Barbaro Updates: 498
updates are now here.
Update 3037: My interview yesterday on "at the races" with Steve Byk is archived here. It also includes Julie from Churchill Downs discussing the Jackson's decision to memorialize Barbaro at Churchill.
Update 3036: Curlin and Pyro work together again this morning, six furlongs in an impressive 1:13: Curlin, Pyro Impressive in Workouts.
Update 3035: A chilly start to the day, but bright sunshine once the sun came up. We had ten sets, so a busy morning. This included a few 2yos, our first to ship in. My understanding is we will get many 2yos to help get ready over the course of the next month or two. Anyway, all my horses went nicely and it was a pleasant morning's work. There was an announcement over the backside PA system, about 7 am, asking if anyone had found a horse, please contact the stable gate. An hour later the same announcement was broadcast. Lets hope the horse was discovered! I also witnessed a "turn and burn", for the first time. This is quarter horse training ... apparently they jog the horse back to the eighth pole, turn around and then go as fast as they can. It was odd to witness.
Update 3034: Ed Fountaine writes about drugs in horseracing: 'ROID TO TROUBLE HALL OF FAMER VAN BERG: DRUGS RUINING RACING.
Determining the size of a stallion's book can be complicated and it is tempting to push for a large book for a popular stallion. Winstar is looking to control this a little: WinStar's Way: Controlling Books, excerpt:
"This year, our goal for Distorted Humor will be between 95 and 100 mares," Cauthen said. "We're slowly reducing his book for a couple of reasons. One, we're hoping to extend his career so he'll be here when he's 25 or 30 instead of for a shorter period. Two, we feel like that as the price of stud fee goes up, his exclusivity should go up so there's not as many of his foals out there. That's an advantage to everyone commercially or anyone who breeds or races. If you had one of the five grade I winners he had last year, that's a positive; it was a little exclusivity. A long career and not too many foals out there both are probably good things."
Please keep calling and writing, and consider coming to DC March 4 and 5.
It was great yesterday to see all of Big Bs fan here for him,a celebration of his life.Harriettes writings were great,We will never forget the GREAT BARBARO.
Posted by: John NY at January 30, 2008 11:18 AM