Brothels, Books and Bloodstock

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Thoroughbred blogging takes an incredible amount of research time.  I have not read so much in years.  One of my more enjoyable reads was “Madam Belle: Sex, Money and Influence in a Southern Brothel” by Maryjean Wall.  I had been tipped off that this biographical book, about a madam, is actually a wonderful account of horse racing in Lexington, Kentucky, as it was in the late 1800s and early 1900s.  Harlots and horses!

Belle Brezing was a madam known internationally in her times and historically.  She was born in Lexington on June 16th of 1860 as Mary Belle Cox to an unwed mother who later married a man with the last name Brezing.  Belle had a sad childhood and became a mother herself in her mid-teens to a daughter with poor mental function.  During her daughters early years her own mother died.  Belle gave her daughter away and the child spent her life mostly institutionalized.  Belle than began her career on Christmas Eve as a prostitute.  She found work at a brothel owned by Jenny Hill.  This brothel was once the family home of Mary Todd Lincoln before she married the United States’ 16th President.  Belle was quite popular and influential as a prostitute.  The profession was much more acceptable and normal during the Victorian Era.  Lexington once had more than 150 brothels in operation.  Belle met the right people and she made enough money through her work and real estate investments that she was able to open her own brothel, establishing herself as a madam.  She eventually owned the best brothel in Lexington.  Her visitors came from all over the U.S. and her name was known as far as Argentina.  Belle is assumed to be the influence for Margaret Mitchell’s book, turned classic film, “Gone with the Wind” character Belle Watling.  Other books have been written on Brezing as well.  Additionally, many horses have been named for her as well.  One of these horse name connections was also named Belle Watling, the dam of War Story, who came in 16th in the 2015 Kentucky Derby but did better, just days ago, with a 4th place finish in the Ohio Derby.  Belle Brezing had a fascinating life and ran her brothel until 1917.  On 8/11/1940 Belle died, in her home, of uterine cancer.

In Belle’s hay day Lexington was, as it is, the horse capital of the world.  Downtown Lexington there was a racetrack, the Kentucky Association Track.  It was built in the 1830s.  The 1 mile dirt track was, of course, on Race Street.  During the Victorian Era anybody who was anyone in Lexington and even the school children spoke horse talk.  Pedigrees were rattled off from memory.  People came to Lexington to breed, buy, race and sell horses.  Other than the track the best places to discuss Thoroughbreds was either the Phoenix Hotel or Madam Brezing’s brothel.  Brezing, having access to speak to all of the right people was an expert on horses.  She loved to attend races at the KY Association as well as Louisville, Cincinnati or maybe even Saratoga.  She traveled to New York often to obtain her high fashion wardrobe.  The KY Association track was a big deal in its day and is a huge part of Thoroughbred racing history.  The amazing horse, Man O’ War ran his last race here on 1/28/1921.  It is where the Grade 3 Phoenix Stakes began as the Phoenix Hotel Handicap in 1831.  This race is the oldest stakes race in the United States.  It took place at the KY Association Track until 1930.  The track’s wooden grandstand caught fire in 1933 and burned the place down.  Keeneland race track took the race over starting in 1937.  It will take place this coming October and is part of the “Road to the Breeders’ Cup Classic” both to be held at Keeneland this year.  Other important races got their start at the KY Association Track too.  The Grade 1 Ashland Stakes ran at Keeneland, this past April and since 1936, was 1st the Ashland Oaks.  The Breeders’ Cup Futurity Stakes began at The KY Assoc. in 1910 until 1930 and moved to Keeneland in 1938.  It is a Grade 1 race that is also a qualifying race for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.  In 1911 the KY Assoc. initiated the Blue Grass Stakes, another Grade 1 race that was moved to Keeneland in 1937.  Also, the Ben Ali Stakes originated at the KY Association Track.  This Grade 3 race began in 1917 and moved to Keeneland in 1937.

Keeneland racetrack opened in 1936, three years after the fall of the Kentucky Association track.  In addition to adopting all of the races listed above Keeneland also obtained some unburnt bleachers from the destroyed track.  I was most shocked to find that the posts seen throughout Keeneland at the entrance, finish line, and perhaps elsewhere are actually also from the KY Association track.  Currently, Keeneland uses aluminum replicas that came from the mold of an original post.  The real posts were placed at Keeneland but destroyed by repeated car wrecks.  The KA symbol seen in my above picture collage doesn’t stand for Keeneland Association after all.  It really is the original symbol for the Kentucky Association.  I am so shocked!

Belle Breezing did her part to entertain and maintain the Thoroughbred racing industry and its people.  Judge her profession, or not, she is an important part of racing history.  If you have the time read up on Belle and the industry’s exciting past.

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A Night For Noor

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In the midst of preparing for the upcoming Belmont Stakes it was fortunate timing that I took a stay-cation from my day job and I had time to attend the latest presentation in the Keeneland Library Lecture Series.  It was refreshing to take my mind off all of the anxieties of what may occur in this weekends stake races and pay attention to a little less known horsey history.  Last night I learned a lot about Noor.

Author, Milton C. Toby spoke about his 5th book on horses in the presentation that I attended.  His latest book is, “Noor: A Champion Thoroughbred’s Unlikely Journey from California to Kentucky.”  Noor was, according to Toby, perhaps “the best horse no one remembers.”  This Thoroughbred was born in England in 1945 and died in California November 16, 1974.  He had a great pedigree.  His sire was the 5 time leading sire, Nasrullah, and his dam was Queen of Bagdad, by the 1935 English Triple Crown winner, BahramNoor had a good racing career in England and even showed in the Epsom Derby there but he really started to prove his worth when Charles S. Howard bought him and brought him to California.  Howard had owned the amazing Seabiscuit, who passed away in May of 1947.  Howard was looking for another special horse, and he found that in Noor.  Unfortunately, Howard died in June of 1950, before he could witness all of Noor‘s successes.

In his racing days, Noor, set 3 world records and 3 track records.  He beat U.S Triple crown winner Citation in 4 of 5 races.  He also beat U.S Triple Crown winner Assault twice.  This makes him the 1st of only 2 horses to ever win against 2 Triple Crown winners.  Does anyone know who the name of the other horse that can claim this feat?   Noor, also beat out the 1950 Horse of the Year, Hill Prince, and the 1949 Kentucky Derby winner, Ponder, passing both of them in the 1950 Hollywood Cup.  Noor was named the 1950 U.S. Champion Handicap Male Horse and in 2002 was inducted into the U.S. National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

There are some reasons Noor flew under the radar.  His owner’s declining health and death kept him from being well publicized.  The Korean War began in 1950 as well, which shifted the focus off racing somewhat.  Noor had been sent by train to the East Coast to race but had not done well and that kept his wide spread notoriety down.  He retired to stud in 1950 creating 139 winners from 256 foals.  Thirteen of his foals were stakes winners including Noor’s Image who produced 1968 Kentucky Derby winner, Dancer’s Image, who later lost the title to a drug scandal that was fought for a hard 5 years.

Noor had a second chance at recognition after his death.  In 2011 he was exhumed and moved 2,300 miles from California to Old Friends Hall of Fame cemetery in Georgetown, Kentucky.  Old Friends has properties in KY and New York for retired Thoroughbreds.  I had the pleasure of meeting owner Micheal Blowen and volunteer and tour guide John Bradley at the lecture.  I am looking forward to taking a field trip there soon.  If you want to assist them in helping Thoroughbreds click here Old Friends.

I hope some of you got the question right, Does anyone know who the name of the other horse that can claim this feat?  It was ExcellerExceller beat Triple Crown winners Affirmed and Seattle Slew in the same race, The Jockey Club Gold Cup and Belmont Park in 1978.  Now back to Belmont Stakes prep.

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Get Stoked For The Oaks

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TGIF rarely has held so much anticipation for me.  I can not wait for this Friday, May 1, 2015 and 5:49 p.m. EST!  The 141st running of the Kentucky Oaks is going to be a tough race.  This Grade I stakes race on the dirt for 3 year old fillies of 1 and 1/8 miles with a million dollar purse is quite the championship of  Thoroughbred racing. Who is your favorite? Let’s explore some history, review the contenders and have some fun with this contest of champions.

The Kentucky Oaks ran for the first time the 19th of May in 1875.  The track was Churchill Downs, by the name of Louisville Jockey Club,  in Louisville, Kentucky.  This track first opened that same year and ran only 4 races, those included the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby.  These races are the only races that have been ran continuously at the same track and the oldest uninterrupted contests of all sports ever.  The founder was Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. His contribution to Thoroughbred racing history could be an entire post on its own.  He developed many of the racing rules used today and his stakes racing design is the model the Breeders’ Cup uses.  The Oaks is patterned after the British Epsom Oaks.  The event is sponsored by Longines, a Swiss watch company, founded in 1832.  The Oaks has several traditions. The song of choice is “My Old Kentucky Home” by Stephen Foster, in use as early as 1921.  The flower is the Stargazer Lily.  Kroger makes a blanket of theses flowers to place upon the winner.  This tradition began in 1916 with roses but went to lilies thereafter.  Lilies for the fillies! The lilies share the color of the event, pink!  The Oaks partnered with Horses and Hope as well as Bright Pink.  This is the 7th year this event is committed to supporting these charities that are devoted to breast and ovarian cancer.  The drink of the day is the Oaks Lilly. Make one yourself  by following the recipe here Oaks Lily . For a fabulous calorie saving and sober drink try a mocktail by substituting the vodka with your favorite sparkling water.  The winner is presented with a sterling silver statue.  This statue stands 25 inches tall and has a horseshoe on the top and 2 horse heads for handles.  The statue is engraved with the name of each winner since the race 1st took place.  The statue is kept year round in the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville.  It was created in 1924.  The winner is also presented with 12 sterling silver julep cups that are engraved too.  In most cases these are broken up to be shared by the owner, trainer, jockey  and more.

Fourteen horses will race tomorrow.  This pool by post position is:

  1. Forever Unbridled
  2. Shook Up
  3. Include Betty
  4. Eskenformoney
  5. Condo Commando
  6. Angela Renee
  7. Lovely Maria
  8. I’m A Chatterbox
  9. Money’soncharlotte
  10. Oceanwave
  11. Sarah Sis
  12. Stellar Wind
  13. Birdatthewire
  14. Puca

Post Position goes from post #1 being the tracks inside rail to #14 being furthest towards the outside rail.  Gates #2 through 10 tend to be preferred positions.  It is good to keep close to the rail by the 1st turn but best to not get pinned in.  It also matters if the horse is a speed horse or a closer where the best position may be.

The prep schedule for the Oaks began at Churchill Downs in September and ended in April at Keeneland, also in Kentucky.  Keeneland featured 3 qualifying races. The horses were ranked on a points system.  Most races were Grade I, II, or III.  The points ranged from 10-4-2-1  (for win, place, show, or fourth) to 50-20-10-5 and 100-40-20-10 depending on the race.  The top score makers are  Condo Commando, I’m a Chatterbox, Stellar Wind, Birdatthewire, and Lovely Maria.  These are actually the favorites this evening as well, but not in this order.  The favorite is Stellar Wind.  Larry Jones is the trainer of both post 7 and 8.  He was pleased enough just saying “I’m not a good 13 person”, but it should be interesting to see how theses two top fillies compete.  Todd Pletcher is training both 4 and 6.  Horses 5,8, and 7 all come from the Storm Cat line of the great Secretariat. This line has never produced a Derby winner.  The favorite, at post 12, is a Curlin daughter. Posts 2 and 10 are both grey beauties. Last year’s winning trainer with Untapable was Steve Asmussen who has post # 2 this time.

Thoroughbred U for me is my own racing industry study program.  I hope you can learn from my blog as well.  I am far from handicapping for others and my tipster sent me plenty of info but not a tip.  I am going to go with #8, I’m a Chatterbox! This is my pick and not to be confused with a tip, this time.

Don’t forget to wear your pink!  My mom and I custom designed a pink lily hat to match my dress. I will talk a bit more about hat design in my next post, all about the Kentucky Derby! Have fun tomorrow.  I will be at Keenland’s party on the lawn to celebrate and watch the racing on some big screens.

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Update: Lovely Maria, Shook Up and I’m A Chatterbox was the order of the day!

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Goodbye My Love

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For better or worse and for freeze advisory this late in the season, brr!  This is your last chance at Keeneland’s Spring Meet.

The handicapper says, in Race 8 choose #5 Eastwood for 4/24/15.  He raced against some very nice sprinters in New York last summer and is working well for his return.

I had my last personal visit to the track for the season today. It was wonderful and emotional.  If you can make it to tomorrow’s final live races, bet this one for me and all of of our followers!

Update: The tip was spot on. Eastwood won 1st place!

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So sorry to see the season end. Its time to focus on the Kentucky Derby now!

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A Thought For Thursday

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Here is a nice picture I took from the stalls in Keeneland’s paddock.  In the background there is one of the racetrack’s newer extensions.  It is the Saddling Paddock Chalet.  This is a private room with nice views available for the Spring and Fall Meets this year and the Breeders’ Cup Championships.

On the topic of extensions, my tipster chose Town Extension, as today’s best bet.  In Keeneland’s sixth race today, 4/23/15, pick horse #9. He has been a very consistent horse finishing in the money 7 of the last 8 races. He should show a nice late kick on the Keeneland turf course.

This 5 year old gray beauty has Paco Lopez for a jockey.  Barclay Tagg is his trainer. Town Extension is owned by Charles Fipke. This is his first race at Keeneland.  This horse has had 15 starts and the last 6, over the course of 3 years, have been at Gulfstream Park.

Let’s give this Thoroughbred a warm Kentucky welcome and win!

Update! Town Extension won 1st place.  Here are some pictures I took myself:

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Tomorrow’s tip to follow!

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It’s Earth Day, Let’s Dance!

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Happy Earth Day!  I am going to spend my day checking out some earth, particularly the dirt, or mud in Kentucky.  It is another rainy day at the races for me.  Keeneland’s Spring Meet is on its final 3 days and rain or shine I want to experience it all.

My handicapping friend has another tip for us today, 4/22/15.  He says in Keeneland’s sixth race go for horse # 6, Dance Champion.  He calls this your best bet of the day.  This horse just ran second at this distance last time out and should get a nice trip! This last race was at Gulfstream Park in March.  See that placing race here.

Dance Champion has jockey Joel Rosario.  The 4 year old gelding’s trainer is Christophe Clement. His owner and breeder is Robert S. Evans.

Time to get ready for the races.  Have a great day, don’t forget to dance and celebrate for Earth Day and win big!

Update: Here are some paddock pics, that I took myself, of today’s big winner!

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Dance Champion did score 1st place today!  Hope all of you won bragging rights at the water cooler or better yet at a racetrack!

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Pulpit to Paddock

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Good morning everyone.  After listening to your reverend on the pulpit this morning come watch Reverend Green on the paddock and track today at Keeneland.

In race 6 (4/19/15) bet on #7 Reverend Green to win his maiden race.  He has solid work tabs, especially in the two recent Keeneland works. He should be ready to win at first asking, says our tipster. He worked out at Keeneland on the 2nd and 8th of this month and then again today.

He is a 3 year old colt owned by Glencrest Farm.  His dam, Papa to Kinzie, had 9 starts and placed in a graded stakes race.  His sire, Elusive Quality, is a multiple graded stakes winner. His trainer is Thomas Proctor and his jockey is Jamie Theriot.  Reverend Green has had no starts while Proctor has had 128 this year so far and is a top earning winner of multiple graded stakes and Breeders’ Cup achievements. Theriot has had 183 starts this year and he too is a winner of many graded stakes and Breeders’ Cup races.

On a side note, Reverend Green is also a nickname for America singer, Al Green. He has had success with both secular and gospel recordings.

Update: Reverend Green was not a winner today.  I stood in the paddock today to watch this rain shy beauty.  He looked dry and warm in his shelter while I was neither.  Here are a few paddock pics of this horse.

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Tip on the Turf

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Tipster says: Most likely winner, Hootenanny.  He’s won against the best in the world. Wesley Ward should have him ready to beat this bunch.

So today (4/18/15) look to Keeneland’s 4th race for another double feature. Go for horse 1 and 1A to bet on Asia and Hootenanny.

The trainer, Ward, has had 149 starts this year. His horses have had 40 wins, 27 at 2nd place and 20 running third in 2015. He is a successful jockey turned trainer.  Hootenanny won Ward his first race, as a trainer, in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

Should be a beautiful day for another turf race.  I hope all of you have a great day at the races!

Update: Asia scratched prior to the race but Hootenanny ran 1st place! I hope this helped you all to win.

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Seventh Heaven

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Coming off of a high from today’s winning tip I am eager to share my handicapper’s next choice with all of you.

Tomorrow (4/17/15) for Keeneland’s seventh race, go with #10 Harvey.  The tip states he broke his maiden impressively after being bumped hard at the break. Trainer Bret Calhoun had a nice winner Thursday and seems to have brought several nice horses to Keeneland this meet.

I am glad he put it that way.  It gives us a chance to learn a bit more.  A horse is a maiden until it wins a race.  This could be the first race it starts in, it may take years or worse, it may never happen.  Harvey is a three year old colt that ran 1st at Fair Grounds in Louisiana on 3/21/15.  Thus, Harvey is no longer a maiden.  Watch him win here:

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Harvey was sired by the great Curlin, elected to the National Muesum of Racing’s Hall of Fame and winner of the Preakness Stakes, Breeders’ Cup Classic, and the Dubai World Cup.

Enjoy tomorrow’s racing!

Update: Harvey ran second. A ticket to place earned $5.40.  He was shy in the paddock prior to racing.  Here is a picture I took moments before he entered the track…

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Double Play

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Thursday (4/16/15), at Keeneland we will have another chance to bet on two Ken and Sarah Ramsey horses for one ticket.  In race 3 they have entered Thirtysilverpieces and Frat Boy in positions 2 and 2B.  Position 2 is a 3 year old gelding with R M Hernandez riding and W A Ward training.  2B is a 3 year old colt with J Castellano riding and M J Maker training.  My handicapper thinks either part of the #2 entry should win race 3.

Don’t miss your chance to double the pleasure and double the fun!

Update: Racing fans, this one was a winner! Thirtysilverpieces won first without the help of Frat Boy who sctratched.

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