Bob Baffert Archives - Page 2 of 2

December 11, 2015December 11, 2015

A Season For Giving

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year! For many readers, myself included, we are eagerly awaiting Christmas, only 2 weeks away! Also, we are only 3 weeks shy of a new year. It is time to reflect and give thanks for all that we have received over the year and to give back however we can.

I have decked the halls and put out my 15 nativity scenes. I love to take in a live nativity this time of year and pet all of the animals. Llamas are so cute. Also, I am excited about my siblings visiting and going with them and my parents to see The Southern Lights at the Kentucky Horse Park. The Southern Lights is an event with over 4 miles of light attractions, an exotic petting zoo, crafts, trains, Santa and more! The same grounds that contain some of the world’s best horse museums, an equine theme park and the home of Da Hoss, Funny Cide and Go For Gin will again host this holiday event. For over 20 years Southern Lights has been a part of the holiday season in Kentucky and they expect to entertain over 120,000 guests this season. Additionally, I find this is a good time of year to focus on the spiritual meaning of the season and to be extra mindful to give thanks by donations and works of charity.

There are so many fantastic charities that could use more help. Even a large number of Thoroughbred racing related groups are available and in need of our time and money. To make it easier for you, if you were thinking of assisting with one, here is a small list:

The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund : This organization provides funds to more than 60 jockeys that have been severely injured while racing. Ron Turcotte, Triple Crown Jockey, won with Secretariat in 1973. In 1978 Turcotte became paraplegic after falling from Flag of Leyte Gulf at Blemont Park. He is an advocate for the PDJF. Donate here: PDJF donate
Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm: This group accepts donations to save champion Thoroughbreds and allow them to retire at 3 locations that are available by tour, for the public, to visit some of racing’s best. War Emblem, Silver Charm and Gulch are a few of the more than 150 horses that live at these farms. I visited the Georgetown, KY location in September and wrote a full blog about them then.

Old Friends

You can donate to Old Friends at this link: Old Friends
One Last Race: This is a charity to benefit former Thoroughbred race horses. American Pharoah along with his trainer Bob Baffert joined the race shortly after his Triple Crown victory to help raise funds. One Last Race takes in donations and organizes events to raise money for After The Finish Line and CANTER Illinois. The 1st group funds rescue organizations that can re-purpose or care for retired race horses. The later group rehomes former race horses or, if suitable, finds horses a new career. Donate here: One Last Race
Thoroughbred Charities of America: This group has worked for over 25 years to provide funds for over 200 Thoroughbred related charities. In 2015 alone they gave over five hundred thousand dollars to 67 groups. Much of their mission is involved in retirement and rehoming. I have the pleasure of knowing the group that will receive their Allaire duPont Leadership award this year for their dedication to Thoroughbred aftercare. The award goes to Bourbon Lane Stable. Browse TCA’s website to find many individual charities or donate directly here: TCA

I am blessed to have food, shelter, adequate healthcare and most of all love. It is my wish for Christmas that more people and animals alike can have these same basic needs met. I hope that you all have a wonderful season and, if you can, make some time to give to others. Maybe you can make a jockey, a backstretch employee or a Thoroughbred’s life just a little bit, or a whole lot better. I bet it might even make you feel better too for knowing that you helped. Happy Holidays! I will keep in touch with a few more posts before my 1 year anniversary for this blog. Take care!

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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 27, 2015October 27, 2015

Post Position Party

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A large crowd assembled at the Maker’s Mark Bourbon Lounge last night, 10/26/15. They were all eager to hear the last 2 of the 13 Breeders’ Cup races post positions to be drawn. 2000 tickets were available to the public. Media, staff, employees of Rood and Riddle (the event sponsor), horseman and their connections, and more attended as well. I was fortunate to snag a public ticket!

At 5:30 P.M. EST my friends and I parked on Keeneland’s grounds and made our way into the packed front end of the tent. There is more than enough room inside the Bourbon Lounge to hold a group that size but we all wanted to be in the front. We hoped to hear from Keeneland’s and Breeders’ Cup representatives plus our Lexington Mayor, Jim Gray, and University of Kentucky Men’s Basketball coach, John Calipari. Calipari was selected to draw for the post positions for the BC Distaff and Classic divisions. He began at 6 P.M. and very quickly we finally all knew where our favorite Thoroughbreds would be placed in the gate. The room erupted with applause when Triple Crown winning, American Pharoah, was selected for post 4 in the BC Classic. I have read that Bob Baffert, his trainer and Victor Espinoza, his jockey, are pleased as well. See the photo above for the full listing of these two races.

After the drawing, we were entertained by a live band and treated to hors d’oeuvors. I also appreciated the progress that was made in one day’s time to make the tent more beautiful. I had been there to train the previous day and since then there were several new touches. It should make for a nice Breeders’ Cup experience.

Finally, I enjoyed being part of the event. It is awesome to see so many people come together with such enthusiasm for the horse racing industry. I saw some old friends and met some new people as well. I also ducked outside to see what changes I could find. I found that there is now an infield screen facing the Bourbon Lounge and I could barely spot in the distance that the starting gate was now decorated for Breeders’ Cup rather than Keeneland.

Excitement is mounting. The Breeders’ Cup is sure to be a historical moment that we won’t soon forget. Do you think American Pharoah will get the grand slam?

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July 18, 2015July 18, 2015

Midterm Musing

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It is hot and sticky here today in Kentucky. There are no live races at Keeneland or Churchill Downs right now and that is certainly a bummer, but I’m using this time to reflect on the Thoroughbred scene on a more national and even international level.

Del Mar in California just got started this Thursday and attending there would certainly be a fantasy vacation for me. Also, we got word this week that California Chrome should heal up nicely as he is moving to Taylor Made Farms in Kentucky soon. Just hours ago, Taylor Made announced that in about 60 to 75 days they will host a Fan Day for Chrome after he rests up. I live nearby and I am hoping I get to see Chrome. Additionally, we are right about in the middle of the year for the 78 international stakes races, or Breeders’ Cup Challenge, that feeds winners into the corresponding 13 Grade 1 races that make up the 32nd Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

I touched on the Breeders’ Cup before in Racing Renaissance. To refresh you, there are 13 countries that come to North America and once in Canada to compete. The race moves annually to different tracks and some with repetition. This is the 1st year Keeneland, in Lexington, KY, will host the event which is the richest 2 days in sport. The purse is $26 million dollars. The richest day is sport happens to be the Dubai World Cup Night. The Breeders’ Cup got its start in 1984. The BC Classic is the best race of the series. The purse for that race alone is $5 million dollars. The other races are the Juvenile Turf, Dirt Mile, Juvenile Fillies Turf, Longines Distaff, Juvenile Fillies, Filly and Mare Turf, Filly and Mare Sprint, Turf Sprint, Sentient Jet Juvenile, Longines Turf, Sprint and finally, the Mile. First, contenders are elected 3 ways. They may enter based on performance in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge, or by a point system, or be chosen by an expert panel. The point system uses Grade 1, 2 and 3 select races to give 10 points to a winner, 6 to place and 4 to show at Grade 1. Grade 2 awards 6, 4, and 2 points respectively while Grade 3 gives 4, 2 and 1 points, in that order. Each of the 13 BC Championship races,except for the Dirt Mile, has 14 horses entered. The Dirt Mile has just 12. Of these half come from the BC Challenge and points and the other half from the panel.

The “Win and You’re In” BC Challenge began gathering contenders January 10th. There were 2 races in January, 3 in April, 2 in May, 9 in June, 8 occurring this July, 15 to take place in August, 22 in September and 16 will finish up in October. We have 21 winners already. The two BC Classic Contenders from the Challenge are Noble Bird And Hard Aces. The 1st of the 7 BC Challenge races, that lead to the Classic, was the Stephen Foster Handicap where Noble Bird won at Churchill on 6/13/15. On 6/27 Victor Espinoza rode Hard Aces in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita. Next we have the Haskell Invitational Stakes on 8/2 in Monmouth Park where American Pharoah will compete for the 1st time since his 2015 Triple Crown sweep. 8/8 will bring the Whitney Handicap in Saratoga, then the Pacific Classic will take place at Del Mar 8/22. On 9/26 the Awesome Again Stakes will be held at Santa Anita and then The Jockey Club Gold Cup will be at Belmont Park on 10/3.

In between and all around these dates a whole lot of other races for the BC Challenge and regular Thoroughbred racing will take place too. I am excited to try and keep up with it all. I am looking forward to the Haskell Invitational. American Pharoah has 7 consecutive wins and Bob Baffert has won the Haskell 7 times. I’m hoping 8 is lucky for the both of them. I have a friend who owns Quiet Force who is racing in the Arlington Million on August 15th. This was suppose to be California Chrome’s next race before the bruise. I wish Quiet Force all the luck. If he wins he will qualify for the BC Longines Turf.

If you can’t make it to the races right now, like me, keep on watching and reading! One reader wants help identifying Willie Shoemaker’s white and black checkered silks with a yellow cap that he won at auction. The Shoemaker Mile, named for this famed jockey, took place 6/13/15. It is a BC Challenge race and the winner Talco may now contend in the BC Mile. Is there anyone that can help my reader out? Please, check out the comments section. I’ve been looking but I don’t have his answer yet. I haven’t quit trying yet but feel free to make it easy on me. Thank you!

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