There's no secret betting is a part of visiting the track. For many the excitement isn't in cashing a ticket - it's in watching a blanket finish or the jaw-dropping performance of a young horse so precocious in speed that the world is at their feet. And, while many people see racing on Kentucky Derby day, and many on Breeders Cup day there is more than that too.

For the horse racing fan there's also the All-American futurity, the Hambletonian and Little Brown Jug. There's speed in sprinters and chariot racing and trotters and pacers. Each has legends and each has horses fondly remembered by fans. There's the likes of Rambling Willie. I got to see him go once at the Quad City Downs many moons ago and the fire in his eyes coming down the lane was every bit as determined as Smarty Jones or Curlin.

Continue reading "Horse Racing - It's not just betting"

Most around horse racing have some idea who Citation and Cigar are. The 'ladies' of the sport are often overlooked somewhat. Cigar was incredibly close to breaking the all time consecutive races but stood with Citation at 16. The easy running, powerful Cigar left many good horses in his wake, unable to touch him. Cigar's determination carried him to victory on his own and swept to the front easily. Cigar hald the record for money earning and consecutive wins for many years. On September 27, Curlin passed Cigar's money record. Cigar showed time and time again the heart of a fighter. Cigar was one of four horses - Citation, Ferdinand and Hallowed Dreams, that shared the record of 16 consecutive wins.

Fewer people know Pepper's Pride. A New Mexico bred filly by Desert God, she came up to races twice this year and had no race due to weather. With 16 wins and 161 days layoff, the Joel Marr trainee got a race in a six furlong alloweance. Close to the pace she took the lead leaving the far turn and shook off all comers for a 1-3/4 length nail in the record books. The time was 1:10.1 over a fast track. The five year old has won 12 stakes of the 17, is unbeaten with wins from 5-1/2 furlongs to a mile.

Continue reading "Breaking records"

Sometimes you can take all the preventions and still it's not enough. An old L-shaped cinder block barn at Oak Tree, a division of Lane's End, caught fire and was virtually destroyed. The 12 mares had been turned out - no humans or horses were injured. The barn will be rebuilt.

 October is fire safety month and for all of those who have horses it is a good time to review fire prevention methods and get your barn up to safe standards. What's this got to do with racing? Everything. Race horses and others die far too often in fires. A straw bedded stall is the equal to a pool of gasoline and the horses are standing  in it with no way out.

In December 2003 a fire in Henderson Kentucky killed 22 horses. In 2005 31 Thoroughbreds were killed in a barn fire in Elkton Maryland. At Woodbine in August 2002 a desperate attempt to save horses at Woodbine racetrack in Toronto Ontario meant turning horses loose, with news reports of three horses killed and 50 injured, despite those running stall to stall opening doors to get horses out of the 126 stalls. March 2007 seven horses - five Thoroughbred and two World class Saddlebreds - were killed in a fire in the Lexington area. January 31, 2007 two others died in a fire caused by an electrical malfunction near Paris Kentucky. February 2002 22 head of Thoroughreds,mostly young prospects including a $200,000 Grand Slam colt died at the Ocala Stud farm. In February 1994 35 were killed at Fonner Park in Nebraska; July 2001 28 Standardbreds were killed at the Meadows; December 1993 29 killed at The Manor in New York.

Continue reading "Fire at Oak Tree barn"

The anticipated match between Big Brown, Curlin and Casino Drive will not happen. Big Brown 'grabbed a quarter' today, an injury that while not life threatening means he is out for a long recovery. He has been retired. With extensive tissue damage he wasn't initially lame but as he was cooled off became increasingly sore and uncomfortable. His retirement was announced and he will go to Three Chimneys in Kentucky. He'll stand along the likes of Point Given, Rahy, Smarty Jones and Dynaformer.

Big Brown had 7 wins from 8 starts, with his only loss the one that cost him history - in the Belmont Stakes. While that and the Breeders Cup Classic were not to be, perhaps in a few years he'll have a son or daughter to redeem his honor. Best wishes Big Brown.

Continue reading "Goodbye Big Brown"

Although Americans are looking at Big Brown's retirement there is another retirement announced today - that of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (FR) winner Zarkava. The three year old is more of value as a broodmare than racing at four. The Aga Khan has said in announcing her retirement she will be bred to Dalakhani, the 2003 Arc winner, in Ireland.

Zarkava, sired by Zamindar and out of Zarkasha by Kahyasi, is unbeaten in 7 races. She not only topped the filly races but trounced the boys by two lengths in the Arc. So often the fillies are overlooked - and no matter where they're from or race, a champion is a champion. The racing world awaits her first foal.

Continue reading "Another Retirement"

It has always amazed me that Thoroughbreds have horses worth millions of dollars and yet do not get the protection of a $1500 barrel horse. Even some standardbreds give protection and don't get slowed down. Some people claim it isn't traditional or that it will slow a horse down. I maintain that if 16 ounces is going to slow a horse down that much then as an industry we need to step back as many horses carried much more than today.

Big Brown has been retired due to grabbing a quarter - an injury that is painful but not fatal. Overstepping can cause it. While it's true that some horses will get hurt no matter what - it seems with a horse at that level bell boots would be a good precaution. They are put on barrel horses and jumpers for protection at speed. It's not unheard of for Thoroughbreds to nick a tendon There are tendon wraps and other thing to protect the front legs. It won't make a difference in cases of breaks or freak accidents such as Eight Bells or DancingInMyDreams. But we know it prevents many injuries in reining, cross country and barrel horses.

Continue reading "Breaking traditions"