Wanderin Wonder

re: Wanderin Wonder

my dream is to train — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 22:46:44 GMT

Amazingly great story and I remeber watching a race last year in which it was on turf and a horse tripped and was pulled up. I think he broke something and i think it was wanderin boy. anyways i hope he heals and comes back, stronger than ever. He is really good and overlooked. But hey, atleast you dont get the annoying press on his back!

re: Wanderin Wonder

berengaria — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:29:49 GMT

obviously, the owners of wanderin boy did not want this outcome. but they obviously felt the horse was made of iron and not permanently breakable, which unfortunately for him, he was not. how sad to know that he would have been retired after this race. i have watched him race with great pleasure for some time, and it is only the racing gods who ultimately decide such things. shakis was not racing when he broke down and many horses retire and are permanently injured in retirement. no rhyme or reason. ours is not to question why, but just to love and enjoy.

re: Wanderin Wonder

G. Pantle — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:33:33 GMT

I remember reading your fantastic words regarding Wandering Boy. He was won of my favorites.

It was time to stop. Your news story on his death said it all. He deserved a sound ending. It sickens me.

Now he is gone. First Shakis, then Wandering Boy. Why?

re: Wanderin Wonder

Oopsy Daisy — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 05:22:40 GMT

We can all ponder the whys and the whatfors behind the owner continuing to run Wanderin Boy after so many injuries as one or two would have ended most normal horses careers. He must have had a threshold for pain like no other. And yes, i too in hindsight would ask why wasn't he retired sooner? It is too late now. And that is most unfortunate and sad also that 'Boy' did not get to live to enjoy the fruits of his hard work and dedication with a simple life of grazing in a plush field of Kentucky Blue Grass. This fella had a heart of gold and he will be missed. RIP Wanderin Boy, at last no more pain.

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you go BOY — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:06:54 GMT

I sit here with saddened heart of the loss of Wanderin Boy...another great horse who was not as popular as the superstar horses, but always there, always showing up, always consistent. It makes it harder knowing this was to be his last race before retiring. Everytime these type of tragic occurences happen to the horses I love to watch race, I want to quit watching, in fear of breaking my heart again; but, they keep pulling me back in and they are just something you can't quit...something you can't get out of your blood. Rest in Peace Wanderin Boy and keep on runnin' boy!

re: Wanderin Wonder

cf1970 — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:06:47 GMT

Thank you Steve for the wonderful story of Wanderin Boy. I was very sad to hear of his unfortunate breakdown this past weekend. He had a ton of heart, and will be missed.

Take care.

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Joanne K — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:56:10 GMT

He should have been retired after th e stomach ulcer. Now it is too late...he really was a great veteran and deserved to relax, breed, and lay in the sun..

re: Wanderin Wonder

Chrystal — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:42:25 GMT

Jack Z said:"this horse has healed, so he is not unsound. He just run himself so hard on Americas unsafe fast dirt tracks and sometimes good athletes get injured. If he was unsound he would have never recovered as a foal. So don't pin such a comment on old wb or others like him. Can't wait to see him in the cigar mile"

Well, you saw him. Happy now? Yes...he was unsound. or fragile, if you prefer.

re: Wanderin Wonder

Chrystal — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:41:00 GMT

Good article. How utterly SICK that they kept running this horse. He should have been gelded and retired. He could have gone on to do great things as a show horse or something.

My God, they couldn't see this coming????

Some of these posts are eerie now that we know how Wanderin' Boy's story ends.

re: Wanderin Wonder

DONNA — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:02:08 GMT

Wanderen' Boy, fragile legs no more, now you can run with those who have gone before you. The wind blows your mane as you race in those eternal green pastures, for your speed is now equal to the greats you have now joined. May your tired body rest in peace for your gallent spirt lives on.

re: Wanderin Wonder

HS — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:54:17 GMT

Through all my tears this weekend for Wanderin Boy, I've been trying to understand what would make his connections, people who obviously cared deeply for him (ever since he was a baby), continue to fearlessly tempt fate in light of the obvious. What was it that obscured their view of the inevitable outcome of continuing to race him? Aiden O'Brien said something about George Washington that stuck in my mind. He believed anything was possible with George, that the horse could do anything. I detected that same overly optimistic mindset coming from Wanderin Boy's connections in Steve Haskin's articles. Could it be that the failure to realize that your beloved horse cannot overcome everything is responsible for some of these recent tragedies? This one with Wanderin Boy is particularly sad, because of what he had already been through.

re: Wanderin Wonder

Rhonda from Saskatchewan, Canada — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:32:52 GMT

And, for Springside.

Love you, pretty girl.

May your tragic injury not be in vain.

re: Wanderin Wonder

Rhonda from Saskatchewan, Canada — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:28:24 GMT

Another example of a courageous thoroughbred run to death just because he was "bred to run".

The right thing to do would have been to retire him long ago. But, then, the thoroughbred industry has a long and sordid history of doing anything except what is "right" for the horse.

How long are we going to put up with this carnage?

Here's to you, Wanderin Boy. A picture of courage. A hero who was betrayed by an industry without scruples. May you rest in peace and may we continue to fight for the rights of these animals.

re: Wanderin Wonder

marty — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:23:27 GMT

what a tradgedy! I called the farm last year to see if they were gonna retire him so i could maybe breed a mare to him. I found out they were gonna run him again and I thought it was great and maybe get a grade 1 like he deserves. I remember seeing the dam Vid Kid at a previous farm before the Hancocks got her and what a pretty mare. I enjoyed watching him run especially after finding out about all of the things he overcame.Thanks Hancocks,Zito, and wanderin boy!

re: Wanderin Wonder

catsvx — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:50:27 GMT

Should have been retired long ago to enjoy green pastures. May you enjoy them now in heaven. Rest in peace beautiful boy.

re: Wanderin Wonder

Susan C — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:08:50 GMT

I admire Wanderin' Boy's determination, but I feel sad that he was kept running for so long. Horses' legs are so fragile anyway, and racing punishes them even more. Why was he run so many times? Why couldn't he have been given a none stress life, expecially after the first racing mishap? Was Wanderin' Boy's well-being ever considered, or was money always more important?

re: Wanderin Wonder

BlueHen — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 03:39:30 GMT

Wanderin Boy always struck me as a melancholy name. It sounds like part of a sad country song that would start something like, "I'm a wanderin' boy, ain't got no home." The name sounds sadder now. Poor thing; he was a beautiful horse. Mr. Haskin, I enjoyed today's article about him -- thanks for writing it.

re: Wanderin Wonder

AnnaB — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:41:08 GMT

After shedding many tears over this, I just wanted to add that as I've watched him run over the years, I've hoped for nothing more than a strong finish to his racing career and a quiet and happy retirement. I'm so sorry for his connections, because this news hit me terribly hard and all I've done is follow his story and career over the years.

Here's hoping that your wandering leads to greener pastures, Wanderin Boy.

re: Wanderin Wonder

dory — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:50:59 GMT

After reading this article, I added Wanderin Boy to my virtual stable and just missed his work at Saratoga before he shipped to Belmont. What a champion he was and what a shame that he's gone. Hoping he is now running with George Washington, Eight Belles, Barbaro and so many who have gone too soon.

re: Wanderin Wonder

NightOwlaa — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:17:38 GMT

So sad. Why would they not retire him after he reached the million dollar level at age 7, especially with his history of bad legs?

re: Wanderin Wonder

Affirmed4ever — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 19:58:16 GMT

I had no idea this horse was running with so many pins, screws, etc.! Poor boy - he defied the odds so many times...........too bad he couldn't have been retired.

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pete — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 14:52:43 GMT

Sad

These animals are the true heroes-

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da3hoss — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 14:13:42 GMT

Your beautiful face will be missed.

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Flute — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 08:32:17 GMT

R.I.P. Wanderin Boy =(

You were well loved and always tried your hardest. Enjoy the greenest pastures up in heaven, you deserve them.

re: Wanderin Wonder

KatintheHat — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 07:31:28 GMT

Thanks for the ride, Wandering Boy. You did your job well. :(