Noras Bean euthanized at age 18

Last week, 2014 Prix de France harness racing winner Noras Bean (Super Arnie) had to be put down.

On social media, the owners of the 18-year-old explained how the horse had deteriorated physically and had to be helped across the rainbow bridge.

The Swedish-born Noras Bean was 22-18-11 in 77 lifetime starts, set a record of 1:54.2 and earned 12,035,653 SEK (1,15m US). He was trained by Ulf Stenströmer and mostly driven by Stefan Söderkvist through his career.

In addition to the win in the Prix de France, where the beaten field included Ready Cash, Timoko, Up and Quick, Yarrah Boko and Univers de Pan, the highlights of his career were wins in the Italian group 1-races Gran Premio Continentale (2009) and Gran Premio delle Nazioni (2012).

Additionally, he also won Grote Prijs der Giganten (2014) in the Netherlands. Noras Bean also secured impressive second places in Konung Gustaf Vs Pokal, Ina Scots Ära, Criterium Continental as a four-year-old in 2009, Rikstotos Europamatch and Jubileumspokalen in 2010, Svenskt Mästerskap in 2011 and Jämtlands Stora Pris in 2012.

In his last race he defeated Maven in an elimination to Olympiatravet in Sweden, after which injuries forced him into retirement. Noras Bean had stood stud since 2014.

by Lisa Harkema, for Harnesslink