Lost Code Still Not Out of Danger After Lengthy Surgery

Lost Code, the 4-year-old colt who was considered to be one of the top horses in training, underwent more than three hours of surgery Wednesday for a twisted intestine and is still in a life-threatening situation in a Pennsylvania equine hospital.

Bill Donovan, Lost Code’s trainer, said Thursday that the horse had a 103-degree temperature.

“He’s not out of danger,” Donovan said. “They tell me he’s better than he was Wednesday, and the vital signs are good. But they’ll need two more days before they can be sure he’s going to make it.”

Lost Code has won six of seven starts this year, pushing his career earnings over the $2-million mark, but after his last victory, in the Michigan Mile at Detroit Race Course on July 16, recurring bone chips were found in his left front knee. On July 25, Lost Code underwent arthroscopic surgery for the second time. He was expected to recover in time to start training for the Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5.

Donovan theorized Thursday that the knee operation weakened Lost Code’s resistance and the horse appeared to come down with a virus early this week at Monmouth Park.

Lost Code was rushed Wednesday to New Bolton Center, the University of Pennsylvania’s equine facility in Kennett Square, Pa., where he was also diagnosed to have a displaced colon and a hernia.

Donovan said that if Lost Code recovers, there would still be a chance that he might race next year.

“They didn’t have to cut the intestine, and I’m told that what they did should have no bearing on his ability to run,” Donovan said.

“We have no commitments to breed him next year. The owner (Don Levinson of Baltimore) is 75 years old and has no interest in waiting to see this horse’s babies run. This horse’s races have been the thrill of his lifetime and he wants to see him run some more if he can.”

Lost Code was bought as a 2-year-old by Donovan, a down-and-out gypsy trainer who paid $30,000 because he couldn’t afford to buy another horse that would have cost twice as much. Lost Code is an internal bleeder who needs to run on medication in order to be effective. Last year, after a slow start that discouraged Donovan from nominating him for the Triple Crown races, Lost Code won the Alabama, Illinois, St. Paul and Ohio Derbies and earned $1.1 million.