Disco Rico was euthanized on Dec. 18, 2014, after a two-year battle with laminitis. The stallion was 17.

Born in 1997, the 16.0 1/2 hand bay stallion had a stripe and three white stockings.

He had repeatedly fought back from close calls with laminitis, particularly over the previous year
He was sired by Citidancer out of the Apalachee mare Round It Off. Bred in Maryland by C. Oliver Goldsmith, he was bought as a 2-year old by Joe DiRico for $82,000.

Disco Rico won nine of his 17 starts and seven stakes, including the Maryland Breeders’ Cup Handicap (gr. III) at Pimlico Race Course and the Jersey Shore Breeders’ Cup Stakes (gr. III) at Monmouth Park. The colt retired after three seasons of racing with $532,244 in earnings.

He entered stud in 2002 and stood at Murmur Farm in Maryland, then at Keane Stud in New York, siring 11 stakes winners.

He liked jelly doughnuts, peppermints, carrots and beer, according to DiRico. Hopefully not all at once.