VA-BRED CHAMP WINCHESTER RETIRED

Bert and Diana Firestone have retired their four-time grade I winner Winchester from racing for stallion duty. Breeding plans for the homebred 7-year-old runner have not been completed.

A Virginia-bred sired by Theatrical, who was a grass champion for Bert Firestone and Allen Paulson, Winchester was produced from Irish group winner Rum Charger (by Spectrum).

Winchester captured the 2011 Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes at Saratoga. He earlier won the Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap over champion Gio Ponti and the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes over Paddy O'Prado, both at Belmont Park in 2010, and the 2008 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park.

Winchester, who was stakes-placed in Ireland, was retired with 15 top-three finishes from 25 starts and earnings of $1,587,098. In what was his final start, he finished third in the W. L. McKnight Handicap Nov. 26. He was trained in North America by Christophe Clement.

Winchester can be inspected at Miacomet Farm near Georgetown, Ky.