A Look at Sale Yearlings, Mine That Bird, and Big Butts

re: A Look at Sale Yearlings, Mine That Bird, and Big Butts

draynay — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:52:22 GMT

mz,

Isn't a horse considered by where they are dropped? Hence not all with Northern Dancer bloodlines are canucks, only if they are dropped in canada. Kind of like illegal mexicans coming to the USA and dropping their kids here. Because they were born here they are considered US citizens not mexican.

needler in your arm,

My post was addressed to and referenced an earlier one by LCM which had as much to do with the blog title as mine. Ask LCM how we got off track if you really need an answer.

re: A Look at Sale Yearlings, Mine That Bird, and Big Butts

Chris — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:53:31 GMT

My favorite small horse is English Channel. Gave his all in every race. So glad he won a championship. Also isn't Rahy pretty small guy as well?

re: A Look at Sale Yearlings, Mine That Bird, and Big Butts

QH Owner — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:29:18 GMT

Having been a Quarter Horse owner for almost 40 years, I have seen first hand how the push for bigger more muscular horses has negatively effected that breed. Quarter Horses now have a degenerative & deadly muscular disease (HYPP) that is pervasive, and linked directly to breeding for more muscle. But we still have "Halter Horses", that compete in conformation classes who are too unsound to ride, and all too often resemble beef on the hoof.

I believe that a lot of the heavier muscle seen recently in Thoroughbreds is a result of steroid use. A lot of the horses running in Europe have simialr bloodlines to the horses here, so the heaviness does not seem to be genetic. Steroid use was caused entirely by short term greed--better sales prices for yearlings & 2 year olds in training who were artifically induced to look better. The pitfalls of steroid use--OCD, colts becoming too heavy on the front end at 3, unruly behavior, and future breeding fertility were ignored. Hopefully the steroid ban will be rigorously enforced for all ages of Thoroughbreds (i.e. don't forget the weanlings).

re: A Look at Sale Yearlings, Mine That Bird, and Big Butts

needler in Virginia — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 03:18:14 GMT

I've NO IDEA why I'm responding to a post from, well..........you all KNOW who I'm answering; I just can't say the name. Now that I re-read the most recent post from "the thing", I don't think I will respond after all. Those with little grey cells will know the slurs he makes are ridiculous, and simply his way to muddy the waters and stir up another of his s***storms. I won't address any of his trash directly, as I have better things to do with my life ....like clean the cat boxes!

Suffice it to say, all Yanks are NOT like this other thing. And anyone who knows the name Northern Dancer knows the truth about Canada and its' racing history.

Apologies once removed. PLEASE do not judge everyone by this one poster. Besides, I still can't figure our exactly WHAT his post has to do with the subject of this blog, anyway............

re: A Look at Sale Yearlings, Mine That Bird, and Big Butts

mz — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:50:18 GMT

I'm so glad that all the strong Yankee horses come up here to show our weak Cdn horses how it's done...

So tell me, Draynay, how much Northern Dancer blood does Rachel Alexandra have? Doesn't that make her a "canuck" (you spelled it wrong, dear)?

(I now apologize to all New Mexicans for not yelling at you earlier when you trashed New Mexico allowances. Solidarity forever!)

re: A Look at Sale Yearlings, Mine That Bird, and Big Butts

draynay — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:24:13 GMT

LCM,

Lanes End, etc. sent their horses up there from the good ole USA to mop up on the weak canuk horses and take their inflated purses. In addition the US dollar is worth more so it costs less to run there. They get better bang for their buck.

re: A Look at Sale Yearlings, Mine That Bird, and Big Butts

Wanda — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:27:04 GMT

LCM how tough a sell was Mr Prospector when they moved him to Kentucky from Florida? I remember a quote from the stallion manager who said breeders would just close their eyes when they looked at his legs.

re: A Look at Sale Yearlings, Mine That Bird, and Big Butts

ofelia — Sat, 30 May 2009 23:05:41 GMT

Remember Northern Dancer? He did not sell so the breeder kept him and raced him. The rest is history. Too bad MTB was gelded.

They should mate his parents again and again!

re: A Look at Sale Yearlings, Mine That Bird, and Big Butts

LCM — Sat, 30 May 2009 17:03:05 GMT

As far as the conformation "bias" far too many buyers spend all their time dissecting every minor limb conformation issue, that they never even look at the actual HORSE as a whole! It always surprises me when I go to look at stallions, how many of them have significant conformation issues. Darley had a very difficult time booking Street Cry his first year, as he has extremely offset knees...just go back and look at his first crop sales results...less than impressive. and if anyone has bothered to look at Ashford's HENRYTHENAVIGATOR....well all one can say is "train wreck", but it doesn't stop them from running. Correctness may help soundness, but it doesn't create ABILITY.

re: A Look at Sale Yearlings, Mine That Bird, and Big Butts

LCM — Sat, 30 May 2009 16:58:24 GMT

Hey draynay,

A horse who is both a 2yo CHAMPION and a KY DERBY winner is NOT A FLUKE! His gutsy Preakness performance proved that....You obviously have bet against the horse and have to justify your poor "judgement". And don't belittle his Canadian champion status either....the biggest and best racing operations have a lot of NICE horses up at Woodbine...just ask Adena, Lane's End, Sam Son, Eugene Melnyk, etc...

re: A Look at Sale Yearlings, Mine That Bird, and Big Butts

StardustyRose — Sat, 30 May 2009 15:53:39 GMT

Poormansracehorse...

Yeah the toe out. Seattle Slew was like that. I agree with your posts. :)

re: A Look at Sale Yearlings, Mine That Bird, and Big Butts

Wanda — Sat, 30 May 2009 15:25:03 GMT

Yeah Dray and you were on Smooth Air's bandwagon earlier this year.Poormansracehorse right on about toeing out. As long as the angle is the same all the way down it don't hurt nothing. I raised a cheap little horse who made over 100,000 the hard way and he hardly weighed in at 900 pounds. He retired sound and lives the life of a spoiled brat. All 4 legs darn near came out of the same hole. He looked like a giraffe when he was a yearling but he ran till he was 10 and enjoyed himself and still had lots of try.

re: A Look at Sale Yearlings, Mine That Bird, and Big Butts

needler in Virginia — Sat, 30 May 2009 05:11:28 GMT

The purchasing of yearlings based on how they look at that stage is absurd; each person, horse, dog, goldfish and hamster grows differently. Never mind that a sale group of yearlings probably has wildly different aged animals... anywhere from 7 months (it's possible, it's possible) up to the actual 12 months the term implies; each animal, even of the identical age, grows differently. Dynaformers are historically slow developers, for example. We have all seen GORGEOUS babies grow into NOT-so-gorgeous adults (horses AND humans). One of the prettiest yearlings I ever saw grew into a horse assembled by committee -- knees, hocks, stifles, neck, head -- every bit was either the wrong size or the wrong configuration.

I guess my point is that judging a "smallish" or "incorrect" yearling as unacceptable is as silly as expecting a perfectly formed yearling with a great looking motor to be the "Big Horse". Sounds like judging a cake when it's half baked. If The Bird had been completely overlooked, would we be having this discussion? Maybe not, but every year thousands of horses pass through sales rings, many hundreds are marked RNA and sent home -- ignored by buyers. What about Slew, who was a bargain basement colt? What about General Quarters, the $20,000 claimer? And what about Mine That Bird, bought for $9,500, sold for $400,000, Canadian 2 Year Old of the Year, Derby winner, Preakness runner-up and closing?? Better rethink the criteria being used. Big does not equate to talented and small does NOT equate to useless or bottom level plater.

Safe trips home and cheers to all.

re: A Look at Sale Yearlings, Mine That Bird, and Big Butts

sweet terchi — Fri, 29 May 2009 19:34:56 GMT

Yes Draynay, and your thoughts on yearling sales are?..............OMG!.... I can't believe I asked you that !!! AAGGHHHH, forgive me everyone!

re: A Look at Sale Yearlings, Mine That Bird, and Big Butts

mz — Fri, 29 May 2009 19:23:28 GMT

Didn't Northern Dancer already change what was thought to be the classic horse? And pretty is nice but having the heart to win is another thing, isn't it?

BTW: Draynay: you are sooo cute. Keep up with what we expect from you...it is so much fun to read your comments. Good luck on the Belmont handicapping.