History Archives - Page 11 of 14

November 1, 2015November 1, 2015

Grand Slam? Yes, Ma’am!

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Above: American Pharoah leaves the race track for the last time, retiring to stud as a true champion.

We, the fans of horse racing, ask for the stars and American Pharoah delivers! Other sports like tennis and baseball have a “Grand Slam” to finish their season and now, for the 1st time in history, so do we! We waited 37 years to have a Triple Crown winner and the horse to do this was American Pharoah. In 1984 the Breeders’ Cup Classic was created as the definitive race to highlight the year end champion of international racing. Going in to this year’s Breeders’ Cup, we knew that we might have the 1st champ to win both the Triple Crown and the BC Classic. We all waited eagerly and we got our Grand Slam!

Above: American Pharoah draws the largest paddock crowd at Keeneland, in Lexington, KY, that I have ever seen. My friends waited 4 hours or better to get a glimpse and it was difficult.

What a year to go with my passion and start blogging on the Thoroughbred industry. I started the very first day of this year with my brand new computer from Christmas. My experience has been one joy to the next. I love the opportunity to share with all of you as others in the industry are so kind to share with me as well. It has been an amazing year. Watching American Pharoah’s career is a dream come true for racing fans. He won the Kentucky Derby by a length, then the Preakness Stakes by 7 lengths and the Belmont Stakes by 5 and 1/2- lengths as fans wept for joy, many having seen such Triple Crown greatness for the 1st time in their lives. Yesterday, 10/31/15, he won the BC classic in 2:00.07 by 6 and 1/2- lengths!

Above: American Pharoah parades before taking post position 4 and then he blurs past me shortly after he breaks from the gate already in the lead.

The Breeders’ Cup Classic is a 1 and 1/4 mile race on the dirt with a purse of $5 million dollars. American Pharoah was the 3-5 favorite to win and he did so beating Keeneland’s track record, for a race of this length, which was 2:05.36. To learn more about American Pharoah and his connections check out the tags on my blog or read my post Fabulous Pharoah Too see more of his great BC Classic win, watch this cool video IMG_2961 and see my photos below.

Above: Victor Espinoza has no use for the whip. He points at us, the fans, as he sails by the finish line and we can’t even see American Pharoah’s hooves touch the ground.

Finally, thank you to all of my friends that got me great seats and photos and to Bob Baffert, American Pharoah’s trainer, Victor Espinoza, the amazing jockey, Ahmed Zayat, the owner, all of the fans, the industry employees and connections that helped to make history. Also, a special thanks goes out to American Pharoah, the horse. He has some character and true athleticism and passion. He will retire tomorrow at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud, in Kentucky. Let’s all hope he has a long happy life and sires many more champions like himself. This is Espinoza’s 3rd BC win. Baffert just won his 12th BC race. The Zayat family is enjoying their 1st BC win. In the BC Classic Effinex ran 2nd and Honor Code showed 3rd. Stay tuned for a full Breeders’ Cup post on all of the other great races over the 2 day event.

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October 15, 2015October 16, 2015

This Race is for the Ace

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Our tipster is on fire! Please, be especially thankful that our contributing handicapper has given us two back to back first place winning tips on the past two days of Keeneland’s Fall meet. He isn’t finished. We have another tip for today.

On this fine 15th of October, at Keeneland, look to race #7. Our tip guy says, “#5, Holding Aces, was very impressive in his first start. He should be forwardly placed but will have to hold off a late charge form #4, Watershed. Catalano (Holding Aces trainer) looks like he has a nice colt here and could hold on at a good price.”

Holding Aces in a 3 year old colt owned by Gary and May West. The West’s have had multiple grades stakes wins in their over 1,600 starts including a 1st place Breeders’ Cup win. The jockey is multiple graded stakes winning Shaun Bridgmohan. Bridgmohan has an Eclipse award for outstanding apprentice jockey. He has come in 2nd in the Kentucky Derby and both 2nd and 3rd in several Breeders’ Cup races. Wayne M. Catalano has over 12 thousand career starts and is the multiple graded stakes winning trainer to Holding Aces. Catalano has had several 1st place finishes in Breeders’ Cup races. Holding Aces ran 1st in his only career start. That happened last month at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, KY.

Watershed, is also a 3 yer old colt. He is owned by Godolphin Racing, LCC. They have 2 Eclipse awards and multiple graded stakes wins in over 1000 starts. Those include many first place finishes in the Breeders’ Cup, and they finished 2nd with Frosted in this years Belmont Stakes. Joel Rosario is the jockey for Watershed. He has finished repeatedly at 1st, 2nd or 3rd in all legs of the Triple Crown. He has over 11 thousand starts with multiple grades stakes wins and has several Breeders’ Cup wins too. Kiaran P. McLaughlin trains Watershed. He is a multiple graded stakes winner as well. He was the trainer for Frosted at the Belmont Stakes. He has over 6 thousand starts to his credit and has done very well in Breeders’ Cup races too. Watershed has 2 career starts. Both were at Saratoga this past August. He came in 1st then 4th. His 1st race, of course, was his maiden and his second was the King’s Bishop Stakes. Grade 1 is very impressive, I believe, for his second race.

Fingers crossed, and all that superstition that we get another win today. Thanks for reading and sharing. I return to the live action Friday!

Update: Watershed won after being last place for most of the race. He went wide to win by 1 and 3/4 lengths. Holding Aces finished 5th after taking the lead straight out of the gate and holding in the front three for most of the race until Sharm and Watershed came up from the back.

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October 10, 2015October 11, 2015

Royal Racing

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I hope that everyone is having an excellent weekend. I will be working today so no live racing for me but that won’t keep me from day dreaming about it. There are plenty of great races today including the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes!

Keeneland will feature the QEII today, 10/10/15. This race was inaugurated in 1984 when the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II , visited Keeneland in Lexington, KY for the stakes race. Crown Queen won the race last year. It is an invitational turf race for 3 year old fillies of 9 furlongs (1 and 1/8 miles). The Grade 1 purse is worth $500,000.

Mt tipster suggests that for race 9 at Keeneland bet on #9, Sentiero Italia. He says, “The Queen Elizabeth II, on Saturday, has several nice 3 year old fillies. Kiaran McLaughlin (trainer) is extremely high on (the) daughter of Medaglia D’Oro and he should be. She (Sentiero Italia) has 4 wins from 6 starts and has earned $621,000 including 2 recent grade 2 routes at this same 9 furlong distance. McLaughlin hopes to stay red hot as he has won 3 of his 4 starts at Keeneland this meet.”

Medaglia D’ Oro is a multiple graded stakes winner and a great sire with a 2nd place finish in the 2002 Belmont Stakes and 2nd place in both the 2002 and 2003 Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Kiaran Mclaughlin is a Lexington, KY native who has won at Keeneland this meet with Robillard on October 7th, Farz on October 4th and Pin Up on October 2nd. He has had a lot of international success in his over 6 thousand starts. McLaughlin has been the trainer for multiple graded stakes wins including the Belmont Stakes in 2006 with Jazil and the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2006 with Invasor. He won the QEII in 2008 with Alwajeeha.

Joel Rosario will be the jockey for Kentucky bred Sentiero Italia owned by Godolphin Racing LCC. Rosario won the QEII race with Harmonious in 2010. Godolphin has yet to win the QEII. Rosario will enter the gate at 5:30 PM EST.

Have a great time at the track and tell me something about the experience in a comment. Thank you, fellow race fans!

Update: Senteriro Italia showed in third place.

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October 9, 2015October 9, 2015

Fourth Doesn’t Pay

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Say Cheese! I love this picture, I took, of Edeline in the winners circle for the last race, the 10th race, at Keeneland on Sunday, October 4, 2015. She looks so happy to finally break her maiden in her 5th career start. I’m also using this photo because of the significance of the number 4.

Today, 10/9/15, our tipster notes, “fourth doesn’t pay!” He has been kind enough to kick in some free tips, for me to share, the past 2 days of racing but they both came in 4th. Hopefully, this is the end of that streak and he is giving us something to look forward to about the number 4. He wants us to look to today’s 4th Keeneland race and go with, what else, the #4. He says, “Ken Ramsey (owner) looks like he wants to get his picture made today. #4 Thank You Marylou named after Marylou Whitney has been running against much better and will be tough to beat from just off the pace.”

Ken and Sarah Ramsey have won leading owner titles at Keeneland as well as several other tracks. I frequently bet on their horses because not only are they great Thoroughbred owners with a winning history but they frequently use Sarah’s nickname, “Kitten”, in the naming of their horses.

Marylou Whitney is an Eclipse winning owner and from the family with the most stakes winning horses. She operated her own Marylou Whitney stables and was a founding member for the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. She is the primary contributor to the Secretariat Center at the Kentucky Horse Park. Her gifts to the Thoroughbred industry and to horse and human charity, nation wide, are remarkable.

Thank You Marylou, a 4 year old filly, will be ridden by Julien Leparoux. Michael Maker is the owner. The 4th race, at 7 furlongs, has a purse of $62,000 and is an allowance optional claiming race. This is Thank You Marylou’s 15th career start. Post time is 2:45 PM EST.

Go, Thank You Marylou, go!

Update: She sure enough came in 4th. Sorry. Check out tomorrow’s tip!

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September 14, 2015

Dancing With The Stars

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Good morning! It is a very busy day for this blogger. I am up early and about to head to Keeneland for a full day of sales. First, I wanted to make sure everyone was ready to root for Victor Espinoza off the track and onto the dance floor!

Dancing With The Stars is the name of a television series that covers different groups of dancers in competition in various versions in several countries. In the United States, season 21 airs beginning tonight, 9/14/15. ABC launched the American version in 2005. Professional dancers are paired with celebrities and then ranked by a panel of judges and at home viewers to determine eliminations. The final couple, at the season’s end, wins and is presented with The Mirror Ball Trophy. My parents and my favorite restaurant owner love the show. I do not watch a lot of television myself but this season of DWTS, I am going to have a big reason to tune in. This is the first time ever, in America, that one of the celebrities is a jockey. This extra special jockey is Victor Espinoza. Victor has been paired with professional dancer, Karina Smirnoff. Karina won in season 13. They are one of 13 couples who will dance this season.

Espinoza has a multitude of awards and trophies. He has won over three thousand races. He has the ESPY Award for Best Jockey in 2002, 2014 and 2015. He won the Kentucky Derby, and the Preakness Stakes riding War Emblem in 2002 and California Chrome in 2014. This year he won those two races and the Belmont stakes riding American Pharoah to win the Triple Crown. He also was the jockey for Take Charge Brandi when she got honored with the title, American Champion Two Year Old Filly, in 2014. Victor is 43 years old and he is quite charitable. He donates a lot of money to City of Hope, an organization that tackles pediatric cancer.

Be sure to watch Espinoza dance live tonight at 8 P.M. EST for the two hour season premier. There are no eliminations week one but this season Victor will need your votes so have your phone or internet handy. Until it’s TV time I am off to the Keeneland September Sale starting at 11 A.M. EST today. I will have photos and information to share with you following my trip. I hope you have a great week and that you have some horse time in your schedule too!

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September 10, 2015September 10, 2015

Old Friends

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Old Friends, a retirement home for Thoroughbreds, was founded by Michael Blowen, former movie critic and current Thoroughbred racing fan, in 2003. These farms operate at Dream Chase Farm in Georgetown, KY, Old Friends at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, KY and Cabin Creek Farm in Greenfield Center, NY. I was fortunate to tour the largest of the 3 farms, Dream Chase, yesterday afternoon, 9/9/15.

I first met Blowen at the Noor lecture I attended and blogged about earlier this year. www.thoroughbredu.com/a-night-for-noor The work he does is amazing. After the 1986 Kentucky Derby winner, Ferdinand, was slaughtered in Japan in 2002, Blowen wanted to prevent further tragedies. He began to rescue Thoroughbreds who were no longer racing and breeding and brought them to his farm. His is the only farm who rescues stallions and he has many mares too. Currently, over 100 horses live on the 3 properties. 103 alone are at Dream Chase. They are currently raising funds to bring home 2002 KY Derby and Preakness winner, War Emblem. They hope to get Charismatic one day as well.

At the farm, I first met Lisa, my tour guide and she promptly took the group to see Gulch. He is the oldest horse they have. He is 31 years old and he takes his carrots, shredded. He is the oldest living horse to have participated in all 3 legs of the Triple Crown. Sired by the great, Mr. Prospector, Gulch had an excellent racing career. He won the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Sprint and also received the American Champion Sprint Horse award that same year. He had an outstanding stud career at Lane’s End Farm in KY. His progeny have earned over $90 million. His son Wallenda lives at Old Friends too.

Then I met Sarava, he likes to bite but he missed out today. I didn’t give him any carrots but fortunately Lisa did, he has bit her before. Sarava spoiled War Emblem’s chance of winning the 2002 Triple Crown when he beat him in the last leg of the series, the Belmont Stakes.

Across the dirt path lives Game On Dude and Starspangled Heat. Game On Dude, born in 2007, had 34 career starts. He won 16 of those and he placed and showed in 8 more of his races. He earned nearly $6.5 million racing and he is the only horse to ever win the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap 3 times. Starspangled Heat is new to the farm, having just participated in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf. He was born in 2008 and had 39 career starts. The orange tag on StarSpangled Heat is helpful to ward off flies. Lisa said that Game On Dude has the least trouble with flies.

Next up, I met Rail Trip. He is a real sweetie. I fed him a lot of carrots and got my picture taken with him. He won the Grade I Hollywood Gold Cup in 2009 and many other graded stakes races. He was second in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in 2011.

The tour proceeded on to see, Catlaunch. That is a name I would have surely bet on. I love all the cat and kitten named horses. He is the tallest horse at the farm. At 14 years old now, he has had an amazing 108 career starts. He was still racing and winning at 12 years old. He is a big winner, and in 2006 he was the 17th best ranked horse in the nation.

One field further, I met Rapid Redux and Amazombie. Rapid Redux is seen unmasked in the photo above. The horses at Old Friends take turns rotating who wears the fly masks. Rapid Redux has beaten both Zenyatta, Citation and Pepper’s Pride records of 19 wins with an amazing 22 consecutive wins. In 2011 he was honored with The Secretariat Vox Populi Award and the Eclipse Special Award. Penny Chenery first created the Vox Populi award in 2010 as the peoples choice award for race horses. Amazombie won an Eclipse Award in 2011 as well. He has won many graded stakes races. He won the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Sprint and in 2012 that same sprint was his final race.

Then, the sky opened up and it began to pour rain. Some horses loved it and they soaked it up or rolled in the mud. Other horses tucked into their shelters. The tour group headed into a barn. There I could barely see, behind the screens, Afternoon Deelites, Mixed Pleasure and Wallenda. Afternoon Deelites was owned by Burt Bacharach and Angie Dickinson. He had several graded stakes wins in 12 starts and then he went to stud and he sired some great horses including Popcorn Deelites. Mixed Pleasure has Seabiscuit in his pedigree. He had 22 career starts with some graded stakes winning success and he sired some winners as well. Wallenda loved his carrots and he was fed them by Michael Blowen himself. He is named for the high wire celebrity family, the Flying Wallendas, who have been to see him at the farm. He had a nice racing career, earning over $1 million in 33 starts with many graded stakes wins. He has very delicate hooves and special shoes.

It was still raining when Popcorn Deelites and his buddy hid from us. Popcorn Deelites is best known for playing Seabiscuit in the movie by that same name. I would have liked to had a better look at these two.

Fortunately, Silver Charm loved the rain. He was content to stand there throughout the brief downpour. He won both the 1997 KY Derby and Preakness. In 1998 he won the Dubai World Cup. He doesn’t like his meals to be late.

Finally, the rain stopped as we went on to see Genuine Reward and Star Plus. Genuine Reward is a foal of KY Derby winner Genuine Risk. Genuine Reward had a good stud career and in addition to race horses he sired polo horses too. Star Plus raced in graded stakes in Argentina and the United States. He was still racing at 8 years old. He was a winner at my favorite track, Keeneland.

Once a horse comes to Old Friends, they will stay there until it is time to cross the Rainbow Bridge. Other great horses, like Noor, come here after death as a final resting place. There are numerous memorials and grave markers for the mostly cremated deceased horses on the property.

The farm is simply gorgeous, right down to the barn quilt, pendants of the quilt are for sale at the gift shop. If you can make it to Georgetown you should take the tour. My Grandmother would have loved the long paths. I loved the well fed kitties and of course, the horses. I greatly appreciate what Old Friends has been able to accomplish for so many great horses. Thank you Old Friends! To donate or tour visit the website: Old Friends

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September 5, 2015September 6, 2015

Horsey Homeschool

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Happy Labor Day weekend, everyone! What will all of you be doing with your time off? I will be spending some of my time in Horsey Homeschool. I thank each of you who is following me along my journey to educate myself on the Thoroughbred industry. I enjoy my live learning best but the rest of the time I read and read some more. I have accumulated so many papers, journals, forms, books etc. that I feel like a pack rat at times. I am real happy that September, for me, brings more local opportunity to learn.

Currently, the racing action is taking place a little bit too far away from me. I am developing quite the bucket list of tracks that I consider a must see. Saratoga Race Course has had a wonderful meet this summer. Last week we witnessed American Pharoah’s disappointing second place finish at the “Graveyard of Champions”. Saratoga got that nickname after Upset beat out Man O’ War in 1913 and Jim Dandy beat Gallant Fox in 1929. Both of those races were considered surprising losses. Saratoga will wrap up its summer meet this Monday, September 7th with one final Grade I stakes race, the Hopeful, won by Secretariat in 1972. Today, September 5, 2015 Saratoga has two Grade I stakes, the Woodward and the Spinaway. This is the 62nd running of the Woodward, to be held at 5:47 P.M. EST and televised by NBC. The race was named in memory of Belair Stud owner, William Woodward, Sr. He was chairman of the Jockey Club from 1930 to 1950. His Belair Stud is responsible for great horses such as Triple Crown winners Gallant Fox and Omaha. He had Thoroughbreds in every major stakes race in America. The Woodward began at Belmont Park in 1954. It has been held at Aquaduct too but is now a Saratoga race course. Today the purse, for this race, is $600,000. The dirt race of 9 furlongs, 1 and 1/8 miles, is for horses, 3 years old and up. This race has featured many of the greatest Thoroughbreds. Secretariat lost to Prove Out in 1973, which was also huge upset. There are plenty of big named winners of this race as well. The champs are 3 time winner Kelso, 4 time winner Forego, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, Alysheba, Holly Bull, 2 time winner Cigar, Curlin, Rachel Alexandra and more. Who will win today? By post position we have…

Wicked Strong
Liam’s Map
Commanding Curve
Bay Of Plenty
Mylute
Coach Inge
Effinex
Protonico

Todd Pletcher is the trainer for posts 2, 5, 6 and 8. He won this race in 2007 and 2010. James Jerkins trains posts 1 and 7. Wicked Strong is a speed horse and the 3rd favorite at this moment. He has not won a race in 2015 but he won the Jim Dandy Grade II last year and he was 4th in the 2014 Kentucky Derby as he was in the Whitney Stakes at Saratoga less than a month ago. Liam’s Map, another speed horse, is today’s favorite. His jockey, Javier Castellano, won the Travers last week. In 6 career entries Liam’s Map has always placed first or 2nd and was 2nd in the Whitney this year. Commanding Curve is trained by Dallas Stewart. This horse has had 12 starts with his last win happening at Churchill Downs in May. He raced in the KY Derby there too in 2014. Last month he was 7th in the West Virginia Governor’s Stakes. Bay of Plenty is trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, who won the Woodward in 2013. This speed horse was 1st place at Saratoga this August in the Alydar Stakes. Mylute is the oldest horse in this race. This 2013 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes runner has 20 career starts including a second place finish in last month’s Alydar Stakes. Coach Inge has been in two Grade II stakes this year finishing 1st and 3rd both at Belmont. He is Kentucky bred but has never raced at home. Effinex is the 2nd favorite today. He last won in July at Belmont. He is a New York horse with Saratoga experience. Finally, Protonico has raced lately in my neck of the woods. He won 1st at Grade III and II races at Keeneland and Churchill this year. Good luck and good health to all of today’s horses and jockeys.

With Saratoga’s season wrapping up we are just about to enter Louisville, Kentucky’s racing season. Churchill Downs will begin live racing on September 11th that will continue thru the 27th. I will be attending their Downs After Dark racing on the 19th. I am very excited about that. I’m also thrilled that American Pharoah may live and train there again, hopefully in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup. In fact, several contenders may do the same. I may have to make another visit to Churchill. The first Lukas Classic will be held there on 9/26 and it has been rumored that possibly American Pharoah could run in that race.

Also this month, the sales return to Keeneland. September 14 thru the 26th will feature the Yearling Sale. I will be going often. Buyers from around the globe will be there to buy the babies that will be the next Thoroughbred greats. I am very excited to get back on Keeneland’s beautiful grounds and see how the preparations for the live racing October meet and the Breeders’ Cup are coming along.

Finally, September brought back the return of Night School, the Thoroughbred racing industry’s official on-line program for fan education. Started in 2011, this semester began on 9/1/15 at 8:30 P.M. EST. This program is streamed live on-line and on SiriusXM for 90 minutes. This is the 27th of 40 weeks for 2015. The downloadable materials are available on-line as well. So if you can’t watch or listen live you can make it up later. This week they covered trainer, D. Wayne Lukas. He turned 80 this week and has quite the Thoroughbred history. He is who the Lukas Classic is named for. Pletcher, McLaughlin and Stewart, training for today’s Woodward, were all his assistants. Lukas still trains many of the best horses. Next week, they will cover Speed Figures and Sheets Angles. This is free and perfect for anyone, like myself, looking to learn about the industry. Night School

Welcome, September! I am looking forward to sharing my own photos and experiences with you soon. Please, feel free to share your news and pics with me too. Have a great holiday weekend.

Update: Liam’s Map won, he was followed by Coach Inge, in 2nd place and Wicked Strong showed in third.

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August 28, 2015August 30, 2015

Phollowing Pharoah

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I have not had the opportunity to make any recent trips but my mom went up to New Jersey for a week recently. She was kind enough to do a little drive by photography of Monmouth Park during her travels. This was the site of American Pharoah’s last race.

American Pharoah won the 48th William Hill Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey on August 2, 2015. There was a huge crowd of 60,983 fans in the stands that day. There was a large crowd there in 2007, as well, when Monmouth hosted the Breeders’ Cup. When my mother was on the property, this past Saturday, she said there was a good crowd, despite the negatively slanted media’s opinion. The fans were there to watch a full race card and the Grade III Monmouth Oaks. This race first took place in 1871 and is the oldest active Oaks race in America. This year the race was 1 and 1/16 miles long for 3 year olds with purse money of $100,000. Paco Lopez won riding Delightful Joy. She is a Tapit filly and this was her first graded stakes win. She beat out Eskenformoney who ran in the Kentucky Oaks and the Mother Goose Stakes, which I have previous stories about each of those races on my website. White Clover owned by Calumet Farms showed 3rd in that race.

Having Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah participate in the Haskell was great for the track and the community. Ahmed Zayat, American Pharoah’s owner lives in New Jersey. The NJ State Senate was so pleased with the excellence in which Monmouth Park handled the Haskell that they honored the track for its success in doing so. The track has been managed out of three buildings since 1870 with occasional closures. It is my hope that this track has many years to go and to host some wonderful races.

Mom quickly spotted her home city posted on a truck at Monmouth Park. The Horse Capital of the World, Lexington, KY is the headquarters for Sallee Horse Vans. They have a hub at Monmouth Park. It is estimated that over 50,000 horses this year will travel by Sallee. They have over 200 routes that cover over 4 million miles. This family owned business has been in place since 1963. In Lexington they even have a nice 16 stall barn.

Monmouth Park was where American Pharoah’s last raced and I have been waiting all this time to see his next race. Tomorrow, August 29th he will finally run again. This race is the Travers Stakes, to take place in Pharoahtoga… well Saratoga, NY. I had a nice story earlier in the month about Saratoga race track. Check it out on my website. Secretariat also chose to race at Saratoga following his Triple Crown win. He ran in the Whitney Stakes. The Travers, named for William R. Travers, one of the tracks founders, began in 1864. Some call it Saratoga’s Midsummer Derby. It is the most popular day of Saratoga’s summer race meet. The race is Grade I for 3 years olds with a purse of $1,600,000. The distance is 1 and 1/4 miles on the dirt. Post time is 5:46 p.m. EST. It will be covered live on NBC. Should American Pharoah win he will be awarded the Man O’ War Cup by Tiffany and Co. and he will be blanketed with carnations.

The post positions are:

Upstart
American Pharoah
Mid Ocean
Texas Red
Frammento
Frosted
Keen Ice
Tale of Verve
King of New York
Smart Transition

As good as American Pharoah is, this is still a tough race. Any of these horses could win. Frosted and Texas Red have the next best current odds. American Pharoah was able to bring his favorite traveling partner along with him to this race, despite a minor injury prior. Smokey The Pony will not only be there but Donna Brothers, former jockey and current Thoroughbred racehorse reporter, will ride him while doing race coverage for NBC. Smokey flew with American Pharoah to Lexington,KY where they picked up Funny Cide and then flew on to Albany. I wish the airport had a fan lot like they sometimes do for the University of Kentucky Basketball team. I really wanted to see the 3 equines. I just spent time with Funny Cide at the Kentucky Horse Park recently. I posted that story to my website the last day of July. Funny Cide is a Saratoga bred horse who raced there twice and has won both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. He was on view in Saratoga’s paddock on August 27th.

Keep on following American Pharoah, where I hope he wins the Travers and then the Breeders’ Cup. I wish everyone a safe and lucky weekend! Don’t forget, we can watch American Pharoah’s jockey, Victor Espinoza, on the new season of Dancing With the Stars starting 9/14/15. To see more stories and those I mentioned during this post, follow my page on Facebook or Twitter and you can always go straight to my website, as well.

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Update: Frosted was third, American Pharaoh was second and congratulations to Keen Ice, the winner of the 2015 Travers! I am so happy that no jockey or horse was inured during the race and I look forward to all the participants exciting futures.

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August 22, 2015August 23, 2015

Thoroughbred Tour Time

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It was a perfect morning here in The Horse Capital of the World, Lexington Kentucky! The weather is beautiful and I got to be in the 1st group ever to participate in the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Tour at Keeneland. We assembled at the South Grandstand entrance of Keeneland right after we turned in our sold out tickets at the ticket window. The tour began promptly at 8:30 a.m. on 8/22/15.

Rick, our skilled tour guide, walked us thru Keeneland’s entry and took us under the grandstand where we watched a short video. The film went over Keeneland’s creation in 1936 and Lexingtonian, John Gaines’, plan to develop the Breeders’ Cup, which was held 1st in 1984. Horses sold at Keeneland have won in 19 Kentucky Derbys, 21 Preakness Stakes, 18 Belmont Stakes and 83 Breeders’ Cup races. That is why having the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland for this 1st time ever, is like a home coming for the sales graduates and the founder. The Breeders’ Cup races will be held on October 30th and 31st this year.

After the movie, Rick took us to the rail to watch the morning workout for some of the horses living at the track. They have 57 barns that house about 2 thousand horses. I was hoping to get a glimpse of Wise Dan but he didn’t make it to the track today. Wise Dan lives at Keeneland and he won the Breeders’ Cup Mile in 2012 and 2013. Those same 2 years he also won, each year, American Horse of the Year, American Champion Older Male Horse, and American Champion Male Turf Horse. He has earned 3 consecutive Eclipse Awards as well. Secretariat sired Askmysecretary, who is the dam to Lisa Danielle. Lisa Danielle is Wise Dan’s dam.

Rick also pointed out the trainers watching and clocking the horses up in the stands. He talked about the tons of construction taking place to prepare for the enormous crowd that the Breeders’ Cup races will bring. They are putting in roughly 10 thousand more seats to hold a crowd of about 50 thousand people. Despite the track bringing in all the visitors and business, Rick said Keeneland makes most of its money on the 3 annual horse sales. The next sale is the Yearling sale to be held at Keeneland September 14th thru 26th of this year. I will attend several days and follow up with all of you.

Our next stop was in the Winners Circle. Keeneland usually presents winners with a Tiffany and Co. sterling silver Julep Cup. The Breeders’ Cup has a special trophy. In the circle we got to pose holding the trophy. Those aren’t my hands, I am a little camera shy but I got one to show to my friends and family anyhow. This trophy is a mini replica of the larger ecorche horse. We went thru the tunnel to see the full size version in the Paddock area, where they are putting down new concrete and sod.

My hour long tour ended there. For participating I received a wealth of knowledge, a sticker, a lapel pin and 15% off in the gift shop. The tour is the best $8 I’ve spent. Go to the website to sign up to take this tour yourself. Kids under 12 are free. The tours are select Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from now and until October 28, 2015. The maximum group size is 30 so don’t wait until it sells out.

Breeders’ Cup Tours

The tour does not take you to the barns but I had an equestrian friend visiting one, so I went to see more horses. It was bath time, which is fun to watch. I also took advantage of petting a chatty barn cat. During the Breeders’ Cup I won’t have access to the barns on Rice Road at all. The National Guard will be there to protect racing’s finest horses.

I hope all of you enjoyed my summary. Have a great weekend!

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August 15, 2015August 15, 2015

Jockumentary John

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From the dirt on the tracks to the red carpet, our super star jockeys are about to appear in a Triple Crown jockumentary. I am one lucky girl and I was real excited that I had the accidental pleasure of meeting John Rousseau, producer, writer and director of “Heart, Hope & Glory-Masters of the Triple Crown”.

Earlier this week, I was hanging out and enjoying an evening off from work when I spotted a man in a Saratoga shirt. I couldn’t help myself, I had to ask him when he was there last. It was pretty recently and then he showed me his nice bridle style Seattle Slew bracelet, a gift from Jean Cruguet himself. Wow! I had to hear his story so I whipped out my Thoroughbred U business card and started grilling the man. As it turns out, this man is working on an amazing film on the last 3 living Triple Crown winning jockeys, prior to this year’s big win by Victor Espinoza with American Pharoah. Even nicer, part of the proceeds will got to fund the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.

The movie will feature Ron Turcotte, Jean Cruguet and Steve Cauthen. This is the first time that these famous jockeys have gathered together to tell their stories on camera. The film is set to be released in Lexington, KY this September prior to the Keeneland September Sale. The studio is GoldMark Media Ventures managed by GoldMark Farm owner Paul Bulmahn. There is already a movie trailer, a Facebook page, a Twitter account and a website. Heart, Hope & Glory

The PDJF was founded in 2006. It is a nonprofit public charity that benefits jockeys that have suffered debilitating on-track injuries. Currently, about 60 jockeys are being helped by this fund. Here is the link to read about the charity and/or donate to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund

Ron Turcotte is the amazing retired jockey for many horses including the 1973 Triple Crown Winner, Secretariat. Turcotte was born in Canada in 1941. He is featured in another documentary, “Secretariat’s Jockey, Ron Turcotte”, that had its world premier in Louisville, KY during the Kentucky Derby festivities in 2013. That film was directed by Phil Comeau. Turcotte was the 1st jockey to win 5 out of 6 consecutive Triple Crown races. He was the only one to do this until just this year when Espinoza matched him. Mr. Turcotte has been inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame and he received the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. Secretariat was born in 1970 and grabbed the Triple Crown in 1973, after a 25 year drought of no Triple Crown victories. He was just our 9th Triple Crown champ ever. Secretariat has an amazing fan following and he earned it, collecting wins and awards in abundance. He is ranked 2nd on the list of top 100 U.S. Race Horses of the 20th Century. Man O War is ranked 1st. Secretariat made records in all legs of the Triple Crown and holds the fastest times to this day. In his retirement, he became the Leading Broodmare Sire in North America. He died in 1989 and was buried at Claiborne Farm in Paris, KY.

Jean Cruguet was born in France in 1939. He won the Triple Crown in 1977 riding Seattle Slew. Cruguet got his start in Europe but he moved to the United States in 1965 and only briefly raced in Europe again in 1972. He has a long list of achievements and honors. He has retired a few times since 1980 and is currently living in Kentucky. Back in June he rode American Pharoah around the barn area at Churchill Downs. This is probably the only time a Triple Crown winning horse has been mounted by two Triple Crown winning jockeys. Seattle Slew was born in 1974 and he is the only horse to ever win the Triple Crown undefeated in all races of his prior career. He went on to win the Belmont too and retired winning 14 of 17 career starts. He was our 10th Triple Crown horse and is ranked 9th of the Top 100 U.S. Race Horses. He had a nice stud career at Spendthrift Farm and Three Chimneys Farm and was buried at Hill N Dale Farm in 2002. He was a Leading Sire in North America as well as a Leading North American Broodmare Sire.

Right here, in Kentucky, in 1960, Steve Cauthen was born. He rode Affirmed in the 1978 Triple Crown sweep. Cauthen raced in the United Kingdom for many years and has racked up big wins in not only the United States but Great Britain, France, Germany, Ireland and Italy. He is a National Museum Racing Hall of Famer. So was his horse Affirmed. This Thoroughbred was inducted in 1980. He won our 11th Triple Crown and is ranked 12th on the Top 100 Race Horses. Affirmed later raced against Seattle Slew twice and was beat both times. These are the only times two Triple Crown winners have competed against one another. He was the sire to many stakes winners and champions. Affirmed earned many awards and titles and was buried at Jonabell Farm in 2001.

It was a pleasure to meet John Rousseau and to hear his stories and see the pictures on his phone. I love the passion he has for Thoroughbred horse racing and his special perspective on the human athletes of the industry. I can’t wait to see his jockumentary. I hope this makes him very successful and raises a lot of money for the PDJF. I think this will be a very special project to shed some light on many great racing stories of the past while the jockeys are still here to share those tales themselves. I love racing and all the interesting characters involved. Have a great weekend everyone and keep your eyes and ears peeled. You never know what opportunity knocks next! Oh, and my lovely dirt pics above are from my surprise backside invite to Churchill Downs for early morning breezing. That’s some nice dirt!

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