At Age 10, Evening Attire Still Going Strong

re: At Age 10, Evening Attire Still Going Strong

geowarrior — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 04:26:14 GMT

'Old' is a relative term when it comes to racing. In British Steeplechasing, some horses are at their peak at age 10.

If Evening Attire was miserable off the track then it made sense to bring him back. He's not being pounded down the claiming ladder or raced every 10 days for a tiny purse. And nobody seems to mind when he pops out of the gate dead last and takes a look at the field to see if he wants to put up the big fight. Yes, there are always the risks of breakdown, but I believe this horse is being looked after as well as any - we are not talking about a sore horse here.

And for Buzzards Bay he clearly got tired of the track and so it was the right thing to do to retire him.

re: At Age 10, Evening Attire Still Going Strong

normajean81258 — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:46:30 GMT

Sorry, Back again.... just saw this article and it does show how a horse will "tell" you, he/she has had enough racing. Of course I'll miss Buzzard's Bay too....

breeding.bloodhorse.com/.../46208.htm

re: At Age 10, Evening Attire Still Going Strong

mike williams — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:43:21 GMT

Evening Attire is a throw back to horses like Kelso,Forego,John Henry and we should not forget those claimers and allowance horses that are not heralded.I believe that after this year, he should be retired to allow him to enjoy the rest of his life as he has already given more than enough at the race track.

re: At Age 10, Evening Attire Still Going Strong

normajean81258 — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:41:05 GMT

Steve, great website, I recommend it highly! And for all those "neigh" sayers.... check it out and you will see that there is a reason for this horse to continue running. This is a horse that will let his connections know when he's had enough!! As for him not "winning" in two years... It's great to win but to be in the money to the tune of over 2.9 mil, and usually in the money period, he deserves to run. He's good, he's proven it, and he will at the very least, be "in the money." Not to mention give me another great run to watch!!!

Thanks again Steve, I left my info....

re: At Age 10, Evening Attire Still Going Strong

Karen2 — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:44:05 GMT

Brooklyn Steve: WOW! What an impressive website. I enjoyed it very much. Evening Attire is a special horse. I am hoping for his big win this weekend.

re: At Age 10, Evening Attire Still Going Strong

Karen2 — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:37:25 GMT

People complain when they retire early and then they complain when they race to long. I don't get it.

re: At Age 10, Evening Attire Still Going Strong

Pam S. — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:30:04 GMT

I really like Evening Attire, saw him once at the 2003 Breeders' Cup (not his best day) and have seldom missed his races on TV. He looked to be running strongly at the end in his last few. I think he has a good chance in Philadelphia.

I don't foresee any tragic end for EA. The sun is setting on his career these days, but the old guy is running in high-quality races and running competitively. I agree with Wanda that he is a horse who, with all that experience, knows how to take care of himself. In fact, he is probably about as smart as his connections, and I'm not disrespecting them when I say that!

re: At Age 10, Evening Attire Still Going Strong

Brooklyn Steve — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:27:14 GMT

Hey folks, if you are big Evening fans, check out his site www.eveningattire.net I update it all the time. You can email me through the site and sign the guestbook if you like.

re: At Age 10, Evening Attire Still Going Strong

Warren — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:57:04 GMT

I have watched so many horses die on the track (on TV) that I am no longer comfortable watching live racing. My wife still watches live racing, and if she reports no one was hurt I'll happily watch the replay. I'll do the same Saturday; if my wife reports Attire finishes OK I'll run to see the replay.

re: At Age 10, Evening Attire Still Going Strong

normajean81258 — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:34:31 GMT

I'll put in my 2 cents here, and agree that Evening Attire is not ready for the pasture just yet. He loves to run, the proof in the fact that he is almost always in the money. This horses earnings are over 2.8 Mil. He is a consistant racer that never varies in the way he runs. The quirky way he always hesitates at the gate just cracks me up, every race. It surely makes for great racing every time I see him. I am very partial to him as he was just a youngster when I first started going to the track. As long as he is sound and happy, let him run. I'm very sure his connections would not race him if they for one moment thought he didn't want to, or if he wasn't sound. Everything I've read through the years, says they care very much for Evening Attire and would not put him in jeopardy. My only worry is that here, in the Philly area, we are having a bad heat wave that they are saying will last through the weekend. So, the heat is my only concern....

re: At Age 10, Evening Attire Still Going Strong

draynay — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:37:54 GMT

Three in the Bag... wins this easy.

The trainer has finally figured this horse out and he is the horse for the course. Evening Attire simply has not won much in the last 2 years and there is no reason to believe it will start now. Track experience goes to Three in the Bag and if it comes up wet he could win by 5 or more. There is little else to fear in this race.

re: At Age 10, Evening Attire Still Going Strong

Wanda — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:37:41 GMT

You got it Jason.I think some of these people misunderstand when we say "old" its a term of respect for a warrior who is still able to get the job done. Class and heart are the things we treasure in a racehorse.

re: At Age 10, Evening Attire Still Going Strong

Jason Shandler — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:18:23 GMT

Kelly S, Lucy, Bryce, Wanda and everyone else who weighed in intelligently on Evening Attire, thanks for being the voice of reason. There are some out there that seem to focus on injuries and that is ashame. Let's just ignore these people and keep this blog about racing.

re: At Age 10, Evening Attire Still Going Strong

Wanda — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:59:19 GMT

There is nothing wrong with running an older horse

(8 and up)IF that horse is sound and happy. As long as he/she is still able to run in the money.I'm against entering these old class horses for a tag to generate a few more bucks.A graded stakes horse doesn't owe anybody anything and should be treated with respect.In the case of EA they tried to turn him out and he pined.Some of them are like that,their used to the racetrack and don't make the transition to retirement very well.Look at Funny Side,he's at the racetrack but doing a differint job.I've quit on old racehorses and made them into pony horses and some of them enjoy it.They also look after themselves when they reach that age cause they have figured out the game.

re: At Age 10, Evening Attire Still Going Strong

Mary — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:36:01 GMT

I'm rooting for Evening Attire, but also worry whenever I see his name pop up in a race. Hopefully, his owners will know when enough is enough & turn him out to enjoy a much deserved life on the farm.

I'm a Slew fan, so it's Lava Man all of the way for me.

re: At Age 10, Evening Attire Still Going Strong

Bryce Be Quick — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:35:07 GMT

Retire Evening Attire? You ARE joking, I hope.

Based on my experience, I can tell you the quickest way to put Evening Attire in a flat spin funk is retire him before he's ready-- these warriors love the training and the entire scene. Turn him out prematurely to serve as a "pasture ornament" and he will quickly become depressed.

Even those horses in training who look for creative ways to avoid work (my all-time favorite, Buckpasser, was legendary in this regard) will physically and mentally lose it.

Trust me, Friends, Evening Attire will let his connections know when it's time. From what I can tell, this warrior has still got run and then some. As long as he is sound, let him continue to do what he was placed on this Earth to do, and do very well, indeed. The equine crime would be to do otherwise.

re: At Age 10, Evening Attire Still Going Strong

sunnygirl — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:55:18 GMT

Yes, Evening Attire was retired and was completely miserable. When they brought him back to the track, he got down and rolled like a 2 year old!!! I'll always bet him across the board and hope I see him at Saratoga this summer.

re: At Age 10, Evening Attire Still Going Strong

Lucy — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:56:01 GMT

I think people forget that it is only in flat racing that a ten-year-old horse is "old." In jumping, dressage, endurance and many other sports, a ten-year-old is just coming into his own. Believe me, a sound, energetic horse such as Evening Attire would be miserable with nothing to do but stand around in a pasture all day. He is well-managed and happy doing his job.

I hope he wins!

re: At Age 10, Evening Attire Still Going Strong

steveuk30ca — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:49:44 GMT

1 1/16th Well Armed all the way,I have followed this horse since he went to Dubai at 3 and was considered for Kentucky but didnt run well in the Dubai Derby but ran huge in that races prep,any horse that puts up 46 and change speed wow tough tough

re: At Age 10, Evening Attire Still Going Strong

Kelly S — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:20:03 GMT

I couldn't resist putting my two cents in on Evening Attire. All the people calling for his retirement need to take a deep breath and chill. It's not like they are running him every 1-2 weeks. They give this old warrior all the time he needs between races. His connections are very conscientious of what is best for the horse. I love watching him run and will mourn the day that he is retired for good. I am getting so sick of the people who cannot seem to focus on anything but the chance of injury. I'm sure I'll be attacked for that and accused of being some heartless monster, but my god, I don't know how these people can enjoy watching horseracing if they're always on edge expecting a breakdown. I'm absolutely devastated any time a horse breaks down. I almost stopped watching many years ago when a not so famous horse named Pesky Hippolata broke down, but in the end, I realized that the good moments by far outnumber the bad. (Boy, I just loved watching Pesky race, though.) If you're so worried that you think every horse should be retired rather than race and risk injury, then it makes me think you are not a racing fan, which begs the question: Why are you even on a racing website?

I'm sorry, Jason, I know I strayed from the topic. I think I am likely to go with Evening Attire and Surf Cat (one of my favorite horses currently racing.) This is why I don't do good in these types of contests, though. I'm too sentimental!

re: At Age 10, Evening Attire Still Going Strong

Alex — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 02:41:51 GMT

Lest anyone forget everybody's favourite horse at Saratoga, Fourstardave. A win each year at the Spa for eight years running.

re: At Age 10, Evening Attire Still Going Strong

Huh — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:35:45 GMT

I'm goin' with the old man in the Greenwood and the Britian bred Mr. Napper Tandy in the San Diego.

re: At Age 10, Evening Attire Still Going Strong

Alex — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:56:57 GMT

Where I stay for the Saratoga meet, there's a picture of Shaun Bridgmohan and the caption commemerates his first graded stakes win at the Spa. The race, the Saratoga Breeder's Cup Handicap. The horse, Evening Attire.

My picks are Barcola and Well Armed. Good luck to all who play the races.

re: At Age 10, Evening Attire Still Going Strong

thoroughbredluvr — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:39:32 GMT

Evening Attire is an inspiration for the sport! I love seeing him and am thrilled to see he is still running. I know his connections will retire him when he lets them know he is ready. And I would love to see him go to the Kentucky Horse Park. I will be rooting for the " old man " also this weekend.

re: At Age 10, Evening Attire Still Going Strong

Glimmerglass — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:00:03 GMT

Jason is correct - there is no reason for him to not continue to race simply because he's the view of some "old". These aren't $6k churn and burn claiming races. He's still very competitive in graded stakes races and pointed to them very selectively and with plenty of breaks in between.

Evening Attire was already retired once and hated it. They brought him back, but if when he gives his connections signs he wasn't happy they'd retire him in a heartbeat. EA is loved by his connections.

Good luck to the old man this weekend!