A journey to Japan in June by a USC Aiken group included a visit with 2013 Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice, who now is a stallion in the Asian nation. “It was way to give back to the Aiken horse community to that has shown such support to the university and its programs,” said Dr. Judy Beck, who led the trip and is the dean of USC Aiken’s School of Education.
“[We wanted] to take our greetings, and peppermints, to Palace Malice and assure the Aiken community that their favorite horse is thriving in Japan.” Dogwood Stable campaigned Palace Malice, who spent time at the Aiken Training Track with Brad Stauffer and Ron Stevens of Legacy Stable before and during his competitive career. The 14-year-old bay horse captured seven of his 19 career races and earned $2,691,135.
In addition to the Belmont Stakes, which is the third leg of the Triple Crown for 3-year-old thoroughbreds, Palace Malice won the Metropolitan Handicap, Gulfstream Park Handicap, Jim Dandy Stakes, New Orleans Handicap and the Westchester Stakes. Palace Malice was the Aiken-trained Horse of the Year in 2013 and 2014. He entered stud at Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky in 2016 and remained there through the 2023 breeding season.
Palace Malice stood his first season in Japan this year at Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashad al Maktoum’s Darley Japan, which is on the island of Hokkaido. Darley Japan is part of the global stallion operation of Sheikh Mohammed, who is the ruler of Dubai. “It was amazing,” said .