courtesy: Diane Storm

Brown Bottle Flu was mortally injured in Saturday’s first race at Yonkers Raceway

Driven by Brandon Simpson, the 8-year-old gelding earned $290,003, pacing to a lifetime mark of 1:50.2 and 17 wins, 37 seconds and 15 thirds in 135 career starts. Sired by Sportsmaster and out of Happily Bombed (by Dexter Nukes), he was owned by Michigan’s Mark Ver Hage, Barbara Wohlgemuth and Suzan Breuker.

During his career, Brown Bottle Flu battled against the Illinois-bred Free For Allers and upper class conditioned races.

He will be remembered as a wonderful family horse who taught paddock visitors and 4-H guests lessons in how to get ready to race on race night. He almost always sported lucky red ribbons in his dark mane, and was ready to show them off in the winner’s circle.