01 May 2012 3:12 PM
Here is a look at some of the interesting meanings behind the names of this year's Kentucky Oaks fillies. ...
02 Apr 2012 4:45 PM
Well, it’s that time of year again! Once again, I will be turning the attention of my blog to all things Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) after this week as we count down to the first Friday and Saturday in May. But first I wanted to bring you this touching story about a sweet gelding named Doctor Decherd, who is now enjoying a peaceful retirement in Texas thanks to the help of a generous group of racing fans...
27 Mar 2012 2:12 PM
It’s about time El Bomba is able to kick up his heels and graze to his heart’s content—he’s earned it. The 13-year-old was turned out to pasture at Erin and Dan Hall’s Caerindoll Farm near Versailles, Ky. early this spring after making his 101st start, and life couldn’t be better for the son of Signal Tap. El Bomba’s career hit an especially sweet note when he won his 100th start at Turfway Park Jan...
07 Mar 2012 12:33 PM
After a near-death experience last year, horsewoman Carmel Heitzman decided to run the Mardi Gras Marathon and raised more than $8,500 for Remember Me Rescue. ...
21 Feb 2012 5:31 PM
Most people in involved in the horse industry know how rare it is for Thoroughbred twins to be carried to full term, successfully delivered, and survive. It’s even more unusual when both of those twins end up thriving in their respective careers. But such is the case for Coco’s Legacy and Coco’s Heritage, respectively nicknamed “Bella” and “Boomer,” who are now living life to the fullest in spite of...
09 Feb 2012 3:19 PM
Chris McConnell explains the inspiration behind his 1,900-pound equine art structure, "the Steel-bred."...
23 Jan 2012 12:39 PM
Shannon Hahn of Double L Equine Rescue and Sanctuary tells the story of Xatra, aka "Officer Isaac." From needing the law to becoming the law, Xantra overcame injuries due to neglect and now serves as a New York police horse. Hahn also encouraged fans to send Valentines containing $1 donations for its annual fundraiser.
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13 Jan 2012 1:14 PM
Joell Dunlap, executive director of the Square Peg Foundation in Half Moon Bay, Calif., receives a lot of bold requests throughout the year, many of which she must turn down due to financial constraints or other limitations. But when Rupert Issacson, creator of the Horse Boy Method, asked if she could bring horses into the San Jose Convention Center and do a demonstration for kids with autism at the...
22 Dec 2011 12:30 PM
Using a random number generator, I have chosen a winner for the 2012 Blood-Horse calendar: gocurlin12: My favorite older horse is Forego because he always tried his best and showed so much courage on the track. A very worthy favorite! Be sure to email me your street address, gocurlin12, so I can mail you your calendar by the end of the day! My email is emarr@bloodhorse.com . Thanks so much for entering...
20 Dec 2011 3:30 PM
This pre-Christmas blog has two purposes: to commemorate the career of the recently retired hard knocking stallion Eagle Time and to provide you guys with the opportunity to win an awesome Blood-Horse calendar. Consider it my Christmas present to you! You may have heard of Eagle Time, a remarkable 14-year-old horse whose final start was a 1 1/2-length victory at Thistledown Oct. 1. While The Blood...
12 Dec 2011 5:38 PM
Guest blogger Mary Cage shares the story of Lights on Broadway, a horse that was rescued from a near death experience, after which he inspired the foundation of a Thoroughbred non-profit organization....
01 Dec 2011 2:50 PM
Fleet Valid, a hard knocking gelding by Montbrook, was a just a claimer during the majority of his 28 starts. The striking chestnut finished his career in a blaze of glory however, when in his final three outings, he consecutively won the 2009 Teddy Drone and Icecapade Stakes at Monmouth Park and finished third in the Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash Stakes (gr. I) at Laurel Park. Fleet Valid winning...
23 Nov 2011 12:26 PM
Remember the amazing story of Miranda Prather and Blue Blue Sea ? It didn't surprise me to hear that Blue Blue Sea, a 12-year-old gelding by Sea Hero, currently has nearly 680 fans on Facebook. Prather contacted me a few weeks ago about a new development in the horse’s family that I would like to share. Recently, Prather began following the progress of Blue Blue Sea’s dam, Alytude. The Alysheba mare...
15 Nov 2011 4:52 PM
Bill Casner recounts the incredible recovery story of Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) winner Well Armed and reports on the gelding's retirement. ...
02 Nov 2011 2:48 PM
Greetings from Churchill Downs, two days out from the 2011 Breeders' Cup World Championships! It was a chilly morning in Louisville as I roamed the barns, talking with trainers of the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IIT) contenders, but those frigid early hours have melted into a beautiful and mild afternoon. I thought I would share a few snapshots from this morning: Pearl the goat all bundled up BC...
01 Nov 2011 2:56 PM
On Oct. 17, I was graciously invited to attend a benefit for Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement facility near Georgetown, Ky. honoring Hall of Fame members Skip Away, Noor, and Precisionist. I thought you all would enjoy seeing some photos of this special occasion. The event started with an observance for the three previously mentioned Thoroughbreds, who were recently buried in Old Friend’s new...
13 Oct 2011 5:51 PM
Our Mims Haven is a wonderful Paris, Ky.-based Thoroughbred retirement facility that features a stellar group of mares. This Saturday morning, Oct. 15, the retired multiple graded stakes-winning mare Lotka, an Our Mims resident, will be featured at Keeneland's "Breakfast with the Works." The event begins at 8:45 a.m. in the paddock. Recent photo of Lotka at Our Mims. Doesn't she look great for 28 years...
06 Oct 2011 11:33 AM
Read about the newly launched Thoroughbred Horse Show Association as well as three other upcoming retired Thoroughbred charity events....
28 Sep 2011 12:39 PM
I apologize for being absent for awhile. I will be back with a longer blog story next week, but as I am currently dealing with some family issues, this week I will simply be sharing with you a touching article that I read recently. I love reading stories about horses with huge hearts. The subject of this article—an 8-year-old Australian-bred gelding named Geejayhaitch--is reminiscent of racing icon...
14 Sep 2011 10:11 AM
Esther Marr interviews Lisa Miller about The Foal Project, a traveling gallery that documents the foaling process. The project benefits equine therapy organizations....
01 Sep 2011 5:11 PM
It’s been awhile since I’ve done a retired Thoroughbred spotlight, and when I heard the story of Nikki Egyed’s Flying Cayman, I thought he was a perfect candidate. Egyed owns and operates a successful riding stable called Silver Shadow Training Services in San Luis Obispo, Calif., and Flying Cayman, a 9-year-old chestnut gelding by Fly So Free she acquired off the track at Fairmount Park, is the star...
24 Aug 2011 3:54 PM
I wanted to give you guys a little update on Noor’s remains being sent to Old Friends. The plan is for the body of the deceased Hall of Famer to be shipped to Michael Blowen’s Georgetown Ky.-based farm Aug. 30. Noor is being exhumed from his previous burial ground at the Loma Rica training track in California due to the land being developed. Immediately upon his arrival, Noor will be buried in a new...
08 Aug 2011 2:41 PM
During the month of July, New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program hosted two horse shows that featured Thoroughbreds competing off the track. The first event was held July 9-10, during which nearly 40 Thoroughbreds gathered at the Kentucky Horse Park to compete in two Thoroughbred restricted hunter/jumper classes. It marked the second consecutive year New Vocations partnered with the Robert Murphy...
25 Jul 2011 4:30 PM
Last summer, when Sophia Mangalee read a story on Equidaily.com about the winner of the 2010 Mongol Derby, she was more than intrigued and entertained. She was inspired. “I was 100% convinced from the minute I saw (the article) that I would do that race,” said Mangalee, 28, the marketing manager of Monmouth Park. “I thought about it for about a week before I applied, and every night I was having all...
13 Jul 2011 2:23 PM
In my last blog post, I mentioned that sufficent funds had been raised for the body of Hall of Famer Noor to be transferred to Old Friends. It has been brought to my attention by an official involved in the process that this is not the case, however. Noor's body will be moved at the end of August only if funds are available to do so. In other words, Noor needs your help! ( see Steve Haskin’s previous...