Barbaro Updates: 738
updates are now here.
Update 4274: Another tuesday, another afternoon spent at OLEX. Horse meat prices were about 14 - 15 cents per pound. Not one horse was ridden through the ring today. Only a few sold by the head, rather than by the pound. One buyer bought the majority of horses, and the majority of horses going through we standard breds. There was one thoroughbred, at least. He went for 14 cents / pound.
Update 4273: Superfecta here, with your regular weekly update.
It's a Distaff sort of day today; Zarkava took home the Cartier Award for Horse of the Year, Zenyatta has her own hat and there is the troubling news that Sunline is fighting laminitis.
First, let's look more closely at the good news -- Zarkava's flawless season was rewarded by Cartier voters who chose to focus on an entire year, rather than the last month or so preceding the vote. Val at Foolish Pleasure notes that many Breeders' Cup winners were not even nominated, and rightly so. I'm putting my money on Goldikova for next year's Horse of the Year; she ran into a monster in Zarkava in her rare defeats and could be one herself next season. Given Zarkava's absence, I'm glad I still have Goldikova to look forward to.
Zenyatta might be busy taking a break before resuming her racing career next year, but she may make an appearance on the track on November 30th, when Hollywood Park celebrates Zenyatta Day -- it's more than enough enticement to get fans out to see the Matriarch and Hollywood Derby. It will also be your last chance to see Precious Kitten on the track - she will be retired after the Matriarch, but it will be a great opportunity to see how she stacks up against Cocoa Beach. I presume the newly-released Zenyatta hats will be widely available on the day, although I'm holding out for a t-shirt.
In less encouraging news, champion Kiwi mare Sunline is battling laminitis. A winner of 32 of her 48 starts (and in the money a further 12 times), Sunline was named Australian Horse of the Year three times -- she won the Cox Plate twice and the Doncaster Handicap at ages 3 and 6, with 13 Group 1 wins in her career. She was also the first horse to be inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame while still in training. She developed laminitis after a bout with colic in July and is far from out of the woods; reports suggest she is more comfortable following some surgery, but it may be some time before we get better news. Again, I recommend a swing by Foolish Pleasure for more on Sunline.
But it's not all gloom and doom; Rags to Riches joined Zenyatta, Serena's Song and the great Ipi Tombe as the first female Moneigh artists; their work (along with that of a few well-known stallions and geldings) will hit eBay on the 23rd, with all proceeds benefiting ReRun as per usual. It's a great gift for a great cause, so mark your calendars and get ready to bid!
Update 4272: Barbaro's 2yo brother Nicanor had his first work on November 16 since July, and shipped down to Florida yesterday: Nicanor Works, Heads to Florida..
Update 4271: Despite the Europeans dominating the Breeders' Cup Classic, the European Horse of the Year went to the unbeaten Zarkava, an unbeaten 3yo filly who completed her perfect career with a win in the Prix de L'arc de Triomphe: Retired Zarkava is horse of year.
Found on Paulick Report.
It is snowing, a good day to have off from the track!
Update 4270: This does seem rather on the low side to me: Curlin valued at $20-million.
It's snowing at Woodbine and I have a day off tomorrow!
Update 4269: Well it was not as cold this morning as I had expected. A crisp morning and when the sun got up quite a pleasant morning. We only had five sets, all before the break. All mine galloped two miles, and did so quite nicely. We had a few workers after the break so I went up to the track to watch them work. All in all a pleasant and short morning's work.
This is very cool: NASCAR Champ Aids T-bred Retirement. And here is Friends of Ferdinand's site: Friends of Ferdinand.
And thanks for all the good wishes!
Update 4268: As much as we love this sport we have to remember it's dangers: Exercise Rider Killed at Golden Gate.
And New Zealand's most valuable broodmare is battling laminitis: Champion mare Sunline battles killer illness. Found on Paulick Report.
And a quick update from yesterday's adventure, two of our new horses now have homes. Smooch is staying where he is and will be a trail horse. The chestnut mare was bought by the one onlooker we had as we were riding the horses. Two down, one to go and cash for our next purchase!
here am I - first today - to see such devastating news in the latest update - exercise rider killed, and top brood mare battling laminitis - I'd rather think about yesterday's last update -
Alex - great to learn about your assessment of the three OLEX rescues - what a waste if they had not been saved - and goes to show - living proof, as it were - that useful horses go to slaughter. Not that WE need any such proof, and not that WE value a non-working horselife any less - but to the 'man on the street' who is generally misinformed and thinks of slaughter horses as old, sick, lame or crazy - THAT guy has to get a jolt to see the outcome of just these three.
Looking forward to your tangible report on all three after they are rehomed into their happy endings. and will we get pics?
Posted by: CJaffe at November 17, 2008 10:06 AM