New Life for Holy Bull

re: New Life for Holy Bull

Cassandra.Says — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 04:49:20 GMT

Black Spots:

It's hard to tell from a photo of an old gray who has retained a lot of his pigmentation, but when the melatonin leaves the hair it doesn't evaporate. It turns up elsewhere in the body as tumors, melatomas, most frequently under the tail.

Lady's Secret had a very prominent one on her face as quite a young broodmare, which may be why, although drawing bids in the millions, she failed to meet her reserve in several appearances in the sales ring.

re: New Life for Holy Bull

Mike Relva — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 00:06:28 GMT

TerriZ

One of many instances underscoring Shandler's childish behavior was just prior to Zenyatta's last race he made a point to post John "glared" at him. With all the garbage he threw at horse and connections think he got off light. lol

re: New Life for Holy Bull

Old Old Cat — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 23:34:31 GMT

An article by Steve,,, with photos of a little girl and a horse...

Priceless!!!

re: New Life for Holy Bull

TerriZ — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 13:37:41 GMT

To Mike Relva: I concur 100%. I only hope that I don't bump into at Gulfstream; I might forget that I am a lady--LOL.

re: New Life for Holy Bull

TerriZ — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 13:35:59 GMT

Mike Smith actually reads the comments people send to him on his facebook account. He had placed a old picture of him and Holy Bull in the winners circle at Gulfstream on his facebook page. I had commented about the Bull's talented grandson, Mucho Macho Man.

Mike is a sentimental guy and the Bull was his first big time stallion. And the Bull was inelgiable to run in the Breeders Cup in '94.

I wouldn't be surprised if Mike rides Macho in the Breeders Cup Classic at Santa Anita this year. I believe he will choose a relative of the Bull over Bodemeister. Just like he promised John Sherriffs redemtion for the Bull by winning the Ky Derby on Giacomo, he will redeem the Bull's legacy by riding his grandson in the BC Classic. And it will be another Mike Smith and Chantal Sutherland showdown in the Classic this year.

re: New Life for Holy Bull

Mike Relva — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 06:14:50 GMT

Woodshade

Thanks! Amusing in his final or next to last blog he commented something about he stirred the pot like Howard Stern. My point is simply if you're the real deal shouldn't have to inject theater into the equation. Didn't appreciate attempting to make a career of bashing a certain horse/connections. Several in the industry dismissed him as a mere joke at best.

re: New Life for Holy Bull

redheadedfemme — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 02:05:49 GMT

Steve, you should check out the link mentioned by TC Fever. The description of the Holy Bull CD is almost IDENTICAL to this article. Did you write that page?

re: New Life for Holy Bull

woodshade — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 21:04:00 GMT

Mike Relva,

I agree with your comment about Jason. Nor could he handicap. He was terrible. Why can't the Blood Horse put so called real handicappers on THS, not writers. They are most of the time, trying to beat the winner at a price.

re: New Life for Holy Bull

JoyJackson21 — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 05:16:12 GMT

To PMahony:

Thank you for sharing the picture of Commanche Trail. He certainly was having lots of fun in that water - LOL - and looks like a very, very happy horse. It is evident that you have taken very good care of him over the years. You have a good heart, and Commanche Trail is a lucky horse to have you in his life, to love him and take care of him.

To Linda in Texas:

What a lovely tribute to Mr. Leonard, as well as Cozzene and Cozzene's son, Cozzetti. It is clear you have a special place in your heart for both the man and the horse, and that you are fan of Cozzene's progeny. I'm sure Mr. Leonard and Cozzene are proud and thankful of your tribute to them. It was a very lovely post.

re: New Life for Holy Bull

Karen in Texas — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 23:21:02 GMT

Steve's blog allows a fair amount of substantial discussion. Mr. Reddam has inspired some spirited comments for example. Jason tended to be an "instigator", especially with certain topics.

Mike R.---LOL!

re: New Life for Holy Bull

Davids — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 22:59:33 GMT

Thanks Steve, love the interconnectedness in your writing as you thread the past with the present. Had a giggle over the reference to "Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow" with regards to Holly Bull creating "more havoc than any bovine since." By the way, "Judy at Carnegie Hall is still the definitive version regarding that tune.

In some respects Holy Bull used to remind me of the great Dr. Fager. Resembling, not comparing.

re: New Life for Holy Bull

Linda in Texas — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 22:33:58 GMT

I typoed in my blog, I meant Cozzene not Cozzetti was bred to Lemon Drop Kid's mare Lemon Drop Cello and she is Cozzetti's dam.

Sorry about that.

re: New Life for Holy Bull

Mike Relva — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 22:07:10 GMT

Are you joking? Shandler's agenda almost always was "my way or the highway". He couldn't spell the word objective.

re: New Life for Holy Bull

Paula Higgins — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 20:23:45 GMT

Pedigree Ann, I understand what you are saying. I miss the give and take of the "sturdy battlers who take no prisoners" but I am happy to come here to Steve's beautifully written blog for a mostly peaceful exchange of ideas. I am not sure Claire will post some of the, shall we say, less than genteel comments that Jason used to post. Remains to be seen.

re: New Life for Holy Bull

Linda in Texas — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 19:08:36 GMT

I might look at Claire's blog, but my needs are satisfied right here. No drabby gab from Draynay for me or KY VET or other's that no more care about this sport than my dogs Mugsy, Rascal, Cissy, Nellie and Pepper-oni and Speckles(all rescues). On the other hand when a horse wins that i am cheering for, you can find them all lined up howling with me. It happened just yesterday when Cozzetti won. So pretty fresh on my mind.

I miss Jason and his approach was unusual and he knew it and did it on purpose. :) only disagreement i had was his taking jabs at the Mosses, but that was a personal thing and it was his blog. Hope he and his family are doing well in sunny Florida. I bet he has a tan to die for!

And Hello Saratoga spiff it up! The

Haskin's are coming!! Lucky ya'll.

Someday i will get to go back, I hope. Look forward to your posts, and thanks Steve, Joan and Mandy. Have a memorable time.

Linda

re: New Life for Holy Bull

Steve Haskin — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 18:23:53 GMT

Claire Novak has taken over Jason's Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup blogs and she should satisfy your wants and needs. She's already written a blog on Hymn Book prior to the Suburban.

re: New Life for Holy Bull

Ranagulzion — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 18:15:11 GMT

Pedigree Ann,

I'm agreeing with you ...Jason's approach is missed.

re: New Life for Holy Bull

Linda in Texas — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 17:12:32 GMT

This is being written in honor of

Mr. Anthony Leonard,the greatest photographer of horses i know who happened to leave this earth on July 14, 2012, the same day the progeny of some of his earlier photgraphed champions raced.

The almighty one in charge of our last breath, saw fit to take Mr. Leonard home on the very same day that Cozzene's,and probably his last progeny before his death in 2008, colt Cozzetti won The American Derby, Arlington Race 8 raced along with Macho Bull by Macho Uno whose bloodlines include Mr. Prospector.

As i looked at Cozzene's history, and the last photo of Cozzene that Mr. Anthony Leonard took of Cozzene

in the twilight of the that day and the twilight of Cozzene's life and one i had as my desk top photo for 2 years, I just found it rather touching that Cozzetti's win brought thoughts of his sire to a day in Saturday, July 14, 2012, when Tony Leonard went home.

All Stormy raced a gallant one and was ahead until Cozzetti came through on the inside having been checked twice and won by a head anyway. Sheer determination was all over his expression.

That is a tribute on the same day to Cozzene, who in The 1984 Breeder's Cup was racing third to

Royal Heroine - the race was being called by Mr. Tom Durkin who raised his voice and said "Cozzene bursting on the outside." And he won his race. Only difference, Cozzetti burst ahead on the inside.

I mention this for several reasons. I take some things i hear with a grain of salt. Thus disagreement. Cozzene was a durable horse, he never gave up and

he was actively siring foals very close to the day he died at the age of 28 in 2008. One never knows when the traits of their predecessors are going to show up.

I ask you to re read Steve Haskin's article in Bloodhorse.com

dated 14 May 2012,"Haskin's Preakness Report: Cozzetti Keeps

Sire's Spark Alive." Cozzetti was bred to Lemon Drop Kid's mare, Lemon Drop Cello and is Cozzetti's dam.

There are some strong bloodlines in these 2 special 3 year olds in

Macho Bull who raced in The Arlington Derby yesterday and Cozzetti.

Mr. Leonard no doubt will continue his life long love of photography as he meets all the famous and not so famous horses he has photographed over his many years.

I have no doubt that Cozzene will be the first to greet him as Mr. Leonard took what was probably the last photograph of Cozzene.

And life goes on for the rest of us

but not without a look back to what

has made this sport so special to me. It is not always the winners that impress me, it is the threads of who they have in their blood lines that never cease to draw me in to respect them all.

Cozzetti performed like his daddy yesterday,he reached back into his sire's traits and he did not give up. It is that built in ambition i have spoken about before that is not only true with people but with horses also.

You are born with ambition or you are not. You are born as a horse with it or you are not. Therefore i respectfully disagree that multiple times removed as a sire or a dam does not decrease one's proclivity to inherit the trait for speed, endurance or the will to win. Good for his owners The Albaugh Family Stables and Dale Romans his trainer. I wish Cozzetti a life as long and winning as his sire Cozzene and his dam, Lemon Drop Cello.

Rest in Peace Mr. Leonard and thank you. I have multitudes of your photographs and i love every one of them. But my all time favorite is of Cozzene that you took shortly before he died stepping lightly in the newly fallen snow at twilight. Cozzene was a gray you know.:)

I would refer you also to an article written for Bloodhorse.com

upon Cozzene's death in 2008, by Sean Feld,14Oct.2008 in Bloodhorse.com.entitled "Thanks, Cozzene."

And as always, Thanks, Steve.

re: New Life for Holy Bull

Lammtarra's Arc — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 15:58:21 GMT

Lise from Maine- What are you talking about?. The first picture is Holy Bull now, or recently. The bottom pic is him during his racing days, and what makes you think he was unhappy?....

re: New Life for Holy Bull

ceil rock — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 15:33:20 GMT

Gray horses are born very dark and get lighter as they age, but the process is not even. Their legs might stay dark longer than their body, or they might have splotches of dark hair on their face or hindquarters. I have a beautiful picture of Holy Bull from the 2005 Stallion Register. His mane is still black and his legs are dark. He has dapples all over his body which is turning white. Occasionally you will see a horse like Tapit (and his son Hansen), who turned almost white at a very young age. Holy Bull looks like he's keeping an eye on the photo-grapher in the last picture.

re: New Life for Holy Bull

Pedigree Ann — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 14:43:41 GMT

Anybody else miss the knock-down, drag-out arguments on Jay's blog? Not that I don't value Steve's more civilized presence and excellent writing. But there is no longer a place for hashing out the various positions we fans take on horses currently racing among these blogs anymore.

re: New Life for Holy Bull

Lise from Maine — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 03:57:33 GMT

Hi!

What are the black spots on Holy Bull's face?

The first photo of him doesn't show those black spots.

The last photo shows that he isn't happy.

I wonder why?

re: New Life for Holy Bull

Lise from Maine — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 03:46:09 GMT

Hi!

Wonderful story! Thanks for sharing it with us.

Holy Bull is so cute.

re: New Life for Holy Bull

Tiz Herself — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 01:43:13 GMT

A great day for the late Dynaformer! With the performances by Point of Entry and Starformer, that was awesome. And for Rahy as Rahystrada showed his stuff, yet again! Both Phipps horses Point of Entry and Boisterous I look forward to watching more of.

One of the horses who I wondered if he would ever have a race named after him was Seattle Slew. I may be stand corrected, but I don't believe Seattle Slew has a race in his name?

Am already looking through and bookmarking Holy Bull 2 yo to follow for 2012 and love the names!

Brawl

Neshoba

Lazarus

Year of the Bull

Mountain Kitty (is a winner already)

And will continue to follow Holy Heavens, Toro Bravo, Holy Highway, and any Holy Bull grandkids that come about!

re: New Life for Holy Bull

Paula Higgins — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 23:15:33 GMT

PMahony, loved that video of him spashing around in his bath! You are a good soul.