Leslie Combs

re: Leslie Combs

dawsons — Tue, 07 May 2013 04:34:06 GMT

Re the sales, my pals and I at age 10 went to the sale after school as there was free soda pop there. Someone gave us some pop to take out to a truck for the driver. We were told the driver might be asleep.

I climbed up on the running board, and the driver was there, asleep or so I thought.

I opened the truck door (driver side), and the body (dead weight) fell right off the seat and into my arms and chest, knocking me to the ground.What to do?

Three of us pushed and pulled him back in behind the wheel, and took off like ORB did in the 2013 Derby.

He was dead, alright, but we never found out if it was natural causes or planned.

So, if anyone ever asks you to take out some Orange Crush to the parking lot, you'll know what to say.

re: Leslie Combs

sceptre — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:09:45 GMT

Bad Agent:

Let's try to set the record straight. Re-crookedness; you stated that "Mr. P. was awful". Really, Bad Agent? I think you're forgetting that Mr. P. was the Kenneland July sale topper. And, back in 1971, Mr. P.'s pedigree (when he was a yearling) wasn't of standout variety. His dam was a mere 100k + earner, and non-graded-type SW, with yet no produce record. So, unless Mr. Combs then pulled another "fast one", Mr. P's sales topping price was largely due to his overall splendid appearance. This was certainly not the case with Yukon. You claim to have seen Yukon. Well, I had as well, and he had none of the physical quality attributes of a Mr. P. Mr.Combs knew how to look at a horse. Keeneland's inspectors knew how to look at a horse. Mr. Combs had every reason to believe that he'd be hard pressed to get a good price on Yukon. This prompted his

less than ethical behavior re-the sale. The fact that one bidder may, or may not have, bid 1.3M is irrelevant, since it's pretty obvious (in view of the facts) what was the mindset of Combs...Also, Mr. P. initially stood in Florida because his owner had a farm in Florida. His fore toe-out (or whatever else you mistakenly imagine) wasn't the reason. He was also a speed-type that then fit well with the FL industry. Back then, FL, rather than KY, tended to go for those types. I know, easy to say now, but back then I, and several others, viewed Mr. P. as a freakish racing talent. His later career racing stats waned somewhat due to acquired respiratory issues. His was always the real deal, whereas Yukon was a dud from the start. So, for one, I'm not making assumptions about something I don't know about. (perhaps, you don't have the best eye). And, two, Mrs. Green's post-sale demeanor is also irrelevant.

re: Leslie Combs

Bad Agent — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 12:33:41 GMT

sceptre: I'm not interested in getting into a pissing match with you about this, but you are way off base here.

First and foremost, we bred to Mr. P three of his last four seasons at stud. (His conformation is generally regarded as the primary reason he began his stud career in Florida.) He didn't just toe out: he had very rough, offset knees that he often passed on to his babies. Additionally, I worked for a long time with one farm that stood Yukon for many years, and I'm quite familiar with his physique and conformation. So, please, don't make assumptions about things you don't know anything about. That is what I was taking Dan to task for. Nothing more.

For the record I didn't 'compare' Mr. P to Yukon, I said that crookedness was a family trait, and that in and of itself didn't make Yukon a throwaway.

And I couldn't disagree more with your statement 'so what' regarding the 'phantom bid'. That is the point. Based on Cot's story it would seem the bid caught Combs by surprise, so it's fair to assume it was a legitimate bid. That set the true market price for the colt. Since none of us know otherwise it's fair to maintain that the $1.4 bid was an honest price.

Did Combs put on a show to keep his client entertained and enthused? Of course. But that bit of good business does not make him a crook: it makes him a good salesman.

To reiterate - you, Dan and everybody else is free to express whatever opinion you'd like on these blogs. I simply stated that it gets tiresome of uninformed people automatically assuming that something sinister is at work when a horse didn't work out. Based on Ms. Green's post-sale comments she was quite pleased with herself, which is the only thing that matters.

re: Leslie Combs

deb — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:48:27 GMT

This story reminds me so much of how horse people were when I was young. I loved going to horse shows and watching the action on the sidelines along with the horses in the ring.

The old stories are great. It was a different time and I miss it.

I do not know what it is like now since I have grown but the horse shows are not the same anymore....

re: Leslie Combs

sceptre — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 17:23:18 GMT

Bad Agent:

You scold Dan McGough for being naive/unsophisticated re- the game, that he should remain silent, yet your last comments reveal that your scoldings should rather apply to you. For openers, even back then there were countless highly bred colts who failed to sell well, or were rna'd. Without a DG, Combs was obviously astute enough to realize that (the future) Yukon could well be another poor seller. Perhaps you should re-read the details in Mr. Campbell's post. Also, to allude that Yukon and Mr. P. were similar physically is ludicrous. Had you ever seen them? I had, and aside from Mr. P's fore toe-out, I found him to be a rather splendid and extremely athletic specimen. I realize that "folklore" on him now may be otherwise, but it is spoken and penned by know nothings like yourself. Lastly, while we can't know for sure, it could well be that DG was the only "live" bidder on Yukon. You don't know if that one other "phantom" bid was indeed live, or just another of Combs'. And if it was indeed live, so what? Not every bidder is a genius, but consignor's tend not to count on fools (recall that Keeneland had to be persuaded to accept him-his pedigree notwithstanding). As to you; you know what's said about people who live in glass houses...

re: Leslie Combs

Bad Agent — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:27:43 GMT

Sceptre: I'd be interested in hearing how exactly you feel LC took advantage of Ms. Green's trust. The subject horse was no doubt one of the best-bred colts in the sale, and she made exactly one more bid than the next highest bidder. Therefore, the market dictated the price, not LC.

It's easy to say in hindsight the sale was a bust, given the colt never ran up to his breeding, but that happens all the time. You can't hold that against LC because he couldn't know one way or another if the horse could run.

Bottom line: his client paid a fair price for a regally-bred individual. In this business that's as good as it gets.

re: Leslie Combs

sceptre — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 16:35:30 GMT

Dan McGough:

Why are you apologizing (to Bad Agent)? It is Bad Agent,rather than you, that is sactimoniously editorializing. It's obvious that D.G. was a relative neophyte and trusted L.C. L.C. was aware of this, and took unfair advantage of that trust. What does that say about his integrity? And, Keeneland had less than clean hands. No question that their behaviors were less than "ethical", and very likely illegal as well.

re: Leslie Combs

Mary Zinke — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 03:08:05 GMT

My goodness if that scolding didn't sound like it came from that cutie Tom.

re: Leslie Combs

Dan McGough — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 23:40:38 GMT

Bad Agent you are correct and I stand corrected.

re: Leslie Combs

Fortune Pending — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 17:56:14 GMT

Whomever named the horse Yukon (You-Con), how appropriate!

re: Leslie Combs

Bad Agent — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 05:20:40 GMT

Dan I must respond to your comments, as they infer some sort of nefarious behavior by Leslie Combs. What, pray tell, do you think a colt was worth who was by Northern Dancer and a half to Mr. Prospector? The fact that he was a bit crooked is irrelevant, especially since that was not unusual in that family. (Mr. P was awful!)

It's easy to sit back and question someone's integrity, but Combs didn't act alone: Ms. Green was there as a willing and involved participant. She obviously knew she was taking advice from the consignor of the colt, so give her some credit. In addition, the fact that somebody else bid $1.3 million as they were walking out the door confirms that someone else held the yearling in such high regard, so the price was a fair market price. What more do you want?

I get so tired of people like you - who likely have little or no actual investment in the game - pointing out from the sidelines supposed fraudulant activity in this business. Nobody can tell the future, and if that colt had won a stakes race and gone on to stud he would have been a financial home run. Your comment is one of ignorance and shows how lacking you are in the practical realities of buying young, unproven horses. It's all speculation.

Ms. Green didn't need you or anybody else protecting her investments or dictating to her what might or might not have been fair. She obviously made that decision for herself. And you certainly are not in a position to comment on whether or not the purchase lacked integrity. So, please, save your sanctimonious editorializing for another time and let us enjoy this interesting story for the characters contained therein.

re: Leslie Combs

Love 'em all — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 21:44:01 GMT

Mr. Combs' obituary is quite interesting ...

www.nytimes.com/.../leslie-combs-horse-owner-is-dead-at-88.html

He and Ms Green died the same year ... 5 months apart.

re: Leslie Combs

syl kiger — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 20:09:42 GMT

Wonderful memory. I was there and insured the colt for Dolly.

Regards, Syl

re: Leslie Combs

Love 'em all — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 18:26:34 GMT

Speaking of 'characters', Ms Green was certainly one ... and had fun dabbling in Thoroughbreds in spite of her "trepidations".

>"Oh, it was the most exciting thing," the irrepressible Miss Green later said of the auction. "I couldn't believe, after all these years, I was actually bidding on a horse. . . . Then to bid that kind of money for a horse. My, I did have some trepidations."

Conceding that her only involvement with horse racing before that auction was attending races, Miss Green was initially considered a "mystery woman" in horse-racing circles.<

articles.latimes.com/.../mn-570_1_miss-gre

Glad Ms Green had so much fun ... and was very generous in her lifetime.

I'm enjoying your book, Mr. Campbell.

re: Leslie Combs

Dan McGough — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 14:54:01 GMT

I'm sure Ms. Green didn't miss the 1.4 million. Integrity is the point. I forgot its the "horse business".

re: Leslie Combs

Trapper — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 23:18:01 GMT

Thanx for the memories Cot! You gotta love a man that grins while he fights!

re: Leslie Combs

Michael J Arndt — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 23:11:26 GMT

Dolly Green was the daughter of the largest home developer of Beverly Hills, California. Trust me, Dan, she never missed that million four.

re: Leslie Combs

Dan McGough — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:34:12 GMT

Funny story if you are not Dolly Green. I doubt the party who bought the colt would like being the butt of the joke/story. Another example of, if you can't cheat your own clients and friends then who can. Anyone doubt the reason for dual agency being unethical.

Additionally, I'm sure the reason Cot Campbell wasn't one of Mr. Combs "marks" is he knew when he was being rolled and no bid from a 1.4 million purchase.

re: Leslie Combs

Tory Chapman — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 14:46:51 GMT

Do a story on Mr. Walter Kelly please.

re: Leslie Combs

Mary Zinke — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 08:32:54 GMT

Another enjoyable story, and I love the way they are told. Still waiting for that special one about Dominion's groom.

re: Leslie Combs

The Deacon — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 07:49:45 GMT

Such is horse racing, even when you think you win you usually lose.

re: Leslie Combs

Bret Stossel — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 02:10:09 GMT

Oh well, long as everyone left happy...

re: Leslie Combs

Bret Stossel — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 02:06:07 GMT

Oh well, as long as everyone left happy...