Bruised hoofs force Smarty Jones into retirement

Smarty Jones' racing career is over.

The 3-year-old red chestnut colt whose bid for thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown came up one length short in the Belmont Stakes was retired Monday because of chronic bruising in his hoofs.

Dr. Larry Bramlage treated Smarty Jones and said the injury is the result of accumulated inflammation in the canon bones, which serve as a race horse's shock absorbers.

''We bring horses back from this all the time,'' Bramlage said. ''It's not a structural problem and the prognosis for full recovery is excellent.''

The Kentucky Derby and Preakness champion has not raced since the Belmont and was recently syndicated for about $48 million.

He will stand at stud at Three Chimneys Farm near Midway, Ky.

In nine career starts, Smarty Jones won eight races and earned $7,563,535, including a $5 million bonus from Oaklawn Park for victories in the Rebel Stakes, Arkansas Derby and Kentucky Derby.