Eel Win won 18 races and gained 27 placings for $373,900 in stakes.
His wins included the 2009 White Robe Lodge Handicap at Wingatui and the Timaru, Hororata and Kurow Cups.
The 6yr-old San Luis-Escapade gelding had been spelling at Cranbourne.
He was taken there in September by trainer Michael Pitman.
Eel Win was put aside after two unplaced starts and treated for stomach ulcers.
He was due to resume work at the end of the month.
Sabin Kirkland, who prepared Eel Win for several wins, was philosophical about the loss.
"That is racing," he said at Wingatui yesterday.
He was on hand to see his 3yr-old Ishiguru-Go Our Jewel filly finish third in a trial.
Final Reality, Virtual Reality and The Codfather are other racehorses the Kirklands have lost in tragic circumstances.
Final Reality was put down in February, 2008 after a leg fracture.
He was regaining his feet after surgery to remove a bone chip from a leg.
The Howbaddouwantit gelding won the $270,000 Coupland's Bakeries Mile at Riccarton in 2007 and the Ryder Stakes at Otaki and Castletown Stakes at Foxton at two.
Final Reality won nine races and $540,000, including $100,000 in bonuses.
Final Reality was the third and last foal of Virtual Reality, who was killed during a Cook Strait ferry crossing in September, 2003.
A container came loose and slammed into the trailer float containing Virtual Reality and her son, The Codfather, killing both horses.
Virtual Reality was in foal to Hunza Court.
The Codfather, winner of three of his 10 starts, was on his way to Singapore.
Virtual Reality, who won the 1997 listed Hazlett Stakes at Wingatui for Kirkland and Paul Hillis, also produced The Mussel Man, the winner of six races.
• Farewell Flight returned the fastest time in three maiden heats over 1000m at the Wingatui trials yesterday.
Farewell Flight is a 4yr-old half-brother by Danzighill to Flight Point (12 wins).
He has been unplaced in one start in May.
His stablemate Whata Delight won an 800m heat in a useful 46.89, the last 600m in 34.45.
She is an unraced 3yr-old Faltaat-Rowena's Delight filly Robert Brook shaded Spy Baby in the heat for 2yr-olds.
He is a gelding by No Excuse Needed from Somehow.
• Alysha Templeman, the Woodlands apprentice, has been sidelined after fracturing a leg.
The injury occurred in trackwork at Ascot Park on Tuesday.
Templeman, who is apprenticed to Ray Dennis, expects to be away from race riding for eight weeks.
She has been replaced by Centaine Spittles on The Choice and Jason Laking on Benny The Ball at the Southland meeting on Saturday.
• Last-start winner Beijing Boy will bypass the Christmas Cup at Rosehill on Saturday but trainer Chris Waller will still have a strong hand with three runners, AAP reports.
The trainer has decided against the seven-day back-up for Beijing Boy who will be saved for the Summer Cup at Randwick on Boxing Day.
Strike One, who ran second to Beijing Boy over 2000m at Rosehill on Saturday will take his place in the Christmas Cup (2400m) along with Alexander Of Hales and Bellagio Wynn.
Beijing Boy and Strike One are now unlikely to head to the Perth Cup on New Year's Day with travel arrangements proving troublesome.
"It's too hard to get to Perth so they are doubtful," Waller said.
"They can't give dates of flights and we have to go to Melbourne, which is not ideal.
"Delays are easier if you leave from home base."
