FRANKFORT, Ky. — A judge has rejected a proposed sale of the minority interest in reigning Horse of the Year Curlin.

Circuit Judge Roger Crittenden made his ruling Monday during a hearing intended to sort out a complicated ownership dispute over the richest North American racehorse in history.

Primary owner Jess Jackson had offered $4 million to buy out the 20 percent minority interest from two disbarred attorneys. They are under a court order to repay $42 million to former clients they represented in a settlement over the diet drug fen-phen.

Angela Ford, who represents the fen-phen clients in their civil case against the disbarred attorneys, told the judge she doesn't believe $4 million is a fair price. That's when Crittenden ended the court proceeding, keeping the horse's ownership divided.

(This version CORRECTS 3rd graf to make minority share 20 percent instead of 25 percent.)