Pink Lloyd, one of Canada’s greatest and most beloved sprinters, ended his remarkable career with a gutsy score in the Grade 2, $200,550 Kennedy Road Stakes on Saturday at Woodbine.

It was a farewell tour performance that earned a standing ovation from an appreciative crowd that gathered to bid farewell to a chart-topping champion. And the nine-year-old son of Old Forester, trained by Robert Tiller for the Entourage Stable, put on quite the show.

Clayton took control of the six-furlong main track feature at the outset, as Rafael Hernandez, aboard Pink Lloyd, settled the seven-time Sovereign Award winner into fifth spot in the field of eight through an opening quarter-mile timed in :22.75.

Hernandez continued to keep close tabs on the pacesetter, as Clayton maintained his one-length advantage over Richiesinthehouse through a half in :44.72, with Pink Lloyd now sitting fourth.

As the field rounded the turn for home, the grandstand came to life as Pink Lloyd began to gain on a game Clayton, while Richiesinthehouse also had designs on top spot courtesy of a spirited run between his two rivals.

Pink Lloyd struck front in deep stretch, his trademark grit and determination on full display, to earn a hard-fought half-length victory. Richiesinthehouse finished a head in front of Clayton for second. Malibu Secret was scratched.

The final time was 1.08.84. He paid $9.40 for the victory.

“He’s the kind of horse he can do anything,” said Hernandez. “He is the kind of horse you can take him back and relax. We had a hole, and he was coming, running, always going to give you 100 percent, like the many times he’s already done it.”

It was a fairytale finish to a career that yielded 29 wins, 26 of them stakes, three seconds and two thirds, from 38 starts, along with 2017 Canadian Horse of the Year honours and over $2.4 million (CDN) in earnings.

Not surprisingly, there was an outpouring of emotions from the connections of the future Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee.

“I think it’s amazing,” said Tiller. “You know, he’s a legend. He proved today he was a legend. I didn’t think he’d win today. It looked awful tough to me and the only thing I liked was all the speed in the race because I’ve been saying all along, and not too many people listened, but he loves to run at horses. I was just hoping Rafi would get room. I said at the head of the lane, ‘You know what? Here he comes.’ We’re blessed to win this race and it’s a tremendous way to go out. You know, he’s been Woodbine’s horse, he’s been Canada’s horse, and the next time some horse wins 26 stakes in 29 races at Woodbine, let me know about it.

Woodbine