Monarchos, 2001 Kentucky Derby winner, dies at 18

Monarchos, the 2001 Kentucky Derby winner owned by John C. Oxley, died Saturday morning after undergoing emergency surgery to repair a ruptured intestine, BloodHorse reported. He was 18.

Under jockey Jorge Chavez, Monarchos won the 127th Kentucky Derby by 4 3/4 lengths, at the time the best winning margin since Spend a Buck in 1985. His time of 1:59 4/5 was just two-fifths of a second short of matching Secretariat’s record time in 1973.

He finished sixth in the Preakness — Point Given was the winner by 2 1/4 lengths — and finished third in the Belmont. Point Given also won that day, by 12 1/4 lengths.

Monarchos raced just once more after the 2001 Triple Crown races, finishing third in a 2002 allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park. He stood at stud at Claiborne Farm after his career and later was moved to Nuckols Farm in Midway.

This story was originally published October 22, 2016 at 9:17 PM with the headline "Monarchos, 2001 Kentucky Derby winner, dies at 18."