Lost in The Fog - Death

Death

Lost in the Fog was vanned back to his stall at Golden Gate Fields, where he was pampered for his remaining days. On September 17, 2006, he was quietly euthanized. The colt had been grazing, as he had done twice each day since the discovery of his cancer, when Gilcrist saw he was in obvious distress and ordered him to be euthanized. He said that Lost in the Fog was happy and peaceful until the end. An autopsy on Lost in the Fog revealed that the cancer was much more widespread than previously thought. An article in The Blood-Horse noted, "Located directly below his spine, one inoperable lymphoma ran almost the length of the colt's back. Doctors at University of California at Davis, where the necropsy also was performed, originally thought that tumor to be about one foot long. 'It went all the way from his pelvis to invade and erode his diaphragm and chest cavity', said Dr. David Wilson, director of UCD's large-animal clinic, who was part of a team of veterinarians and specialists who worked with the horse. 'It also involved his arteries, kidneys and intestinal organs. It actually invaded one kidney and compressed both. It came right up against his aorta', Wilson added. "He had experienced swelling in his hind legs and that was no doubt caused by the tumors pressing on blood vessels'. In earlier tests, the large tumor had been partially hidden from view by other organs." In addition to the primary growth, Lost in the Fog bore a football-sized tumor in his spleen.

Harry Aleo was astounded that Lost in the Fog could perform at such a high level before his cancer was diagnosed. Doctors told the owner that the tumors could have been growing for up to a year. Only weeks before his death, however, the horse continued to record bullet workouts at Golden Gate. Lost in the Fog's remains were cremated. There had been discussion of their going to Greg and Karen Dodd's Southern Chase Farm in Williston, Florida, where he was raised. However, arrangements were made for the colt's ashes to be buried at Golden Gate Fields where he was stabled. He is buried next to Silky Sullivan.