New Years Eve, who had a modest career on the track, was reported to be the oldest surviving thoroughbred in the world when he passed away at his owner’s home in Pennsylvania
The owner of the world’s oldest racehorse has shared a heartbreaking message announcing his death.
At the age of 39 and 57 days, New Years Eve was reported to be the oldest surviving thoroughbred and the second known oldest US racehorse ever. In a three season career on the track between 1989 and 1991, he won two of his 18 starts at Mountainer and Atokad and was placed four times in minor races. By the time he retired he had modest earnings of £2,300.
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Since 1993 he had been owned by retired army veteran Julie Izzo who broke the news last week that the gelding had recently passed away in Pennsylvania.
“On May 13, 2025, the uncommonly long life of New Years Eve, more commonly referred to as Axl, came to a peaceful end,” she said in a statement to TDN .
“He had started to lose strength in his hind end and getting up was becoming increasingly difficult. True to his breed, he still tried with everything he had to keep going. But it wasn’t fair to keep asking.
“One day, he paused in an effort to rise and looked me in the eye with an expression I’d never seen on his face before. He simply had nothing left to give.
“I had always promised him that I would not compromise his comfort for more time. And although he was ready, I was not. But I never would be.
“I will forever be grateful for our many years together. There will always be a piece of me missing. He wasn’t an extraordinary racehorse. But he was extraordinary to me.
“I want to thank everyone who had a part in his journey. There were many farriers and vets along the way, but Dr. Melinda Freckleton and Dr. Kate Baldwin were instrumental in giving my boy so many good years. Thank you to everyone who took an interest in his life and story.”