Point Given Finally Sprouts Wings

re: Point Given Finally Sprouts Wings

txhorsefan — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:10:46 GMT

In trying to catch up on my reading since returning from my vacation, I'm thrilled to find this reprint of your article on Point Given. His racing days were in the time when I paid attention only to the Triple Crown races and didn't follow racing much after they were over, but I do remember liking him at the time. However, not having the background information of those who had been following racing more closely, I wasn't aware he was such a monster. Thank you for now providing me the chance to get to know him through your eyes, with your dedication to the details and I can appreciate him even more and enjoy his entry to the HOF. Thanks also to the commenters who presented their points of view about Point Given also - great to learn more. Thank you!

Celeste

txhorsefan

re: Point Given Finally Sprouts Wings

Marisa — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 19:52:05 GMT

Thank you so much for this article. Point Given always has been and always will be my all time favorite race horse. I've been fortunate enough to go and visit him a few times at Three Chimneys and he's still just as gorgeous and powerful as ever. I wish his future children the best and that they could receive even a touch of his greatness.

re: Point Given Finally Sprouts Wings

Dr Drunkinbum — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 18:23:33 GMT

PomDeTerre

I agree that more jockeys should be in the Hall of Fame, including Alex Solis, but then again I think more horses should be in that aren't. Jockeys risk their lives every race of every day, and horses do also every time they race. I don't know why Solis is not in there. I don't know why more amazing horses whose lives were lost early due to illness or accidents or breakdowns on the track aren't honored. There should be more jockeys and horses entered each year. There aren't enough in there, especially with the horses.

re: Point Given Finally Sprouts Wings

smarie — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 17:42:15 GMT

Thank you so much, Mr. Haskin, for this wonderful walk down memory road. I remember when Bob Baffert came to Churchill Downs with both Point Given and Congaree. Almost everyone agreed that a Baffert-trained colt would win. Congaree, who was usually in Point Given's shadow, ran a great race and went on to be a great miler. Point Given's connections must have felt the way Spectacular Bid's did after the Bid lost the Belmont. Watching Point Given romp in the Belmont was a thrill - what a magnificent racehorse he was! I too wonder what might have been had he gone on to run in the Breeder's Cup and then gone on to race at age 4. Point Given definitely deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. I hope Gary Stevens stops beating himself up about the Derby loss. We can't change the past, but we can change how we deal with it. Thank you, OldDog, for the link on YouTube for Point Given's Belmont victory. I loved what Bob Baffert said recently about Point Given, "He's like Zenyatta. He overpowered everybody. He was as close as I was going to get to Secretariat."

re: Point Given Finally Sprouts Wings

PomDeTerre — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 16:38:16 GMT

Linda- I stated that I was probably in the minority. No need to attack; your post has all the maturity of a 1st grader.

re: Point Given Finally Sprouts Wings

Slew — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 13:22:45 GMT

PomDeTerre: I can only assume you never watched Point Given run. It's a shame. As someone who was backing Congaree that year, Point Given was exhilarating to see, and left one breathless. He does deserve his place in the HOF. As for Alex Solis..just not this year, though with his record, I'm certainly he will eventually be elected. How many years was Romero nominated before he was finally elected? Quite a few.

re: Point Given Finally Sprouts Wings

Buddy — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 02:40:21 GMT

Thanks Steve!

My take on the KD...why was Point Given chasing that unbelievable fast pace? I said it then, and I haven't changed my mind...I think Gary Stevens will regret that ride more than any other...If Point Given stays 5 lengths off the pace...he rolls!!!

re: Point Given Finally Sprouts Wings

Linda in Texas — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 22:53:18 GMT

Thank you Steve for a walk back

to some of the best old days of

racing with your article on

Point Given.

We love your way with words.

Everything is always right,

front and center and you leave

nothing to speculation.

re: Point Given Finally Sprouts Wings

Linda in Texas — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 22:44:09 GMT

PomDeTerre

Your moniker should be Les Grapes des Sour.

I say Great for Point Given and I hope someone told him and he got an extra treat the day he

won the honor.

Sorry, Pom, but some of us disagree. And that is your right to do so also.

Every time i hear of a horse going to Japan, i lose a breath and hope to God that there are people assigned to keep watch over our

American Treasures to make sure that when they are no longer useful there, we will get them back here.

re: Point Given Finally Sprouts Wings

Sandra in Lexington — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 20:17:49 GMT

Steve, thank you so much for this recap! I visited with Point Given in April and absolutely love this stallion! He's still as beautiful and fiery as ever! Thanks again, Steve! Your words always capture the perfect moments in time!

re: Point Given Finally Sprouts Wings

anna — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 19:40:43 GMT

the stallions who was sold overseas was sold privately while azeri was sold at auction, and i'm pretty certain she will be treated well in japan, since her owner did pay $2,250,000 million for her and i did some research on the person who brought her and i was correct one of the people who brought sunday silence had brought azeri and he probably brought her with breeding her to deep impact the japanese triple crown winner by sunday silence. or well he took over the farm that his father had started which is the shadai stallion station and it's where war emblem and a number of other us stallions stand.

en.wikipedia.org/.../Shadai_Stallion_Station

re: Point Given Finally Sprouts Wings

Fran Loszynski — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 15:55:53 GMT

I know this may read as too Awwwww!

but with Point Given in the Hall of Fame, now Gary Stevens can stop feeling terrible when he was a superb jockey. I'm sure there were tears in his eyes because he always blamed himself for the loss of their race together. I'm sure the day Point Given heard he was going to be inducted in the Hall of Fame, he winked at Gary's picture (probably on his stall windowsill) and said to himself. "Thanks Pal!"

re: Point Given Finally Sprouts Wings

PomDeTerre — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 15:33:18 GMT

I am probably in the minority here, but I really fail to see why Point Given shoud be included un the same breath as most of the HOF horses. If this is indicative of the new voting system, then I feel it's a shame. I'm not suggesting he wasn't a good horse, however there are many, many other humans and animals who deserve this spotlight ahead of him. Alex Solis is just one example. If this is how the new system is going to work, it is merely a popularity vote, and not indicative of the talents of far more deserving candidates.

re: Point Given Finally Sprouts Wings

Rowner — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 08:42:45 GMT

Knew PG was special from the start a son of TG who I followed through his career also. After the BC I said to myself this is a Derby horse and being shocked the next year. I think I agree with Paseana also, her description seems to fit and horses are more intelligent than we are willing to give them credit for. I was so disappointed he didn't make it to the BC again. Glad he is finally getting his due.

re: Point Given Finally Sprouts Wings

Dr Drunkinbum — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 04:49:06 GMT

I'm with you on that one Rachel. Who was going to beat Monarchos on that day? Maybe Secretariat. It's obvious that Point Given was great, and talented enough to win a Triple Crown, but I really don't know how he could have beaten Monarchos in that Derby.

re: Point Given Finally Sprouts Wings

Dr Drunkinbum — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 04:43:06 GMT

Most of the horses we send to Japan can't speak, read or write Japanese. So not only are they saddled with learning a new language but are faced with acquiring a taste for a new cuisine also. I hear that some trainers even give them sake instead of Guiness or Bud. Yuck !!. They tried to send Mr. Ed there but he threw such a fit, using every 4-letter word in the book and then some that they let him stay here with Wilbur. It's a nice place and all of that, but when you are raised on American oats and suds the transition can be quite difficult.

re: Point Given Finally Sprouts Wings

Zookeeper — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 04:22:22 GMT

Rachel,

Poor Monarchos didn't get any appreciation from me the day he won the KD. He had defeated my California hero, the horse who was supposed to win the Triple Crown and he didn't look gray to me. By the time he crossed the finish line he was covered in dirt and mud-brown from head to toe.

It wasn't until I read "Horse of a Different Color", written by Jim Squires (his breeder) that I finally realized what I had seen that day and missed, all at the same time.

You are right... that day, nobody was gonna catch Monarchos!

re: Point Given Finally Sprouts Wings

Don in Massachusetts — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 04:18:11 GMT

In accepting Point Given's well-deserved Hall of Fame plaque, Baffert stated that this horse was the very best he ever trained, although he wished he could re-live the Kentucky Derby again!

I asked Gary Stevens, after the ceremony, which was very emotional, what it was like to ride Point Given. His answer,like riding very fast on air!

re: Point Given Finally Sprouts Wings

EightBellesLover — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 03:52:47 GMT

Point Given was a beast. No doubting that at all. I got the honor of looking into his beautiful eyes at three chimneys.

re: Point Given Finally Sprouts Wings

Zookeeper — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 03:13:32 GMT

John T,

Thank you for the update on Frankel. Won at first asking! Beautiful! I wonder if Bobby saw that. :)

re: Point Given Finally Sprouts Wings

Kate Harper — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 02:08:22 GMT

Thank you Mr. Haskin for a wonderful rememberance of Point Given's 2001 Triple Crown series. You are so gifted in painting with words what this sport means to people who love racing and the wonderful horses who give their all for our entertainment.

Zookeeper--you own no apologies for your feelings about Azeri. I remember the dread I felt when Michael Paulson removed her from Laura de Seroux and gave her to Lukas. Every time she ran after that, I held my breath, praying nothing terrible would happen to her. I'm thankful Azeri was eventually retired in one piece and hope she has the well-earned retirement and care she so deserves for the remainder of her life.

re: Point Given Finally Sprouts Wings

John T — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 00:26:12 GMT

Zookeeper

The horse named for the famous late trainer Bobby Frankel,Frankel

was always travelling well in the one mile contest at Newmarket.He was never asked a serious question

and went on to win in a very impressive fashion.His main target as a 2 year old will either be the

Dewhurst Stakes back at Newmarket or the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.

re: Point Given Finally Sprouts Wings

Rachel — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 00:15:12 GMT

That year's Kentucky Derby, no one was catching Monarchos.

That day belonged to the gray.

re: Point Given Finally Sprouts Wings

Casey — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 00:07:35 GMT

As a kid growing up in rural Canada, we only had TV with "rabbit-ears" and no Thoroughbred tracks within reasonable distance making my early exposure to horse racing - a sport which I have since embraced as a career - very limited. But I always had a fascination the stemmed partially from watching the Triple Crown on television (along with reading every possible horse book in reach).

I will always recall my three favourite horses from that time Thunder Gulch, Real Quiet and Point Given (and of course, after watching their triumphs, naming my model horses after them). It was great to read an article that could fill in so many gaps for me of Point Given's career beyond the Triple Crown that I can now appreciate being an educated observer and fan. Thanks Mr. Haskin.

re: Point Given Finally Sprouts Wings

Zookeeper — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 23:12:40 GMT

Kit J,

Obviously it affected me a lot more than most on here. But if you substitute one or the other of today's female superstars (instead of Azeri), most people would come unglued. If they didn't I would assess that I'm with the wrong crowd.

Well, enough said. I don't want to talk about it anymore. I'm upset enough as it is.