Horse trainer Christophe Clement dies at 59 from rare eye cancer
Associated Press
Christophe Clement, who trained longshot Tonalist to victory in the 2014 Belmont Stakes and won a Breeders' Cup race in 2021, has died. He was 59.
Clement announced his own death in a prepared statement that was posted to his stable's X account on Sunday.
'Unfortunately, if you are reading this, it means I was unable to beat my cancer,' it said. 'As many of you know, I have been fighting an incurable disease, metastatic uveal melanoma.'
It's a type of cancer that affects the uvea, the middle layer of the eye. It accounts for just 5% of all melanoma cases in the U.S., however, it can be aggressive and spread to other parts of the body in up to 50% of cases, according to the Melanoma Research Alliance's website.
The Paris-born Clement has been one of the top trainers in the U.S. over the last 34 years. He learned under his father, Miguel, who was a leading trainer in France. Clement later worked for the prominent French racing family of Alec Head. In the U.S., he first worked for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.
Clement went out on his own in 1991, winning with the first horse he saddled at Belmont Park in New York.
He had 2,576 career victories and purse earnings of over $184 million, according to Equibase.
'I am very proud that for over 30 years in this industry, we have operated every single day with the highest integrity, always putting the horses' wellbeing first,' Clement wrote in his farewell message.
One of his best-known horses was Gio Ponti, winner of Eclipse Awards as champion male turf horse in 2009 and 2010. He finished second to Zenyatta in the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic.
In the 2014 Belmont, Tonalist spoiled the Triple Crown bid of California Chrome, who tied for fourth. Tonalist won by a head, after not having competed in the Kentucky Derby or Preakness that year.
Steve Coburn, co-owner of California Chrome, caused controversy when he said afterward the horses that hadn't run in the other two races took 'the coward's way out.' He later apologized and congratulated the connections of Tonalist.
Clement's lone Breeders' Cup victory was with Pizza Bianca, owned by celebrity chef Bobby Flay, in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Clement had seven seconds and six thirds in other Cup races.
Clement's statement said he would leave his stable in the hands of his son and longtime assistant, Miguel.
'As I reflect on my journey, I realize I never worked a day in my life,' Clement's statement said. 'Every morning, I woke up and did what I loved most surrounded by so much love."
Besides his son, he is survived by wife Valerie, daughter Charlotte Clement Collins and grandson Hugo Collins.
___
AP horse racing: https://apnews.com/hub/horse-racing
recommended
in this topic
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
NBA Player Sends Message After Being Released by Celtics in 2019
NBA Player Sends Message After Being Released by Celtics in 2019 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Back in 2016, the Boston Celtics had a major rookie class that consisted of a few important names. Most notably, with the third overall pick that yet, Boston drafted Jaylen Brown. Brown is still a part of the Celtics and was crucial to their championship victory in 2024, earning Eastern Conference Finals and NBA Finals MVP honors. Advertisement In addition to Brown, the Celtics also drafted another notable player that year in Guerschon Yabusele, who they took 16th overall. The French native spent two seasons in Boston before the team waived him in 2019. Nearly six years later, Yabusele sent a message regarding his time in Boston. Philadelphia 76ers forward Guerschon Yabusele (28).© Kyle Ross-Imagn Images After getting waived by the Celtics in 2019, Yabusele played overseas and did not return to the NBA until last year. Following an impressive run in the Olympics, Yabusele joined the Philadelphia 76ers and appeared in nearly every game for the team. Recently, the 29-year-old spoke about how different his mentality is now compared to his Celtics days, and he admitted to it being "completely different" (h/t Cyro Asseo de Choch of HoopsHype). Advertisement "It was a completely different mentality than when I was in Boston, because when I was in Boston, I was drafted first round, 16th pick, so my standards and what I was hoping was completely different from right now," Yabusele said. "I didn't have that much experience, too. I was really just young, and I wanted just to play." Despite being a first-round draft pick for Boston, Yabusele did not play much. During his two seasons with the team, he averaged just 6.6 minutes across 74 games. Yabusele is set to hit unrestricted free agency this summer. It remains to be seen whether he will remain in Philadelphia or go elsewhere. Regardless, he has done a fantastic job of reviving his NBA career after his release from the Celtics, and his status will be a fun one to follow throughout the offseason. Related: Celtics Free Agent Sends Message Before Major Career Decision Related: Former Celtics Star Announces Decision on Retirement This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Fox Sports
29 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Miami Marlins join efforts to restore defaced Jackie Robinson and Minnie Miñoso mural
Associated Press MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Marlins are joining efforts to restore the defaced mural of baseball legends Jackie Robinson and Minnie Miñoso in Miami's Overtown neighborhood, which was marked with racist graffiti last week. City of Miami Chairwoman Christine King announced Wednesday that she along with the Marlins, Urgent, Inc., Omni Community Redevelopment Agency, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency and other community activists will lead the restoration at Dorsey Park, where community leaders said a 7-year-old boy first discovered the vandalism last Sunday and asked his mother what the words and the Nazi symbols meant. 'This vile assault was an attack on our values, history, and community,' King said in a statement. 'We are actively working with law enforcement and the public to identify the individual(s) responsible for this intolerable act. However, even in the darkest hours, light finds its way to shine. This is a reminder and testament to the strength of our community, coming together to restore peace, beauty, and pride to this neighborhood.' Police were investigating the incident but have not made any arrests. City workers have since partially covered the murals of Robinson and Miñoso, an Afro-Cuban player, with wooden boards. The murals are along a fence at Dorsey Park, where Negro League teams once played baseball. The Marlins' home ballpark loanDepot park is just a few miles from the park. 'In light of the deeply troubling acts of vandalism at Dorsey Park, the Miami Marlins today proudly stand in solidarity with the City of Miami Chairwoman Christine King, and our local leaders in unequivocally condemning this hateful and racist act,' said Marlins owner Bruce Sherman. 'Dorsey Park is not only a landmark of historical and cultural significance in South Florida — it is a powerful symbol of resilience, pride, and the enduring contributions of trailblazers to the game of baseball." Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball when he signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 to become the first Black player. Miñoso became the league's first Afro-Latino player and the first Black player for the Chicago White Sox. The murals have been displayed in the park since 2011 and are a collaboration between artists Kyle Holbrook and Kadir Nelson and various community groups. ___ AP MLB: recommended
Fox Sports
29 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Missouri approves stadium aid for Kansas City Chiefs and Royals and disaster relief for St. Louis
Associated Press JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers on Wednesday approved hundreds of millions of dollars of financial aid to try to persuade the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals to remain in the state and help the St. Louis area recover from a devastating tornado. House passage sends the legislative package to Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe, who called lawmakers into special session with a plea for urgent action. Kehoe is expected to sign the measures into law. Missouri's session paired two otherwise unrelated national trends — a movement for new taxpayer-funded sports stadiums and a reevaluation of states' roles in natural disasters as President Donald Trump's administration reassess federal aid programs. The stadium subsidies already were a top concern in Missouri when a deadly tornado struck St. Louis on May 16, causing an estimated $1.6 billion of damage a day after lawmakers had wrapped up work in their annual regular session. The disaster relief had widespread support. Lawmakers listened attentively on Wednesday as Democratic state Rep. Kimberly-Ann Collins described with a cracking voice how she witnessed the tornado rip the roof off her house and damage her St. Louis neighborhood. Collins said she has no home insurance, slept in her car for days and has accepted food from others. 'Homes are crumbled and leveled,' said Collins, adding: 'It hurts me to my core to see the families that have worked so hard, the businesses that have worked so hard, to see them ripped apart.' Lawmakers approved $100 million of open-ended aid for St. Louis and $25 million for emergency housing assistance in any areas covered under requests for presidential disaster declarations. They also authorized a $5,000 income tax credit to offset insurance policy deductibles for homeowners and renters hit by this year's storms — a provision that state budget director Dan Haug said could eventually cost up to $600 million. The Chiefs and Royals currently play football and baseball in side-by-side stadiums in Jackson County, Missouri, under leases that expire in January 2031. Jackson County voters last year defeated a sales tax extension that would have helped finance an $800 million renovation of the Chiefs' Arrowhead Stadium and a $2 billion ballpark district for the Royals in downtown Kansas City. That prompted lawmakers in neighboring Kansas last year to authorize bonds for up to 70% of the cost of new stadiums in Kansas to lure the teams to their state. The Royals have bought a mortgage for property in Kansas, though the team also has continued to pursue other possible sites in Missouri. The Kansas offer is scheduled to expire June 30, creating urgency for Missouri to approve a counter-offer. Missouri's legislation authorizes bonds covering up to 50% of the cost of new or renovated stadiums, plus up to $50 million of tax credits for each stadium and unspecified aid from local governments. If they choose to stay in Missouri, the Chiefs plan a $1.15 billion renovation of Arrowhead Stadium. Though they have no specific plans in the works, the St. Louis Cardinals also would be eligible for stadium aid if they undertake a project of at least $500 million. Many economists contend public funding for stadiums isn't worth it, because sports tend to divert discretionary spending away from other forms of entertainment rather than generate new income. But supporters said Missouri stands to lose millions of dollars of tax revenue if Kansas City's most prominent professional sports teams move to Kansas. They said Missouri's reputation also would take a hit, particularly if it loses the Chiefs, which have won three of the past six Super Bowls. 'We have the chance to maybe save what is the symbol of this state,' Rep. Jim Murphy, a Republican from St. Louis County, said while illustrating cross-state support for the measure. The legislation faced some bipartisan pushback from those who described it as a subsidy for wealthy sports team owners. Others raised concerns that a property tax break for homeowners, which was added in the Senate to gain votes, violates the state constitution by providing different levels of tax relief in various counties while excluding others entirely. 'This bill is unconstitutional, it's fiscally reckless, it's morally wrong," said Republican state Rep. Bryant Wolfin. recommended
