Barbaro Updates: 990
updates are now here.
Update 5901: More frigid weather at Fair Hill. The tracks were closed for training, but I went in and shedrowed four for Michael Pino. A straightforward morning, all bundled up.
Rachel Alexandra got back to work this morning with a very easy half mile breeze in 52.
Yesterday we learned about new slaughter rules for horses in Canada. When they come in to place it will mean essentially quarantining slaughter-bound horses for 6 months, which will add considerable costs to the slaughter system. Also of note are the medications that are banned from any horses that are slaughtered regardless of when those medications are given. These include bute, which is of course used at one point or another with pretty much every horse. Compliance seems to be a key issue: Horse slaughter rules changing in Canada .
Update 5900: Only two ridden this morning for me at Fair Hill. And that was fine by me, another frigid morning. Both just jogged in the shedrow.
Last night was Sovereign Awards night in Canada. The Canadian equivalent to the Eclipse Awards. I was excited to see Tribal Belle win the female sprint division. I rode her a few times, but not in 2009, in 2008: Champs Elysees wins Sovereign award.
Another light weekend for graded stakes racing: WEEKEND STAKES: WHERE TO WATCH brought to you by KBC Horse Supplies.
Penn National has asked the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission to investigate Gill: PENN NATIONAL REQUESTS INVESTIGATION INTO MICHAEL GILL.
Update 5899: It was brutally cold this morning at Fair Hill. 18F with a wind. I rode three, and was very thankful to be done when I was finished. All mine went nicely, not that I would have been able to do a whole lot if they decided not to go well!
Dubai's racing season opened yesterday, and it is a new era with their new Tapeta surface: Gloria de Campeao grabs glory in Meydan opener.
Things are ongoing with Michael Gill. The good thing about the era of internet and social media, this situation just won't easily be brushed away. Kind of like the Ernie Paragallo situation. Two people that horse racing does not need.
January 29, on this morning three years ago Barbaro was euthanized.
And please keep calling.
Update 5898: I have ridden four so far this morning at Fair Hill. I am now waiting on one more to work, we are waiting for the dirt track to open. Hopefully soon, but thankfully Michael Pino has a computer inn his barn office. So far my four horses went nicely. This included one worker on the Tapeta. And our blacksmith came again this morning, bringing with him his usual companions, Corky and Cali.
The Gill saga continues: GILL THREATENS TO SUE THE PAULICK REPORT.
And please keep calling.
Update 5897: Five ridden for Michael Pino this morning at Fair Hill. And it was a chilly morning too, but at least the sun was out. All mine went nicely.
Maggi Moss speaks out regarding the Michael Gill saga: MAGGI TO MIKE: 'PLEASE GET OUT OF RACING'. Maggi has been very helpful in retiring horses and really loves our sport. She also happens to own my favorite horse, Salty!
Yesterday I was in DC for a hearing regarding the horse slaughter issue: Members of Congress, Celebrities, The HSUS Speak Out Against Horse Slaughter and Highlight Need to Protect Wild Horses. Of course it also meant I got to hang out with beatiful people: Kelly Carlson. Anyway, it was a good event I think, and hopefully we can start to pick up some momentum in Washington.
Steve Haskin takes a very early look at the Derby picture and focuses on two trainers, Baffert and Pletcher. Lentenor also gets a mention after his terrific maiden score last week: Kentucky Derby Trail: Battle Stations!.
And please keep calling.
Update 5896: Superfecta here, with your regular weekly update.
Here at Superfecta HQ, we've been busily working away on our redesign; things are finally (more or less) done - we hope you enjoy the new look and feel. If you had any individual posts bookmarked, many will forward to the new site, but a few will get stuck partway through - just hit the search box to track the errant ones down (and I'll spare you my talk on the effect moving from Blogger to WordPress has on linking and SEO). And please check to ensure that 'blogspot' is absent from any links you may have - we're just superfectablog.com.
With that out of the way, we can review the weekend's events: most notably, Winslow Homer went from a slightly-under-the-radar buzz horse to an official buzz horse in his Holy Bull victory. Favored Jackson Bend certainly did not harm his reputation in a second-place finish, however, and the two will likely meet again in the Fountain of Youth. I remain a bit hesitant about Winslow Homer, however, since both his sire and dam seemed to peak early - he may yet prove to be one of those precocious colts we don't hear from again after March of his 3-year-old year - but I'm willing to wait to see how things pan out. If you are not already keeping track of Derby preps with Raceday 360's handy spreadsheet, it's time to start - for those who like numbers at this time of year, it's worth noting that A Little Warm is the only colt to post a triple-digit Beyer in a Derby prep so far - but we're a long way from May.
Things went well on the comeback front: Friesan Fire and General Quarters finished one-two in the Louisiana Handicap - both 2009 Derby trail graduates proved their quality this time, finishing a long way in front of third-place finisher Good and Lucky. It's encouraging to see both of them back in professional style, since we just lost Papa Clem to retirement (via an ankle injury) after his own comeback win. While I cannot see either one offering a serious challenge to Rachel Alexandra or Zenyatta at this point, both should continue to mature into grownup racehorses of quality - and they could be quite exciting to watch by the time summer rolls around. In the meantime, we should see Quality Road in the Donn - we'll have more on that as the race approaches.
On the ownership side of the game, there are a few odd stories kicking around - make of them what you will!
Update 5895: This week's Facebook Group e-mail: Fair Hill, Justin Shepherd, Ramon Dominguez, Lentenor, Johnny Velasquez, La Ville Rouge, Michael Gill, ABR Horse Slaughter contest, River Downs, Chad Moore.
More Michael Gill coverage:
Penn jockeys: Gill horses a safety risk
Penn Temporarily Bans Horses Owned by Gill
Jockeys focus on owner Gill after Penn National breakdowns
I am now off to Fair Hill to get on a couple of horses for Michael Pino, and then to Washinngton DC to talk about the horse slaughter topic.
Update 5894: I shedrowed three horses this morning for Michael Pino at Fair Hill. It was a warm morning, but we are getting plenty of rain. A very straightforward morning's work.
Saturday night, jockeys at Penn National refused to ride the sixth race unless a horse owned by Eclipse Award winning owner Michael Gill was scratched. More here: GILL CENTER OF CONTROVERSY AGAIN.
And please keep calling.
Alex, thank you for posting the Gill article. While so many people are working diligently to make racing safer for horses and present a better racing image to the public, what Gill does is outrageous.
Joy FOB Forever Remember: IT'S ABOUT THE HORSES.
Always remembering the Great John Henry
Posted by: JoyinVT at January 25, 2010 2:34 PM