GEORGETOWN, KY – Dec. 6, 2022 – Ruler On Ice, the 2011 Belmont Stakes winner, has been pensioned to Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, Ky.
The now 14-year-old gelding arrived December 5.
Ruler On Ice is the fourth Belmont Stakes (G1) winner and seventh overall Classic winner to be retired to Old Friends. The others were Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winners Silver Charm (1997), Charismatic (1999), and War Emblem (2002), along with Belmont Stakes winners Touch Gold (1997), Sarava (2002), and Birdstone (2004).
Bred by Liberation Farm and Brandywine Farm, Ruler On Ice was trained by Kelly Breen and raced by owners George and Lori Hall.
A son of Roman Ruler–Champagne Glow, by Saratoga Six, Ruler On Ice had his biggest win in 2011 when he upset the field to win the Belmont Stakes as a 24-1 long shot. That same year he finished second in the Pennsylvania Derby (G2), and third in both the Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1), and the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
In all, Ruler On Ice raced 16 more times after his Belmont Stakes win, but only won once more, an allowance optional claiming race at Aqueduct on Jan. 30, 2013. His final career race was a fifth-place finish in the Mountainview Handicap (Listed) on May 31, 2014 at Penn National.
Following that race Roman Ruler retired with four wins, five seconds, three thirds, and $1,709,566 in earnings in 23 career starts.
In the press at the time of his retirement, Breen noted that Ruler On Ice retired sound, but that “he and the Halls didn’t feel the horse could be competitive at the graded-stakes level anymore.” “He just didn’t have it,” Breen said.
Since his retirement, Ruler On Ice has been residing at the Hall’s farm in Versailles, Ky.
“Ruler On Ice won when the spotlight was the brightest, and I know he’ll light up the faces of his fans now that he’s joining our three other Belmont Stakes winners,” said Old Friends Founder and President Michael Blowen. “Thanks so much to George and Lori Hall for allowing us to enjoy his company.”
