Animal Kingdom rose to fame after winning the 2011 Kentucky Derby. He went on to finish second in the Preakness and sixth in the Belmont. The $10 million Dubai World Cub is the richest horse race in world. The race was created in 1996 when it was won by Cigar. The last time it was won by an American horse was in 2009 when it was won by Well Armed. Curlin won the race in 2008. The race is run over 2,000 meters, which is about 1.25 miles.

What’s remarkable is that Animal Kingdom is still running. Following the Belmont, Animal Kingdom was diagnosed with a slab fracture on his left hock. He had two screws placed in the fracture and did not race for the rest of the 2011 season. Conventional wisdom would have had him retiring to stud after that, but instead, he returned to racing.

In 2012, Animal Kingdom won a 1 1/16-mile turf race at Gulfstream Park and suffered another fracture in the same leg.

Still he came back.

In February of 2013, he returned to run in the Breeders’ Cup mile on Turf at Santa Anita Park. He finished second.

It is likely that the Dubai Cup was Animal Kingdom’s last race. He has been sold to the Arrowfield Stud in Australia and will begin his career as a breeding stallion this September. But what a way to end a career! He won the Dubai Cup easily.