Barbaro Updates: 126
updates are now here.
Update 999: I just spoke to Peter, who had heard from Michael, who visited Barbaro this afternoon. All remains well.
Michael's take on the eclipse awards: Matz: Bernardini still deserves title. An excerpt:
"I'm obviously prejudiced, but I think it would probably be a little hard for them to give Barbaro champion 3-year-old and not Bernardini," Matz said. "It'd be nice if they could be joint 3-year-old champions, but I don't know if that could be possible and I don't think you could give Bernardini nothing for campaigning all year. Bernardini campaigned all year. He was second to Invasor; it wasn't like he ran a bad race."
Update 998: Barbaro radiographs taken on November 7 (cast removal) are now online: Barbaro Photo Album
Update 997: A quick update on Mike Rea from his sister: FINALLY - AN UPDATE FROM CATHY. It appears he and Tammy were runners up for the White Horse Award, so congrats! It would be great to help push Mike's Homemaker Petition: here is a hard copy, you can also sign online at the bottom of Mike's site.
Update 996: I have been waiting to see if the sythetic track discussion would be accelerated by the tragic loss of Pine Island and injury of Fleet Indian. Andrew Beyer seems to think so: Breakdowns to Sharpen Surface Debate.
I hear they have packed down the Cushion Track at Hollywood Park, I guess to get better times. I am really not sure why we are obsessed with times. When I was in england, I had no clue how fast races were being run!
Update 995: An article that illustrates how tough it is for Pine Island's owners to have see her succumb to tragedy when their hopeful expections were to emulate other horses they have owned, and win another Breeders' Cup: Breeders' tragedy hits Phipps hard. The article also connects Phipps to Michael Matz, I am guessing the horse they are referring to is Dancinginmydreams.
Update 994: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (monday night). I walked to the track with Michael Matz's set while on my fourth horse. Michael had heard from Dr. Richardson. Michael also visited Barbaro last night after racing at Delaware. He was happy with how Barbaro was handling his new legware. There was certainly an upbeat mood as we walked to the track.
It was a lovely crisp morning again this morning at Fair Hill, with a crimson sunrise. Barclay Tagg is here, and seeing him, Michael and Graham Motion in the clocker's stand makes you realise that perhaps Fair Hill is the place to be!
update 8:40 am, tuesday, november 7
Update 993: Pine Island was buried at her home in a quiet ceremony: Pine Island Buried Monday at Claiborne Farm.
A Japanese one-two finish in the Melbourne Cup: Delta Blues holds off stablemate to win Melbourne Cup. Sue McMullen sent this report:
You've really got to hand it to the Japanese. They keep bringing their horses out of Japan and taking on the best. With Deep Impact so unlucky in this year's Arc and Heart's Cry running a blinder in the King George at Ascot, they've now hit the jackpot with an incredible one-two at the Melbourne Cup, with Delta Blues first and Pop Rock second. Both horses are trained by the same man, Katsuhiko Sumii, and Delta's jockey,Yasunari Iwata had never ridden before in Australia, which is another amazing feature of this victory.
It will come as little surprise that both horses carry the blood of the horse that put Japan on the racing map, whose untimely death rocked their bloodstock industry. Delta Blues is by Dance In The Dark, who is by the one and only Sunday Silence. And Pop Rock is out of Pops, a Sunday Silence mare. What a great tribute all these horses pay the great one himself.
This is a very important victory for Japan and will be celebrated for a long time. Yasunare Iwata had tears streaming down his face when he was led back and there would have been plenty more tears shed in Japan.
Yeats finished seventh, having missed the kick, but Kieren Fallon reported that having experienced the race for himself he realises they had the wrong horse for the Melbourne Cup as that type of race is run very differently to a European race. The best European finisher was Land'N'Stars who finished fifth, having showed his usual fighting spirit and a very proud trainer Jamie Poulton says he might return next year.
Good Tuesday morning Alex, Bobby and fellow fans,
Thanks for the articles Alex. Pine Island - how sad and tragic.
Well - election day is here. I'm saying very intense, sincere prayers that the best people for the job are the ones who get elected. I don't know how this all will affect S.1915, which of course is of prime importance in my mind. I read the information that was posted yesterday regarding possible outcomes. We'll see if things play out that way. I'm still going to make calls to Senate offices today. In fact, I've already left messages on a number of answering machines.
Have a wonderful day all!
Hay Marg - you off making coffee?
Janice
Proud to be a "fan of Barbaro"
Posted by: Janice from Florida at November 7, 2006 10:22 AM