THE CANADIAN PRESS
CICERO, Ill. - He may never run for the Kentucky Derby roses, but Illinois race horse Magna Fortuna and his owners are celebrating a victory nonetheless — his survival.
AP Photo/Courtesy Four Footed Fotos
Magna Fortuna, with jockey Julio Felix up, rides to a 9 3/4-length win during a horse race at Hawthorne Park in Cicero, Ill., March 13, 2013.
AP Photo/Courtesy Four Footed Fotos
Magna Fortuna, with jockey Julio Felix up, is walked on the track after winning a race by 9 3/4 lengths during a horse race at Hawthorne Park in Cicero, Ill.
His mother Lulu was purchased for $300 at a slaughter auction by Gail Vacca, founder and president of the Illinois Equine Rescue Center. Vacca found out later that Lulu was pregnant when purchased
The 3-year-old gelding's name means "great luck," and he was a long shot when he won a recent race at Hawthorne Race Course outside Chicago.
AP Photo/Courtesy Four Footed Fotos
Julio Felix celebrates in the winner's circle with owners after riding Magna Fortuna to a 9 3/4-length victory during a race at Hawthorne Park in Cicero, Ill. Gail Vacca, center, the founder and president of the Illinois Equine Rescue Center, purchased the horse's mother at a slaughter auction and later found out the horse was pregnant with Magna Fortuna. Celebrating in the photo are members of Rescue Me Racing, a team of 16 partners who each own a share of the horse.
After the foal was born, Vacca traced his lineage back to an impressive sire — a $2.58 million career stakes winner.
Vacca and others from the equine centre formed a partnership, Rescue Me Racing, and some of Magna Fortuna's winnings go back to the rescue.
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