Winding Down With Whirlaway

For those readers who are not in my class I feel you should be informed that this is the last required week I "have" to write entries. Luckily for those who wish to continue reading, I plan and hope to continue this blog's upkeep. The entries will be a little more...spaced...than they would be back when I have a deadline, but they should pop up every now and then. Hopefully there is enough here to distract you while I am waiting for something to write. Although I cannont promise anything too exciting, I know I will get into those moods where I find and article or see a race that I can't help but comment on. I mean serisously...how could I possibly keep my thoughts about the Kentucky Derby to myself?! 8 DAYS 21 HOURS 30 MINUTES!

Back to what I should be talking about...I am again taking another look at Blood Horse's list of the top 100 horses in the 20th Century. This time around I decided on a horse I have heard countless times, but really don't know much if anything about. That is how I chose number 26: Whirlaway.

The one and nearly only thing that I know about Whirlaway is that he won the Triple Crown in 1941. That alone would earn a horse a spot on the 100 list (all of which eleven are on the list: 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 9th, 12th, 13th, 26th, 28th, 33rd, 49th, 61st).

With this massive accomplishment Whirlaway was given the title of 1941 Horse of the Year, which he one again in 1942. Whirlaway was in the money 93% of the time and won 32 of his 60 starts. Not a bad record to say the least.

Another amazing horse for an incredible era.

Ol' Dan Patch

I take pride in knowing a lot about horse racing in general, it's what I do. So of course when my mom was talking about a horse I have never even heard of, I was beyond shocked. When I voalized my shock, she merely looked at me, cocked her head, and asked, "You never heard of Ol' Dan Patch?"

It soon became fairly obviously why I had never heard of Dan Patch...he was a harness racer. Although I love harness racing, I do not follow it nearly as close as I do Thoroughbred racing. I don't follow it much at all really, I just enjoy being a spectator. But the fact that knew nothing of this legendary pacer was unacceptable!

It turns out that Dan Patch was pretty much the greatest harness racer off all time. The awards given out at the end of the harness racing seasons are actually called the Dan Patch Awards. Even though it has been ages since he was on the track (the early 1900s) Ol' Dan Patch is still admired by racers everywhere and cosidered the best.

When he was racing, he beat the world harness records at least fourteen times and actually set the fastest time for a harness paced mile at 1:55.25 in 1905. Sometimes owners would scratch their horses from a race if Dan Patch was on the card, knowing that nearly no horse could beat him. This didn't stop Dan Patch from pacing the race anyway...he just had to race the clock (and he usually won that too!)

Having never lost an actual race, Dan Patch's undefeated career made him a favorite among nearly everyone. He was endorsed with countless items ranging from toys (I am positive I would have bought one) to cigars and washing machines. His talent brought many fans to the track, and often packed the grandstands with his supporters. Even a United State's President or two stopped by the track to watch his amazing speed.

After earning over a million dollars in race earnings (in the early 1900s remember...that's a lot of cash now!!!) and nine world records, Ol' Dan Patch was retired in 1909 to a life of glory where in his later years he traveled to exibitions so his faithful and adoring fans could visit the legend for themselves.

While searching for pictures of Dan Patch, I came across a blog entry about him.

"Dan Patch was the fastest racehorse of his day, having never lost a race. He also broke the two minute mark 35 times, more than any other horse. He was the Black Beauty of his day. There is still a Dan Patch Historical Society continuing the memory of the famous horse. Even at the Minnesota State Fair, there is a street named Dan Patch Avenue," (The Millennial Freemason).

Besides being absolutely gorgeous, a magnificent racer, and all around amazing, Dan Patch was foaled in the good state of Indiana. Way to make the state proud! Way to go! I know the harness world, my mother, and now I...will never forget good Ol' Dan Patch!

Represent!

You see them all over the place...those little Jockeys running around in vibrant and colorful shirts looking for their mount in the paddock. But what exactly are the silks for?

Silks are the way horse owners and barns represent. Each owner or stable has a particular set of silks they use for each and every horse they own. This is for those handicappers (betters) out there that swear a horse to win by the stable or the simple fans looking for their favorite barn.

One of my favorite silks is those for West Point Thoroughbreds. I'm not sure why I find their silks so appealing, but I know when I see that black star on the gold torso, I should be keeping my eye on that horse.

Although silks show where the horse hails from, it also is a easy way for spectators to keep their eye and the horse they bet on. The vibrant colors are usually unique to one or two horses in a race, and help the onlookers keep track of where their horse is running. Silks can be seen from the highest seat and from across the track due to their normally bold colors and patterns. Trust me, this comes in handy when watching the Derby which sports a twenty horse field.

Silks are very useful and an important part of racing. Should you want to give designing them yourself, try this link and make your own silks! If you like them you can even buy them!

Track Safety

For those of you who either do not know or have perhaps forgotten about that tragic loss of Eight Belles almost a year ago. The remarkable filly who finished second in the Kentucky Derby only to break down on the back stretch. No one is really sure what happened that day, but no matter what caused the accident, the filly still lost her life that day.

Eight Belles was an amazing horse and had the potential to be the filly of the ages. Being able to hold her own against nineteen of the strongest three-year old colts out there, I was eager for her career. Unfortunately that chance was taken away from her by a freak accident. Memorials of her are all over the Internet as I soon realized as I stumbled over a blog entry dedicated to her memory. Powerful Memory - Eight Belles - Powerful Legacy.

Although breakdowns are not uncommon on tracks, rarely are they viewed by hundreds of thousands of people. The fight for improving track conditions such as switching to Polytrack (synthetic and softer dirt) from the good ol' traditional dirt to banning the plethora of drugs these horses are injected and supplemented with monthly. After this particular accident animal activists such as PETA were on all arms, harassing spectators at the Preakness and the politicians in Congress. Although I found PETA just annoying and slightly disrespectful, they were adding to the masses that demanded Congress to act.

The leaders of the NTRA had already acted before the government could get involved. Although many veterinarians have claimed that a certain type of steroid is therapeutic for horses, it has already been banned from all tracks. The consequence of not banning the drug would be the loss in a graded status. So if Churchill Downs for example did not ban the drug, the Kentucky Derby would no longer be a Grade I race. Naturally tracks obeyed this law along with the many other anti-drug laws passed. But how will this effect the horses?

"Many veterinarians, then and now, consider steroids a therapeutic medication. Dr. Larry Bramlage, a highly respected equine surgeon who is former president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and was honored in 1994 with the Jockey Club Gold Medal for distinguished service, said during last year's Triple Crown that there were "some good aspects" to steroid," (ESPN: Eight Belles, one year later).

What does this mean? Will the horses truly benefit from losing the drug? It seems we will find out. This is the first Derby and Triple Crown season where the horses are relatively 'natural'.

I am not all against the use of drugs with racehorses, most of our human athletes are drugged somehow...so why not our equine stars? I do disagree with some drugs though, such as snake venom and other drugs administrated for pain killers. The thought that a horse will continue running when something is breaking or hurting it is just terrible. The horse should know when something is wrong so perhaps it can stop itself before something breaks and the animal must be put down. Jockeys too wish to see the end of pre-race pain killers because they want to have an accurate feel of the horse they are riding at speeds of near forty miles per hour. They do not want to find out about an injury the same time as the horse falls to its knees in the middle of a race; jockeys prefer to know ahead of time so the can save themselves, the fields, and the horse.

Another thing people are trying to change is switching dirt tracks to polytrack. The polytack is much deeper and softer than traditional dirt so it is better at absorbing the impact while horses run. However, the deepness also slows the horses down drastically. Personally I think switching all the tracks of America from dirt to polytrack is nearly absurd. Dirt is not the main cause of breakdowns in racing...horses have been running on it forever! I do however feel that training tracks would be better off as polytrack, so when the horses our at the farms training they build up stamina with less harm to their legs.

There are many more things being done and ideas being tossed around to ensure that a tragedy like Eight Belles will not happen again. No matter whether I like the change or not I am sure that it will be more beneficial to the horses and make the sport that much more competitive. It is all about the horses' safety after all. Because with no horses, there would be no horse racing.

New Derby Spot

A new opening has become available in the Kentucky Derby. Although this is a great opportunity for another horse to get a chance a glory, for Old Fashioned it was a lost chance at greatness.

Unfortunately for this potential legend, his dreams were cut short after his last race in the Arkansas Derby this past Saturday. After the race was called, the connections of Old Fashioned realized there was something wrong. The colt had suffered a fracture in his right knee. Although this is not a life threatening injury, it is usually a career ending one. Later that week the horse was shipped to a farm in Lexington, Kentucky to receive surgery on his knee.

"It's not life-threatening, it should be okay," Jones said. "Career-ending is a possibility just because of the type of horse he is. But we'll see. We'll let them make that call," Old Fashioned's trainer said in an ESPN article on the subject. I was not sure what to make of this statement. I hoped it was not the stereotypical call that a well bred horse automatically makes a great stud, even when untested. I am hoping that they were referring to horses usually being unable to reach the same level of greatness they had obtained when injured. Sadly we will probably never know.

Following the surgery it was decided that it was better if Old Fashioned was retired. Although he would never have recovered in time for the Derby, it is still unfortunate that he will never be able to race again. The colt was well on his way to being considered the favorite for the first Triple Crown race, but now that honor will be passed on to another horse.

Before his career could really start, it was ended. Now this young boy will never again feel the track under his hooves. He will wait in pasture until he is old enough to breed, forever passing down his untested, yet potentially amazing, abilities.

Run for the Roses

The most exciting two minutes in sports, the biggest race in North America, the most sought after win, that coveted blanket, the first Saturday of May.

Yes, here I go again: the Kentucky Derby.

I have said it time and time again, but this really is a very important race. Three year-olds all across North America are pointed in toward this race, but only twenty of them will even get the chance to stand in the starting gates.

The technical aspects of this race have been covered in a previous blog, but just in case you either did not read that entry or have merely forgotten, here is a reminder. The Kentucky Derby is an annual race run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky every first weekend in May. Fillies or colts are allowed to run in the race so long as the animal is three years of age. The horses also have to qualify for the race for only twenty horses are allowed spots in the starting gates. To qualify horses generally have to either have earned a certain amount of money or have won so many graded (important) races.

Once a horses makes the line-up for the Derby, they are expected to run over ten furlongs which is the equivalent to a mile and a quarter. This race is run over dirt and takes the field around two corners. The two corners and the distance is usually a new thing for these horses as the prep races for the Derby tend to be short and rarely have two turns. This is one of the many things that can cause a horse to experience running problems.

Because of all the problems that can occur, the truly best horse may not win, but the one that does overcomes many obstacles and deserves the honor that comes with that win. In Jeremy Plonk's article, Derby Worries are Multiple, some of the more common reason are outlined.

The problem he focuses on in this article is that more and more tracks are switching to a synthetic surface which is proving to be easier on the fragile horses' legs. However, this new surface also favors a different running style than dirt or turf tracks. The Kentucky Derby is ran on the dirt, therefore many horses are coming into this race without ever running on real dirt. Plonk combats this problem by going into the plethora of other challenges that go hand in hand with running the Derby.

"Last I checked, it takes a great horse — at the very least a great performance — to win the Kentucky Derby," Plonk says in his article, and he is right. There are so many things to overcome besides the surface that a horse has to be focused and at the top of his or her game to win this prestigious race.

Being the biggest single race in North America, the horses in the race are faced with many new experiences all at once. The sheer size of the crowd is enough to get under any horse's skin. The paddocks are packed with spectators while the horses are being saddled. The horses are met by a band and song filled stands as soon as they set foot on the track. The inside of the tracked is crammed with hundreds of drunken partiers. Lastly, the field itself is huge. Twenty horses is more than most race will ever see. Even the Breeder's Cup races at the end of the year average about ten or twelve horses per race.

With all these factors these flighty horses get nervous, and this tends to crack their focus usually resulting in a poor performance. Should the horse somehow manage to stay calm and focused, they still have to fight the other nineteen horses for the lead. As can be imagined, finding that perfect spot or opening is near impossible with that many horses, which is why, as Jeremy, the best horse does not always win. Luck plays a big factor.

All these challenges makes it hard to pick a winner for the Derby, but history has some helpful tips for those new to the game.

Certain colors are more likely to win the Derby. In the 134 runnings of the race, it was won by forty-seven bays, forty-three chestnuts, the remaining few being black, grey, or roan. Although this seems to a good way to pick a winner, generally speaking most Thoroughbreds are either a bay or chestnut. This means they have more horses which means more chance to win. So if you are hoping for a grey to win you may want to consider a bay back up.

Geldings and fillies also tend to be a bad idea for your winning pick. Although fillies have come close to winning like Eight Belles did with her second place finish last year, only three have won in the history of the race. The first filly to win was Regret in 1915. When she was born, her owners named her Regret because they regretted that she was a filly because her bloodlines suggested greatness, which she obviously lived up to. Geldings win the race a little more frequently, but it is still a great feat. This is why Funny Cide in 2003 became such a fan favorite. Everyone loved rooting for the gelding underdog.

Surprisingly Kentucky Derby winners tend to all be from the same state. Not so surprisingly, Kentucky has spawned a hundred of its races winners. The state with the next highest wins is Florida with only six horses to win.

Away from all the technical stuff, the Kentucky Derby has many fun traditions that are celebrated annually.

The Mint Julep is the cocktail of the Derby. The Night before the race and all day during, these yummy drinks are available for all of age to enjoy. Mint Juleps have been the Derby's official drink since 1938 and an average 120,000 will be enjoyed for years to come.

Another favorite Derby tradition is the fabulous hats. Many women wear very elegant hats for the day while many others simply try to create the most absurd hat they can. Each year there is an award for the most beautiful hat, and the most creative and fun.

The Kentucky Derby just wouldn't be the Kentucky Derby without the playing of My Old Kentucky Home. As mentioned, as the horses make their way to the gates the crowd joins in singing of Kentucky's state song. Each year the University of Kentucky lines up near the winner circle and begins to lead the stands in song. For horses this tends to be an unnerving moment, but for trainers and jockeys alike, the song goes right through them, bringing even the veterans to tears.

There is also a special winner circle at Churchill Downs where only the Derby winner and his or her connections may stand. It is a dream of many to have their own horse in that circle. Here horses receive the coveted blanket of roses. Although many big races place a flower blanket over the winning horse, the roses is exclusive to the Derby and only a handful of horses will ever be allowed such an honor.

Opening the infield to spectators is another special thing about the Derby. Usually the inside of the track is off limits to anyone but track hands, but this one day the infield is opened to the public, and so begins the biggest party since Woodstock. Hundreds of people pack into inside of the track to be loud and get drunk. Those who go to the infield party are rarely there to watch the race, just because it is extremely unlikely to see a horse tail, let alone the winner. So if you are looking for fun, try the infield, otherwise stick to the grandstands.

While researching the Derby for this entry I came across a wonderful site for the 135th Kentucky Derby. The site has all the information you could want about Derby past and future. I have been visiting the site daily since I found it. It gives updates of the horses prepping for the Derby as well as videos and horse profiles. My favorite aspect about the site is the silk strand of the horses already excepted into the race. There are currently thirteen horses set to run, leaving only seven spots remaining for other Derby hopefuls.

If you wish to learn more about the Kentucky Derby and its runners, I highly suggest you check out that site. It will answer more questions than I can.

One of these days I will get tickets for the Kentucky Derby, and that will probably be one of the most fun, emotional, and all around best days of my life.

From the time this is posted...there is only...twenty-three days...and fifty-six minutes until the Kentucky Derby...GET EXCITED!

Special Search

As mentioned in my last blog, I feel I need to get to know the great horses in racing better after letting Alysheba's talent slip under my radar for too long.

With this in mind I went back to Blood Horse's Top Hundred Horses in the 20th Century list and chose a name I didn't recognize and liked.

That is how I found him.

Tom Fool. He was a special horse from his first races as a two year old to his last races as a four year old. As a two year old he won five of his seven starts with the other two races being seconds. This sort of record is immpressive for an advanced horse, but for a young kid it is near amazing. Because of this he became top two year old in 1951.

As a three year old year was a little rough. Although he still won most of his races, the colt was pulled off the track for a two month lay off. This happened because after a second place finish it was found he was running a high fever and was rather ill. He came back strong that year and still had an impressive season.

Tom Fool's four year old season was simply magnificent. He won ten races in a row, which also happened to be the ten races he ran that season. Therefore he left the track undefeated, making him 1953 horse of the year.

Yet another amazing horse to become a Champion.

A Legend Leaves Us

Just this past weekend another notable death hits the racing World. Alysheba, '87 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, and '88 horse of the year, unfortunately was euthanized at the age of twenty-five.

In his stall and honored spot in Kentucky Horse Park's Hall of Champion, the beautiful, old stallion fell, injuring his right hind femur.

"Kathy Hopkins, director of equine operations at the horse park, said Alysheba fell due to a chronic degenerative spinal condition." (ESPN.com)

The article goes on to say that because of his age, Alysheba was in a lot of pain, so much that the stallion was unable to stand without support. With his pain and pride in mind, the team decided to allow the Champion proper rest.

Through his racing years Alysheba proved to be amazing. He always fought for what he wanted...and he always wanted to win. Alysheba was in the money (1st, 2nd, 3rd) for 81% of his twenty-six starts, earning $6,679,242. Winning eleven of those starts, Alysheba earned a plethora of awards such as top three year old in '87 and Horse of the Year in '88.

In 1987 Alysheba would make an amazing attempt at the Triple Crown. His Kentucky Derby was one of the most amazing shows of heart I have ever witnessed. When the field turned for the stretch, Alysheba was not really in the mix for the win, but he started to make a strong move toward the lead horse Bet Twice. As he was getting close to overcoming the leader, he took a bad stumble. As can be seen in this video, it can be seen that Alysheba was nearly knocked down as he clipped heals with Bet Twice. Luckily for him and all the other horses in the race, Alysheba remarkably recovered. Not only did he get back up, but he was barely bothered by the fall. He got up, turned his head past bet twice and plowed forward to win.

"Falling didn't even go through my mind," McCarron said. "I kept thinking there's only one horse left in front of us that was going to prevent us from getting the roses. He just did an incredible job of righting himself. I was focused on keeping my balance and trying to stay on his back."
Says Alysheba's jockey Chris McCarron as he remembers his magnificent partner.

Alysheba would then go on to win the Preakness as well. Unfortunately for Alysheba, he would take a loss in the Belmont to his rival Bet Twice. Alysheba and Bet Twice would continue to meet over the next year, and the two traded blows with wins and loses. But with wins in other races against other amazing horses, Alysheba came out on top of the rivalry.

As a four year old Alysheba only improved, although continuing his close race trend. It must have been a love for the horse to keep things close, and although he occasionally lost in his photo finishes, he desire to stick he nose in front usually prevailed. Although he lost the Breeder's Cup Classic in 1987, he would come back to win the Classic in 1988. With this win he earned himself the Best Older Horse award and the coveted Horse of the Year.

After his racing career he did what all Champions did, went to a life in the breeding shed. But that can only last so long. Eventually the old man was retired from that as well and was donated to Kentucky Horse Park to live out his days in the Hall of Champion. That is just what he did. He was happy and well taken care of, and allowed the public to get close to such an amazing creature.

With all his talent he was listed 42nd on Blood Horse's list of hundred top horses in the 2oth century. The boy truly deserved it.

I was truly shocked when I heard the news. Although never actually seeing Alysheba run, I have heard his name dropped countless times as they try to give the public some idea of a horse's talent. I'm glad that I got this opportunity to learn more about this amazing stallion, I just wish I had not waited so long to learn about him.

What really depresses me about Alysheba's death, besides losing a legend, is I was going to travel to Kentucky Horse Park again this summer. I would have been able to see this amazing horse with my own eyes, and hear first hand about his greatness. Unfortunately I will never be able to do that, but I still respect his ability.

Because of Alysheba I feel a more motivated to learn about all the great race horse's out there.

Thank you Alysheba. Your memory will live on.

More Than Just Thoroughbreds

Although this blog is mainly focused on Thoroughbred horse racing, I think it is time that I share with my readers that more than just Thoroughbreds run on the tracks.

My personal favorite breed actually got it's name for its running ability. The Quarter Horse, (usually associated with ranch work, rodeos, and pleasure riding) received its name for being the fastest horse over a quarter mile. Humans run a quarter mile usually between one and two minutes, while Quarter Horses run the same distance typically between sixteen and eighteen seconds.

Quarter Horse racing is one of the more entertaining forms of racing to watch. Despite the fact that it is done so quickly, their speed is what makes it amazing. Unlike Thoroughbred racing, Quarter Horses don't have to worry about how many horse widths they are from the rail (which would make their trip slightly longer), how many turns the race has, and whether or not the horse gets their perfect position. This is mainly because Quarter Horse racing is a full on sprint in a straight line from start to finish. Most horses are within a few lengths from the leader, who usually wins by a neck or half a length. If you are worried about getting around other horses you might as well relax because the race is already over.

Although it is not as regal and prestigious as Thoroughbred racing, Quarter Horse racing is a lot of fun to watch because of the intensity to the finish line and their speed.

Another breed of horse that races is the Standardbred. These horses race in an entirely different manor than their cousins the Quarter Horse or Thoroughbred. They are harness racers and race with sulkies which are light weight racing carts.

There are two forms in which Standardbreds can race: Trotters or Pacers. The difference is in gait (speed and movement) in which the horses race.

Trotters are horses that race in a gait known as a trot. A trot is usually a moderate speed where the horse's legs move on diagonals (front right moves with back left and vice versa) in a two beat fashion, but in the case of Trotters the 'moderate' idea is thrown out the window. Although it is not as fast as a gallop, horses do hit some fairly high speeds.

Pacing is similar to trotting in the fact that it is also a two beat gate that is remarkably fast. However, in a pace the horses legs move together on one side (right front moves with right back). Pacers make up a good portion of harness racing and is generally more popular because of it's unique gait. It is also much faster than trotting, and more speed usually means more excitement.

To help show you what I mean (hopefully) here are some prime examples of harness racing.

The first picture is of a Pacer, while the second is of a Trotter.

The differences are subtle, but they greatly effect how the race is run in terms of speed.

My favorite part about harness racing has to be the start of the race.

Unlike Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses, Standardbreds do not use a traditional starting gate. This is mainly because it would be near impossible to get the speed you want without breaking the proper gate. To solve this problem, a Standardbred starting gate moves with the horses. It is mounted onto the back of a truck, and as the truck is in motion, the horses get to their proper position and speed. The truck eventually gains more speed than the horses and the long gates fold around the truck giving the horses room to move.

Sadly, I have only seen Thoroughbred racing live. Although it is amazing and probably my favorite form of racing, I am really hoping to see the other three types.

The sheer speed and intensity of Quarter Horse racing would make for a fun and adrenaline filled day at the track, while the beauty and precision of Pacers and Trotters would simply introduce me into a world I do not know a lot about.

I encourage everyone to watch different forms of racing and find which one they find the most interesting, Whether it be the classic a regal world of Thoroughbreds, the high speed battles of Quarter Horse racing, or the complex sport of Harness racing. No matter which branch or breed of horse racing you choose, you are almost always guaranteed great competition, amazing speed, a grand amount of excitement, and the ability to watch a magnificent animal doing what it loves...racing.

I Have Found My Derby Pick

As mentioned countless times, the Kentucky Derby is one of the most watched races in North America, and I am one of the millions that tune in for the race.

Each year I usually spend the months before Derby day to comb over stats of all the three year olds on the Derby trails, so come that first Saturday in May I am well prepared with three or so horses to choose from to win.

This year has been no different. For the most part I have been focusing on upcoming filly Stardom Bound and the Louisiana Derby winner, Friesan Fire as my main Derby hopefuls. However, this all changed on a visit to ESPN.com I made not twenty minutes ago.

The new horse on my list is relatively untested in racing, having only run in four races. The only reason he was mentioned on ESPN's webpage was because he had a decent work out on a very muddy track. So what draws me to this horse if he isn't impressive? His name: Theregoesjojo.

Although this may seem insignificant to nearly everyone reading this, the name has some connections to me personally. First off, it isn't unlikely for people in my family to call me Jo, or even Jojo. A primary factor to this was my love of PowerPuff Girls arch nemesis Mojo Jojo.

So what about the first part of the name? Well, I ran track during my secondary schools years, and as good parents will, mine were always cheering from the sidelines. GO JO! And go I did.

So even though Theregoesjojo really has no amazing qualities to speak of, I feel I must root for him come the Kentucky Derby.

I've mentioned before that I often pick horses by whether or not their names sound like they should be called first, so here's hoping that on May 2nd the announcer will yell: AND THEREGOESJOJO! Winning the 135th Kentucky Derby!!

Crown of the Kings

When it comes to North American horse racing there is one goal nearly all owners, trainers, and jockeys share: to win the Triple Crown.

Most people only manage to get their hands on one of these races during their entire career. The very talented will gain a few more wins in the Triple Crown series, some winning all three races at separate time, but only eleven teams have had the horse to win all three at once.

The Triple Crown consists of three races, The Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes, for horses of either gender, so long as they are only three years old. Alone, these races are like any other, but combined they present a challenge for even the best of horses.

The races cover three different distances over three different tracks. By today's standards the Triple Crown races are also much closer together than most modern race horses can handle.

The Kentucky Derby is the first and probably most famous of the Triple Crown races. It is held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on the first Saturday of May. No matter the horses in the race, the Derby always pulls in the biggest crowd and the biggest field of horses. On the way to the gates, the crowd sings 'My Old Kentucky Home' to welcome to three year-olds to the track. This race is run on the dirt over one and a quarter miles or ten furlongs. At the end of the race the winner gets to stand in the special Derby winner circle and receive the coveted blanket of roses.

The Preakness Stakes is next on the card, being run at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. With the singing of 'Maryland My Maryland' the horses are guided to the gates for the second leg of the Triple Crown. As the gates open, they take a trip around a dirt track for one and three sixteenths miles or nine furlongs making it the shortest of the three races. With a win here the horse is draped with the next set of flowers, black-eyed Susans.

The third and final leg of the Triple Crown is Belmont Stakes, at Belmont Park Elmont, New York. Depending on the outcome of the first two races the second Saturday in June could be the most exciting race. If a horse has one both the Derby and the Preakness, all that is needed is a win in the Belmont for a new Triple Crown winner. With this hope 'Sidewalks of New York' (the theme from New York New York) rings through the stands while the horses prepare to run for the win. The race will take the horses a mile and half or twelve furlongs on dirt. No matter if it is an upset or a historical event, the winning horse is adorned with the last blanket of Belmont flowers: white carnations.

Plenty of horses have run these prestigious races, but only eleven have ever won the Triple Crown. For this reason, these horses will always be legends. Although all these winners are amazing athletes, two horses in particular stand out in my mind for impressive wins.

The horse that had the most magnificent Triple Crown run was Secretariat. He was a super horse. He won the Derby while setting a record that still stands and has only been challenged once, in the Preakness he won effortlessly, and his win in the Belmont was the most amazing feat that track has ever seen. Secretariat won by thirty-one horse lengths. He was so far ahead his jockey actually turned to look over his shoulder to see just how far back the competition was.

On the complete opposite side of the spectrum was the Triple Crown's best rivalry: Alydar vs. Affirmed. Every time these two horses met it ended in an intense stretch battle, and the Triple Crown was no exception. The two ran their hardest for each race, and each time Affirmed came out the winner. Due to their bitter rivalry Alydar also had a Triple Crown first. He was the first and only horse to be second in all three races. Although this is not quite as impressive as being first, it still shows how amazing he and Affirmed were.

Although these were some fantastic wins, most horses aren't lucky enough to win all three.

To the public, the most disappointing loss is when a horse wins the Derby and the Preakness but falls short in the Belmont. Since the year 2000 four horses (War Emblem '02, Funny Cide '03, Smart Jones '04, and Big Brown '08) have done just that. They get America excited for a potential Triple Crown, only to crash the bandwagon. There are many reasons for losing the Belmont after winning the first two legs.

The most popular reason to blame the loss on is the fact that modern race horses simply don't run as often as the Triple Crown schedule demands. Other reasons for losing this big race is that it is the longest, new and rested challengers, as well as uncontrollable things such as track condition (muddy from rain), or even the horses mood. Big Brown for example, won the first two races easily but failed miserably in the Belmont. There was a lot of fuss about a loose shoe, but I think his head just wasn't in it. He wasn't bucking in his stall that morning like normal and he just looked unfocused on the track. But no matter the reason, horses tend to lose the Belmont.

Although it is very disappointing when a Triple Crown contender loses at the last moment, I am more agitated when the horse loses the Kentucky Derby, but goes on to win Preakness and the Belmont. Luckily for me, this has only happened twice since 2000 with Point Given '01 and Afleet Alex '05. The reason I find this so irritating is simply because when the run in all three races but win the last two that means they have stamina to run and to win the Triple Crown.

There are just as many reasons to fail at the Derby as it there is for the Belmont. For some horses this is the first time they have gone around two turns, others are afraid of the crowds. Not only are the stands stuffed, but the inside of the track is packed as well. Some horses can handle this, but others can't and get nervous. If this wasn't enough to deal with all the people, dealing with all the horses can unnerve even the most seasoned horse.

The Derby is open for the twenty top three year-olds in the nation, and all those slots are filled come race day. On the average, there are usually eight horses in American races, so twelve more horses is beyond frightening for these youngsters. Even if the horse doesn't fear the big crowd, that many horses makes it hard to have a good trip. There is more bumping with this many horses which can destroy focus or even injure a horse. Despite that, sometimes the opening the horse needs just never appears making it almost impossible to get past the field.

With all these factors the Triple Crown truly is the most exciting event in horse racing. If you can only watch three races a year, make them the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. Even if you don't see a Triple Crown sweep, you will surely see some amazing races and some amazing three year-olds.

It has been thirty years since America's last Triple Crown win; will this be the year to break that streak?

Just Wanted to Share

Through the years I have seen some pretty amazing things as far as horses go, and I just wanted to share some of these amazing things with my readers.

Spending hours going through horse racing galleries pays off every once in awhile. Sure, no matter the picture the horses are going to be gorgeous and usually captured in a magnificent action shot or a regal pose, but I have stumbled upon some more unusual pictures that show of the true power of these great animals.










The first picture I have for you is of the late Barbaro just as he is coming out of the gate. He is wide eyed and ready to run as the gates snap open before him.

Here's another picture of the power these animals possess as they literally spring forth from the gate.

This next picture is both amazing and kind of funny. The horse is caught mid jump, giving the allusion of flying. The horse was jumping shadows on the track surface.

The next two pictures show why horses need to be kept calm.




It's likely this horse just got nervous or overexcited while being saddled. Acting up in the paddock is a common thing in the racing world, but never have I seen a horse get this much air.

No one is really positive what was going on in this horse's mind, but he clearly didn't like something that was happening. (And I thought the other horse was in the air!)

All Time Fav

This model seems like any other Breyer model, a gorgeous horse captured in an amazing action pose. This is what drew me to the horse back when I was nine.

By this time I had upgraded from Grand Champion horse toys to the Breyer Models and was quickly expanding my barn. On a trip to a horse sale (a 'Toys R Us' in this case) I ran toward the box housing this strong, beautiful, race horse stallion. His name is Cigar, and he is my favorite model.

Consequently, he also became my favorite racehorse. As I got more and more immersed into the sport, I started doing some minor research. Unfortunately by the time I got the model, Cigar had been retired from racing for some time. This didn't stop me from getting excited about his amazing skill.

He didn't get a lot of glory when he was young, because he didn't hit his peak until he was about 5 years old. That is when he started his amazing career. In 1995 he went undefeated, winning all ten of his starts and was deemed Horse of the Year. As a six year-old he was just as impressive, winning his first five starts of the season. These five wins combined with his ten from the previous season, and his final race in 1994, gave him an amazing winning streak of 16. There is

only one other horse in North America to have run such a streak, and that was racing legend Citation. In 1996 he also left America to travel across the world and ran in the Dubai World Cup. There he won against some of the world's best horses again earning the title of Horse of the Year.

In his lifetime he ran thirty-three times, with nineteen wins, and eleven of those nineteen being Grade I races. With all these wins he accumulated the most money in North America, and help that title until just recently when Curlin earned just a smidgen more.

He had a magnificent career and like most horses he retired to the breeding shed.

However, not everything went as planned. After several attempts and failures at impregnating a mare, Cigar was deemed sterile and removed from a sheds. He would never have a chance to pass down his amazing abilities.

Unfortunately in the world of racing, a horse that doesn't bring in money is almost deemed useless, but luckily for Cigar not all was lost. Today he stands in Kentucky Horse Park's Hall of Champions, where he is taken out a few times a day and is shared with the public.

I was lucky enough to go there myself and pay my beloved model a visit. He is just as gorgeous in real life. Although he hasn't raced in years he still provides a strong powerful pose for all those who come to see him.

To this day he is happily munching the grass in the Champion paddocks, and I cannot wait until the day I get to go visit him and the other Champions again.

When I was little he was merely my favorite toy, today, he is my all time favorite racehorse.

A Legend, but Not a Hero

"Our horse is too small. Our jockey's too big. Our trainer's too old. And I'm too dumb to know the difference!" ~Charles Howard

In the movie, Charles Howard made it sound as if the connections in the Seabiscuit story were misfits in the racing world, and in real life, they were.

The Howard's were new in the racing industry trying to make an effort at owning their own racer.

Trainer Tom Smith was, at the time, a ranch hand who was known for having a good way with horses but not really in the horse racing industry.

John Pollard, better known as Red, was a fiery jockey that few people wanted to work with. Despite his poor personality, he was also much too tall for your typical jockey.

Seabiscuit himself was a short, built poorly, and replaced his lazy temperament for a very aggressive one after training. He was a broken runner, but with the help of his other racing misfits, he would make history.

























He was off to a wonderfully start, beating horse after horse, but most of the racing world would not accept him as a champion until he beat reining horse of the year, War Admiral.

In 1938 the Pimlico Special, the two titans faced off and America's horse, Seabiscuit, defeated the Admiral.

The Biscuit did it. Not only was he a legend, but he was the hero of the common man, the hero of the Great Depression.

But what about War Admiral? Today he is known as a racing legend, but was never a racing hero.

I feel the Admiral has the making of a hero. He won twenty-one of his twenty-six races, three of which was the Triple Crown. Yes, the boy won the Triple Crown. An amazing feat for any horse and he made it effortless. He also went on to win the Jockey Gold Cup which is another important race in the North American racing circuit. With the Jockey Gold Cup and the Triple Crown under his belt he was the best in the racing world, and was given the honor of 1937 horse of the year. Over his career he won a total of $273,240 which was a decent amount of cash in the 1930s, let alone during the depression.

All the success led him straight to the breeding shed after retirement. In the shed the Admiral did just as well as he did on the track. His prodigy was so strong he was deemed leading sire and eventually leading juvenile sire making his legacy as strong as he had been.




Look at him. He is the picture of a perfect race horse (aside from being almost as short as his rival), and he nearly was. One major loss to another amazing animal haunts him to this day. He will forever be a champion, a legend, but Seabiscuit still holds the title of being the hero.

Don't misunderstand my intentions with this entry, Seabiscuit was a wonderful horse with amazing speed, power, and the biggest desire to be first. War Admiral, however, did just what he was bred to do, he won and he won a lot. On the Top 100 Horses of the 20th Century, Blood Horse magazine placed Seabiscuit twenty-fifth, whereas War Admiral was placed thirteenth.

The Admiral is the bigger champion, but the Biscuit is the bigger hero.

War Admiral is a legend, and no horse can take that from him. However, despite all his wins, awards, and winning prodigy, he will always be a champion, a legend, but never America's Hero.

It's All His Fault!

It seemed like any Saturday when I woke up early to watch my cartoons, but little did I know that this Saturday was special. This was the first Saturday of May.

I walked down to the living room still in my pajamas, trying to fix my bed head as I settled into my favorite spot and flipped on the television. Like usual my father had left the station on ESPN, but much to my surprise they weren't talking about the sports that bored me, they were talking about horses. These horses were special though, they were Kentucky Derby contenders.

Surprisingly this would be the first time I would watch the Derby in its entirety. Most people think of the Derby being nothing more than the walk to the gate and the run to the winner's circle, but to me it is much more than that. I watched the Kentucky Derby coverage from eight A.M. until the post coverage at eight P.M. Some find this crazy and a waste of a day, but I think it is a wonderful way to learn about the top three year-olds that year. The programmers also tend to go into the stories behind the horse, their owners, trainers, jockeys, etc, so it makes for a very enjoyable day.

As I sat in total bliss waking up to horse racing they began coverage on a young, handsome colt with a name no one could pronounce properly: Fusaichi Pegasus.


I was in love. He was tall, sleek, had a glossy sheen to his coat, and just looked so confident in his power. Needless to say I followed his stories all day and was rooting for him to conquer the Derby field and take his crown.

This was long before I knew any breeding lines, trainers, jockeys, or how the odds represent a horse, so I was basing my judgment solely on name and looks. Let me tell you, it paid off.


He won! My Pegasus won! The first time I have every sat down and watched to most watched race in America, and the horse I choose won. I was beyond jubilant as my colt trotted to the winner circle. I was even happier that my horse had beaten the choices of my family.

Fusaichi Pegasus went on to have a decent year, but nothing will match to his win in the Kentucky Derby in my opinion. To this day I still have his poster hanging in my room, always to remind me how amazing that day way. Fusaichi Pegasus got me hooked into horse racing, so I blame my obsession on him. It is all his fault.

With that said, I know where I will be when the First Saturday in May comes around, what about you?

Movie in the Making

He is a hero, a legend, a racing icon...just who is he? Secretariat, one of the best horses in all of North American racing. Although it has been years since he won the Belmont Stakes and Triple Crown by a staggering thirty-one horse lengths, his name still lingers around the racetracks.

Commonly referred to as "Big Red", Secretariat brought horse racing back to the homes of the common man. Although many horses make the bid for the Triple Crown, not as many gain the attention Secretariat did. Even the common folk realized there was something special in this horse and the nation watched as a legend worked his way into history breaking a twenty-five year Triple Crown dry spell, being the first horse to win the three races since Citation.

Now the legend is being turned into a movie.

Bill Knack (write of “Secretariat: The Making of a Champion”) is working with writer Mike Rich and Disney Studios to help recreate the amazing story that is Secretariat's racing career.

Currently the team is still in the beginning of try to get everything organized. Although gaining usage rights as well as thoroughly researching Secretariat, the connections with the movie are already scouting out potential places to shoot and are eager to get the filmming in motion.

The more I get involved with horse racing the more I hear about Secretariat. He is quickly gaining ground on my favorites list and has earned my upmost respect as a racehorse and as an athelte. The release of this movie will be anticipated by me and most of the people who watched him as he did all he knew how to do: win.

"What's In A Name?"

Shakespeare asked his audience this in Romeo and Juliet, but what does that have to do with horse racing?

Everything. Names mean more than most would think in the world of horses. It can show a horse's lineage, reflect the horse's personality, remind those involved of a funny story, or have a deep background meaning.

In the racing industry, "who's your daddy" takes on a whole new meaning. Simply put, great sires end up making great names. If a horse had a strong enough racing career, chances are his offspring are going to have a name that resembles his in some form.

For example, the mighty Man O' War has produced many great colts and fillies, but the one that is best known for being out of Man O' War is his very famous son, War Admiral.

I personally have noticed a line of horses within the past couple years that have sported the word cat with them. Coincidentally or not, a few years before this trend started, a lower end horse named Cat Thief was retired to stud. Now he is passing on his name along with his talent.

A common theme can also be passed down in names such as Hard Tack passing on the theme of nasty, military bread, to his son Seabiscuit.

While naming a racehorse, breeders or trainers tend to advise owners to select a personality trait that really sticks out to them and work that in a name. Some owners on the other hand will buy a horse based on its name. For instance who wouldn't want to buy a horse by the name of Empire Maker?

Another common method is naming a horse after a funny memory of the owners or even the horse itself. For example, Lost In The Fog was named after a story from the colt's earlier days. For those who don't know, race horses tend to be put into pasture with a large amount of horses their own age before they are put into training. On a foggy morning during the common chore of bringing in all the yearlings (horses one year of age) back to the barn from pasture, the handlers realized they were one colt short. After a few minutes of whistles and calls a few handlers began to search for the colt. Within a few minutes they were leading the lost yearling back to the barn. When others asked why the colt had gone missing, the handlers simply replied, "He was lost in the fog."

Connecting a horse with an owner's personal experience or their home life is another way to create a worthy name. A good example of this is Alfeet Alex. He was partly named after his owner's many children all sharing the name 'Alex' in some form.

Although you are allowed lots of creativity when it comes to naming your horse, there are some rules that The Jockey Club makes sure are followed.

Some of the more common rules are:

-The name can only be eight-teen characters long, and spaces are counted as a character.

-Horses cannot contain numbers less than or equal to twenty-five in their name to avoid announcer confusion on the track. For that same reason the words first, second, third, etc. are prohibited. Under certain circumstances number names will be considered. For example 'Eight Belles' was allowed whereas 'Forego the Second' would not be.

-Offensive or obscene names are also prohibited, although in some cases the announcer's pronunciation can make a normal name sound offensive.
In this clip, the over excited announcer turns the name Hoof Hearted into 'Who Farted'.

For more on the ins and outs of naming a thoroughbred, visit Racing NSW registration site.

Usually when I am looking for a horse to bet on, one of the first things I look for is a name that sounds like it should be called first!

Taking on the Boys

"...the most exciting filly sent along the road to the Kentucky Derby since Winning Colors, the last female to win America's race," says Paul Moran in an article on ESPN.com

Just who is he talking about? Paul is referring to a new filly on the scene by the name of Stardom Bound. He mentions earlier in his article how she is aptly named. She was the Champion 2 year-old filly in 2008 winning some of the biggest filly races out there including the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Filly. Her latest performance was winning the Las Virgenes Stakes, which she did very impressively. She started the race last and was a good eleven horse lengths from the leader for over half the race. Even when she turned for the finish she wasn't in the front. Actually, she was stuck behind horses. But jockey Mike Smith (rider of Zenyatta and featured in Animal Planet's series 'Jockeys') found and opening and the filly took off! With a mere two taps with his whip she won and she won easily. If you don't believe me, watch it for yourself.

For her next race, Stardom is being pointed toward the Santa Anita Derby where she will be facing the boys for the first time. Although this is usually a scary thing for owners and trainers, the company of Stardom Bound do not seem too worried about how their girl will handle the boys. If she does well or possibly wins this race she is most likely going to head to the Kentucky Derby. Although the Kentucky Derby is open to any gender of horse, usually only the colts run while the fillies stick to the Kentucky Oaks (race for three year-old fillies only). If she doesn't perform well against the boys, she will probably set her course for the Oaks where she is likely to win. Either way she is going to be a fun girl to watch. Whether she is creaming the boys or growing famous against the girls, keep an eye on her.

Personally, I hope she wipes the floor with the boys in the Santa Anita and at the very least gives them a good run at the Derby. It's always exciting to watch a filly take on the boys, especially fillies with such talent.

Good luck Stardom Bound! I'll be watching!

Real Reality Show

As mentioned in my last blog about Vader thinking he was SweetNorthernSaint, I was able to go home this past weekend which means I was also able to watch my many channels of cable. Oh how I missed the Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, and the many others I have grown so accustomed to, but the channel I miss most was Animal Planet. Needless to say I was beyond ecstatic when I flipped on the TV and realized the time change didn't make me miss the premiere of Animal Planet's new reality show, Jockeys.The show follows the lives of seven Jockeys as they ride through a season at Santa Anita Park. I found it was a rather interesting show, although I am not as saddened about missing future episodes as I thought I would be. They don't really spend any time talking about the horses the Jockeys are riding, which is understandable, but I was hoping for a little something more. Yes, it is titled Jockeys...but it is on Animal Planet, I just wanted a little more balance between what the Jockeys actually do between races. Believe it or not, they do spend more time with the horses than just during the race. The races themselves are also poorly covered. They show the Jockeys' connections in the stands more than they do the Jockeys' on the track which meant a lot of really cool horse racing moments were missed.

Although the show has a few aspects I would have fixed or changed, it is still enjoyable. It gives a different view on the racing industry because surprisingly, reporters talk more to owners than they do Jockeys. I'm glad the Jockeys are finally getting their rough lives out there. Even I didn't know how hard it was to make a buck as a Jockey, so the show has its up points.

In all, I plan to watch the show when I am at home and I will enjoy it all the same. If you have the opportunity to watch some Animal Planet and want to learn about Jockey life, flip on the channel Friday nights at 9.

Jockeys. Watch It!

Wannabe Spring

Although it is not quite spring, these last few days have been wonderfully close.

Last weekend I went home to visit the family and my boy Vader. For those who need to be told, horses like it when we get a weather break like this in the middle of winter. Having gone months (in Vader's case) being in a stall getting out to stretch his legs for maybe an hour total daily, the idea of finally being let outside to play is overwhelming.

So as I head over to the barn preparing myself to chase him down in pasture, I find that all the horses are inside! Sure it was a little wet out, but I couldn't imagine being locked up on such a beautiful day! I found the reason shortly, outside the horses turn out doors was a few feet of piled up snow. Sadness. Luckily for Vader I was there! I let him out in the indoor arena while I gathered my things from the tack room. Usually Vader just rolls then stands at the gate waiting for me to get him ready. Today was a different story. No sooner had I unlatched his lead did he rear and take off across the arena, bucking and farting the entire way. It was at this point I decided it may be a good idea to go in there and tire him out before I climbed on his back. A good forty minutes later Vader finally slowed his frantic gallop to a containable canter. After another half hour this crazed gelding finally slowed to a walk. Usually it takes a lot of chasing to get Vader to move at all when warming him up, but today he suffered from what I have come to call the SweetNorthernSaint syndrome.

For those of you who remember, SweetNorthernSaint is Vader's Thoroughbred doppelganger.

From the first time Vader had seemed to switch personalities in the warm up ring and acted more like a Thoroughbred, I have been calling him SweetNorthernSaint. It has become an inside joke among my family and horse friends.

"What's wrong with Vader today?" They may ask. "He's a little crazier today."
"That's not Vader," I reply, "It's SweetNorthernSaint."

Although Vader is a Quarter Horse, he has a lot of Thoroughbred in him. His pedigree papers go back to his great great grand sire. Just past this slot on his dam's side, he turns all Thoroughbred. So his Thoroughbred days are justified.

Hopefully by now the snow has melted and Vader can go play racehorse in the fields!

New Addition to the Blog

For those of you who actually read this blog, it was suggested to add a list of commonly used horse terms...so I did (See 'Confused?' list on side bar). Hopefully this will be of some help to you. I tried to keep to the terms that have or will come up frequently in my blogging. If you have a question about a word in one blog in particular, don't hesitate to leave a question in the form of a comment. I am here to inform, but I can't do that unless you help me out!

Hope this helps.

Happy Reading.

~Claripet

A Legacy

Remember him? Barbaro, son of sire Dynaformer and dam La Ville Rouge. He was all over the news in 2006. Part of this was because of his magnificent victory in the Kentucky Derby that year and his chances of winning the prestigious Triple Crown.

Tragically, he became even more famous for these photos...













On May 20th, 2006, Barbaro suffered a terrible injury at the start of the Preakness Stakes (the second race of the Triple Crown). After Barbaro broke through the gate with a false start and a stumble, he again stumbled shortly out of the starting gates. His jockey stopped him and dismounted quickly, knowing all to well that something horrid had happened. Barbaro suffered a fracture both above and below his ankle which required a major surgery on his leg along with months upon months of recovery.

The surgery was successful and he was well on his way to making a remarkable comeback.

However, as typical with leg injuries, he developed laminitis, a very painful hoof disease in his other rear leg. His case was very serious, but seemed to be healing up decently along with the fractures in his leg. After eight months of recuperation he took a drastic turn for the worse and his future looked bleak. Sadly, there was little left to be done and the owners were forced to put down their beloved friend and partner.

Although he is lost, this horse will not be forgotten by the public and especially by the racing world. This is proving all too true as the excitement builds as Barbaro's two full brothers are in training and getting closer to creating a legacy of their own.

The two brothers have been watched and studied closely ever since Barbaro was injured and now it is their turn to carry on with their big brother's legacy.

Nicanor (3 years old) and his younger brother Lentenor (2 years old) are said to be doing well and developing in such a manner that provides those involved with high hope.

(Lentenor is the strapping young lad on the bottom and Nicanor is the handsome devil on the top.)

Nicanor ran his first race this past Saturday, January 30th. After viewing the race I must admit I was thoroughly unimpressed. He started well but faded quickly and, even after a bit of a comeback on the final corner, he seemed to just stop running. I at first blamed this loss on the race being his debut, but after reading some of the follow up articles on his blog site (see Nicanor and Lentenor links above) Nicanor actually hurt himself out of the gate. It is nothing major. He basically kicked himself coming out of the gate which caused the him to stumble and the get jostled around by the other horses. Edgar Prado, his jockey, didn't want to push the horse to further harm him.

Although his trainers and owners are not happy with the performance, they are also not worried. He has his first actual race in and that is what matters. Now he looks forward to a brief recovery and then going back to work as he tries to walk down the Kentucky Derby Trail.

I am personally very eager to follow these two colts as they make their steps into the racing world. I hope they perform well and eventually create their own greatness, but even when that day comes they will still be Barbaro's little brothers.

Rest in Peace Barbaro, your Legacy in good hands.

He's Back

For the most part, when race horses get forced into retirement due to an injury, that is it. There is no chance of coming back to the track, especially if that horse has any value as a stud. This is simply because the work out regime of a race horse is so intense that the months or years it would take for a serious injury to heal makes the horse too "weak" to make the comeback worthwhile. In most cases, as mentioned, if the horse has stud value they will make more money in the breeding shed than they would on the track. So it never gets easy to hear when one of your favorites is sidelined and retired for whatever reason.

This past August such a thing happened to the five year-old horse Benny the Bull. He was found to have a bone chipped off in his ankle late in the season, and it had to be surgically removed. At this time he was preparing for the Breeder's Cup Sprint, but was obviously pulled out of the race due to injury and retirement.

Benny the Bull was the top sprinter in the nation, went the 2008 season undefeated, and won the Eclipse award for best sprinter. Because of his amazing speed and having been durable enough to last through four years of training, being put up for stud was an obvious road for the horse. International Equine Acquisitions Holdings Stable even stated shortly after his retirement that Benny would be standing at stud in the 2009 season.

However, at the Eclipse ceremonies Iavarone, his main owner, declared in the his acceptance speech for Benny that the horse would be on the track again.

This is a section of ESPN's coverage article: Benny the Bull coming out of retirement

"After examining Benny the Bull, Dr. Bramlage said he felt his injury had healed sufficiently and that he could come back at 100 percent again," said Iavarone. "We actually made the final decision to bring him back about two weeks ago and decided to wait to announce it until tonight at the awards ceremony. But under one condition: that he won the Eclipse. If he won, we wanted to bring him back to defend the title. If he had not won, he would have stayed retired. Fortunately, Benny got the recognition he deserved by being named the champion."

~Mike Welsch of the Daily Racing Form

With that being said, one of our times best runners is making his way back to the track. Personally I can't wait until his first start to see this old guy (by racing standards) continue to strut his stuff and own the sprinters for another amazing year.

Girl to Watch

Being a girl is tough in the racing industry although you can be just as good or even better than your male companions, rarely do you get the recognition. This is just what happened to Zenyatta.


Although placed in the running for Horse of the Year, she did not stand much of a chance again Big Brown or Curlin (both males). If she was a stallion, having a undefeated season, let alone an undefeated career, would have made her a shoe in for the honors. In the filly and mare races Zenyatta has won all the major races, including the Breeder's Cup Ladies Classic.


Now as a five year old she is expected to just as well as her previous seasons. Perhaps this time she won't be discounted or overshadowed by the boys.

Top Dog! er...Horse

This past Monday the Eclipse Awards were handed out to the top horses, trainers, jockeys, and owners of the horse racing industry for the year. For the most part, the award people generally can't wait for is the naming of Horse of the Year. This title, simply put, goes to the horse that has performed the best over the racing year. The winner can be male or female, and the horse does not have to be a certain age to win.

This year the three main contenders for the award were Big Brown, Zenyatta, and last year's winner Curlin. They all had their strong points. Big Brown was favored because he won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness stakes (I'll talk about those in a later post, I promise), while Zenyatta went the year undefeated (much harder than it sounds), and Curlin took the Dubai World Cup (arguably the biggest race in the world) as well as a few Grade I races back in the states. So who gets it? That's up to the voters selected from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, National Turf Writers Association, and that Daily Racing Form. They all gather and debate which horse is best while comparing each horse's data.

And the winner is...

CURLIN! Yes, Curlin was given the honor of being Horse of the Year yet again. That's right, again. He is truly an amazing animal and I (along with other fans) are happy that the owners' choice of racing him another year paid off so nicely! Curlin had many accomplishments this year, two of the biggest being the Dubai World Cup and breaking the North American earnings record with $5,294,000 in won money. No horse has been able to win the repeat of the Horse of the Year title since Cigar won it multiple times over a decade ago. So in case you didn't think this was an amazing feat before, you should now. Not every horse has the heart to run the way Curlin can run, and possibly more importantly, not many owners have the faith and the desire to allow their horse to continue with their career long enough to get the chance for such greatness.

Kudos Curlin, it was an amazing year!