Nyquist Loves and Leaves Keeneland

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Over all too soon.  Yesterday was the closer for Keeneland’s Spring Meet.  Live racing took place from April 8-29, 2016.  I was there for the final day of racing and it was too much of a good time to be sad that it was all about to end.

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Keeneland’s meet was quite a success story with plenty of excitement and quality races, horses, owners, trainers and jockeys.  The handle was up over 23% versus last Spring and the attendance was up over 4%.  I had the pleasure of attending 6 times and the weather was quite pleasant each of those days.  Keeneland credits the appeal of the Breeders’ Cup, that they hosted in October, with the returning fans and Thoroughbreds.  They also believe that having Nyquist, the 2016 Kentucky Derby favorite, living and training on the grounds added a special attraction.  I certainly agree.  Nyquist had his last Derby prep work at Keeneland on closing day and then shipped to Churchill Downs today.  He is featured in most of the pictures throughout this post.  I watched him work once again prior to the races yesterday.  He breezed a mile in 1:41 with Mario Gutierrez on board.

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45 horses that participated in the Breeders’ Cup in October returned to Keeneland this meet to race or train.  Ralis is seen in the top photo with Nyquist.  Other BC horses on the grounds this meet were Tepin, Ready for Rye, Barbados, Rachel’s Valentina, Nickname, Camelot Kitten, Ma Can Do It, Limosine Liberal, I’m A Chatterbox, Dacita, Azar, Thrilled, Private Zone, Land Over Sea, Bradester, Green Mask, Riker, Recepta, Holly Boss, Dothraki Queen, Fioretti, Gilding By, Red Rifle, Salama, Shinning Copper, Curlina, Right There, Grand Arch, Siding Spring, Catch A Glimpse, Wavell Avenue, Stopchargingmaria, Sheer Drama, Undrafted, Brody’s Cause, Da Big Hoss, Something Extra, Swipe, The Great War, War Envoy, Twilight Eclipse, Super Majesty and Tourist.

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As for the people who help make this sport awesome, many big names were present this meet.  Javier Castellano was the leading jockey with 17 wins.  He won that title last Spring as well.  Ken and Sarah Ramsey are owners who won 9 races at Keeneland this meet. They are Keeneland’s leading owners for the 17th time.  The leading trainer was won by Michael Maker, his 4th time earning this title.  Many more Hall of Fame, Eclipse Award and Graded Stakes winning jockeys, owners and trainers were in attendance for this Spring as well.

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I really had a great time at Keeneland, as always.  I am really going to miss the track that won’t have live racing again until October.  I thought that watching Nyquist work was a real joy.  I appreciate that the horse’s connections and Keeneland were kind enough to share the experience.  I wrote a story about a prior work a few weeks ago

My Eye On Nyquist

I hope Nyquist wins the Kentucky Derby next week on May 7th.  The success of American Pharoah has me eager for another Grand Slam.  Nyquist is a champion and he looks ready to win.  The 20 horse field won’t be finalized until Wednesday, 5/4/16.  Look for me to bring you the information you may need for the 142nd running of the Kentucky Derby.

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Phavorite Pharoah

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Congratulations are in order again as American Pharoah sweeps in one award after another.  My last post was on the morning of January 16th.   That evening we had the Eclipse Award Ceremony and today we received news of the Longines Awards.  American Pharoah won at each event.

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The 45th annual Eclipse Awards were held at Gulfstream Park in Florida this past weekend.  Winners were chosen in 17 horse and human categories.  The finalist were announced on January 6th.  All the nominees can be seen in my prior story.

A Tepin Time

Here are the winners:

  • Horse of the Year: American Pharoah
  • 2 Year Old Filly: Songbird
  • 2 Year Old Male: Nyquist
  • 3 Year old Filly: Stellar Wind
  • 3 Year old Male: American Pharoah
  • Female Sprinter: La Veridad
  • Male Sprinter: Runhappy
  • Female Turf Horse: Tepin
  • Male Turf Horse: Big Blue Kitten
  • Older Dirt Female: Beholder
  • Older Dirt Male: Honor Code
  • Steeplechase Horse: Dawalan
  • Jockey: Javier Castellano
  • Apprentice Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
  • Trainer: Bob Baffert
  • Owner: Zayat Stables
  • Breeder: Zayat Stables

As you can see, American Pharoah and his connections won Horse of the Year, 3 year Old Male, Trainer, Owner and Breeder.  Pretty impressive but there is more…

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American Pharoah has long been acknowledged as a national champion but today he was recognized internationally!  On 1/19/16 American Pharoah was named Longines World’s Best Racehorse 2015 at the Claridge’s Hotel in London, England.

Longines is a Swiss watchmaking company.  They have historically been associated with sporting events including world equestrian sports.  They made their 1st chronograph (a stopwatch) engraved with a mounted jockey in 1878.  3 years later, those chronographs were in use at tracks everywhere to time performance measures.  Longines is the official partner and watch of the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities (IFHA).

The IHFA had it’s earliest beginning in 1961 when horse racing authorities from the United States, Ireland, Great Britain and France came together to form standards to select the best horses.  They held the 1st annual International Conference in Paris, France in 1967 with representation of world wide racing authorities.  By 1977 the International Classifications were published.  In the 1990s North and South America, South Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand came together with racing officials and handicappers to develop the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings, which in 2012 became the World’s Best Racehorse Rankings.  The best horse that is 3 years old and up from participating countries, where it was raced or trained, is selected annually.  The season runs from 1/1 thru 12/31.  The top Grade/Group 1 international races are rated.  These ratings are not the same ratings used in many other horse ranking systems.  American Pharoah won with an 134 rating.  He is followed by Golden Horn (130), Shared Belief (126), Treve (126), Able Friend (125) and Solow (125).  Best race and best jockey are selected as well.  The Longines World’s Best Horse Race 2015 is the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in France followed by the Breeders’ Cup Classic.  Further race categories are chosen by surface and distance.  The top jockey is Lanfranco Dettori of Great Britain followed by our Victor Espinoza and 5th for Javier Castellano, which is quite different from the Eclipse Award results.  To enjoy some of the excitement, see the great new YouTube below.

Congrats again to American Pharoah, Victor Espinoza, Bob Baffert and Zayat Stables for all the amazing races and accolades.  American Pharoah is not racing anymore but he has an exciting new career as a stallion.  I am looking forward to his progeny.  I love seeing everyone’s #APandMe photos on Twitter and Facebook.  Please, keep sharing and hopefully I will go meet the champ soon!

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