Seventy-fifth September Sale

Gun It, was a Keeneland September Sale grad of 2017. He sold for the second highest price for a North American yearling.
Share This:
Facebooktwitter
Hip 69, a filly sired by Tapit, her dam is Pretty n' Smart, was 2017's top priced yearling sold in North America, at the Keeneland September Sale!
Hip 69, a filly sired by Tapit, her dam is Pretty n’ Smart, was 2017’s top priced yearling sold in North America, at the Keeneland September Sale!

Suddenly it’s sales time!  I love attending the September Yearling Sales at Keeneland in Lexington, KY.  You never know what you’re looking at the first time you see it.  Justify, our latest Triple Crown winner, is a Keeneland September sales grad.  Today’s yearlings are classic champions in as little as 2 years time.  Be sure I will follow up with results, pictures and tales from the sales.  For now, I’ll keep it simple with the sales stats and story.

 

Continue reading “Seventy-fifth September Sale”

Share This:
Facebooktwitter

Fame isn’t Fast

Affirmed, triple crown winner and U.S Racing Hall of Fame thoroughbred won many awards and his Hall of Fame plaque.
Share This:
Facebooktwitter
Affirmed, triple crown winner and U.S Racing Hall of Fame thoroughbred won many awards and his Hall of Fame plaque.
Affirmed, triple crown winner and U.S Racing Hall of Fame thoroughbred won many awards and his Hall of Fame plaque.

Fame does not come fast, not even for Thoroughbreds who sweep the triple crown at the young age of three.  An induction into the Official National Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame is something one achieves many years into or even after their outstanding career in horse racing.  Friday, finally finalized the fame of a few favorites.

 

Continue reading “Fame isn’t Fast”

Share This:
Facebooktwitter

The Derby Brothers

The Ortiz brothers race before the first turn at Keeneland in the Blue Grass Stakes!
Share This:
Facebooktwitter
Good Magic wins this ride for Jose Ortiz in the Blue Grass Stakes to earn the second spot on the leaderboard for the 2018 Kentucky Derby!
Good Magic (#11) won this ride for Jose Ortiz in the Blue Grass Stakes to earn the second spot on the leaderboard for the 2018 Kentucky Derby!

Oh, lucky day!  With just 13 days left on the countdown to the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby there is still so much to consider when choosing a favorite.  With a field of 20 contenders it is still best to wait for the post position draw on Tuesday to make any hasty decisions.  It is a good time to think about all 40 athletes that will face off on 5/5/18.  The Thoroughbreds always capture my attention and imagination but what thought do I give the jockeys?  Having spent time in and around Keeneland’s jockey quarters this spring meet I have paid more attention to their influence.  In this story, I want to focus on two jockeys that will compete in the upcoming KY Derby, the brothers Ortiz.

 

Continue reading “The Derby Brothers”

Share This:
Facebooktwitter

Last Lap in Arkansas Derby, Lexington Stakes too!

Good Magic finishes first over Flameaway, Free Drop Billy and Sporting Chance. There was a bit of interference and disqualification leading to the third and fourth place finishes.
Share This:
Facebooktwitter
Photo taken as the 14 contenders in the 2018 Blue Grass Stakes approach the first pass over the finish line. 5 are still in the top of the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. Go Good Magic, Flameaway, Free Drop Billy, Blended Citizen and Sporting Chance!
Photo taken as the 14 contenders in the 2018 Blue Grass Stakes approach the first pass over the finish line. 5 are still on the top of the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. Go GoodMagic, Flameaway, Free Drop Billy, Blended Citizen and Sporting ChanceMachismo will race again,  just 1 week later in the 2018 Arkansas Derby!

Happy Friday the 13th!  I am tickled to think of all the peculiar betting habits and quirks I will see among the superstitious gamblers and horsemen at Keeneland today!  Everyday is a good day at the track but tomorrow we will see the very last lap on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.  Saturday, 4/14/18 features the final two prep races, the Lexington Stakes and the Arkansas Derby.

 

Continue reading “Last Lap in Arkansas Derby, Lexington Stakes too!”

Share This:
Facebooktwitter

Captivated by Keeneland

There is nothing better than live racing at Keeneland!
Share This:
Facebooktwitter
There is nothing better than live racing at Keeneland!
There is nothing better than live racing at Keeneland!

And their off!  Live racing returns to Keeneland today.  This opening weekend of the Spring Meet will feature eight grades stakes races with purses equaling $2.75 million dollars.  The 16 day meet is packed with quality Thoroughbred racing.  I hope many of you get the opportunity to visit Keeneland soon and for those who can not, my favorite race of the meet, the Blue Grass Stakes, will be aired live on NBC Sports Network.  Here is what we have to look forward to at Keeneland this weekend.

 

Continue reading “Captivated by Keeneland”

Share This:
Facebooktwitter

Favorites at Fasig-Tipton

Sunday Gravy, hip 467, was busy with requests to be shown ahead of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale.
Share This:
Facebooktwitter
Come Follow Me, hip 114, strikes a pose as she is on view ahead of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale.
Come Follow Me, hip 114, strikes a pose as she is on view ahead of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale.

Her halter’s nameplate reads, “Come Follow Me” and her beauty made it desirable to do so.  While many American’s were busy getting ready for the Super Bowl, I found the preparations at Fasig-Tipton to hold more of my personal interests.  Today, Fasig-Tipton in Lexington, KY will hold the 2018 edition of their two day Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale.  While visiting the barns yesterday morning, I took time to inspect a few of this sales favorites at Fasig-Tipton.

 

Continue reading “Favorites at Fasig-Tipton”

Share This:
Facebooktwitter

Sales Goals and New Foals

Moonshine Bertie with her Speighster filly attend the January Keeneland Sale
Share This:
Facebooktwitter
Moonshine Bertie with her Speighster filly attend the January Keeneland Sale
Moonshine Bertie’s filly by Speightster attended the January Keeneland Sale

The sale was a success as was getting some new foal photos and video!  Keeneland’s 2018 January Horses of All Ages Sale concluded Thursday, 1/11 with growth in all prices to yield strong results.  Reportedly, two 2018 foals were born just in time to make their own debut in the sale as well and I have some adorable images of one.  Watch her short video included in this concise sales summary.

 

Continue reading “Sales Goals and New Foals”

Share This:
Facebooktwitter

Foaling In Love

A newborn foal at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale
Share This:
Facebooktwitter
A newborn foal at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale
A newborn foal at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale

The new year is here and it’s about time for a foaling frenzy!  Due to the January 1st birthday, that all Northern Hemisphere Thoroughbreds must share, it is of upmost importance that no newborn be born prior to that day but we see a rapid upswing in foals thereafter.  A few foals have already made their arrival.  Literally, several hundred per sire are on the way, fathered by the most popular of studs.  Most horse farm tours are open to stallion visits but naturally the very pregnant mares and new foals are sheltered and protected.  My best chances, for now, of seeing the babies, is at the sales.  With the majority of the broodmares currently pregnant there are usually a few who give birth while they are in the sales barns.  I am hoping to see some of the newest foals to the Thoroughbreds, we love so much, tomorrow.  Read on to see which foals I am in most anticipation of as I am foaling in love.

 

Continue reading “Foaling In Love”

Share This:
Facebooktwitter

Helping Hands for Horses

Turf Paradise racing, November 2017
Share This:
Facebooktwitter

Turf Paradise racing, November 2017

    Turf Paradise racing, November 2017

Tiz the season for giving.  It is time for my annual charity appeal.  With the holidays and tax season approaching quickly it is time to remember to give back to the sport that gives you so much entertainment all year long.  The horses and the jockeys, who risk their lives to win, need your support.  To make it easier for you to give, check on the list and links below.

 

Continue reading “Helping Hands for Horses”

Share This:
Facebooktwitter