Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

Dani c. — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 22:30:31 GMT

Also, it hasn't been determined that peppers pride is being retired or not right? I mean she's not racing in huge races but she's still fun to watch. And I agree the loss of curlin from the track is sad but like some said before I think curlin knew he was done, and so did the connections.

Nicanor will start racing and we all want to see how he will turn out right? Zenyatta of coarse . And really that's all I can think of. Stardom bound. And does anyone know if goergie boy will be running?

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

Matthew W — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:08:04 GMT

Bellwether John Henry was all set to run as a ten year old--he worked out in 1:34...but he suffered a setback and they retired him...John Henry had (by Far) his best year in 1984 as a NINE year old! He was truly the world's best horse as a nine year old!

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

Jenny — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:40:11 GMT

The market dictates what these horses are worth. No one is paying twenty million dollars for a horse right now. Edonomics my friends.

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

Jenny — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:38:18 GMT

I have been reading through all of these comments, and it is importiant to remember that racing is a buisness. Nobody is going to take a chance with a horse that is not absolutely necessary, espicially when you get into these calibers of horses. So, when you fans start pooring in enough money to keep these horses running longer, than you can critisize horseman all you want for not running these horses into later ages. Also, why do they have to be graded stakes winners that you guys watch? Can't you appreciate other types of horses to.

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

Matthew W — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:30:45 GMT

They go to UAE/Godolphin because of the above--market prices--but what is the value of a Derby Dream?! It's one thing to sell yearlings but when you have the BC Winner/when you have the top 2y/old winner of Champagne (smashing winner!) I ask again--"Was it worth it to lose that ellusive derby dream?" Please, please--that others don't follow suit! Please don't sell off Sunday Silence--Please! And thank you for keeping Tiznow. And thank you for keeping A P Indy. And thank you for keeping Curlin....

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

Hawkeye — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:50:27 GMT

The really unpleasant thing is how many good three year olds have been retired this year. Not only that but how many owners have sold good horses at the sales that will be headed for foreign soil and not be raced again. How many fillies and mares have been retired before their time? We all know that broodmares do not always reproduce themselves. We have so much breeding stock and not enough hard knocking runners. I still believe in Quality not Quantity. The breeding industry has become over inflated. It costs too much to insure runners because of the inflated prices. Accidents also seem to happen frequently to retired horses too in their own paddocks and stalls.

I am very thankful that we had Curlin for an extra year. His potential of carrying on a sire line that we don't want to loose is great. I can't say that for some who have been retired early and sound.

Sometimes we have to look back to a time when fewer mares were bred and be more selective how many your stallion will cover. Then we wait and see as nothing is a sure thing in genetics. Too many variables.

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

Kat — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:37:46 GMT

Steve Asmussen said the track had been closed several days in a row. Curlin had had no works since the BCC. I think they had already made a decision. So what. If they've chosen not to run him, that's their decision. When you pay part of his $3,000,000 insurance premium, maybe you will get some input into his management. Nick Zito chose not to take Commentator to the BCC because he "wasn't ready". Ready for what. . . to get beaten?? For some reason, NZ's statement was not questioned. Curlin's connections get no respect (note the comment about Steve Asmussen's "fancy statistics" in "And They're Off" video - and comparing Curlin to AP Indy.. .). As far as I can tell, what will be missed about Curlin around here is the opportunity to belittle him and his connections.

The high today is 35 in Louisville?

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

NightOwlaa — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:12:01 GMT

One very disappointing thing to me is once again the best 2 yr.olds are headed to Dubai. They hardly even race these horses and most are never heard of again. They will never win the Kentucky Derby that way. I've followed numerous 2 yr. olds with great potential that simply are not given the chance to prove how good they are by being able to race in the U.S.

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

CURLINLOVER — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:44:02 GMT

jshandler! Who do you think would have beaten Curlin in the Clark? I'm curious as a Curlin fan. I was actually planning on driving down from Michigan to see Curlin in that race and very disappointed at the lame excuses for not racing him in the Clark. Like Will W said, Curlin has handled all kinds of weather! Like my penname says, I love Curlin and owe him a lot for helping me get through a tough year. That horse has done so much to keep me focused and caring about something. Do you really think Curlin is declining or getting tired? No matter! I will always remember the wonderful thrills and times he gave me - especially in person at Churchill Downs June 14. Curlin had a good run for nearly two years. I'm grateful to Curlin for being Curlin. A professional superstar with the looks to match. Check my own photos of him, and you'd see!Fortunately at home, I have my very own Lil Curlin in my purebred silver Bengal cat. :-) Every day, I can say:

GO CURLIN!!!!!!!!!!

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

Householder — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:28:46 GMT

That's world record holder Bob Black Jack in this Saturdays Vernon Underwood at Hollywood Park.

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

dave — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:35:23 GMT

One of the key points is how much Curlin increased his status by racing at 4. If he'd been retired after his Breeders' Cup win, like Raven's Pass, he'd have been remembered as a very good but not great horse. Point Given, Afleet Alex, Smarty Jones, Street Sense, Big Brown--will any of these fine horses who were retired at 3 make the Hall of Fame? Curlin will, but this time last year he and Street Sense were on a par: one classic win and one classic second, a Breeders' Cup win, an Eclipse for best of his class, some other nice races.

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

Carolyn in ND — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:58:21 GMT

I find it interesting of all the retirments that a photographer predicted at BC have come true. Curlin was one of them. With $2 million cost in racing insurance, Curlin's connections will make more to stud him & less health worries. I will miss him too! I do hope a Farewell or "God Speed" race somewhere soon. Would be great for the fans to see him race one last time. Zenyatta & Proud Spell will be ladies I'll be watching most for. Larry Jones last year (hopefully temperary) will be of most interest to me.

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

Karen in Texas — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:41:44 GMT

Actually, I had forgotten about the interesting, hard-trying three year old, Bob Black Jack. His return to racing could prove exciting...

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

Bellwether — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:28:50 GMT

p.s...it may be a TAPIT OLD TIMER???...but not the filly...Long Live The King!!!

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

Bellwether — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:59:38 GMT

i know for sure that the GREAT Jonn Henry won one (GR1) as a 9yo & maybe as a 10yo??? ...Jonh Henry could have run on I95!!!...Long Live The King!!!

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

Matthew W — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:00:40 GMT

The fillies are the class right now! Would love to see a Zenyatta/Cocoa Beach/Music Note showdown in The Apple Blossom! I think Cocoa Beach and Music Note are real good fillies, a race like that on dirt would be great! Hats off to John Shirrefs for developing Zenyatta, a relatively modestly priced horse! She really put out in Ladies Classic as she ran widest into a soft pace--somewhere around 55 1/2 sec for last 5/8's when you figure she was far off the pace/went wide...maybe she could try turf as well...but enjoy her while you can, horses that blow by the field time after time/over different tracks/biases--are rare indeed...I think Zen might wait for Oaklawn to resurface---DIRT!...Come'n'get some of that!

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

BMC Racing — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:29:44 GMT

Perhaps we should just look at the horse racing season to that of college football, where you have great runners, passers, lineman and receivers that about every two years leave early for the NFL. Enjoy the college season and be on with it. Who knows where the next great Harrell, McCoy, Bradford or Tebow may await as it relates to our coveted sport of kings. BTW, I loved that Great Curlin horse. Shot wonderful pixs of him training at Santa Anita. Best horse of the decade and so far, of the century...

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

Jason Shandler — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:06:43 GMT

Megan: I addressed this in the blog article.

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

Megan. — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:41:14 GMT

Does anyone know if they're going to race Indian Blessing again or retire her?

She's sure one to keep an eye on for sprinters!

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

tiznowfan09 — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:26:46 GMT

I can firmly attest that Midnight Lute is happily esconsced in his stall at the Hill'n'Dale Stallion barn. I delivered him there about a week or two after the Cup. Regarding his size, he is of spectacular proportion, especially for a sprinter.

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

Householder — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:06:34 GMT

Track lore has it that Midnight Lute is about the same size as Zenyatta. The winter meet at Santa Anita will be great. Go Between, A-Maximus, Well Armed, Zenyatta, Midnight Lute, Baby Zenyatta. I can't wait. With all of Baffert's moaning about artificial surfaces I find it ironic that Midnight Lute tore Santa Anita up. I hope he lets him stay for the winter.

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

Nancy D — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:30:35 GMT

In today's economy of slumping attendance at the tracks Curlin has not been given his dues for what he did for this past years Breeders Cup. His announced entry created fresh attention and interest in a sport which has been in decline. For everyone who has denounced his accomplishments, we should remember how his name alone revived and sparked new interest in the sport. Big Brown and Zenyetta alone would never have done this. His trainers always commented on his professionalism and if you watched him in his races when the crowd was cheering and applauding, you would see what they meant by this. He always stood proud and tall.

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

Silver Charm — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:31:00 GMT

its a sad to see Curlin retired after an anticlimactic finale to an astonishing career. but thankfully hes sound and healthy. I look forward to next years crop including Stardom Bound, Midshipman, and especially Nicanor. (whenever M.Matz feels hes ready for his first run) Plus lets also be positive that we'll see a phenomenon in Zenyatta return to the track and horses like Mambo in Seattle & Col. John who are continuing to improve... who wouldnt want to see a rematch between those two? though Curlin has left the track, as all great horses do eventually, i think we'll be speaking his name for a long time to come

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

tiznowfan09 — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:12:21 GMT

Janesville Liz: The way I see it, Jackson wants to own Curlin 100% if not to have the entire horse without anyone elses input or...ahem..legal drama...but to aid in his syndicating as a stallion should he choose that route. Now while Jackson is a billionaire, no one wants to spend money willy nilly and so by, shall we say, encouraging his appraiser under the table, a lesser value is assigned to Curlin, hence a lesser pricetag for the tied up 20%. If that is the case I do find it wildly amusing that he is now "cheating"(I'm hesitant to say cheating but screwing seemed a bit rude for the forum lol) the same guys that "Cheated" the people in the Phen-Phen case out of so much money. So on one hand I hate the thought, but on the other, he is gutting a couple lawyers out of money they don't need or deserve so kudos there.

re: Curlin Retirement Leaves a Huge Void For 2009

DOC — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:37:52 GMT

DON'T FORGET ABOUT TIAGO! HE'S A PART OF THAT STELLAR 2007 CLASS AND HE BANGED HEADS WITH THE BEST OF THEM. HE'S ONE OF MY FAVORITES AND HE DID FINISH A FASTER THAN U THINK CLOSING THIRD IN THE BELMONT. AND WHEN U THINK ABOUT THE FACT HE CAME IN THIRD IN THIS YEAR'S CLASSIC BEHIND A GR-1 WINNER HE LOOKS BETTER AND BETTER. I ONLY HOPE THAT THE SHIRREFFS WILL RACE HIM ON REAL DIRT THIS YEAR WHERE HE'S A BIT BETTER!