Barbaro Updates: 373
updates are now here.
Update 2396: I saw Mark Shuman this morning as he was preparing to ship in a string for the meet at Presque Isle Downs. He mentioned Xchanger was in on Monday in the Pennsylvania Derby: $1-Million Pennsylvania Derby Draws Large Field.
I also saw Michael Dickinson early this afternoon (I was walking from my motel to get a pizza, Michael was driving in to the next door hotel) and he invited me for "lunch" at 5 pm tomorrow at the races. I had to decline as I am running a horse I think. Oh well, anticipation is building for the new track.
Update 2395: An update from Penny at timwoolleyracing.com, who appears to be mucking out as many stalls as me:
Friday morning (by this day I'm worn out) and I woke to an S.O.S. call from Tim.
Much of the help decided to take the morning off without telling anyone. So I went to the barn to fill in. Everyone calls me "Juanita" when I do this. Off I went to Fair Hill to do as many stalls as possible before 8:20. Everything went well, and everyone remained calm. After Andrea gave me a hug for rescuing her, we got down to work. Tim rode Real Lace first thing and she galloped well, unfortunately there was a loose horse on the track and it got her upset for the ride home. Tim was worried that she would tie up (muscles get tight and makes walking uncomfortable). We kept a close eye on her before and after her bath and she was fine. Next set was Tim on Who's Happy. She is so quiet around the barn. Butter of course would not melt in her mouth but she has a lot of equipment on to gallop. Tim is a very strong rider and I know that if there is a lot of equipment the horse is strong. They both came back calm and happy so everything must have been ok. As "Juanita" mucked away, Andrea got the next set ready. Gator Nation went out with Tim and Whip Smart went out with her rider. Whip Smart is so cute. Her ears curl up at the end like a little elf and when she looks straight at you she is irresistable. I am so lucky. The new report on Red Aspen is that she is back. "Juanita" mucked around her while she was loose in her stall and it is sure great to have her back. Time was running short for me so the last thing I did was to get Mass Romantic and Quick Quest ready for their training. Mass Romantic stood like a lady waiting for her rider and Quick Quest was his usual roudy self. He doesn't like to wait. Everything revolves around him and he is sure to let you know if he is unhappy. Before I left I called in my replacement Meghan. She was only too happy to be needed this morning. She was just in time to walk Whip Smart after her gallop. Both were of course as happy as clams!
Update 2394: A pleasant morning's work at Presque Isle Downs this morning. I had four to ride, each went nicely and seem to really enjoy the Tapeta surface. I chatted with another exercise rider who had not ridden on the surface before, but really liked it. I am excited to see how it performs tomorrow during our opening day (Seventy-eight entries mark Presque Isle debut). I mucked seven stalls, groomed six and did two up (i.e. put some standing bandages on their legs). I was going from 6 am to 11:45 am ... but not too bad getting everything done. Now I have to go and find a new phone!
Update 2393: The oldest surviving Kentucky Derby winner, Genuine Risk, is still doing well at the age of 30: Genuine Risk Doing Well at Newstead, excerpt:
Genuine Risk's day isn't all relaxation. "She's a very good babysitter," Connolly said. "Sometimes when we have a filly right off the track, we'll place them out in a field together. She's kind of a good influence on them; keeps them quiet and calm."
Although she is 30, Genuine Risk gets by on a routine diet. "Plus, we give her lots of carrots and as many peppermints as she can eat," Connolly said.
Saratoga's meet wraps up this weekend, on Saturday we have the Grade 1 Woodward with the current leading older horse Lawyer Ron: Pletcher holds pair of aces for Woodward Stakes, excerpt:
"Obviously, we'd love to see Lawyer Ron do as well as he did last time," Pletcher said. "The horse is more cooperative than he once was, but I don't know that in every scenario he'd relax as well as he did the other day. He benefited from the outside post and being in the clear."
This time around, Lawyer Ron will break from the rail under Pletcher's first-call rider, John Velazquez.
Good morning everyone-
Starting lessons with a dressage trainer this weekend!
Please keep up the calling and faxing
and join your state groups....
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Welcoming committed individuals
to help save horses with the NC calling group...
an hour a week is all it takes,
and we make it fun and easy...
come on Tarheels, I know you're out there!
antislaughterlobby@earthlink.net
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Posted by: Christian at August 31, 2007 11:13 AM