home. They found one here. Sadly, Albertus enjoyed barely half a year of retirement before a paddock injury took his life last October.