Final Turn

More Than Horses - By Lenny Shulman

2009-11-17T17:42:00Z

Bobby Frankel was not for everybody. I was crazy about him.

Just months ago a writer for this magazine begged off a story because it entailed calling him. I knew the feeling. One of my first assignments here was calling Bobby after his brilliant trainee Mazel Trick suffered a career-ending injury. His reputation as a man-eater was widespread, and I figured my career might just end before it began. My heart was beating through my chest when I made the call. He picked up right away, gave me a straight-forward description of what happened, and away we went.

There was no better oasis on the backstretch—be it Hollywood Park, Saratoga, Belmont Park, or Churchill Downs—than Frankel’s barn. He was the smartest guy at his job, and whoever completed that exacta was 31 lengths behind. If you wanted to learn something about this game, you dutifully took a seat in his office and watched him handicap a race or fill out a training chart or pour over speed figures or listened to him explain the idiosyncracies of a racetrack or tell a jock’s agent why he’d better go look for another client. If you couldn’t stand a regular barrage of f-bombs or his questioning of why this or that wasn’t done better, you went somewhere else. But you weren’t better served in doing so.

That was the thing about Frankel—a dumb question or badly-timed comment could set him off. Whereas others are inclined to gloss over anything and move on, Frankel could intimidate. But if you made it past that and showed you had something to give back, the rewards were astounding. Each spring he would lead me out of his office at Hollywood Park and walk me through his barn, which was akin to touring the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.

A star peered out from every stall. “This is so-and-so; he’s gonna run in a stakes here next week,” Frankel would say. “This one is going to win the Test at Saratoga; this one’s gonna win the Arlington Million.” Up and down we went. As Muhammad Ali said, “It ain’t braggin’ if you do it.”

As with anyone successful in the training profession, many accused him—none to his face—of taking an edge outside the rulebook. To that I must admit I just don’t know. But go ahead and try gaining the access described above to the shedrow of any other nationwide super-trainer working today. And good luck to you.

It was more than just horses with Frankel. He loved talking politics, and during presidential campaigns he devoured the nightly cable news shows, constantly in wonderment at the foibles of those with whom he disagreed. He delved into human nature, fascinated with the reasons why people thought the way they did. He relished the diversion, after decades of devoting himself to horses, of being able to exercise his brain and expound on his opinions of other things.

And it helped him to relax. On the day Medaglia d’Oro would contest the Preakness (gr. I), Steve Haskin and I sat on bales of hay in Frankel’s barn outside the horse’s stall—and talked about New York delicatessen food non-stop for hours. A Sports Illustrated reporter happened by in midstream hoping to get a story on the horse and stood there for an hour in amazement, unable to break through the debate of knishes versus blintzes or who had the best pastrami sandwich in the city. No opinions would be changed here, certainly not Frankel’s, whose parents made their living as caterers back in Brooklyn. We were all stunned when the announcement came to bring the Preakness horses out to be saddled, the afternoon having melted away in playful banter that served all of us well,

If Frankel chose not to share that side of him with everyone, well, those of us who are private by nature will understand, and those that aren’t, won’t. He died the way he lived—privately and with dignity.

And he loved his animals—his horses and his dogs. He refused to travel from California to Monmouth Park two years ago to watch Ginger Punch win the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Distaff (gr. I) because one of his dogs was dying, and he wouldn’t leave her. It must have broken his heart to leave them now.

Bobby Frankel wasn’t for everybody. I was crazy about him.

Lenny Shulman is the features editor for The Blood-Horse

A Dig At Dirt - By Mark Popham

2009-11-10T21:05:00Z

The best European result, six wins at the 2009 Breeders’ Cup, means euphoria? Not necessarily so.

Santa Anita, with its Pro-Ride synthetic surface, may have evened things up between the Europeans and North Americans—five wins to the transatlantic invaders in 2008 and a record six out of 14 this year, and that was without Coolmore and Godolphin being at their most effective.

But reverting to dirt in 2010 at Churchill Downs and the likelihood of the same at Belmont Park in 2011 is a distinct turn-off.

While turf has always been no problem—except in cases of excessive heat and humidity—dirt is now the big no-no of world racing.

Even Dubai in 2010 will have switched to Tapeta over dirt at the new Meydan, yet many of the major racetracks in the United States have failed to change their traditional surface to an artificial one, which is both safer and more widely accepted worldwide.

The refusal to face up to global trends threatens to leave American racing, still uniquely also heavily dependent on medication, even more isolated than it has been previously.

Despite the Breeders’ Cup’s inability to provide free entry and hospitality to overseas contenders—unlike Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore—European raiders have flocked to the Breeders’ Cup, with 31 last year and 30 in 2009.

This is because American horses were seen as providing the best opposition, and the Breeders’ Cup therefore lived up to its title of World Championships.

But a World Championships on dirt is a non sequitur. Artificial surfaces, which have provided training for some 30 years in Europe, recently celebrated their 20th anniversary of racing in Britain and have spread to France, Ireland, and beyond.

There are no dirt surfaces in countries with quality racing outside of America and the adherents of such tracks—be they breeders, owners, trainers or racetracks—may have to suffer temporary economic upset if a change is made, but they would be much better off in the long term.

While California has changed to artificial surfaces through mandate, other jurisdictions, most notably Keeneland, have also chosen to do so.

It is time that such iconic venues as Churchill Downs and Belmont Park faced up to their responsibilities to the racing public and the sport in general and take the only possible way forward.

No matter how many diehards there are, those in charge have a duty that transcends narrow mindsets and temporary economic hardship to provide racing surfaces that will both
satisfy public opinion and give horses safer racing.

High levels of fatalities are grist to the mill of increasing vocal animal activists, and artificial surfaces are much safer in this regard.

For this reason alone they should be adopted, but the other big argument in their favor is worldwide acceptance.

Santa Anita hosted the Breeders’ Cup three years prior to 2008 on dirt—in 1986, 1993, and 2003—and the European winning tallies respectively were one, one, and three. The 2003 victories of Six Perfections, High Chaparral, and Islington were all achieved on turf.

This year two of the six wins—Man of Iron (Marathon) and Vale of York (grade I Juvenile)—came on the Pro-Ride surface, with strong contenders from Europe in virtually all the other races on the artificial surface.

The Classic (gr. I) would not have been such a good race without Rip Van Winkle and Twice Over, while the same applied to the Dirt Mile (gr. I) in which European runner Mastercraftsman was sent off as the favorite.

I fear we will see a depleted challenge from Europe in the next two years if the main surface is dirt, with the principal challenges being restricted to the turf races, which have provided the great majority of European victories at the Breeders’ Cup.

Both American and European racing will be poorer for that.

Hopefully, Breeders’ Cup officials will insist the World Championships beyond 2012 are run on an artificial surface or else the title will become meaningless.

European horses have been as good as American horses for years, if not better, but dirt is not a level playing field, whereas Pro-Ride, Polytrack, and Tapeta nearly are.

Mark Popham is the European correspondent for The Blood-Horse.

Family Legacy - By Chris Young

2009-11-04T18:08:00Z

The frantic preparations for the dispersal of more than 120 horses, including broodmares, weanlings, stallion prospects, and racehorses in the Keeneland November sale has given me a reason to look back at the many photos and articles that have been collected since Overbrook Farm was founded in the late 1970s. My childhood summers were spent working in Barn 1 with the mares and foals, and in digging through the archives I found a photo of me with a colt from the last crop of Northern Dancer out of a French Oaks (Fr-I)-winning mare, Mrs. Penny. I remember his sale preparation and watching him top the Keeneland July sale in 1989 for $2.8 million.

As I got older, some of the most treasured memories involve going to the races with my family and especially with my grandfather, W.T. Young. His enthusiasm was contagious as we traveled to watch various Overbrook horses compete. Of course, I’ll always remember Grindstone winning the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), and the agonizing delay as the stewards reviewed the photo to determine that he indeed had won. Paying $41 to win, Cat Thief’s victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) at Gulfstream was as exhilarating as it was profitable.

I remember the fun my grandfather had with his great friend David Reynolds when Tabasco Cat won the Preakness and Belmont Stakes (both gr. I). We were all there to cheer him on to victory in those races. As a family, we were also fortunate to experience the campaigns of graded stakes-winning homebreds such as Mountain Cat, Cape Town, Cape Canaveral, Boston Harbor, Jump Start, Tactical Cat, Carson City, and Storm Cat. These were all special horses to us at Overbrook.

As much as I enjoyed watching our homebred colts race, I particularly enjoyed the Overbrook fillies. From the racetrack to the farm, they have become like an extended family to us at Overbrook as their offspring continue to perform well at the track and in the sale ring. For me, it started with Seaside Attraction winning the 1990 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I). Purchased as a weanling out of the Warner L. Jones dispersal, she went on to produce four graded stakes winners, including 2-year-old champion Golden Attraction.

Perhaps my favorite memory is of Flanders drawing off to win the Frizette Stakes (gr. I) by 21 lengths on the same fall afternoon as Timber Country won the Champagne Stakes (gr. I). My sister led Timber Country into the winner’s circle, while I led Flanders, and my whole family was there to celebrate their victories.

Flanders would produce another family favorite, Surfside. I was lucky to be there with my grandfather and enjoy her multiple grade Is in California, with victories in the Hollywood Starlet, Santa Anita Oaks, and the Las Virgenes Stakes. Other graded stakes-winning fillies that we cheered to victory include Cuddles, Fiery Pursuit, Katz Me If You Can, Magic Storm, Patches, Pearl City, Penny’s Gold, and Storm Star.

These shared experiences with family, both human and equine, are part of what makes the sport of Thoroughbred racing and breeding so special. As we extended their families, these horses became a part of our extended family. Each new addition was eagerly anticipated and each generation added to our bond. My grandfather and our advisers at Overbrook took great care in the selection of new breeding stock, and we’ve been diligent over the years in deciding which of the race fillies to add to our broodmare band.

Personally, I’m only going to keep three 2-year-old fillies from the racing stable: A Storm Cat filly from the nice Juddmonte family of grade I winners Distant Music, Temperence Hill, and Vanlandingham; a Dynaformer filly from the fantastic family of Chris Evert through her daughter Nijinsky Star; and the A.P. Indy daughter of Flanders. Hopefully, these three will perform well on the track and will become the nucleus of the next generation of Overbrook stars. When my grandfather started acquiring his foundation stock, he started with three young racemares from nice families who had proven themselves stellar athletes on the racetrack. I can only hope this sweet symmetry will be recognized.

Every other broodmare, weanling, and racehorse will be sold without reserve and, with a little patience and luck, perhaps they too can become foundation stock for their new owners. These families have been good to us, and I trust they will reward their new families with continued good memories. I know that I’ll continue to cheer them and their offspring to victories in the future.

Chris Young is the grandson of Overbrook Farm founder W.T. Young Jr.

Still Got Game - By Richard Zwirn

2009-10-28T17:44:00Z

Most assert that it’s not fun to get old. Infirmities plague the body, friends fade away, hair too. Stomachs droop, children grow up and move away, while wrinkles appear and some memories disappear.

The two best anti-aging remedies I’ve been fortunate enough to find are running and breeding Thoroughbreds on our small upstate New York farm. Each provides opportunities to remain active and motivated. In order to stave off any potential mid-life crisis and keep my aging in perspective, I decided to run a marathon for my 50th birthday. It was not easy “turning back the clock.” Training consisted of long runs, intervals, and hill repeats for the three months preceding the big event. My legs labored, hamstrings stung, lungs burned…dogs chased, deerflies bit, and heaps of laundry accumulated. I loved every wonderful, horrible minute of it.

On race day I felt invigorated in testing my limits and showed more grit than gift in finishing. I took more of a beating than my 401k but felt satisfaction in the effort and result. Throughout training and the 26.2-mile race itself, I had a great many opportunities to ponder not only my mid-life status, but also racehorses. Specifically, the aging ones.

I have always been a fan of the inspiring “old warhorses” in the sport like Round Table, Kelso, Forego, John Henry, Evening Attire, Better Talk Now, The Tin Man, and others…the grizzled veterans who have faced the starter on 50 or so occasions over a five- or six-year career and have demonstrated not only ability and durability, but mental toughness. These horses love the game. They are happiest at play, and running provides this outlet. There is something left—unfinished—for them to do.

A 9-year-old gelding we bred is still running and winning at Finger Lakes racetrack. This wise elder may lack the speed and strength of his younger counterparts but concedes nothing in terms of enthusiasm and tenacity, regardless of his seniority. This horse thrives while at the track and loves when those gates “clang” open. His handlers will know when it’s the right time for him to greet the starter for the last time…it’ll be when he is glum during the post parade, sour at the barn, discouraged in the test barn, and “hurting” while racing. But for now, he seems as goofy, playful, and competitive as he did when we prepped him as a yearling.

So, let’s not be too eager to rid ourselves of an old runner. In fact, the horse racing community might want to consider showcasing some of these honest, trusted heroes to the public in a Master’s Circuit series—just like there are in human track and field circuits. Examples of races for “Old Timers Day” features might include:

• The Breeders’ Cup Masters Mile (6-year-olds and up)

• The Geezer Gallop (8-year-olds and up)

• The Triple “Sevens” Crown (7 and up–seven furlongs, one mile and 70yds., 1 7/16 miles)

Age does, indeed, diminish performance; therefore, these gallant athletes should no longer always have to compete with the likes of those 3- and 4-year-olds who are in their prime. The greatest competitors in any athletic endeavor have to come to terms with the reality that while the mind is still keen to push as hard as ever, the body is reluctant to respond.

Training regimens certainly need to be tailored (less intensity, moderate mileage, more variety) to meet the changing needs of this equine demographic. The temptation exists to do too much with a horse that’s “long in the tooth.” That is why careful management is so important. Proper diet and rest, massage, and icing/cold water therapy are all potentially valuable conditioning components—as I recently learned.

But the older racehorse also surely enjoys sporadic breaks from training, as it allows for rolling in the sand, plucking alfalfa from mother earth, and gazing at the moonlit distant hills. Easing up in life might be necessary for all, but being put “out to pasture” too soon is not always easy. This is especially true for the steeds that still have a “fire in the belly.”

Let them run…but let’s try to allow for opportunities to compete against their peers. It will help them, as it has helped me, from “feeling our age.”

For future birthdays, however, I think I’ll stick with doing less mileage and more cake.

Richard Zwirn completed his birthday marathon in 3:15…not bad for an old plodder

Moving Day - By Evan Hammonds

2009-10-20T16:49:00Z

In the spring all roads lead to Louisville, Ky., as the hopes of Thoroughbred owners everywhere center on having a runner good enough to compete in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I). This fall, however, most roads have led out of Central Kentucky…and the roads are filled with horse vans taking mares away from the “Horse Capital of the World.”

Where are they going? A sizable number of them headed east on Interstate 64 toward Pennsylvania. New Pa.-bred rules starting in 2008 state that in order for a mare’s foal to be eligible for Pennsylvania-bred registration—and the lucrative state-bred purses at Philadelphia Park, Penn National, and Presque Isle—the dam has to reside continuously in the Keystone State from Oct. 1 of the year of conception through foaling.

It’s highly likely a second armada of vans will head east after next month’s breeding stock sale at Keeneland. Pennsylvania rules also state that if the dam of the foal is purchased at a public sale after Oct. 1 of the year of conception, is brought into Pennsylvania within 14 days of the date of purchase, and resides in the state through foaling, that foal, too, can be a registered Pa.-bred.

It wasn’t long ago that the preferred choice of Thoroughbred breeders and owners was to have a Kentucky-bred.

Potential buyers of young horses are scanning down the catalog page quickly to see which state-bred program the horse is eligible for rather than the line that reads “Foaled in Kentucky.” Today’s Kentucky-bred doesn’t offer the buyer the same options that are available through some of the better-positioned state-bred programs such as the one currently in Pennsylvania.

One good example? On Sept. 19 at Philadelphia Park during “Pennsylvania’s Day at the Races,” a maiden special weight race was worth—drum roll please—$84,000. During Keeneland’s fall meeting, the top-end maiden special weight race goes for $50,000.

It’s no wonder that as the foal crops are contracting on a national scale, they are growing in states—such as Pennsylvania—that have crafted solid state-bred programs.

It’s also no wonder that a sizable number of mares, ones that used to reside in Kentucky throughout their lifetime, are now mere “seasonal” residents. After foaling in the state of their owner’s choice, they are shipped to the Bluegrass to be covered by a Kentucky stallion, and, once well in foal, shipped back out. Instead of providing a boarding farm with a whole year’s worth of income, the Kentucky boarding operator gets a few months' worth.

One such boarding operation noted it has recently added a few Pennsylvania clients, saying they’d shipped four or five mares out not too long ago. In fact, one left Sept. 30…

Northview Stallion Station has two operations, one near Chesapeake City, Md., and a newer operation 30 miles away near Peach Bottom, Pa. Business at the new facility is booming. Last spring co-owner Dr. Thomas Bowman indicated to breeders he would take “as many mares as we had the facilities to take care of, and our building program would be predicated on the response we got.”

Bowman built a second broodmare barn and is in the process of building a large shed.

“At the present time we have all the mares our facilities can handle,” Bowman said. “And I’m sure that we’re not alone. The mood in Pennsylvania is quite optimistic as opposed to many other areas in the country.”

While the state of Kentucky and the local Thoroughbred industry posture over slot machines and casino gaming to put the state’s purses on a “level playing field” prior to next year’s general session, our task should be to do a better job educating the general public about the depth of our industry. There is more to the big picture than just enhancing purses.

It’s more than just helping Turfway Park compete with Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort and Charles Town Races and Slots in West Virginia and Ellis Park compete with Hoosier Park in Indiana and Arlington Park in Illinois with fatter purses. It’s more than just the large stallion operators in Central Kentucky.

It’s also about the real bread and butter of the state’s signature industry—the small boarding operations that dot the Central Kentucky countryside. Their full-time clients are becoming “seasonal.”

Is Kentucky headed toward the new title of “Sometime Horse Capital of the World”?

Evan Hammonds is Executive Editor of The Blood-Horse.

Gaming in Ohio? No Dice. - By Steve Montemarano

2009-10-14T23:46:00Z

Ohio has a dilemma. Current costs exceed the state budget by $850 million. Gov. Ted Strickland is faced with two options: a) raise taxes, or, b) support an executive order permitting video lottery terminals at racetracks to address the economic shortfall.

The governor, an ordained minister, previously did not support expanded gaming. However, when faced with the budget crisis, he adopted a pragmatic approach by backing racetrack VLTs. The logic is simple—shrink the budget gap and work within existing Ohio law.

However, the Ohio Supreme Court recently delayed the governor’s order spearheading 10-year licensure of VLTs at racetracks. This decision occurred despite the General Assembly’s view that Strickland’s approach is legal. Some say blocking racetrack VLTs is a partisan move to discredit Strickland because 2010 is an election year. Without VLT revenue, he may be forced to raise taxes.

Yet, the governor’s proactive VLT proposal is still viable. So much so that Republican Senate president Bill Harris wants to remove racetrack VLT wording from the approved biennial budget that Harris helped craft and voted for.

These events are an embarrassing setback for Ohio, its equine community, and the 20,000 jobs associated with racing. What are the remaining options?

Strickland’s executive order limits VLTs to the seven Ohio racetracks. Each facility would implement 2,500 machines and report to the lottery commission. The Ohio Lottery has an infrastructure to manage VLT gaming such as performing background checks, managing law enforcement staff, and contracting with the state auditor.
The racetracks would ante-up $455 million in licensing fees ($65 million each) with 50% of VLT revenues going to the state education fund. Each track would invest $80 million to create a casino-style environment.

Imagine Ohio racetracks supplying the horsepower needed to generate vast revenues? VLT proponents said this will reposition Ohio’s racing industry and positively impact agriculture. Hay, straw, and feed are big businesses. As VLTs increase purse structures, Ohio will stem the export of money, jobs, and horses to other states.

A competing matter is Issue 3. This November ballot item pertains to unidentified gambling concerns erecting and running four stand-alone casinos in downtown locations. In order to implement Issue 3, the Ohio Constitution must be amended. Alarmingly, it’s reported that casino concerns are spending more money advertising for Issue 3 than Senators McCain and Obama did while campaigning for the presidency in Ohio.

An Issue 3 amendment stipulates the casinos pay a 33% tax on revenue. The largest piece, 17% of gross, will be distributed to the counties. Section 3(b) of the amendment allocates only 11% of wagers toward county education. Each of the four casinos is required to pay $50 million in licensing fees. In the midst of this, religious groups express concern that easy access to gaming and additional locations may prey upon the poor and those with addictive behaviors.

So what is the best option for Ohio? The math indicates that Strickland’s racetrack VLT proposal will generate $255 million more in licensing fees and allocate a greater percentage of revenue. VLT supporters note that a racetrack VLT strategy would restrict gaming to established locations, which may better address religious advocacy group concerns.

Also, a Maryland economic study suggests casino gaming could shrink lottery revenues. This is serious because Ohio retains 40% of lottery revenues, with three-quarters of that earmarked for education. A dollar diverted from the lottery to a casino under Issue 3 could cost Ohio dearly.

Sadly, these options do not address core issues and rely on short-term fixes. All states, like their citizens, must be fiscally responsible. Similarly, racing should promote its product so it can exist without life support. Otherwise this scenario is destined to repeat itself.

The governor’s racetrack VLT plan is supported by horse groups, with the Racing Commission voting 5-0 in favor of it. Therefore, Ohioans are urged to support racing and vote “NO” on Issue 3 in November.

It’s high time for horse people to work together. Ohioans are letting the politicians know how the process is jeopardizing our heritage and livelihoods. Approximately 15% of Ohio families are living in poverty and the unemployment rate is estimated at 11%.

Kentucky and Ohio have vast equine identities and commerce at stake. It’s critical to contact your senators, governor, and congressmen now. Remember them during the next election. Between our states, the equine industry represents more than 150,000 votes strong.

Crisis, Danger, and Opportunity - By Stacy V. Bearse

2009-10-06T17:20:00Z

The climate is as bad as I’ve seen in my 19 years with this publication. Racing and breeding, already facing serious challenges going into the recession, now face an even larger and more daunting list of crises. The time to act is now, before Thoroughbred racing retreats to county fair status or goes away altogether.

The majority of our readers have an economic stake in the business, so I don’t need to detail the predicaments we face. Suffice it to say that Thoroughbred racing is on life support. Investment and operating capital have evaporated and the four major sources of replenishment—handle, new-owner investment, racetrack entrepreneurship, and credit—are bone dry.

What can be done? Simple. Make racing fashionable once again, rebuild the fan base, and return racehorse ownership to a proud and profitable venture.

Well, perhaps it’s not so simple. The various associations that shape this industry have chipped away at these objectives for two decades with little success. However, Americans are notoriously fickle and impressionable. There’s no reason why a professionally managed, well-funded, long-term national marketing and public-relations effort couldn’t rekindle America’s love affair with Thoroughbred racing. When I was a kid, we avoided eating pork due to the fear of trichinosis. Today, thanks to a terrific, long-term marketing campaign, pork is the “other white meat,” a healthy alternative to beef.

Of course, properly prepared, pork is a tasty experience. A newcomer’s visit to the typical racetrack is not. But cleaning up the racetrack experience shouldn’t be too difficult. Just look at the vibrant environment already pulsing on the casino side of today’s racino facility.

Can we set a goal of doubling the popularity of the sport? Why not? Alex Waldrop, president and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, recently told me there are some 7.4-million core racing fans in the United States. Doubling this number is within the realm of reason and would lead to a surge in handle and a much-needed bump in purses.

And speaking of handle and purses, it’s time for owners to stand up and demand their fair share of the take-out. In the days before simulcasting, tracks and horsemen shared take-out equally. But racing was late to the Internet revolution and allowed crafty offshore hubs to highjack a substantial portion of the wagering pie. Today, third-party bet-takers siphon off unconscionable fees, leaving a pittance for horsemen. The time has come to change the pricing model and more fairly compensate Thoroughbred owners for their financial risks.

Increasing the popularity of the sport and improving financial opportunity would help lure new owners to the game. But we must go further. Although progress has been made since the star-crossed 2008 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), many issues of integrity are yet to be resolved. Some problems are chronic; the specter of illicit drugs continues to haunt the backside. Other challenges are looming; past posting is growing more common thanks to our 30-year-old tote-system infrastructure.

The capital provided by Thoroughbred owners is a crucial factor in the survival and growth of our sport. Improving the economic opportunity and taking racing to a new level of popularity and integrity—making it “cool” to own a racehorse—would attract a wave of new owners and interesting personalities to the sport.

Of course, none of this will happen without strong leadership. Decisive, empowered leadership is the key to making any sport prosper and grow. The new sport of “Ultimate Fighting” comes to mind. It has experienced incredible growth because it has a single point of management control. In contrast, racing is out of control. Like a driverless car racing down a mountain road, it careens uncontrollably toward some ugly fate. In the past, we’ve made two half-hearted stabs at supporting a national racing commissioner. Unfortunately, in both cases their organizations spent more time putting out intra-industry fires than exercising the bold leadership so desperately needed.

Shall we give this approach one more try? I confess that I don’t have the answer. But I do know that unless we come together as an industry, our future is bleak. In a 1959 speech, Sen. John F. Kennedy opined that, “When written in Chinese the word ‘crisis’ is composed of two characters. One represents danger, and the other represents opportunity.” The crisis is upon us. We are in danger. Let us seize the opportunity.

Stacy Bearse is president and CEO of Blood-Horse Publications.

Queen For A Day - By Mary-Ellen Donovan

2009-09-29T17:25:00Z

The stableman whistled. In the pasture below, three horses raised their heads from the lush grass. As they trotted up the tree-lined hill, a long-legged dark bay loped past the others, relentlessly building speed like he did so often in the 1960s on “Race of the Week.” The crowd would erupt as Fred Capposella unleashed his raspy growl, “It’s Kelso, mighty Kelso circling the field…” Arcaro, Shoemaker, or Valenzuela hunched over his neck—lost in a rippling black mane, sweeping to the wire.

Like most other kids, I was in love with horses, especially Thoroughbreds. Family vacations often took us through the Bluegrass. A visit to Man o’ War’s grave at Faraway Farm is etched in memory. In 1964 we all watched Northern Dancer’s quest for the Triple Crown. Despite falling short in the Belmont, his global impact as a sire of sires continues to enhance the breed.

That same year the folks gave in. After building a barn, we found the perfect “backyard horse” and my dreams came true. Recently, we bid farewell to her last offspring.

Thankfully, my husband, Tom, loves horses, too. Mid-September 1983 found us in Wilmington, Del., visiting Tom’s family. There was no Internet then, so it was difficult to locate racing’s retired greats. I’d read, however, that Kelso had retired to Allaire du Pont’s Woodstock Farm in Chesapeake City, Md., and Carl Hanford, his trainer, lived in Wilmington.

Leafing through our Holiday Inn room phone book, common sense told me I was on a fool’s errand. Hanford’s number was probably unlisted. About to give up, his name appeared under my index finger. He answered on the second ring, graciously offered to call Woodstock, provided excellent directions, and, yes, told us to bring apples, carrots, and our camera. After a quick trip to the store, we were on our way.

Leaning on the fence, in awe as my favorite pulled up several yards away, I rattled the bag of carrots and apples. Kelso plunged toward me, warding off his pasture mates. Then, head tucked in my arms, this fierce competitor with the gentle nature gobbled his treats as Tom snapped photo after photo. Before we left, I was surprised when the stableman suggested we see Northern Dancer across the road at Windfields. Not aware he’d been moved from Canada, we couldn’t pass THIS up! Entering the barn, we saw a couple conversing with an older lady at the end of the aisle.

Suddenly, our attention was diverted by a bellowing neigh from the middle stall on the right. A groom strolled toward us, grinned, and said, “Folks, meet the boss!”

The glistening bay ‘King of Windfields’ reared in profile, silky black mane fanning over his neck. Eyes ablaze, he landed gracefully and tossed his head. Pushing his nose against the bars above his doorplate, he snorted. Etched under his name was a decades-long list of years he’d reigned as top stakes-winning sire. To our amazement, the groom offered to bring him out.

Opening the stall door, halter in hand, he invited us closer. Northern Dancer eagerly shoved his white-tipped muzzle through the noseband. As the stableman attached the lead shank, I recounted how Hanford kindly arranged for us to see Kelso and Woodstock. I was astonished when he nodded to the left and replied, “The lady with those people looking at Halo is Mrs. du Pont. We’re good neighbors.”

The trio at the end of the aisle stood back in quiet homage as Northern Dancer pranced past us. Mrs. du Pont nodded and smiled. Less than an hour ago, Kelso had honored us, and now, Northern Dancer. Emboldened in the moment, I addressed racing royalty, “Mrs. du Pont, we were thrilled to see your wonderful Kelso earlier. Your staff were very kind.”

“Thank you, dear,” she smiled back, “I’m sure he enjoyed your visit.”

Walking on air, we were escorted to a paddock behind the barn where Northern Dancer struck pose after pose as we patted his shoulder.

Today, industry Web sites provide global links to farms, tracks, and retired favorites. We’ve met other “greats” since that sparkling autumn day in ’83. Yet, nothing has changed. The unselfish, hard-working human and equine stars of the Sport of Kings still treat fans like kings.

Mary-Ellen Donovan, who resides in Lancaster, Ohio, has recently completed a mystery-thriller surrounding the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Redemption - By Joe Hickey

2009-09-22T18:01:00Z

In 1975, while assaying potential Keeneland July sales purchases with my esteemed employer, E.P. Taylor asked me for my grading of Buckland Farm’s Northern Dancer—Sea Saga yearling filly. After reviewing my notes, I concluded—in rather contradictory terms—“She measures up, sir, but small enough to walk under a garden trellis.”

“Good!” the great visionary breeder explained. “Just goes to prove she’s a Northern Dancer.”

Mr. Taylor bought Tom Evans’ watch fob filly for $260,000. Named Northern Sea, she won a division of the Test (gr. III) at Saratoga, two other stakes, and produced the prolific shuttle stallion Southern Halo, sire of more than 160 stakes winners in South and North America.

I was reminded of that 1975 appraisal while nominating Windfields Farm’s candidates for the 1982 Keeneland July sale. This time my concern was for a small, backward, and timid filly that needed a good friend and lots of time. She, too, came by her petite size naturally as she was by Northern Dancer, compounded by her May 29 foaling date. She had her daddy’s hocks, too. On the plus side, she was out of Pacific Princess, a multiple stakes-winning daughter of Damascus whom Roger Laurin saddled to win the 1976 Delaware Oaks (gr. I). She (and Windfields) would have been much better served selling later at Woodbine in September, but being Maryland-bred, she was not eligible. So, she tagged along to Lexington.

Originally, there were 14 yearlings in the consignment. One filly, on being stall-cast, was scratched; a second was RNA’d. For promise fulfilled, the remaining 12 yearlings composed one of the most gifted consignments to pass through the auction ring in living memory. Take a look:

Devil’s Bag (c., Halo—Ballade, $325,000, Hickory Tree Farm). Brilliant Eclipse champion at 2. Syndicated for $36 million at 3. Prominent sire.
Secreto (c., Northern Dancer—Betty’s Secret, $340,000, Luigi Miglietti). Ever Ready Epsom Derby (Eng-I). Half-interest sold to Calumet Farm for $20 million.
Love Smitten (f., Key to the Mint—Square Angel, $225,000, J.K. Rafsky). Multiple graded stakes winner. Re-sold in training for $2.6 million. Dam of 3 stakes winners, including Swain ($3,797,566).
South Sea Dancer (f., Northern Dancer—South Ocean, $1.8 million, William S. Farish). Commanded short-lived world-record price for a yearling filly. Stakes-placed, she produced foals that sold exceptionally well for Lane’s End, and included the multiple stakes winner Signal Tap.
Other stakes winners from Windfields’ Keeneland Class of ’82 were Born a Lady, a half-sister to Northern Dancer who became a revered member of Betty Moran’s Brushwood Stable broodmare band; Mike Rutherford’s Dance Flower; and Dogwood’s Nagurski, a graded stakes winner in the U.S. who was sold to Japan as a stallion prospect for $1 million. The Nijinsky horse made a name for himself as the sire of Hokuto Vega, who for a time reigned as the world’s leading money-winning female with earnings of $8,300,301.

As for the tiny Pacific Princess filly, she was purchased for $200,000 by J. McNaught and shipped abroad. The following May owner Peter G. Goulandris wrote from London to report the filly, now named Pacificus, was in training with P.T. Walwyn at Lambourn.

“I am pleased to say she has grown a little and thickened out. Her curved hocks are not bothering her at all,” he wrote, adding, “Mr. Walwyn is satisfied with her progress…but she will take time.”

As far as I could tell, she went on to win a couple of races and simply dropped off the radar screen.

Decades passed. Hair turned gray; eyesight dimmed.

Several weeks ago, fed up with the Baltimore Orioles’ relentless pursuit of ignominy, I zapped the remote and picked up the 2007 Racing Almanac, a Guinness-like compendium of I-didn’t-know-that facts and figures that I tend to binge on.

There, on page 827, in a section titled “Leading Broodmares by Progeny Earnings,” I found my little Maryland-bred friend. Pacificus, now pearl of the Orient, is credited with progeny earnings of a whopping $18,135,348. Her first two foals in Japan, Biwa Hayahide (by Sharrood) and Triple Crown winner Narita Brian (by Brian’s Time), were back-to-back Horses of the Year in 1993-94. Between them they won $16,852,032.

All Pacificus needed was time. Lots of time.

Stormy 'N Me - By Esther Marr

2009-09-15T17:28:00Z

When I spoke to Ric Waldman, Overbrook Farm advisor and manager of stallion operations, about discussing the farm’s final yearling consignment, he asked if I wanted to come to the farm for an in-person interview.

As the end-of-the-summer weather couldn’t have been more perfect, and Overbrook was reaching the end of an era, I thought it appropriate to make some on-site observations of the historic operation.

I had been to Overbrook once before, but I had ridden with a co-worker and hadn’t paid close attention to endless paths and winding roadways that lace through the 2,300-plus acre property. Upon my arrival, I was surprised when the guard at the entrance handed me a map of how to get to the main office. I don’t do well with maps, especially ones with unmarked roads that seem to twist, turn, and veer with no warning.

I ended up on a 15-plus minute self-guided tour of the farm, and as I became more and more lost, the grounds became increasingly beautiful. At one point I happened upon the yearling division, where young horses were being hand-walked and observed by interested parties under a canopy of lovely, towering trees. Several other roads led me past considerable-sized ponds that accented the perfectly manicured fields. After doing a complete loop of the grounds, I somehow ended up back at the main entrance. The guard looked at me, bewildered.

On my second attempt to find the office, with the help of some farm employees, I finally spotted the historic-looking brick building, which is tucked away on its own private drive.

I sat with Waldman, who shared his emotions about the farm’s dispersal of its horses, as well as the end of Storm Cat’s breeding career last year. Unexpectedly, he offered to give me a tour and introduce me to the star stallion, whose portfolio he had managed for the last 18 years.

I followed Waldman in my car as he led me past the quaint brick cottage built decades ago by Overbrook founder William T. Young. The leaves on some of the trees had already faded to yellow and were fluttering down onto the roadway in the early September sunshine.

We drove over a covered bridge, and through a shallow creek that gently flows over a portion of the pathway winding through the woods. Up and down hills, looping this way and that, I was just glad I had a guide that knew the property like the back of his hand.

“We’ve moved (Storm Cat) to a secure area that’s not in the normal path of operations,” Waldman had told me earlier. He wasn’t kidding. After what seemed like about at least five to 10 miles (the entire farm encompasses about 38 miles), we finally arrived at Storm Cat’s private barn, where his groom had just fed him a late lunch.

“This is what used to be Storm Cat’s summer residence,” said Waldman, who proceeded to whistle at the pensioned stallion. “Here, Stormy; come here, Stormy!”

Standing in the middle of his expansive paddock, savoring the plethora of lush grass in his midst, Storm Cat, his dark bay coat heavily dappled, defied his 26 years. He glanced up when he heard Waldman’s voice but didn’t pay us much heed.

After several minutes of coaxing, however, the old boy ambled slowly toward us. Once he got to the fence where we stood, he stuck his head back into his feed bucket, searching for leftovers.

When I asked Waldman if Storm Cat seemed to miss his old job, he smiled. “The real test would be if he smelled mares, or if you ran another stallion in front of him, because he always had to be bred first,” he said. “He would cause quite a ruckus if you took another stallion to the breeding shed before him, so he always was able to breed first because of that. My guess is now he’d probably react (to the situation) and then get over it.”

I was warned not to get too close to “Stormy,” as he’s been known to sometimes try and take a bite out of observers standing near his fence. I couldn’t resist snapping a few photos with him before going on my way, however.

Storm Cat close-up. Photo by Esther Marr

“He looks great, and he’s enjoying life,” said Waldman.

From the looks of his surroundings, who could argue with that?

Esther Marr is a staff writer for The Blood-Horse.

Let's Move Forward - By Graeme Beaton

2009-09-09T19:29:00Z

I was training a weanling filly the other day and was struck by how she had shaped herself into a metaphor for racing. She will go sideways and backward, but, stubbornly to the point of frustration, never forward.

This metaphor has come to mind often since it hit me between the ears. Everywhere one looks, it seems, we are struck by wrong-headedness, arrogance even, as we thumb our noses at the rest of the world. “We know what we are doing. We have a better way,” we seem to be saying, even while our racing industry appears to be declining faster than just about any other country’s.

The rejection of a ban on race-day furosemide (Salix) in this country is but one example. We are the only major racing jurisdiction in the world to allow it, if you count Canada as part or “our” circuit. Why is that?

Yes, it stops bleeding in somewhere between 20% and 80% of horses racing in this country, the experts tell us. If that is so, why aren’t 20% to 80% of foreign runners “ruled off” for bleeding? The answer appears to be that the bleeding in all but a very few cases is not serious enough to warrant such action. In fact, other experts tell us, almost all athletes, equine and human, suffer some degree of bleeding during stressful exercise.

What is generally accepted is that it is a performance enhancement drug (which is why foreign horses use it when they race in the Breeders’ Cup). Also conceded by even the staunchest of furosemide fans is that it dilutes urine so that it becomes more difficult to detect other legal and illegal medications, which is only part of the reason foreign regulators do not allow it. It also strips away electrolytes, including potassium, sodium, chloride, calcium, and magnesium. Replacing those vital electrolytes cannot be achieved overnight, which means our horses race less because they require a longer recovery time. Also, there is a significantly increased risk to the health of the animal if furosemide is administered at the same time as corticosteroids, according to my veterinary texts.

And yet, when a foreign regulator striving to establish an international medication standard suggested recently that the U.S. ban race-day furosemide, his advice was promptly rejected by state racing commissioners and some leading horsemen.

We have also disdained calls for disallowing race-day phenylbutazone, which masks injuries and increases risks to animals and their riders. In addition, the universal finding is that Bute causes stomach and mouth ulcers, but this seems to carry little weight with regulators and veterinarians who regularly insist they have the best interests of the animal at heart.

Another practice found in this country and universally avoided overseas is the use of ponies in warm-ups. As well as being another monetary tax on the owner, ponies restrict the ability of the athlete to stretch out and, well, warm up. In other countries, it is common to see un-ponied starters gallop out vigorously before a race. In this country, most starters barely reach more than a gentle trot before approaching the starting gate. Can this be good for the athlete?

And that brings me to the general sense of denial in the U.S. racing establishment that anything can be done nationally to solve racing’s most pressing problem, according to its fans: race-day medication. The repetitive finding that fans, existing and potential, are turned off by the perception that cheating and doping are widespread is universally offered lip service, if not ignored, by those charged with guiding this sport.

The defeatist argument that 38 different racing jurisdictions will never agree on uniform, consistent medication testing and penalties for rule violations seems to nullify the very reason for the existence of the Association of Racing Commissioners International, which lists as its mission statement and vision: “To protect and uphold the integrity of the pari-mutuel sports of horse racing, dog racing, and jai-alai through an informed membership, by encouraging forceful and uniform regulation, by promoting the health and welfare of the industry through various programs and projects.”

Doesn’t that sound like it should cover most of what ails racing when it comes to medication? Apparently not.

As my weanling filly is teaching me, going forward can be a scary thing. Much easier to shake your head and go sideways and backward. Even if it is the path of frustration and failure.

Graeme Beaton, a retired international business journalist, breeds and races from his farm in Pennsylvania

Labor Day Pains - By Evan Hammonds

2009-09-01T17:07:00Z

I remember turning the dial—yes there was a real dial back then—to CBS Sports to watch the 1981 Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I). Jack Whitaker was there and so was Heywood Hale Broun. Besides the appeal of watching John Henry take to the main track that afternoon at Belmont Park was the fact the 5-year-old mare Relaxing was taking on the boys. Analyst/handicapper Jimmy “the Greek” Snyder told us John Henry couldn’t win because he was a turf horse; Relaxing couldn’t win because she was a mare, and Peat Moss was too slow. John Henry held off a late-charging Peat Moss. Relaxing was a gallant third.

Hey, he took a stand.

Taking a bigger stand is owner Jess Jackson, opting to send out his 3-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra in the Sept. 5 Woodward (gr. I) at Saratoga. It’s a bold move with America’s racing sweetheart. It’s too bad she won’t be performing on network television.

The Woodward will be shown on TVG and HRTV, networks known to hard-core fans of Thoroughbred racing, but it’s doubtful their reach is enough to grab the general sports fans that may want to see how Rachel stacks up against her elders. It would be a coup for the sport if the Woodward was available on a network or a beefier cable station, say one of the ESPN channels.

A tough break for Thoroughbred racing is the calendar—Labor Day weekend is the traditional kickoff to the college football season. During the afternoon of Sept. 5 when the Woodward is slated to go, ABC has a blockbuster game of pre-season No. 9 Oklahoma State hosting No. 13 Georgia. On ESPN, it’s Missouri and Illinois. The Labor Day weekend docket at CBS is third- and fourth-round action of tennis’ U.S. Open.

The schedules for CBS, ESPN, and ABC (the latter two are majority owned by the Walt Disney Co.) have been booked for months. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association would love to step in with a half-hour or hour package and find a slot somewhere, but the obstacles are too much to overcome.

Alex Waldrop, president and CEO of the NTRA, points out it’s a “challenge” to maneuver across the TV landscape on a few weeks’ notice these days. Networks—and advertisers—like to lock in six-to-nine months out with a financial commitment.

Another hurdle is the New York Racing Association has an exclusive broadcast deal with New York-based entertainment network MSG Plus. Getting clearance from NYRA, MSG, TVG, and HRTV isn’t easy on the fly.

There is also a little matter of money. Waldrop notes that to put on an hour of television, it’ll run you about a quarter of a million dollars, and it’s more to sit down at the table with a network. The chance of getting a return on that investment through advertising or sponsorships is highly unlikely. Last weekend’s 90-minute Travers show—one slate of stakes races negotiated in a deal with MSG months ago—on ESPN didn’t begin to bring in that kind of coin.

Of course, the coin that could have lured Team Rachel to the widest audience would be the $2-million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (gr. I) and a potential showdown with unbeaten Zenyatta. However, decisions fleshed out two years ago will keep racing’s No. 1 star from the World Championships. It was a marketing decision for the Breeders’ Cup to gain some traction and hold its event at the same venue—Southern California’s Santa Anita Park—in back-to-back years. That also made for the majority of Breeders’ Cup races to be contested over a synthetic surface in back-to-back years. On multiple occasions Jackson has made it clear Rachel Alexandra won’t compete on a synthetic surface.

In another marketing move, the Breeders’ Cup was split into a two-day, Friday-Saturday format, with the Friday races designated for females. That means that even if Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta met in the Ladies’ Classic (gr. I), it would take place Nov. 6, a Friday afternoon. Would Breeders’ Cup officials have the right stuff to call an audible and move the Ladies’ Classic to the Saturday, Nov. 7, program for greater reach?

For Labor Day weekend, the best-case scenario will be that the suits at ESPN will see the value of following Rachel and offer a similar treatment to the one that took place when she ran in the Aug. 1 Haskell (gr. I), giving an update after the race and positioning the results prominently on “Sports Center.”

In today’s programmed world, that’s as “front and center” as the industry can expect this time of year.

Evan Hammonds is Executive Editor of The Blood-Horse.

Take Two - by Steve Haskin

2009-08-25T15:39:00Z

An unusual article appeared in the Aug. 21 New York Post. TV critic Linda Stasi not only reviewed Animal Planet’s reality series “Jockeys,” she gave it four stars.

Stasi wrote: “Possibly the most exciting unscripted show on TV is one you probably haven’t ever watched—or, at least, one I’ve never watched before.

“And what a loser I am for having not reviewed the first season of ‘Jockeys,’ an Animal Planet show more about the human animal than the equine…There’s not another TV show like it (except perhaps “American Idol,” where each episode is so unbearably tense).”

Racing cannot buy publicity like that, especially in the New York market. Actually, Stasi started watching at the right time, as season two far exceeds season one, even though the show still is just as manipulative (as are all reality shows), and the Trevor Denman voiceovers are just as annoying. And the producers are more spill-crazy than ever, showing the same spills over and over.

As for the first season, they are still getting mileage out of that staged scene in the jocks’ room where an angry Jon Court throws all the equipment off a shelf. Thank the director for that fabricated scene. And, finally, it is understandable why they had to change around the order of the Breeders’ Cup races to fit the “script,” but to make the Breeders’ Cup a three-day event was laughable.

But enough about last year. This year’s first episode was compelling throughout, thanks to the Bullybullybully–Kristin Mulhall–Chantal Sutherland cloak-and-dagger segment, where they attempt to hide the unraced 3-year-old’s work by sending him out in company, and on the inside, under the cover of darkness for fear of losing him in his upcoming claiming race. Mulhall is a horse lover before all else and she had a love affair going with “Bully.” It also gave the viewer an inside look at the claiming game, which normally goes unnoticed. The producers did a great job of filming trainer John Sadler, one of the shrewdest claiming trainers in California, supposedly watching the work, supposedly eyeing Bully in the paddock before the race, and putting in a claim (we don’t even know if the claim he put in was for this race). But an effective piece of film editing made it look like he was interested in Bully the whole time and had put in a claim for the horse, which would have broken Mulhall’s heart. Even showing steward’s aid Heather Coreija, who works in the paymaster’s office, walking toward Bully with the dreaded red claim tag was well orchestrated and added to the tension. And then when she tagged another horse you wanted to let out a sigh of relief. It was great drama and had me on the edge of my couch.

Then there were the riveting segments on racing’s bad boy Corey Nakatani, from his altercation with fellow rider Iggy Puglisi in the jocks’ room to appearing before the stewards for some overly aggressive riding to old footage of him pushing another rider off his horse just after the finish line. Every reality series needs someone like Nakatani, and his addition was another big difference between last year and this year. Imagine the very first “Survivor” without Richard Hatch.

What is so encouraging about season two is that the best is yet to come. Next week we get to see series regular Aaron Gryder romp in the world’s richest race (that’s richest race, not “biggest” race, as was stated in the show), the $6-million Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (UAE-I) aboard Well Armed. And the series will conclude with two stories the producers couldn’t have made up —Joe Talamo having to deal with the scratch of his Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) favorite I Want Revenge the morning of the race, and Sutherland, after returning to Canada, watching in disbelief as her old friend from last year, Mine That Bird, trounces his foes in the Derby. Talk about mixed feelings and what might have been.

Season one was well intentioned with too many flaws and too many dead moments. Season two, so far, hits it out of the park.

Death of a Champion - By Jessica Yeargin

2009-08-18T17:52:00Z

A few months ago the Thoroughbred world lost a champion. Rare Menace, a foal of 1977 and a chestnut gelding by Rare Rice out of Ullage, by Monty Ayr Menace, was euthanized due to infirmities of old age. Rare Menace was bred by Dr. Hugo John Cole of North Dakota. He raced six times at ages 2 and 3 at Suffolk Downs and Meadowlands, in six-furlong maiden-claiming races, never finishing better than eighth.

No, Rare Menace, affectionately known as “Dennis,” was not a champion racehorse. It was what he did after his race career that made him a champion.

When I met Dennis, he was 12 years old and had been through 10 owners. His papers amazingly stayed with him. He was the third horse my family purchased, and the first Thoroughbred. We were taking care of Dennis for a cousin while her family moved. I fell in love and my cousin decided to sell him. I begged my parents to buy him and cried every time they mentioned listing him for sale instead. We needed a riding horse for 4-H events, so Dennis was purchased and became part of the family.

We had a blast together in 4-H. We competed in everything from western pleasure and gymkhana to jumping, dressage, and 30-mile competitive trail rides. We also raced our friends through fields and on abandoned railroad beds. I was always a bit of an outcast at school, so the unconditional love and partnership from Dennis gave me an area of life I was confident about. He also kept me too busy to get into trouble and was there to cry on during heartbreaks.

Many of my favorite childhood memories include Dennis. We were once the last hunt seat pair in a “break your gait” class (you have two strides to change to the gait called). We were hand-galloping; then the judge asked for a halt; Dennis stopped on a dime and stood perfectly still. At another show a western trainer approached us after a western horsemanship class. He told me we had been the best horse and rider team. Then there was the time I overestimated a jump on a hunt pace, went over Dennis’ head, and fell directly in front of him. He contorted himself to protect me.

As much as my life was affected by Dennis, everyone else who came in contact with him was also affected. He loved children and actually would pout if a child did not take a pony ride on him. While he was hyper when I saddled him up for gymkhana, he was perfectly calm and steady when a child was on him. When showing at the New Jersey State Fair, he always drew spectators. He wore baseball caps or my riding helmet for many photo ops. He was the first horse my eldest niece ever met. She is now a confirmed Thoroughbred lover, even though her mom still has the Arab we had growing up. Through our ability to communicate without any obvious cues, we amazed younger 4-H’ers on how close of a relationship could be had with an equine partner. Many of them have become interested in Thoroughbreds instead of the stock breeds they grew up with.

Dennis wasn’t a champion racehorse by any stretch of the imagination; however, what he did for the image of Thoroughbreds after he retired from racing made him a champion for the breed. I want to thank those that were involved with the decision to re-home Dennis after his racing career. I also would like to encourage all owners and trainers currently racing less-than-stellar Thoroughbreds to look into the many options available to re-home them. While not every Thoroughbred can be a champion racehorse, they all have the possibility to be a champion in the life of a child. I can’t imagine what my life would have been like without Dennis. I am now in the process of locating my next Thoroughbred ex-racehorse partner and hope to one day have my own breed-to-race/show program.

Jessica Yeargin has a B.S. degree in Animal Science from Virginia Tech and is a self-taught student of Thoroughbred racing.

Storm Song - By Linda Dougherty

2009-08-11T16:41:00Z

Aug. 4 started out innocently enough, as my two daughters and I planned to drive to Churchill Downs to see the Kentucky Derby Museum, part of our week-long vacation in the Bluegrass.

It turned out to be an adventure that could have been featured as an episode on the Weather Channel’s Storm Stories, and will no doubt be vividly remembered by all three of us for years to come.

As we got in the car to drive from our Lexington hotel to Louisville, Ky., about 7 a.m., I looked up at an overcast sky and asked my older daughter, Kaitlyn, what the television forecast was.

“They said to bring your umbrella,” she said.

That turned out to be the understatement of the year. About halfway to the Derby City on I-64, a light rain began falling. Suddenly, the skies turned from gray to nearly black, illuminated by jagged bolts of lightning striking around us. As the rain’s intensity increased, it became more difficult to see the road and the cars in front of us.

After we finally reached Louisville at 9 a.m., pea-sized hail pelted the windshield. Cars were pulling off to the side of the road, but I was so close to Churchill I decided to keep moving. Turning onto Central Avenue, I passed through some large puddles, but never did I imagine they were just the precursor of the flood to come.

Once in the Derby Museum’s parking lot, I told Katie and my younger daughter, Devon, that we were going to sit and wait until the rain subsided before we dashed inside. But about 9:30, I noticed that cars attempting to navigate Central Avenue were getting stuck in high water, and the water was quickly rising to where we were parked.

“I’m moving to higher ground,” I said, and started to drive back toward Gate 17. As the water sloshed up on the hood of my car, I thought maybe I had waited too long. The covered entranceway in front of Gate 17 was completely underwater, so I steered past and found an elevated spot in the next lot.

With cars and trucks unable to get through the rising tide at both ends of the parking area, and the torrential rain continuing, we decided to make a run for the building. We sloshed through shin-deep water; drenched and inside Gate 17, a Churchill Downs employee informed us the roads surrounding the track were flooded and barricaded by Louisville police.

As my daughters had never been to Churchill before, we wandered into the grandstand and saw an amazing sight—the entire main track had been transformed into a raging red river, complete with a current that flowed clockwise. The water was halfway up the inner rail; the turf course was also partially underwater. The water had risen past the first two rows of seats. Down at the betting windows near the Gate 17 entrance, water seeped into the grandstand, and the paddock was submerged.

Linda Dougherty Photo

Soon after, we met a security guard named Laurie whose own car was flooded in the parking lot. She escorted us to the employee cafeteria, where we met a stranded taxi driver and watched TVG. Laurie later returned and said management wanted us, and about 15 patrons left in the Derby Museum, to stay in the jockeys’ room, where they planned to serve us lunch.

To my daughters’ delight, Laurie led us through the old catacombs of the Churchill grandstand, past the management offices, and up into the jocks' room. There, she brought the sodden museum patrons dry clothes (Derby 135 shirts!) and blankets, and put our wet socks and shoes in a dryer. Within minutes, a large group of Churchill employees—including members of management, office staff, and maintenance workers—set up tables and brought in enough food and soda to feed an army, an amazing display of teamwork and cooperation. Hours later, when several streets reopened, a police officer led us back to Taylor Boulevard.

It goes without saying that those Churchill employees treated us like royalty in the face of very difficult circumstances. While my daughters never got to visit the Derby Museum, they did get to see a part of the historic facility few people are privy to and no doubt learned an important lesson about the importance of compassion—and extraordinary customer service.

Linda Dougherty is a Blood-Horse correspondent who lives in Philadelphia, Pa.