Barbaro Updates: 446
updates are now here.
Update 2799: Santa Anita, which is open for training but not for racing, may need to close its track for a while as it explores drainage issues in preparation for its winter meet: Santa Anita track needs work.
Update 2798: Superfecta here, with your regular Tuesday update.
It's Horse of the Year time in Australia (after a two-month delay due to equine influenza); not surprisingly, the phenomenal sprinter Miss Andretti gets the title this year. She's the latest in a line of mares dominating the Aussie turf scene, following Sunline and the great Makybe Diva. Her frequent rival Takeover Target took the Champion International Performer title while Miss Finland and Haradasun took the three-year-old honors. Desert War took the middle distance category while Delta Blues was Champion Stayer.
Miss Andretti also took home the Most Popular Racehorse title, as voted on by the public. Phar Lap was named the inaugural Racing Hall of Fame Legend. Not on to rest on her laurels (quite literally, in this instance), Miss Andretti is gearing up for the International Sprint at Sha Tin.
Heading back stateside but sticking with sprinters, the news is in that Kona Gold will be moving to Kentucky Horse Park. As a Breeders' Cup Sprint champion and holder of multiple track records, he is perhaps the most accomplished stable pony in the US, but he will soon be heading off to a life of more leisure, joining Cigar and Da Hoss. Not a bad group to pal around with.
Update 2797: Here is an abbreviated print version of Inside Edition's piece on Horse Slaughter yesterday: Horse Slaughter.
Michael Dickinson is in the UK receiving a life-time achievement honor: Dickinson Honored in Great Britain, excerpt:
The luncheon has raised more than £1.5 million in its first 10 years and is expected to bring in more than £200,000 Nov. 27 for the trust's charities: the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Center, Racing Welfare, the Blue Cross, Compassion in World Farming, the Brooke, and the International League for the Protection of Horses.
Update 2796: A crisp start to a lovely morning at Sam Houston Race Park. It appears an ant colony decided to take refuge in my helmet over the last couple of days! On the topic of animals, one of our riders brought his pet iguana to show us. Not something I have witnessed before in my travels.
I had ten sets to ride today, we took seven sets out before the break, and three sets after the break. Given that everyone had the day off yesterday all went well. Lots of chatter on the track this morning about the upcoming big game of the week, Dallas and the Packers. Of course I will be in the minority for rooting for Brett Favre's team, but it should be a fun confrontation!
Update 2795: Legendary jockey Bill Hartack, who won the Kentucky Derby five times including a win on Northern Dancer, died monday at the age of 74 while on a hunting trip in Southern Texas: Bill Hartack found dead at age 74.
The final "big" race day of the year is the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races on 9 December. Sue McMullen sent this release:
Dylan Thomas and Miss Andretti, Europe and Australia's Horse of the Year respectively, last night touched down in Hong Kong for the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races on 9 December.
Six-time Gr.1 winner Dylan Thomas arrived from Japan for the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase in the early hours of Tuesday morning with no ill effects, according to Pat Keating, travelling head lad to trainer Aidan O'Brien.
"The trip from the quarantine stable in Japan to Sha Tin took about 11 hours. He's a seasoned traveller and he looks to have settled in very quickly," Keating said.
This will be the final race of Dylan Thomas' superb career before retiring to stud. In 2007 he has won the Prix Ganay, the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the Irish Champion Stakes (for a second consecutive year) and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He was also named Europe's Champion Older Horse last week.
Miss Andretti, meanwhile, earned her accolade as Australia's Horse of the Year while she shipped from Melbourne for the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint on 9 December when victory would grant her another title -- that of World's Leading Sprinter.
"It was a smooth trip and she has travelled well," said Scott Magee, trainer Lee Freedman's travelling foreman. "She'll just have a light walk this morning to loosen up. She's in good form."
Miss Andretti has won five Gr.1 titles and in 2006/07 she became the only horse to win the Manikato Stakes, Australia Stakes, Lightning Stakes and the Newmarket Handicap in the same season. She also won the Gr.2 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot and is well clear at the top of current Global Sprint Challenge rankings.
"We take great pride in presenting this magnificent racing occasion as Hong Kong takes on the world," said Mr William A Nader, the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Executive Director of Racing.
"Dylan Thomas and Miss Andretti are universally recognized as superstars and will play a meaningful role in reinforcing the day as the Turf World Championships."
Keep calling.
Rest in peace, Mr. Hartack...I am so old I remember you (and Eddie Arcaro) from when I was a little girl watching the races with my grandparents!
Just WONDERFUL to hear good reports about Nicanor...his most recent pictures send chills down my spine because he reminds me so much of Barbaro (except for his snip) - beautiful conformation, big powerful body...although I remember it's the baby who, when Edgar Prado visited him, inspired him to use the word "reincarnation."
CALL, FAX, CALL...and remember to use my "guilt-trip" theory of getting friends and relatives involved - we are running out of time and need EVERYONE to help! I'm not up to making telephone calls, so I am so very thankful that I can fax from my computer...
FOR OUR BELOVED BARBARO, and for all the nameless dear ones we couldn't save...WE SHALL OVERCOME!
Nancy
Posted by: Nancy in CT at November 27, 2007 11:23 AM