Pony Tales

re: Pony Tales

MBPhipps — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 22:27:02 GMT

I was thinking about track ponies and then stumbled upon you article--fantastic piece! Thank you so much for the attention to these loyal companions.

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MJ — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 23:34:47 GMT

Sam (7/22)

I remember Pletcher's filly who had to run with the boys to keep her on her toes. Her name was Rags to Riches.

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Dr Drunkinbum — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:08:35 GMT

Zookeeper

Thanks for the updates. Keep up the good work. We're learning more about the game through you. Instead of wondering what happened, we know. Thank you very much. It's quite a treat. I sure hope it gets easier for you, or you're going to make me nervous !!

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Zookeeper — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 01:50:30 GMT

Dr Drunkinbum,

If the track was Santa Anita, there would be no problem with the "Surprise Party" because I'm there more often than not, on the weekend. However, getting me to Del Mar for no particular reason would raise the biggest red flag you've ever seen.

I think I'll do better this time around. Bouncing off the walls is not my favorite state of mind and I suspect that I don't have enough energy to go thru this kind of nonsense all over again. It's a blessing in disguise... I think! :)

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Dr Drunkinbum — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 01:32:30 GMT

Zookeeper

Your horse running in a race should be like a surprise birthday party. They get you to the track but you don't know about it until he's in the starting gate, then they yell SURPRISE and off he goes !!!

re: Pony Tales

Zookeeper — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:16:44 GMT

Finally got an update on Runflatout. He is over the minor throat infection that kept him from racing on the 7th. He is back on the track and doing well. He will either run at DM, on Aug. 21 or 28 (Pacific Classic Day, dear racing gods! let it be the 21st, IF he's ready!).

Thank you everybody for your "get well" wishes to the young colt and his delirious part-owner. It means a great deal to me. I'm so grateful to have "blog buddies" to share and participate in the experience. The Pooh Bear had it right. It's better with 2 or a blog-full of friends!

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Kit J — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 22:31:17 GMT

Zoo, so sorry about your colt. Don't have a nervous breakdown before he runs. Deep breaths, if you've had kids you know the deep breathing exercises.

My brother went and I told him about your colt, he was going to bet for me. Just a good luck bet, no pressure.

I sure hope he gives me one of those commemorative glasses he got. Said Zenyatta was amazing and the crowd was insane. Like someone said, a lot to take in for a first time runner so maybe it's all good?

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Dr Drunkinbum — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 21:07:23 GMT

Slew

Glad you liked it. Every little bit helps. I got your message about Abilio. Thanks.

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Slew — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:06:26 GMT

Dr D: Tee hee, giggle, giggle, loved your recap!

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Aluminaut — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 21:36:02 GMT

Steve H.

Thanks for all the interesting Lead Pony stories. When I was in my teens and we had horses at San Luis Rey Downs, the trainers used to let me ride their ponies. The barns really spent a lot of time with the new ponies in the bullring and on the track, training and retraining them. I remember a beautiful buckskin that I used to ride around a huge dirt parking lot out back by the bullring (round training pen). I rode him fast and then let him do whatever he wanted. They spent a long time with him the next morning getting him to mind again. Whoops! Mesh Tenney, who had trained Swaps in the 50's was at the Downs and used to start 2 year old quarter horses as ponies. He was always on a horse. He was a Mormon, and even though we weren't, he invited us to church one Sunday in Escondido and it was a lot of fun. They had popcorn and root beer during the services and had a comedy team doing baptism jokes.

I also used to ride a grey pony at Rancho California about 1970 before we moved our horses to San Luis Rey Downs. I'd ride him on the track in the morning after training hours. It wasn't all play though; I mucked, groomed and hotwalked our two year olds bigtime.

Zookeeper,

It was probably a blessing that your horse was scratched on Saturday. There was such a big crowd, it might have been tough on him mentally. I was there with a friend from San Diego that I haven't seen in 33 years. I told him about you and Runflatout, and we were going to bet on him until we saw that he scratched. I know how you feel.

re: Pony Tales

Dr Drunkinbum — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 14:27:49 GMT

Saturday was a Tale of Two Coasts. Back East poor Quality Roadenstein was Blamed for recent massacres at the track, and was collared after a chase in the village of Whitney. On the West Coast The Queen gave the fans of monster movies a reprieve and spared their heads as she rolled to victory throwing croissants to the fans.

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Dr Drunkinbum — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 01:33:56 GMT

Long Live The Queen !!!!!!!

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sherpa — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 01:24:14 GMT

Zookeeper, it's all good. I know Carla is a great trainer and WPT partners are caring owners; and I'm even more reassured that they won't risk your boy's health when he isn't 100%. Runflatout is a big strapping colt and a few more weeks of maturity before he competes may be a blessing.

I'm sure you saw Carla's comment about him at DRF: “He’s always been a natural,” she said. “He’s been very easy and very classy.”

...And more than worth waiting for!

We'll all be wishing him a quick recovery.

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JAJ — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 01:11:11 GMT

Oh, Zookeeper, I'm sorry your baby misses the race, but it is really good he showed symptoms before the race. Babies have a pretty weak immune system and they pick up everything, and of course, right after you've entered. Don't be surprised if he takes longer than 2 weeks to get back in the entries.

Does it get easier? Maybe, but for me, I am always pretty much of a basket case if I am at the track for the race. I don't see many of my horses race because I live thousands of miles from my home track. I am much more relaxed when I watch races on the internet or cable.

Enjoy all the stress and excitement.

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Footlick — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 01:08:42 GMT

Zookeeper- I hope he recovers quickly. As for you- just enjoy being a new owner! Very exciting.

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txhorsefan — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 22:40:21 GMT

Zookeeper, Thanks for letting us know Runflatout was scratched from his first race. While I can imagine your disappointment, I think it is great that they caught it early and will keep him out rather than run him if he's not feeling too great. You sure wouldn't want his first race to be run under less than the best conditions so yes, disappointing, but a smart move, in my opinion. The horse comes first. I hope you and friends will still go to the races and enjoy the day just so you can get a little bit of time to relax and let down after all the stress. Hang in there!!

Celeste

txhorsefan

re: Pony Tales

Zookeeper — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 19:09:50 GMT

Runflatout has an infection and will not race tomorrow. It's nothing serious, but he is not 100% and the partners do not want to run him until he's back to normal, probably in 2 wks.,if all goes well and he recovers fast.

I'm disappointed and relieved at the same time. The anxiety level was wiping me out. An extra 2weeks should do the horse and newbie partial-owner a lot of good.

Tell me JAJ, does it get any easier?

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Jim C. — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 03:09:08 GMT

Hi Steve,

In your latest "And They're Off" with Lenny Shulman, you stated that the explosive move that Lookin at Lucky made in the final stretch in the Haskell never happens on synthetics. I agree with you as a general matter. But I urge you to watch Blind Luck's move in the Starlet at Hollywood Park in December 2009. She blasted off like a rocket, with an incredible turn of foot. Watch it here (her move begins around 1:40):

www.youtube.com/watch

Of course, Hollywood's Cushion Track is closer to dirt than any of the other synthetic surfaces. But watch the video. Vic Stauffer, the track announcer, could not believe what he was seeing.

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Pedigree Shelly — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 03:01:50 GMT

Steve , What a great article ! I have a story for you , but the ending needs help ! Here it goes ! In the early 70's a radio personality in Baltimore named "Motormouth " Charley Eckman had a horse named after him called Motormouth Eckman ! He knew about him through a well known Maryland trainer named King T Leatherbury ! Mr Leatherbury wanted to name a horse that would be as fast as Charley talked ! Mr Eckman asked about him and King said that he was racing at Garden State for $8000 then he was claimed and ended up lame . Several years later in 1980 , my father John, claimed him at Keystone Park , now Philadelphia Park for $5,000. He won the mile race by 5 ! His first start after my Dad claimed him , he was entered in a $6,250 race at Penn National where he finished 4th, then claimed again ! I have a feeling his new owner and trainer were quite aware this horse was hurt ! The next week my Grandpa spotted him in a $2,500 claiming race and went to go see him run! I am so glad I did n't witness his breakdown on the clubhouse turn and the Vet ambulance that was soon to follow ! Now, about one week ago I went to look up his total earnings on the On Line Thoroughbred Database , to my dismay ,He does not even EXIST !! This makes no sense at all ?? He is a Dk Bay or Brown gelding by Verbatim - Waylaid by Warfare . I have located him on Equineline .com but , that is the only one ! I think that it is only fair to Mr. Eckman and his namesake ,Motormouth Eckman be restored to all sites that are databases to all Thoroughbreds that we love and admire so much !!

re: Pony Tales

JAJ — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 02:46:55 GMT

Zookeeper,

Your horse drew a good position for a first start. You don't want him down on the rail, but you don't want him outside, either. Five and a half furlongs is a pretty short race, so he needs a good break. I hope your jockey is good riding babies--they need to be ridden a lot harder than experienced horses and it takes a special jockey to ride them well and to teach them something even if they aren't in contention to win.

Don't try to act like you've done this all before. Everyone will absolutely enjoy being a part of your first race! And your second, your third and on and on. People will love your enthusiasm. Horse racing needs passion--don't hide it.

I don't know the restaurants at Del Mar, but I would recommend you eat at the restaurant where the owners would frequent. At my home track, they have tellers right in the restaurant. Because they are used to dealing with the owners, all the staff are very attentive and work hard to help you enjoy your special day. I'm sure West Point will be more than happy to help you sort out where to go and where to watch the race from--I get the feeling they take really good care of their novice partners.

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Dr Drunkinbum — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 00:32:47 GMT

TerriV

I thought Ice Box, Super Saver, and First Dude all looked really good online from what I could see with Ice Box acting like a champ. I wonder what happened to him.

Slew- One of the two best meals I ever had while traveling was a chicken gumbo in Ville Platte.

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Zookeeper — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 00:13:17 GMT

I'm printing all these wonderful comments and taking them with me to Del Mar on Saturday. The good karma is bound to help. Thank you all for the very kind words. I'm very touched.

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Slew — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 23:35:16 GMT

TerriV: Actually Terri, I was just responding to your remark about First Dude...I think he's impressive too. He's big. Stately victor is even bigger...and I really like them both...a lot!

Dr D: keep your eye on Abilio. a 3year old colt trained by Linda Rice. He was sensational on the turf at Saratoga yesterday.

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TerriV — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 18:24:33 GMT

Slew,

I was really referring to the sheer physical presence, fitness and beauty of the group of horses in the race. Not the race itself - the Haskell (the race itself) was all Lookin at Lucky. He was virtually perfect.

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Diane J — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 14:59:31 GMT

Zookeeper - good luck with Runflatout! I will be watching HRTV (hopefully they will show Del Mar races)and cheering for him. I can't imagine how exiciting it would be to have your own horse running.