Champion Sire Barcia Bale Laid To Rest

GREYHOUND racing lost one of its true greats this morning with champion sire Barcia Bale laid to rest following recent illness.

GREYHOUND racing lost one of its true greats this morning with champion sire Barcia Bale laid to rest.

Universally recognised as one of the greatest sires' the sport's seen, the 9 ½ year old son of Go Wild Teddy and Princess Bale was put to sleep this morning after vets discovered the Wheeler-owned champion had cancer of the spleen.

"Paul and I cried the whole way home this morning from Sandown Veterinary Clinic," said an emotional Michelle Westerveld on Thursday.

"We noticed a few weeks ago he wasn't quite himself and had gone off his food a bit. He's been on medication but an ultrasound showed up cancer of the spleen but with what they call sticky spots. That means it's likely even if he had surgery now, the cancer would spread soon – we couldn't put him through that."

Winner at 13 of his 14 starts on the track, including victory in the 2012 Group 1 Maturity Classic at The Meadows, it's been as a sire that Barcia Bale has left an indelible mark on the sport, the list of achievements and records he's amassed over his stud career too long to even try and list at this juncture.

"He's been here at home now for seven years and put us on the map as studmasters – he really was part of the family – we'll miss him dearly," Westerveld added.

"He was the dog at home that we didn't kennel, the dog that followed you around all day … he was just beautiful.

“This morning was a hard decision but it was the right and only decision for him … he'll leave a big hole at home, it won't be the same."

Relive Barcia Bale's 2012 Group 1 Maturity Classic victory

Since Barcia Bale's first pups graced the track back in 2014 his offspring have won an incredible 16,847 races. A number booming by the day.

Their prize money, a mind-boggling $46,225,748.

Yep, nearly $50 million and counting.

Some of his headline acts include Dyna Double One, Mystic Riot, Aston Dee Bee, Zipping Bailey, Barooga Brett, Raw Ability, Fast Times, Ritza Lenny, Beast Unleashed and Miss Splendamiro.

Not a bad list in anyone's language.

"It's going to be a tough few days … we already miss him to bits, he's left behind a huge legacy," added Westerveld.

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