Barbaro Updates: 991

Posted February 1, 2010

Update 5910: Five ridden this Monday morning for Michael Pino. It was 16F and we stayed in the shedrow, which was at least 10 degrees warmer! All my horses jogged around nicely.

366 horses, including Lentenor, have been nominated for the Triple Crown. This is down from last year. Horses not yet nominated can be added at a later date for a higher fee: Early Triple Crown Nominations Total 366.

And please keep calling.

Update 5909: The highlight of racing on Saturday was certainly the performance of Quality Road in the Donn Handicap. He won by many lengths in a new track record. He has certainly signaled that this year he will be a leading contender for the older horse division, and perhaps will compete for headlines with Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta: Quality Road Breaks Own Track Record in Donn.

And Rachel Alexandra had her second work yesterday, going another half mile in a little quicker 50 seconds and change.

Update 5908: I have the weekend off from Fair Hill, which is a good thing as it is still snowing. Lots of snow!

Lentenor is set to run in one more turf allowance race, if he runs well he may be considered for the Florida Derby: Early Signs That Barbaro's Brother Is Ready to Run.

Today we have the Donn Handicap and Quality Road will be a prohibitive favorite. I talked to a friend of mine yesterday in Florida who watched Quality Road during his last work out. She said he looked awesome. Gulfstream Park hosts two other graded stakes and Santa Anita also hosts some graded stakes: WEEKEND STAKES: WHERE TO WATCH brought to you by KBC HORSE SUPPLIES.

Update 5907: Three ridden for Michael Pino this morning at Fair Hill. And all three went nicely. One worked an easy half mile, and she finished nice and strong.

I have been doing a lot of research for my book lately (interviewing a variety of people) but less actual writing. But then as I was coming back from the track on one of my horses I started to get a couple of ideas for the most important chapter, the Barbaro chapter. I wanted to use the words "mesmerize" and "audacity". This is what I came up with, which will need additional work:

Barbaro literally had everyone mesmerized at Churchill Downs. Steve Haskin, John Asher, Barbara Livingston, Tom Law. These were all veterans of our industry who are not easily impressed. Not until they saw Barbaro for the first time in the flesh. Barbara Livingston was "thunderstruck", and insisted on telling everyone he was the horse for this Kentucky Derby. John Asher "was in awe" when he first saw Barbaro out training at Churchill Downs. His pre-Kentucky Derby work-out, the Saturday before the Derby, was a work of legends. Steve Haskin noted how strong he was going around the turn after the work in the gallop out. If an ordinary horse had worked as fast as Barbaro did that morning, he would have left the race on the training track. It would simply have been too fast and taken too much out of him (add work times here). But it was becoming very clear Barbaro was no ordinary horse. One clocker, who had clocked every Derby contender for many years, remarked that Barbaro's was the best work he had seen over the last five years. Peter Brette, who was riding Barbaro in the work, simply noted it felt like he took three strides down the lane.

Michael Matz, a "rookie" Kentucky Derby trainer, had the audacity to throw out the rule book written by veteran Derby winning trainers such as Wayne Lukas, Bob Baffert and Nick Zito. A Derby horse needed to be seasoned, battle-tested. He needed to have had a series of prep races to get him ready for the biggest test of his life. (add some examples of recent winners and their pre derby races). Matz was running Barbaro off a five week break from his Florida Derby win. In fact Barbaro had only run once in the previous thirteen weeks dating back to xxx. The Kentucky Derby was to be only his sixth lifetime start, his third start on the dirt. On top of that fellow horsemen were thinking, rather hoping, that Barbaro was really a terrific turf horse who was decent on the dirt. While he had won his last two starts on the dirt, those dirt wins were simply not as impressive as his turf scores. Barbaro was also considered to have an "action" that was better suited to the turf. A high knee action, and how many horses can really run at the very top level on all types of surfaces ? Fellow horsemen were hoping.

When Barbaro entered the paddock for the Kentucky Derby Jill Baffert, wife of trainer Bob Baffert who had Bob and John in the Derby, turned to her husband in awe of Barbaro. He was by far the standout that day. He was head and shoulders above the rest. He was big, muscular, and there was a grandness about his presence. Some horses just have something, he had it. Bob Baffert noted he was a turf horse. Jill's response "you better hope so".

Tom Law noted just before the race, "I was standing underneath the grandstand, inside the tunnel, with Jeff Lowe just before Barbaro's Derby. I turned and said to Jeff, 'let's hurry up and get down to the rail, we're about to see something really awesome.' " Tom was refering to Barbaro.

And please keep calling.

Update 5906: Three ridden for Michael Pino at Fair Hill this morning. And it was not too bad in terms of the weather, just around the freezing mark. All my horses went nicely for a pleasant start to the day.

Yesterday I went with Mike Rea to his riding lesson at Carousel Farms. Here is Mike taking some instruction. While at Carousel I ran into Nicole Hyden, who is an old friend, and she runs the mounted police division for New Castle County. Here is her police horse Cisco, who was a PMU foal.

And please keep calling.

Update 5905: I shedrowed three horses this morning for Michael Pino. We had about 3 inches of snow last night, so while the Tapeta track was open, our shedrow was defintely a good option. A nice straightforward start to the day.

The Paulick Report has renewed its Derby Index, and I am taking part again: PAULICK DERBY INDEX brought to you by VINERY LTD: LET THE POLLS BEGIN. Of course as soon as this was published one of my picks is off the Derby trail: Winslow Homer out with a stress fracture.

Oaklawn Park, where I wintered last year, has everyone buzzing about a possible match-up between Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta: Oaklawn set for 'greatest stakes race' announcement.

And please keep calling.

Update 5904: Superfecta here, with your regular weekly update.

Perhaps the most exciting race of the previous weekend was the Santa Monica - somehow, Gabby's Golden Gal went off at 11-1 odds. Granted, she did not show much in her final effort as a 3-year-old (and first race since a disappointing effort in July), finishing a distant seventh behind Evita Argentina in the La Brea, but the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro easily turned the tables - this time, Evita Argentina was the far-off seventh, and Gabby's Golden Gal was back in the winner's circle. Runner-up Proviso, who has finished respectably behind the likes of Goldikova and Zarkava, is still looking for her first US win, but she certainly bears watching this year - as does this entire division.

Of course, Medaglia d'Oro had another filly in action this past weekend - just not in a race. On Sunday, Rachel Alexandra had her first workout since winning the Woodward. It was just a gallop, and she's still some way off from entering a race, but it was still very encouraging to see her back on the official worktab.

Neither Rachel Alexandra nor Zenyatta appears in the current list of Dubai World Cup nominations (PDF) - but either one could be added later this month. Gio Ponti looms large as the very early favorite, but other notable names among the nominationsinclude Zenyatta's stablemate, Life Is Sweet, Friesan Fire, Quality Road, Weekend Hussler, Dar Re Mi and second-most-expensive-horse ever, Jalil (to name just a few).

The Sunshine Millions ended with a media-friendly storyline (largely ignored, unsurprisingly, except by the LA Daily News) - hard-knocking older horse and tough older jockey steal win in big-money race. The older horse in question, Bold Chieftain, keeps making money the hard way - finishing in the money often, and managing some nice wins along the way. The same is true of his jockey, Russell Baze; we may not see him in the headlines very frequently, but he holds the world record for career victories. Both achievements would be worth highlighting.

Over to the 3-year-olds for a moment - we're pleased to once again be included in the Paulick Derby Index - although please note that this first installment is based on very little data!

Finally, next weekend, Quality Road headlines the Donn Handicap - check back later in the week for more...

Update 5903: Cold again at Fair Hill. I had five to ride for Michael Pino. One worked 3/8ths, and worked nicely. Working horses is getting to become a habit. I think I have worked more horses for Pino in a month than I did for Steve Asmussen in more than 2 years!

This week's ABR Group e-mail: Fair Hill, Michael Gill, Darrel Delahoussaye, Rachel Alexandra, Dominic Terry, Kelly Carlson, New Canadian Horse Slaughter Rules, Bute, Kip Deville, Barbaro, Steve Haskin.

And please keep calling.

Update 5902: Another frigid morning at Fair Hill. I rode four for Michael Pino, and we were out on the Tapeta track this morning rather than the shedrow as we had been for the last couple of days. All mine went nicely, thankfully!

Yesterday I interviewed Steve Haskin (Bloodhorse) for my Barbaro book. We had a great conversation. Steve maintains that Barbaro's Derby win is certainly one of the top five Derby wins he has witnessed, which goes back to 1968. And while Barbaro's performance is top five, Steve said it certainly could be the best of the five. I asked Steve if he thought Barbaro was a "great horse", which is of course something I am trying to establish for the first part of the book. Steve thought that while it is tough to rate him against some of the truly greats after only six completed starts, he certainly had greatness in him. He had that potential. Overall it was a great conversation. I also asked Steve if he had access to some of the old Bloodhorse archives regarding stories he had written about Barbaro. Here is one that is very interesting: Steve Haskin's Derby Analysis: The Crown Awaits.

And please keep calling.

Posted by Alex at 3:27 PM | Comments (205)

Barbaro Updates: 990

Posted January 25, 2010

updates are now here.

Update 5901: More frigid weather at Fair Hill. The tracks were closed for training, but I went in and shedrowed four for Michael Pino. A straightforward morning, all bundled up.

Rachel Alexandra got back to work this morning with a very easy half mile breeze in 52.

Yesterday we learned about new slaughter rules for horses in Canada. When they come in to place it will mean essentially quarantining slaughter-bound horses for 6 months, which will add considerable costs to the slaughter system. Also of note are the medications that are banned from any horses that are slaughtered regardless of when those medications are given. These include bute, which is of course used at one point or another with pretty much every horse. Compliance seems to be a key issue: Horse slaughter rules changing in Canada .

Update 5900: Only two ridden this morning for me at Fair Hill. And that was fine by me, another frigid morning. Both just jogged in the shedrow.

Last night was Sovereign Awards night in Canada. The Canadian equivalent to the Eclipse Awards. I was excited to see Tribal Belle win the female sprint division. I rode her a few times, but not in 2009, in 2008: Champs Elysees wins Sovereign award.

Another light weekend for graded stakes racing: WEEKEND STAKES: WHERE TO WATCH brought to you by KBC Horse Supplies.

Penn National has asked the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission to investigate Gill: PENN NATIONAL REQUESTS INVESTIGATION INTO MICHAEL GILL.

Update 5899: It was brutally cold this morning at Fair Hill. 18F with a wind. I rode three, and was very thankful to be done when I was finished. All mine went nicely, not that I would have been able to do a whole lot if they decided not to go well!

Dubai's racing season opened yesterday, and it is a new era with their new Tapeta surface: Gloria de Campeao grabs glory in Meydan opener.

Things are ongoing with Michael Gill. The good thing about the era of internet and social media, this situation just won't easily be brushed away. Kind of like the Ernie Paragallo situation. Two people that horse racing does not need.

January 29, on this morning three years ago Barbaro was euthanized.

And please keep calling.

Update 5898: I have ridden four so far this morning at Fair Hill. I am now waiting on one more to work, we are waiting for the dirt track to open. Hopefully soon, but thankfully Michael Pino has a computer inn his barn office. So far my four horses went nicely. This included one worker on the Tapeta. And our blacksmith came again this morning, bringing with him his usual companions, Corky and Cali.

The Gill saga continues: GILL THREATENS TO SUE THE PAULICK REPORT.

And please keep calling.

Update 5897: Five ridden for Michael Pino this morning at Fair Hill. And it was a chilly morning too, but at least the sun was out. All mine went nicely.

Maggi Moss speaks out regarding the Michael Gill saga: MAGGI TO MIKE: 'PLEASE GET OUT OF RACING'. Maggi has been very helpful in retiring horses and really loves our sport. She also happens to own my favorite horse, Salty!

Yesterday I was in DC for a hearing regarding the horse slaughter issue: Members of Congress, Celebrities, The HSUS Speak Out Against Horse Slaughter and Highlight Need to Protect Wild Horses. Of course it also meant I got to hang out with beatiful people: Kelly Carlson. Anyway, it was a good event I think, and hopefully we can start to pick up some momentum in Washington.

Steve Haskin takes a very early look at the Derby picture and focuses on two trainers, Baffert and Pletcher. Lentenor also gets a mention after his terrific maiden score last week: Kentucky Derby Trail: Battle Stations!.

And please keep calling.

Update 5896: Superfecta here, with your regular weekly update.

Here at Superfecta HQ, we've been busily working away on our redesign; things are finally (more or less) done - we hope you enjoy the new look and feel. If you had any individual posts bookmarked, many will forward to the new site, but a few will get stuck partway through - just hit the search box to track the errant ones down (and I'll spare you my talk on the effect moving from Blogger to WordPress has on linking and SEO). And please check to ensure that 'blogspot' is absent from any links you may have - we're just superfectablog.com.

With that out of the way, we can review the weekend's events: most notably, Winslow Homer went from a slightly-under-the-radar buzz horse to an official buzz horse in his Holy Bull victory. Favored Jackson Bend certainly did not harm his reputation in a second-place finish, however, and the two will likely meet again in the Fountain of Youth. I remain a bit hesitant about Winslow Homer, however, since both his sire and dam seemed to peak early - he may yet prove to be one of those precocious colts we don't hear from again after March of his 3-year-old year - but I'm willing to wait to see how things pan out. If you are not already keeping track of Derby preps with Raceday 360's handy spreadsheet, it's time to start - for those who like numbers at this time of year, it's worth noting that A Little Warm is the only colt to post a triple-digit Beyer in a Derby prep so far - but we're a long way from May.

Things went well on the comeback front: Friesan Fire and General Quarters finished one-two in the Louisiana Handicap - both 2009 Derby trail graduates proved their quality this time, finishing a long way in front of third-place finisher Good and Lucky. It's encouraging to see both of them back in professional style, since we just lost Papa Clem to retirement (via an ankle injury) after his own comeback win. While I cannot see either one offering a serious challenge to Rachel Alexandra or Zenyatta at this point, both should continue to mature into grownup racehorses of quality - and they could be quite exciting to watch by the time summer rolls around. In the meantime, we should see Quality Road in the Donn - we'll have more on that as the race approaches.

On the ownership side of the game, there are a few odd stories kicking around - make of them what you will!

Update 5895: This week's Facebook Group e-mail: Fair Hill, Justin Shepherd, Ramon Dominguez, Lentenor, Johnny Velasquez, La Ville Rouge, Michael Gill, ABR Horse Slaughter contest, River Downs, Chad Moore.

More Michael Gill coverage:

Penn jockeys: Gill horses a safety risk
Penn Temporarily Bans Horses Owned by Gill
Jockeys focus on owner Gill after Penn National breakdowns

I am now off to Fair Hill to get on a couple of horses for Michael Pino, and then to Washinngton DC to talk about the horse slaughter topic.

Update 5894: I shedrowed three horses this morning for Michael Pino at Fair Hill. It was a warm morning, but we are getting plenty of rain. A very straightforward morning's work.

Saturday night, jockeys at Penn National refused to ride the sixth race unless a horse owned by Eclipse Award winning owner Michael Gill was scratched. More here: GILL CENTER OF CONTROVERSY AGAIN.

And please keep calling.

Posted by Alex at 2:14 PM | Comments (256)

Barbaro Updates: 989

Posted January 11, 2010

updates are now here.

Update 5893: I went in this morning to ride four horses at Fair Hill. This was my first Sunday working since I left Canada. Oh well, the extra cash will come in handy. All my four went nicely. After I was done I caught up with Kathee Rengert and interviewed her for my book. Some very interesting insights, Kathee helped with the purchase of La Ville Rouge a few years ago.

Friesan Fire, who was favorite for last year's Kentucky Derby, got back to winning ways on a racetrack he appears to love: No Catching Friesan Fire in Louisiana 'Cap.

In the 3yo division for this year, Winslow Homer won the Holy Bull (Winslow Homer a Thing of Beauty in Holy Bull) and Ron the Greek won the Lecomte (Well-Traveled Ron the Greek Captures Lecomte.)

Update 5892: I rode five this morning at Fair Hill for Michael Pino. Bright sunshine, but it was chilly. All my horses went nicely. After I was finished I had breakfast with Carolyn, an FOB from Baltimore who has a horse in training with Tim. We had some fun discussions.

Here are the major races this weekend, although like recent weeks racing is definitely not yet gearing up: WEEKEND STAKES: WHERE TO WATCH brought to you by KBC Horse Supplies.

2009 Arkansas Derby winner Papa Clem, who made a winning return to the races last weekend, has now been retired due to an ankle injury: Papa Clem retired with ankle injury.

Update 5891: I rode three this morning at Fair Hill for Michael Pino. It felt a little chillier early, with a damp wind. All mine went nicely for a straightforward start to the day.

A nice article on the following of Lentenor: Lentenor's lineage draws a crowd. We did learn, yesterday, the sad news that La Ville Rouge aborted her filly foal on December 24 of last year.

Today I plan to interview Mike Jensen, who covered the Barbaro story for the Philadelphia Inquirer, and received an Eclipse Award for his coverage. Should be a fun interview for my book. Yesterday I spoke to artist Fred Stone.

There is progress in the House, please keep calling.

Update 5890: Four ridden today for Michael Pino at Fair Hill. Chilly start, but bright sunshine made riding out quite pleasant. Jockey Justin Shepherd stopped by the barn and worked a horse for us. And here is a picture of our shedrow forman: Mariann Debreczeni.

As we ramp up our efforts for 2010 to end horse slaughter I am running our ABR YouTube horse slaughter contest again: YouTube Horse Slaughter Contest. Please consider participating by putting together a short video, the deadline for participation is March 19, the prize remains $1,000. Here is the first entrant:

Freedom Fight (Saving Our Horses From Slaughter).

Of course the big news of yesterday was the very impressive win for Barbaro's brother Lentenor. You can watch the replay here: Matz: 'Naturally, With a Horse Like This There Are Thoughts of a Triple Crown Race' After Lenny's Win.

There is progress in the House, please keep calling.

Update 5889: Lentenor romped in his turf race this afternoon. Second down the backside to a longshot, Lentenor waited until other horses began to surround him. Then Velasquez asked him for run coming off the turn and it was all over, quickly.

Update 5888: Three ridden this morning at Fair Hill. Chilly start to the day but bright sunshine, so not too bad. All my horses went nicely.

Lentenor makes his third start this afternoon, and his first start of the year as a 3yo. He runs in the 9th race at Gulfstream and may well be the favorite: 9th race at Gulfstream.

And please keep calling.

Update 5887: Superfecta here, with your regular weekly update - Eclipse Awards edition.

Last night, they handed out a few awards for horse racing - you may have heard a bit about it.

2-year-old male: Lookin at Lucky
As per usual with the juvenile awards, there was no surprise here. His three G1 wins sealed the deal, and he looks to improve this year. We'll soon find out if he likes real dirt, but trainer Bob Baffert seems quite happy with things thus far.

2-year-old filly: She Be Wild
While this category had a little more competition, She Be Wild has a good backstory - former claimer, unwanted at auction wins four out of five, including the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Both dirt and turf could be in her future - versatility FTW!

Turf Male: Gio Ponti
A well-deserved bit of recognition for a horse who showed up just about everywhere - but who truly excelled on the grass. And the night was just beginning for him...

Turf Female: Goldikova
While I respect the notion that the Eclipse Award winner should have more than one start in the US, I am quite happy to toss that guideline out when the horse in question is as overwhelmingly superior as Goldikova is. Her repeat of Miesque's back-to-back Mile victories, under the tutelage of Miesque's former jockey, Freddie Head, completes an undeniably satisfying circuit - and the news that she's aiming to capture a third Breeders' Cup victory this year should certainly be rewarded. Given the excitement over Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta, it may be difficult to recall that the opportunity to see a horse of Goldikova's caliber is rare indeed - and it should be celebrated.

Steeplechaser: Mixed Up
How often does a 10-year-old PA-bred win an Eclipse Award? And hey, he doesn't even take Lasix. These are Good Things.

Breeder: Juddmonte Farms
These awards tend to follow the money, and it's certainly hard to argue with Juddmonte's success in producing top-level horses. There were a few stray votes for Dolphus Morrison for breeding Rachel Alexandra - even if he did not want to truly unleash her talents.

Female Sprinter: Informed Decision
The overwhelming pick of her division (although one has to assume that Ventura's positioning in both this category and the Turf Female category may have hurt her chances), Informed Decision won at nearly every track she visited, under a variety of conditions - and the best news is that she'll be back later this spring to extend her winning streak.

Male Sprinter: Kodiak Kowboy
Although he had a respectable career as a 2 and 3-year-old, Kodiak Kowboy truly had the chance to prove himself as a 4-year-old, winning as a sprinter and miler. He goes to stud with a solid record of achievement.

3-year-old Male: Summer Bird
This was a no-brainer - but I am quite curious to know who cast the single vote for I Want Revenge. Trainer Tim Ice reiterated that we should be seeing him back on the track later this year; let's hope his recovery continues in such an encouraging fashion.

3-year-old Female: Rachel Alexandra
The great filly took home the least-suspenseful award of the night - it was also the sole unanimous award (but more on that in a moment). Owner Jess Jackson's acceptance speech was thoughtful, but at something approaching seven minutes, it could have used some judicious editing. But given that the award winners can't speak for themselves, we can allow a little indulgence.

Owner: Godolphin Racing
This was one of the most competitive awards, with only five votes separating the winner from Jerry and Ann Moss. But as in the case of the Breeder category, the Eclipse voters tend to recognize revenue - but the narrow margin of victory demonstrates that there is also a desire to reward owners with a more personal touch.

Trainer: Steven Asmussen
Once again, you cannot argue with the numbers - or his great good fortune in having Rachel Alexandra drop into his lap (although her original trainer, Hal Wiggins, also received a few votes). While I may not be a fan of his record of medication violations, his staff clearly loves the horses they work with, so the award is as much an acknowledgement of their hard work.

Older Male: Gio Ponti
A double on the night for the versatile 4-year-old was clearly in the offing; as much as I love Einstein, based on this year's wins, it had to go to Gio Ponti. He's still flying under the radar in the eyes of the general public, and even the racing press sometimes overlooks his accomplishments, so it was entirely justified that he be doubly rewarded. The Blood-Horse points out that he is the first horse to win this award without a win on traditional dirt - so it's particularly interesting. His future plans may involve the Dubai World Cup - that could end up a very competitive race indeed.

Older Female: Zenyatta
While this was another foregone conclusion, there was a single (protest?) vote from someone at the Daily Racing Form for Icon Project - presumably the backstory there will be revealed at some point. While I still believe she should have been crowned Horse of the Year last year, the news that she will return to the track this year means she may finally get to take home that honor; in any case, winning two consecutive Eclipse Awards and making history in the Breeders' Cup Classic is certainly enough to consider without worrying about Horse of the Year - yet.

Apprentice Jockey: Christian Santiago Reyes
Further proof that Puerto Rico knows what it's doing when it trains jockeys, this 19-year-old has a bright future - he would be wise to study the next winner.

Jockey: Julien Leparoux
It's hard to imagine he won the Eclipse for Apprentice only four years ago - it seems he's had nothing but success since arriving in the US. Clearly, the title of his Facebook fan group is on the right track.

Horse of the Year: Rachel Alexandra
In the end, it wasn't even close: the votes were 130 to 99. That in no way reflects poorly on Zenyatta's accomplishments - it simply honors the fact that during the past racing season, Rachel Alexandra had more opportunities to show off her immense talent, in a wider variety of venues - she won for her efforts throughout the year, not for a single race (regardless of how impressive that race may have been). But as I have said before, while Horse of the Year honors are important to some, a firm place in history means more in the long run. If we are lucky enough to see Rachel Alexandra take on Zenyatta, that would be tremendous - I'd like to see a Best of Five race series at a variety of different tracks. The difficulty will be getting other horses (male or female) into the gate to fill a race - but someone should certainly be working to set that up. Any takers?

Update 5886: Six ridden this morning for Michael Pino at Fair Hill. One was also a worker, which appeared to work nicely. All in all a nice morning's work, and it was reasonable weather too.

Here is this week's ABR Facebook Group e-mail: Fair Hill, Wilmer Mann, Freckles, Zenyatta, Chantal Sutherland, Rachel Alexandra, Steve Asmussen, Scott Blasi, Darren Fleming, Einstein, Lentenor.

The Eclipse Awards were last night, and Rachel Alexandra took top honors: Rachel Alexandra Named Horse of the Year.

And please keep calling.

Update 5885: Four ridden this morning at Fair Hill for trainer Michael Pino. And it was a balmy 40 degrees to start the day! All mine went nicely.

A relatively quiet weekend, but it was great to see Chantal Sutherland win two graded stakes in California. Not bad for a winter break from Woodbine! Of course, while Chantal may be a favorite jockey of mine, Brette Favre is my favorite sports star and he won too!

Tonight it is the Eclipse Awards. Most categories are straightforward, but of course horse of the year honors will be the most interesting decision. Whichever horse wins, Rachel Alexandra or Zenyatta, both are true champions this year: HORSE OF THE YEAR DECISION DAY LOOMS.

Update 5884: It's Sunday, so a day off from riding at Fair Hill.

The biggest news from yesterday, by far, was the "unretirement" of Zenyatta: Unbeaten champion Zenyatta to race in 2010.

Einstein, who was being prepared for one more start before his retirement, suffered a minor injury and has now been retired: Multiple Grade 1 winner Einstein retired.

And Papa Clem, who's last win came in last year's Arkansas Derby, got back to winning ways yesterday at Santa Anita: Papa Clem returns to form in San Fernando Stakes.

Update 5883: I rode three this Saturday morning at Fair Hill. And for the first time since I have been back at Fair Hill the temperature was above the freezing mark first thing in the morning. In fact one of our riders only had a t-shirt on while galloping (and his vest of course). I think that was a little extreme! All my horses went nicely.

Another light schedule this weekend for stakes races, although Santa Anita does seem to have some interesting contests. Both Papa Clem and Stardom Bound feature this weekend, both looking to get their careers on track: WEEKEND STAKES: WHERE TO WATCH brought to you by KBC Horse Supplies.

Barbaro's 3yo brother Lentenor is back in the entries for next Wednesday: Lentenor entered Jan 20!

Update 5882: I ended up riding four this morning at Fair Hill. And my final horse was a worker, it has been a long time since I have worked at horse (racing speed) and now I am tired! All went nicely.

Today is the opening day for the Oaklawn Park meet in Hot Springs Arkansas. No doubt there will be a good crowd in attendance. This is where I spent last winter: Oaklawn Kicks Off Meet With Dixie Belle.

And for NTRAs moment of the year this year, Zenyatta's Breeders' Cup Classic: Zenyatta Wins NTRA 'Moment of the Year'.

And please keep calling.

Update 5881: Still chilly here this morning at Fair Hill. It is supposed to warm up a little later today. I rode three for Michael Pino. All went nicely. This is our pony, Freckles. And here is Will, our blacksmith, who was in the barn shoeing a couple of horses.

Last night I met with Kathy Anderson and interviewed her for my book. Some very interesting discussions and insights.

And please keep calling.

Update 5880: I rode two this morning at Fair Hill, and both went nice and easily. Originally I had three to ride but then one had to be shod by Will, the blacksmith. The weather was still pretty chilly, but apparently it is now going to warm up a little!

As is typical of this time of year, racing news remains quiet. Canadian jockey Julia Brimo continues her long road to recovery: Inside Track: The Long Road to Recovery.

And please keep calling.

Update 5879: Superfecta here, with your regular weekly update.

Many in the racing community were disheartened to learn of the removal of partymanners' well-curated collection of racing videos from YouTube, and there has been some thoughtful commentary from the R2 Collective and Ed DeRosa (among others). Having weighed in on the value partymanners adds to the racing world last year, it only seems right to address the issue again.

While it's not my place to delve into the full details, rest assured that no track or broadcaster complained or claimed copyright (although they would have been well within their rights to do so - clearly, they realized it was more helpful than anything else to have the videos out there) - the backstory is rather more petty and unfortunate, and you are welcome to follow the links and make your own decisions about that.

The current situation emphasizes the danger of relying solely on fan-created content: while there are a few other racing-related YouTube channels, partymanners' was by far the most extensive, and its loss is more deeply-felt as a result. In an ideal situation where an online archive were funded by some sort of industry program, there would be backups and alternate servers, along with full legal clearances. High-quality digital video would exist for more recent races, and older films would be restored, digitized and placed on a fully-searchable site using a simple solution like YouTube or Vimeo to deliver the videos.

But we live in the real world; there is no industry body with the will or ability to deliver the kind of professional solution this would actually demand - it would be expensive and very time-consuming to do it the 'right way' - and given that there are clearly people out there with the skills and time to do it on the fly, there is no reason to discourage those efforts (even if certain individuals seem keen to try to torpedo them for their own ends).

So, what's the next step? The immediate answer would be to create redundancy: ensuring that multiple copies of the videos exist somewhere (and can easily be found via a simple web search) would be the first goal. It's possible that YouTube may re-activate the partymanners account - if, indeed, that happens, a group effort to back up and re-distribute the videos (ideally via a number of different sites) would not be a bad thing.

But to avoid such derailments in future, the videos could at the very least be cleared with their (actual) copyright holders, and that is where it would be nice to get at least a little help from the industry. Editing, hosting and tagging the videos can easily be handled by fans, but if the tracks, broadcasters and the NTRA could come together to craft some sort of blanket fair use statement for racing footage (which should not be necessary, but is a handy thing to have when these roadblocks come up), that would put things on a firmer footing. A suggested Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Online Video is already out there - it's a quick and easy read - and it's not as though anyone is going to become rich by offering someone a chance to see allowance races from the 1980s.

Let's get the party re-started.

Update 5878: Well it was 10 degrees warmer this morning at Fair Hill, at about 29 degrees. And it felt oddly warm! I had two to ride, and both went nicely.

Here is this week's ABR Facebook Group e-mail: Brutal cold, Fair Hill, Joe Clark, Chad Moore, Philadelphia Park Jockeys, Mike Rea, Clever Allemont, Custom for Carlos, Nicanor, Lentenor, Zenyatta.

Update 5877: It was 19F this morning at Fair Hill. I had two to ride, and that was about enough for me for being out in this weather. Fortunately there was not much of a wind, so not too bad. Both my horses went nicely.

And please keep calling.

Posted by Alex at 1:41 PM | Comments (378)

Barbaro Updates: 988

Posted December 21, 2009

updates are now here.

Update 5876: Not much to report today. I had another day off from Fair Hill, and it is cold! Custom For Carlos, who defeated Nicanor in Nicanor's second start, won a nice race yesterday and appears to be developing into a nice horse: Custom for Carlos Handles Mr. Prospector Slop.

And Zenyatta remains retired: Shirreffs, Moss: Zenyatta is Still Retired.

Update 5875: It's Saturday and the winter lull in racing persists, much like the frigid temperatures we're experiencing. Thankfully I had another day off today and am not complaining! Here are the few races of note: WEEKEND STAKES: WHERE TO WATCH brought to you by KBC Horse Supplies.

I rode this guy once, so fun to note his first foal: First Foal for Student Council.

And thoroughbred trainer Chad Moore faces multiple animal cruelty charges: Moore Charged in Animal Abandonment Case. This is being discussed here: OH: calling all who offered to help.

Update 5874: We had a couple of inches of snow here last night at Fair Hill, which disrupted training a little. I had three to ride, and all three were ridden in the shedrow. Here is a view looking out from the barn. And here is Joe, a fellow exercise rider for Michael Pino.

Zenyatta worked again in the last couple of days. This is her third work since her retirement. There is obviously speculation that perhaps she is not retired. However no word from the Zenyatta camp: COULD THERE BE MORE RACING LEFT FOR ZENYATTA?

Clever Allemont's story is probably my favorite rescue story for 2009. Here is more coverage, a year later: Tale of horse saved from slaughter by Waverly animal advocate races on.

Update 5873: Eclipse Award finalists have been announced. The most contentious category will no doubt be horse of the year, which only has two finalists, Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta. Winners in all categories will be announced at the 39th annual Eclipse Awards ceremony, to be held Jan. 18, at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif: Eclipse Awards Finalists Announced.

Yesterday afternoon I spent time with Mike Rea. Mike drove me out to his riding lesson at Carousel and rode for about an hour. It was cold but Mike clearly enjoyed himself and seems to have made much progress since the last time I had seen him more than two years ago. Here he is: walking and trotting.

I rode two at Fair Hill this morning for Mike Pino. Another chilly morning, but both mine went nicely for a straightforward start to the day!

Update 5872: So the biggest news from yesterday was the second retirement of Lava Man. Options are now being discussed as to the plans for his retirement: Lava Man Retired After Brief Comeback.

It is sad to report that Baffert lost a nice recent maiden winner to pneumonia. He had only recently won his first race, in impressive style: Clutch Player Dead of Pneumonia.

I rode two this morning for Michael Pino at Fair Hill. It was a little warmer (about 28F) with a little snow. Relative to other days recently it almost felt warm! Both my horses went nicely for a quick start to the day!

Update 5871: Superfecta here, with your regular weekly update.

While things are slowly gearing up in Florida and racing continues apace in California, one horse will most definitely be absent - Lava Man has been re-retired after his disheartening comeback race last month. His connections have remained true to their word that he would only remain in training if he could compete at the highest level, and so it's back to the farm for the 9-year-old gelding. Whether he will remain in California or head to Kentucky Horse Park has yet to be determined.

Age has not stopped Cloudy's Knight, however, despite the fact that he is Lava Man's elder by a year - he was in the winner's circle again on Boxing Day in the G2 W. L. McKnight Handicap at Gulfstream. Usual stalwart Presious Passion was barely a factor in the race, but he'll be back later this winter - Cloudy's Knight will have a break until the spring, and then he too will return to the track.

Gio Ponti is aiming to make his 2010 debut sometime in February, with a view toward the Dubai World Cup; there's no official word yet on whether Rachel Alexandra may be Dubai-bound as well, but she's been back galloping, with real works coming next month.

Newly-four Quality Road demonstrated that he's learned how to behave at the gate - now that he's a grownup 4-year-old, he handled things quite professionally in the Hal's Hope (and one could argue that the mile distance suited him well). He may use the Donn Handicap as a route to Dubai - although I'd prefer to see him in the Godolphin Mile, rather than the World Cup.

For those interested in what the 3-year-olds are up to, it's a bit too early to predict things - but it's certainly encouraging to hear that Take Control, offspring of two former Horses of the Year, won his career debut (back when he was just a 2-year-old, last week). It's easy to set the bar very high indeed when the parents in question are Azeri and A.P. Indy, and we have no real idea what sort of company he'll be keeping as his career gets going, but it's certainly a move forward for the Bob Baffert trainee.

We're still a few weeks away from some of the season's major races, but planning is very much underway - welcome to 2010!

Update 5870: Another cold morning this morning at Fair Hill, and no doubt many parts of the country. I had three to ride for Michael Pino, and all three went nicely for a straightforward morning's work. After Fair Hill I headed over to Prizzios for my morning coffee and read of the Daily Racing Form. A good start to the day.

Here is this week's ABR Facebook Group e-mail: Brutal cold, Fair Hill, Niall Kenny, Prizzios, Florida slaughterhouses, Dancehall Graeme, Ohio horses, Take Control, Quality Road, Julia Brimo, Kip Deville, Monique Koehler (TRF), Steve Haskin, Barbaro.

Update 5869: Another chilly morning this morning at Fair Hill. It was 24 degrees, but the wind was not too bad so it was bearable. I rode four for Michael Pino. All went nicely despite the chilly weather.

Quality Road returned to the races yesterday. He behaved well in the starting gate and won his comeback race in good fashion: Fresh Start for Quality Road in Hal's Hope, excerpt:

"He was acting perfect in the gate; there were never any concerns there," Velazquez said. "Once we got out, he just did everything nice and easy. With the way we've been breezing him, when (You and I Forever) came up beside him, I had to let him know it was time to do some running, and he just took off from there. I was never really worried."

It looks like Quality Road will be one of the more interesting older horses in training for 2010.

Update 5868: Life Is Sweet was a scratch yesterday from her race: Life Is Sweet Scratched from San Gorgonio. Hopefully today we will see the return to the races of Quality Road who was a scratch at the gate in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic: Quality Road Makes Return in Hal's Hope.

Another cold day here in the mid-atlantic region, and a day off!

Update 5867: Another chilly morning this morning at Fair Hill. And a little windy. I had two to ride, and thankfully they went nicely. A quick morning out in the cold!

Breeders' Cup champion Life Is Sweet makes her return to the races today, and she tries turf for the first time: Life Is Sweet returns to turf in San Gorgonio.

Paulick Report made a nice mention of this site yesterday while noting TRF's Eclipse Award: GOOD NEWS FRIDAY sponsored by Liberation Farm: BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.

Update 5866: Happy New Year! And very surprisingly I did make it to midnight to celebrate. It did help that I did not have to get up early this morning to gallop.

And to celebrate the new year Steve Haskin has selected Barbaro's story as the story of the last decade: Story of the Decade: Barbaro Captures the Heart of a Nation.

Update 5865: No galloping at Fair Hill this morning, so a nice day off as I continue to work on my book.

Take Control, a 2yo son of 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri, made a winning debut yesterday at Santa Anita: Taking Control: Azeri's First Foal Wins Debut. It took him a while to get running, and even then he looked a little awkward until the final sixteenth of a mile. And then he galloped out strongly. It will be interesting to see where he reappears.

Update 5864: I rode two this morning for Michael Pino at Fair Hill. It was 20 degrees F out there, but without the wind we had yesterday it felt much warmer! One of the horses I rode was a little fleet footed underneath me and gave me a little trouble, but we survived!

After riding I went to Prizzios for coffee and a read of the Daily Racing Form. They reported two stories that are being heavily discussed on our discussion board. The illegal slaughter in Florida, which has included the death of Dancehall Graeme two days after he was rescued Calder horse dies - illegal slaughter and a disaster in OH: OH: calling all who offered to help.

Update 5863: Superfecta here, with your 2009 Year in Review -

It almost seems we racing fans have experienced a karmic reversal this year; after the lows of the previous few years, we were treated to nothing less than history - live. So, without further ado, here are the top ten moments in horse racing for 2009, as seen from Superfecta HQ:

10) Einstein wins the Big 'Cap
It was wonderful to see Einstein, a blog favorite for years, pick up a big win; this may not have been his best season, but it certainly had high points - this being the top. Hopefully his versatility and record of sheer hard work will be rewarded with a successful stud career.

9) Bambera wins the Clasico del Caribe
Yes, the Venezualan filly is the real deal. Sid Fernando is your man for all things Bambera - and he notes that we should see her Stateside in 2010. She's won 15 of 17 starts - 10 of those were G1s, including her nation's filly Triple Crown and most of the mixed-gender variety as well. Look out, Gulfstream!

8) Goldikova repeats in the Breeders' Cup Mile
Let's recall that the French mare was beating the boys long before it came into fashion this year - she handled them with no difficulty in last year's Prix du Moulin and, of course, the Breeders' Cup Mile. Trainer Freddie Head, who rode the great Miesque to her back-to-back Mile victories thinks she's even better; she's on track to come back next year to aim for a threepeat. Fingers crossed!

7) Yeats wins his fourth Ascot Gold Cup
The Times was right - it's hard to imagine a more perfect swansong for the 8-year-old; he's demonstrated time and again why he's an all-time great. Here's hoping his stamina and quality is recognized at stud - it will be hard to live up to the reception he received from fans after his victory.

6) Rachel Alexandra wins the Kentucky Oaks
Can you remember seeing anything like it? Rachel Alexandra would go on to demonstrate in the Mother Goose that against her peers (including a perfectly nice filly like Gabby's Golden Gal), that's just how she rolls - deal with it. Super filly? You bet.

5) Sea the Stars wins the Arc
That's a lot of Group 1 winners finishing behind him - and it's not every day you see a colt equal his mother's success in that particular race. His win made him the first horse to win the 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Derby, and the Arc in the same year - and he did it all undefeated. While it's easy to see the allure of getting the half-brother to über-stud Galileo into the shed, it's a shame we'll never really know what he might have been capable of.

4) Rachel Alexandra wins the Preakness
While I normally go to the Belmont, it takes something special to get me to Pimlico for the Preakness (largely because of the appalling state of the track) - but I was certainly not going to pass up a chance to see Rachel Alexandra take on the boys for the first time in person, and it was a beautiful thing. It's only the second time I've seen the entire crowd cheering for one horse (the other being Smarty Jones coming into the Belmont with a Triple Crown on the line); it was to be the first time I would see that faith rewarded.

3) Rachel Alexandra wins the Haskell
What, you want me, the Preakness winner, to beat the Derby and Belmont winners? Hey, you asked for it. Even with the miserable weather, this is by far the best performance I've ever seen live (sorry, Sunday Silence and Easy Goer!); once again, the crowd was there for Rachel, and only Rachel - and she repaid them with another runaway victory. This race also receives special note for Sarah K. Andrew's fantastic photo - my favorite of the year.

2) Rachel Alexandra wins the Woodward
Finally, some real competition - and the chance to see what Rachel would do when eyeball to eyeball with another horse. Apparently, the answer is win - yet again. I'm looking forward to seeing her as the 'older horse' - after all, in a few short days, she'll be all of 4.

1) Zenyatta wins the Breeders' Cup Classic
I'm one of Those People who wanted Zenyatta to be Horse of the Year last year and I was not pleased by the rest of her campaign this year - but she proved she's more than just a great mare with a distinctive running (and, let's be honest, walking) style. She earned the number one spot with her sparkling, historic performance.

While I've already determined that the Horse of the Year debate will not matter much in the long run - indeed, who, beyond the industry, even knows or cares that such a thing exists? - my own vote would go to Rachel Alexandra. I cannot think of another year when I would have listed the same horse more than twice, at most, in a year-ending review - to see the same name four times is not something I expect to see again anytime soon. However, as she'll be running next year, I may need to keep some slots vacant...but the truth remains that both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta firmly stamped themselves into this history books in emphatic style.

Here's hoping that 2010 will be half as exciting as 2009!

Update 5862: This week's ABR Facebook Group e-mail: Snowman, 18 degrees F, Gulch, Book, Christmas Pudding, Kauto Star, Lava Man, Lentenor, Zenyatta.

Brutal conditions for riding at Fair Hill this morning. The temperatures were a little below freezing and the wind was whipping at about 30 miles an hour. Horses were a little skittish and you were also in danger of simply getting blown off! Thankfully I only had two to ride, rode and left!

I went to Prizzios after for a cup of coffee and a read of the Daily Racing Form. Here is Niall, about to leave Prizzios to head out to trim some horses' feet. Niall used to gallop at Fair Hill and we were roommates. Niall has now moved on from galloping and is shoeing horses!

Update 5861: I rode five at Fair Hill this morning for Michael Pino. I was down to ride three, but ended up with a couple more to go. It was a windy morning, but the temperatures remain above freezing. All mine went nicely.

The biggest disappointment of the weekend was no doubt the return of Lava Man. Lava Man, who has made more than $5 million in his storied career, was returning to the races for the first time in a long time. He set the pace, but as they turned for home it was clear for everyone to see he did not have that kick of the old Lava Man. He faded to last. Perhaps it was simply the length of time away, but we will see in the next few days what the connections decide to do: 'Gabriel Repeat for Proudinsky; Lava Man Last.

Update 5860: Another day off from Fair Hill. And it looks like a nice day too!

Today we have the much anticipated return to the races of Lava Man: Lava Man shifted to turf for return in San Gabriel.

And as I continue to make progress on my book I have added my eight visits with Barbaro to the Fan page: Greatness and Goodness: Barbaro and his Legacy.

Update 5859: Kauto Star accomplished something unique today by winning the King George for the fourth consecutive time: FAB FOUR FOR KING KAUTO.

I had four to ride this morning for Pino at Fair Hill. It was a rainy 45 degrees and we stayed in the shedrow to jog. All mine went nicely. A short morning's work after the christmas festivities of yesterday!

And here are the key races this weekend, including the Malibu Stakes today and the San Gabriel tomorrow: WEEKEND STAKES: WHERE TO WATCH brought to you by KBC Horse Supplies. Lava Man is scheduled to return in the San Gabriel: Lava Man Moves to Turf for San Gabriel.

Update 5858: Remembering my christmas of 2006: Greatness and Goodness: Barbaro and his Legacy.

Update 5857: A day off from fair Hill today, and tomorrow, to celebrate Christmas! So merry christmas everybody. While not such a great tradition in the US, the christmas period is celebrated in the UK with some great jump racing. On boxing day we have one of the best races on the entire calendar, the King George, and Kauto Star will attempt to win the race for the fourth time: KAUTO IS GIFT-WRAPPED FOR RUBY.

To continue the jump racing theme, the local Wilmington News Journal has a great story on local horseman Joe Walsh: Delaware horse racing: Trainer's in it for love, not money.

And a quick update on the Jackson's and Barbaro's siblings: Jacksons Encouraged by 2009 Developments.

Update 5856: Superfecta here, with your weekly update, holiday edition.

If you're a last-minute holiday shopper still looking to pick up a racing-related item, look no further than Jim Squires' Headless Horsemen. It's a thoughtful, often quite entertaining, look at the industry from the ultimate insider/outsider. While Squires is never going to be one of 'the Dinnies' whose portraits he rather deliciously paints in the book, it's also hard to maintain true 'outsider' status after breeder a Kentucky Derby winner -a story chronicled in his previous racing-related memoir, A Horse of a Different Color - also recommended. (And as an aside, I would submit that the horse in question, Monarchos, is one of the most even-tempered stallions I've ever had the good fortune to meet).

While none of the issues regarding auctions, medication and the like will be new to most racing fans, his first-person perspective makes for interesting reading. I have some minor quibbles with the book in that it could have been a little more carefully edited (there is a bit of repetition here and there, and it's not always clear what audience Squires is speaking to), but it's an essential addition to one's racing library. It may be that in the future, it will be regarded as something of a period piece, capturing the industry in a particular moment of flux - and that would likely be no bad thing, by Squires' reckoning.

Given the current state of breeding economics, that's almost what has happened to Kevin Conley's excellent Stud: Adventures in Breeding - it documented the high water mark of the Storm Cat era earlier in the decade - and it's well worth re-reading now to reflect on where breeding trends had gone, and where they might go in the future.

If it's memorabilia you're after (and don't mind it coming a bit after Christmas), you can still bid on Mike Smith's autographed goggles, a vest with a horse that vaguely resembles Zenyatta, a better Zenyatta likeness on a beer stein or this charming Zenyatta-themed mousepad.

For the Rachel Alexandra fan, you can get a Calvin Borel-autographed whip or bobblehead - and, naturally, a mousepad. (It would seem that 'custom' mousepads are to horse racing memorabilia what fan fiction is to Star Trek). Of course, if your pockets are a bit deeper (and you live in a state that doesn't prevent it), you can still snag a bottle of Rachel Alexandra wine.

So, in the immortal words of Noddy Holder, merry Christmas, everybody - as well as good Yule, festive Festivus, Io Saturnalia, and happy belated Hanukkah, Dongzhi and Winter Solstice.

Check back next week for our year in review!

Update 5855: I rode four horses this morning at Fair Hill. Very chilly temperatures, but when the sun came up it did not feel too bad. A short morning's work!

Old Friends has a new resident. I received this e-mail this morning:

Gulch, the six-time Grade 1-winning son of Mr. Prospector, arrived today at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, KY, where he will permanently retire. The 25-year-old stallion has stood at William S. Farish's Lane's End Farm near Versailles, KY since leaving racing in 1988. He was pensioned from stud duty just this year.

Gulch (Mr. Prospector-Jameela by Rambunctious) was owned and bred by Peter M. Brant and trained by Hall-of-Famers LeRoy Jolley and D. Wayne Lukas. He retired with 13 wins from 32 starts and career earnings of over $3 million.

As a two-year-old, the dark bay captured five starts, including the GR1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga. As a dazzling three-year-old he claimed the GR1 Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct and the GR1 Wood Memorial at Belmont, making him a top contender in the 1987 Kentucky Derby.

At four, with new trainer Lukas, Gulch went on to win the Metropolitan Handicap and the Carter Handicap (both GR1), and capped the year with a victory in the 1988 Breeders' Cup Sprint, which helped him earn the Eclipse Award for Champion Sprinter.

He now joins Old Friends's other Eclipse winners Black Tie Affair, The Wicked North, Hidden Lake, and Sunshine Forever.

A leading stallion at Lane's End, Gulch's progeny have been outstanding. They include 1995 Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Travers winner Thunder Gulch, Bluegrass Stakes winner The Cliff's Edge, and Super Derby winner Wallenda, who was retired at Old Friends in 2007 after returning from stud duty in Japan.

"When Lane's End announced Gulch's retirement, I called the farm and explained we would be thrilled to have him," said Old Friends founder and president Michael Blowen. "I know his legion of fans would love to visit him here. Lane's End has their lovely facility and a professional staff to give Gulch a great home, but we're overjoyed that he's coming.

"Lane's End has contributed significantly to Old Friends ever since we started," Blowen continued, 'but Gulch is one of the greatest contributions we've ever received. It'll be great to have him in a paddock next to Commentator."

"Gulch has had a long and wonderful career here," said Bill Farish, a principal of Lane's End Farm. "We wanted to make sure that he was well taken care of in his retirement and we thought our nearby neighbor Old Friends would be a great place for him."

Farish added that Gulch's popularity with fans influenced the farm's decision to send him to Old Friends, which is open to tourists daily.

"He was a horse that was well known to the public having been through the Triple Crown trail and having been a top two-year-old and a champion sprinter," said Farish. "He was a horse that people always wanted to see. Plus, he's kind of a ham, and he will enjoy the attention immensely."

Update 5854: This week's ABR Facebook Group e-mail: Tweet this: Penn National, Hawty Creek, Fort Erie, Bill Mott and Juddmonte Farm, Peter Brette, Snow, Fair Hill, Hill City Miss, Keystone Wallis, Sherry, Gerry Goswell, Lentenor, Salty.

I rode six this morning at Fair Hill for Michael Pino. The first set jogged in the shedrow as we waited for the Tapeta Track to open at 7 am. The remainder went out to train. I need to get me some dark goggles, otherwise I could get some sun blindness it is so bright outside! I also snapped a few photographs this morning:

Arriving at the barn---it was dark!
Myself with fellow exercise rider Paul Madden, before we started
The barn snowman!

Update 5853: Blind Luck, an aptly named daughter of Pollards Vision (who raced with one eye), demolished the field in the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet yesterday: Blind Luck Bursts to Starlet Romp.

Chilly temperatures this morning at Fair Hill, but it has stopped snowing. If you look closely you can see a couple of riders out jogging around in the snow in this picture. But we stayed in the barn and shedrowed. I had six to ride, so quite a busy morning. The barn stays quite warm so a straightforward morning's work.

It is very sad to report two deaths over the weekend.

FOB Sherry has been an integral member of the FOB community since its inception. She will be sadly missed by friends, family and many FOBs.

And Gerry Goswell, a well known Camden and Fair Hill horseman, also died over the weekend. RIP Gerry.

And please keep calling.

Posted by Alex at 4:32 PM | Comments (566)

Barbaro Updates: 987

Posted December 14, 2009

updates are now here.

Update 5852: It's Sunday and I am snowed in. Or at least that is my excuse for not venturing outside today! It does give me more time to work on my book, which this morning included transcribing my interview with Dr. Richardson from the Summer of 2007. I added a quote to the book's fan page.

Lookin at Lucky stamped himself as the leading US 2yo with his win yesterday in the CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park: Lookin At Lucky Collects in CashCall Futurity.

Update 5851: Well we are experiencing a "snow event". When I was driving in to Fair Hill this morning it seemed like a blizzard. Just not pleasant to be outside, despite how pretty it might be: We have snow: the eurocizer. I shedrowed a couple of horses, but that was it. Which was enough for me anyway. Thankfully I am now back in doors, and hopefully for the rest of the weekend!

Yesterday I was reviewing some of the interviews I have conducted for my book. Here is my favorite Peter Brette quote:

Ppl will look at him [Barbaro] on paper and say he was a good horse who won the derby in fabulous fashion. Which is very unfair, very unfair, I think, I believe he was a great horse who won the ky derby in good fashion, and the best was to come.

Bill Mott will now be principle trainer for Juddmonte. The article also highlights the struggles California is experiencing competing with other racing jurisdictions: Juddmonte taps Mott as main man, excerpt:

Last week, trainer Doug O'Neill said he has 50 horses in California and 30 at Philadelphia Park. A few years ago, O'Neill had more than 100 horses in training in Southern California.

And this weekend's two Grade 1 stakes are in California: WEEKEND STAKES: WHERE TO WATCH brought to you KBC Horse Supplies.

Update 5850: I rode five this morning at Fair Hill for Michael Pino. It was again below freezing, although not as cold as my iPhone had indicated (22 degrees.) My horses were for the most part good, although one is a little bit of a challenge doing a little leaping coming out of the barn!

It was good to see, yesterday, that an agreement is in place at Fort Erie to race there for the next three years. I know the uncertainty over the recent winters regarding whether racing will proceed has had a negative impact on the racing program. They are also planning to include some quarter horse racing in their program. This will make them the second track in Ontario to do so. Ajax Downs, which I visited a few times, has been the only place for quarter horse racing in Ontario. Should be an interesting year ahead: Fort Erie Race Track to stay open.

And please keep calling.

Update 5849: I rode four again this morning for Michael Pino at Fair Hill. They all went nicely, but it was a cold start to the day. 28 degrees F. Still catching up with more people at Fair Hill as I see them in the mornings. which is fun.

Last night I went up to Penn National, and that was very cold. A chilly wind combined with the cold temperatures. Hawty Creek was running, and here I am doing my very little bit: Hawty Creek in the paddock. Hawty ran OK for a while but then faultered down the lane. Her jockey did not get too carried away which was good. She may now be retired, I am not sure. I do know one thing, she is a happy horse and sound. As soon as we got back late last night from the races, all she wanted to do was drop her head and eat grass!

I also caught up with a few people I had known during my initial galloping stint at Penn National a little more than two years ago. There were also a couple of horsemen from Woodbine who had brought a few horses down to Penn National to race. The Grandstand was under construction the last time I was there. It is now a racetrack casino, much like others I have visited. Sadly you could count on one hand how many people were there to watch the races that were not connected with horses actually running in the races.

Earlier in the day yesterday I spoke with Joe Drape, of the New York Times, about my book project. Joe gave me some good pointers, and most specifically wanted to make sure I add my personal experiences whereever possible. Good advice no doubt!

In broader news an investigation is ongoing in the Lebanon Raceway barn fire: UPDATE: Fire marshall executes search warrants at raceway. Found on Paulick Report.

And please keep calling.

Update 5848: So I am well and truly back at Fair Hill now. For the last couple of days I have been going in and riding out. I am currently freelancing for Michael Pino as one of their riders is away on vacation. It gives me a little structure to my day, which is a good thing, while also keeping me a little fit. It is also good to see everyone again at Fair Hill. A few people seemed pretty happy to see me! And this afternoon I am heading up to Penn National for night racing. Hawty Creek, who I used to train for my buddy Dave, is running tonight so we are going up together. Should be a fun day. In between time I will continue to work on my book!

And please keep calling.

Update 5847: Superfecta here, with your regular weekly update.

The Breeders' Cup Board of Directors met last week to discuss a long-term strategic plan(!), and while I generally encourage such things, it sounds like the group did not come up with anything particularly earth-shattering – and a few ideas were simply not well thought out by this group largely comprised of older white men (with a few token exceptions). The four points the board agreed on were as follows:

• Explore the feasibility of a single permanent host site location for the Breeders' Cup World Championships
• Establish a new Breeders' Cup Racing Series in partnership with North American and European racetracks to better define and market the road to the Breeders' Cup World Championships
• Expand brand marketing and commercial development programs, with an emphasis on digital marketing and social media
• Take a new approach to nominations to significantly expand the number of Breeders' Cup eligible horse

We'll discuss the first point in considerably more detail below, but the fact that the other three were presented as 'new' ideas is a bit surprising (or not, depending on your point of view) - they should have been no-brainers that were adopted long ago. Let's take the point about establishing a new international racing series - wasn't that the point of Win and You're In? I agree that that whole concept could be improved and finessed, but establishing yet another new series will likely cause confusion in the short-term, possibly leading to a watered-down product.

Even if we suppose that careful choices are made to include exciting, relevant races in this 'package,' the question of where they would actually be seen immediately comes to mind. Who is paying ESPN to broadcast Royal Ascot, for example? Do we assume the casual fan finds their way to TVG or HRTV (presuming they even receive the channels)? It would seem to me that creating a new racing series is getting ahead of the game - without a firm commitment from a major media outlet, it's not worth exploring. The fact that it's limited to the US and Europe is understandable, but I would be much more interested in something that included Japan and Australia - even if our seasons don't quite match up.

The decision to focus on 'digital marketing and social media' sounds like one that was taken about five years ago - but I suppose it's better late than never. However, it is telling that these seem like Exciting New Concepts to the Breeders' Cup organization - their somewhat ham-fisted efforts over their 'social media award' were not inspiring, even if the intent was good. It's abundantly clear there's no one on the board who understands How These Things Work - and that's unfortunate.

The final issue of expanding nominations makes sense from a business perspective in that it continues to fill the coffers of the Breeders' Cup organization with nomination fees, which is fair enough - but it would have been considerably more forward-thinking if they had incorporated nomination changes that could keep top horses in training longer (as we've discussed here before). If this is truly a long-term plan, it would make sense to think beyond the next five years.

And so back to the single-site idea; before I explain why I think it's a terrible idea, let's examine some other opinions. Paul Moran suggests that if there is to be a permanent location, Churchill Downs is the only option, and he makes some good points about the possibility of night racing. And while I would agree with him that choosing the same site two years in a row was misguided, I have less of a problem with the Breeders' Cup being run on synthetics - I just don't want to see it every year, although I love to see the European horses do well. Ed DeRosa reports that Santa Anita has already been in talks with the Breeders' Cup Board - but whether that is a trial balloon or simply a case of having been in contact with the right people as 'outgoing' hosts is unclear.

Putting aside the surface questions, I find a single site a very poor idea for a number of reasons. The first is simply the expense of getting fans to the location - I did not go to Santa Anita because I won't fly across the country for the Breeders' Cup - and I'm already a fan. When you point out that I did fly across the country a few short weeks later for the MLS Cup, that highlights a separate issue: it was in a place I wanted to go anyway. Churchill Downs suffers from this problem - it's harder to get a casual fan to fly visit Kentucky, than, say, New York. If a fan is going to undertake the expense of traveling for more than a day trip to the Breeders' Cup, the track needs to be easily accessible from a major city so that they can make a worthwhile short vacation out of it - and that leaves Arlington, Belmont, Woodbine and Santa Anita in play (although the weather might have other ideas for Arlington and Woodbine).

As an aside, I would lament here that there are not better tracks in more interesting cities - clearly, the Breeders' Cup is not going to go to Golden Gate Fields, Emerald Downs, Portland Meadows or Philadelphia Park (to name just a few). And while the weather may have been fine this year at Santa Anita, I actually found the Breeders' Cup at Monmouth Park one of the better I've been to - despite the wet, it was nowhere nearly as cold as Belmont can be in November.

The other major problem with choosing a single site is that it eliminates the possibility that it could be held outside the US and Canada at some point - and I'd much rather go to a Breeders' Cup held somewhere in Europe and make a vacation out of it, over spending a long weekend in Kentucky (and, quite frankly, the airfare would probably be cheaper). If the goal is truly to expand the international nature of the event, taking that option off the table seems an odd move.

It would seem, overall, that the Breeders' Cup Board of Directors is sorely lacking in creative thinkers - expanding beyond its monoculture should also have been a priority. Maybe next year...

Update 5846: This week's ABR Facebook Group e-mail: Tweet this: Lebanon Raceway Fire benefit, Book, NYRA anti-slaughter policy, Kip Deville, Jeannine Edwards & Ashkal Way, The Whip, Sam P., Chip and Tim Woolley.

And please keep calling.

Update 5845: The focus of international racing this weekend was in Hong Kong. And the Hong Kong Cup was the feature race: Vision D'Etat Overcomes Injury, Wins HK Cup. Racing state-side continues to be quiet this time of year and racing at Fair Grounds yesterday was canceled: Fair Grounds Cancels Dec. 13 Program.

Zenyatta is doing some good work in her retirement: Zenyatta Helping Fellow Horses.

And please keep calling.

Posted by Alex at 2:14 PM | Comments (280)

Barbaro Updates: 986

Posted December 7, 2009

updates are now here.

Update 5844: Lava Man was a scratch yesterday in the Native Diver, due to inclement weather. The race was won by the late Bobby Frankel's Mast Track: Clear Sailing For Mast Track in Native Diver.

Sam P., who ran in the 2007 Kentucky Derby and was third in the Santa Anita Derby, was vanned off yesterday at Turfway Park. His original owners had stipulated, in a contract, that Sam P. should never race again (tendon injury) and was sold for a breeding career. They had even gone to court to try to stop his return to the races. Equidaily has this story covered.

Update 5843: Slim pickings in terms of quality racing this weekend: WEEKEND STAKES: WHERE TO WATCH brought to you by KBC Horse Supplies. Lava Man may make his return to the races in the Native Diver, but rain may make that very doubtful: Lava Man likely out of Native Diver.

Here is an excellent video of Jeannine Edwards and her Grade 1 winner Ashkal Way doing some dressage: Ashkal Way.

Last night I went out to The Whip to meet up with some people I had met over the Barbaro experience. This included Dr. Dean Richardson, Sabina Pierce (photographer), Jennifer Rench (NBC PR), Mike Jensen (Philadelphia Inquirer) and Dan Gelston (AP). Here is a grainy picture of the group.

Update 5842: NYRA announced an anti-slaughter policy yesterday, which is very cool: NYRA Adopts Tough Anti-Slaughter Policy.

It is sad to report that the health of Kip Deville, who was only recently retired, is still poor due to Laminitis: Kip Deville in Critical Condition.

The horses names have been released, and a benefit has been organized, after the tragic Labanon Raceway barn fire: Names given of standardbreds from fatal fire.

And please keep calling.

Update 5841: As I have committed now to writing a book I have created a fan page for the book on Facebook. Joining the fan page will allow you to follow the progress of the book as it is written: Greatness and Goodness: Barbaro and his Legacy.

The finalists for the George Woolf Award have been announced. This award honors and recognizes those riders whose careers and personal character earn esteem for the individual and the sport of Thoroughbred racing: Santa Anita George Woolf Finalists Announced.

And you can now vote on NTRA's moment of the year: Fans to vote for NTRA's top moment of 2009.

And please keep calling.

Update 5840: Superfecta here, with your peripatetic weekly update.

With winter settling in in earnest, there's not a lot going on in the racing world Stateside. The Rachel Alexandra/Zenyatta Horse of the Year debate continues apace, of course, with Jess Jackson suggesting he's happy for a little controversy - after all, it keeps horse racing (somewhat) in the public consciousness. The same cannot be said of the NTRA Health & Safety Alliance, whose accreditation program has been deemed 'effective' - although what that really means is open to debate.

Given the uncertainty that lingers over the Alliance and the future of similar programs, it seems a good idea to finally get around to something promised weeks ago - a discussion of what American racing could learn from American soccer. In the decade I have been following Major League Soccer, it has moved from something dangerously close to an international punchline to a viable, vibrant sport - and some of the lessons learned along the way could be useful ones for racing.

But first, a step back; in 2000, as a fan of the San Jose Earthquakes (who suffered at the time from an uninterested ownership group, a recent name-change, bad management and well-deserved last-place ranking), it was hard to imagine a time when the excitement of the game on the pitch would exceed that of the small gathering of fans and players who had been forced to come out and mingle that took place after each (losing) game. Supporters often wore bags on their heads during segments of the game to emphasize the shame of supporting such a risible team - but it still demonstrated that someone cared. And we had a great goalie in Joe Cannon - but little else. One year later, we had a new manager, a rising star in a then-teenaged Landon Donovan and we managed to go from being the worst team in the league to hoisting the MLS Cup. The last home game, the semi-final that sent the team to Columbus for the big win, was considered quite successful - something like 4,000 people turned up (which was quite a bump up from the usual few hundred scattered around the tiny stadium). The players were still compelled to meet and greet with the fans, so those of us in the supporters' club enjoyed drinks, dinner and donuts with the team a few weeks later (so yes, I have split a donut with Landon Donovan - and that's not some sort of bizarre euphemism). Despite phenomenal growth, one of American soccer's advantages over its worldwide rivals continues to be access to stars - teams still regularly host events where fans can meet their players and coaching staff in a casual setting.

Fast forward to this year: I went to the MLS Cup in Seattle, which had an attendance above 47,000 - largely comprised of local fans (even though their team did not make the finals) and supporters (like me) from across the country who bought their tickets well in advance, with no idea who would be playing. How did we get from a few hundred fans of a Saturday afternoon to full stadiums? With some careful planning, a willingness to learn from mistakes - and listen to fans.

Each year, before the MLS Cup, the league hosts a Supporters' Summit - any fan is welcome to come, meet other fans, enjoy some cheap food - and to grill the Commissioner of MLS, Don Garber, about anything that's bothering them (also possible other times, as he's on Twitter). Under Garber's auspices, the league has gone from having to buy time on ESPN (sound familiar, racing?) to making $20 million a year on television rights. At this year's Summit, Garber indicated that MLS was now in a position to dictate terms as well - they want to see every game broadcast in HD, and that's likely to happen for the next season.

The league as a whole has gone from hemorrhaging money in 2000 to aiming for actual profitability next year - all while improving the quality of the American game, building soccer-specific stadiums and becoming more closely aligned with international soccer as a whole - and each element has helped to build the fan base. There were early tough decisions - some teams were eliminated (somewhat mirroring the less-product-higher-quality argument current in racing) to keep the league afloat in the early 2000s. Now that things are on a solid financial footing, expansion is continuing apace: this year's expansion team, the Seattle Sounders, sold all 22,000 season ticket packages before the season's first kick - and went on to win the US Open Cup (a tournament that includes teams from other leagues, including semi-professional ones - it's separate from the year-end championship - although it should be added here that the Sounders supporters' clubs and fans were extremely welcoming, generous hosts during the MLS Cup this year). In 2010, Philadelphia is the newest expansion team - and we've already sold more than 6,000 season tickets for our under-construction stadium, down economy and all - not bad for a team whose first players only arrived in town yesterday. Portland and Vancouver will be added in 2011, giving easily-traveled rivalries on both coasts.

It would be difficult to imagine US racing operating under the sort of single-entity structure that has been so effective for turning around American soccer, but the lack of any sort of central control means there is no way to move forward as a united sport; piecemeal change is the only current option. But perhaps seeing the results possible with a strong commissioner could entice the various track ownership bodies to come together - after all, good decisions and a real long-term plan lead to more money for everybody. And with the news that MLS is exploring gambling options with a view to the future (although games are already available on a European platform) - getting a move on with regard to centralized, streamlined management should be a no-brainer. Soliciting real ideas from fans, creating real merchandising opportunities and learning from other sports is long overdue - creating committees comprised of the same fifteen people isn't a way to effect change.

So, in a nutshell, the way forward is to finally get a commissioner and build from there; who wants to take that first step to make it happen?

Update 5839: A rainy Wednesday in Maryland. Nice not to have to be out there galloping horses!

Thoroughblog wraps up the Woodbine meet: SUNSHINE and Triple Dead Heat looks at the late Bobby Frankel's Woodbine successes: Two Flags For Frankel.

Here is this week's ABR Facebook Group e-mail: Tweet this: Golden Hare, Rovina, whitepaper, hussling horses, Jockey Club papers, Brian Cheyne, Caroline Duquet, wiki, Friesan Fire, Salty Langfuhn, last morning, Lebanon fire, Moonshadow Gold, Thunder Rumble, Midnight Secret, book.

And please keep calling.

Update 5838: A gorgeous sunny Tuesday morning here in Maryland. Of course it might be chilly, but it's too early for me to find out!

Mick Kinane, who is nothing but a legend in the saddle and was most recently the partner of Sea The Stars, has announced his retirement: OXX LEADS KINANE TRIBUTES.

Zenyatta, who is retired, worked yesterday just to keep the edge off her. She is scheduled to parade at Santa Anita on opening day, December 26: Zenyatta breezes 'to take edge off'.

Sadly there was a nasty training accident at Oaklawn Park yesterday morning which resulted in the euthanasia of two horses: Doocy Injured in Collision at Oaklawn Park.

And please keep calling.

Update 5837: Well I have now arrived in Maryland, where I will be staying through the holiday season. Beyond that I have no plan other than needing to find something that generates living expenses. One idea is to self-publish a book, I will look into that idea over the next few days.

On my journey from Woodbine to Maryland I stopped off at Old Friends' new New York satellite farm, Cabin Creek. It is not yet open to the public (I think it will be this coming Saturday for specific hours) but Joann was kind enough to let me stop by. They have four horses at present. I think their capacity is twelve. Two of the four horses came from Finger Lakes (Karakorum Patriot and Midnight Secret). They also have Thunder Rumble and Moonshadow Gold. It was a short but pleasant visit.

We finished off the meet at Woodbine with a winner in the last race at Woodbine. Poppin is also the one horse I fell off this meet! Anyway, Poppin's win had some cool significance, it broke Steve's record for wins in a year that he set last year: Asmussen breaks wins record. Our jockey Luis Contreras was suspended for the day, so Chantal Sutherland was in the irons for the win. I missed a huggable opportunity!

Rosemary Homeister won the final day stake at Woodbine, the Valedictory: Cloudy's Knight Has Last Word in Valedictory.

And please keep calling.

Posted by Alex at 2:42 PM | Comments (190)