Black Tie Affair, the 1991 Horse of the Year, was euthanized July 1 at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, Ky., due to the effects of laminitis. He was 24.

According to a statement from the farm, a memorial to honor Black Tie Affair will be held later in July.

"It was an honor to be associated with such an amazing athlete," said Old Friends founder and president Michael Blowen, who, along with Doug Byars, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM (internal medicine), ACVECC (emergency and critical care), of Byars Equine Advisory LLC in Georgetown, Ky., made the decision to euthanize the horse. "The Old Friends team, headed by Byars, did everything we could to help this old warrior. In the end, he exhibited the same class as he did when he won the Breeders' Cup Classic. He was the best in every way."

Black Tie Affair has been pensioned at Old Friends since July 2009