Country House (horse)

Country House is a chestnut stallion bred in Kentucky by Joseph V. Shields Jr. He was sired by Lookin at Lucky, the winner of the 2010 Preakness Stakes. Lookin at Lucky first entered stud as a four-year-old in 2011 and since then has resided at Ashford Stud in Kentucky. He is also the sire of Accelerate, the 2018 American Champion Older Dirt Male Horse, Peter Pan Stakes winner Madefromlucky, and 2017 Kentucky Derby runner-up Lookin at Lee. Country House's dam Quake Lake, a daughter of War Chant, was an allowance winner who won two of her six races. She is a half sister to Prince of Wales Stakes winner Breaking Lucky, who was also sired by Lookin at Lucky and is therefore a close relative of Country House. Country House was foaled at Three Chimneys Farm on May 8, 2016. Quake Lake died shortly after giving birth to him, and so he was raised by a nurse mare. He moved to Lane's End Farm as a weanling to prepare for sale as a yearling. Due to his late birth date, he needed more time to develop physically, but was "always a correct, balanced and athletic individual" according to Andy Howard, the assistant yearling manager at Lane's End. Country House was entered in the 2017 Keeneland September yearling sale because owner Shields usually sold his yearling colts. However, he was withdrawn from the sale and kept. == Racing career ==

Country House's first race was on turf at Belmont Park on October 6, 2018, in which he was never a factor. On May 7, Country House was ruled out of running in the 2019 Preakness Stakes, due to his trainer detecting a virus. This marked the first time the Kentucky Derby winner did not race in the Preakness Stakes since 1996. Country House went on to develop a series of ailments that led to his retirement. According to a statement by McFadden's Blackwood Stables, he was first "diagnosed with proximal suspensory ligament desmitis on both front fetlocks" in June. Country House then experienced complications, leading to his hospitalization at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital on July 1 for an infection on his lower right fore. Because the right fore was not load bearing during his recovery from the infection, his left fore had to bear the extra weight and developed laminitis. Over the next several months, the laminitis was stabilized and Country House was then turned out to pasture. He is expected to fully recover but will never be able to race again. == Stud career ==

Country House began his career as a stallion at Darby Dan Farm in Lexington, Kentucky in 2021 for a fee of $7,500. ==Pedigree==

{{Pedigree • Country House is inbred 4s × 3d to the stallion Danzig, meaning that he appears fourth generation on the sire side of his pedigree and third generation on the dam side of his pedigree. Country House is also inbred 4s × 4d to No Class, meaning he appears fourth generation on the sire side of his pedigree and fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree. ==See also==