Chantal

re: Chantal

kincsem — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 01:16:17 GMT

Thank God she's moving on!!

re: Chantal

kincsem — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 22:52:29 GMT

Steve,

I spoke with Richard Madella, and then finally got hold of Lucinda Mandella at CARMA (also, Richard's daughter-in-law). She listened to the story of Matto Mondo's fall down the claining ranks and then referred me to a woman who runs Equine Encore Foundation,in Arizona, Patty Shirley. Ms. Shirley has placed horses from Justin Evans barn in the past and told me that actually he is one of the better New Mexico based trainers when it comes to helping horses find a second career or rescue. She spoke with him and called me back and assured me that Justin said he would give her a call when Matto Mondo is ready to retire. The owners, are rescue friendly, too, so hopefully, his story will have a happy ending. If anyone is still paying attention to this thread, please contact Patty at her website and make a donation for Matto Mondo (whom she doesn't have yet, but hopefully will soon). Support these rescues!Thanks!

re: Chantal

hank — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:26:59 GMT

Very nice article, Chantel is a very attractive lady no doubt but a very average jockey, Rosie is by far the better rider I am surprised Baffert did not switch after her terrible ride ar Dubai, yeaterday she got out broke again, only had one mount for whole day, moved horse way to soon, got outridden by Rosario, lost left line when she switched whip, and apprentice mistake, was gaasping for air when interviewed after race,Smith showed in the match race her lacks she was comrpletely outridden in that event,She is now married and probably realizes there are other things otheer than riding, it is a very tough life

re: Chantal

Abby — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 21:31:46 GMT

Wow I've been missing all this fun! Better than f.b. Way past time for racing to wake up& promote/market!! the personalities ; the(too often Fragile)stars- the horses.also the Jockeys,trainers,owners. we have many great characters & interesting stories that "regular" people find fascinating.My opinion the whip is overrated, the new ones are better ,more awareness education for jocks needed . Kathy& M.M.M. are a great story a true miracle and all ate making inroads in a still very male dominated industry. Ill be back...good stuff : )

re: Chantal

Cassandra.Says — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 01:35:39 GMT

Bottom line from Zero Mostel:

If you've got it . . .

FLAUNT IT!!!

re: Chantal

duchess — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 05:32:31 GMT

barb, where in the world did you get the idea that Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra's foals were taken from them and raised by nurse mares?

Until the two colts were weaned (at the normal age for horses being weaned) both were nursed and raised by their dams. There are plentiful pictures and videos all over the web of the two great mares with their foals. They are a joy to see!

Horses usually have a foal a year in the wild - and that is without the expert care (medically and otherwise) a top broodie receives. if a mare's body is not up to carrying a foal in any particular year she will either not conceive or will slip (miscarry) the foal either in the wild or on a farm.

This is in contrast to humans and our biology. In nature (or at least in those few hunter/gatherer societies still left, which is as close to nature as you can find our species) human mothers tend to have babies spaced about four years apart, or so my anthropology professors said. This is across culturals and across environments.

And when you think about it - the weaning of horses at a few months old and the weaning of humans at about four years old is actually pretty close developmentally per species. Both take place when the child/foal can move around well and survive on foods other than mother's milk.

Now - nurse mares do happen - primarily either when the mother mare passes away or for some other reason cannot provide milk - or when the mother rejects the baby. But under usual circumstances, broodmare mothers raise and nurse their own foals - and most of them pretty obviously enjoy motherhood.

Back to the main subject of the blog - Chantal is a very attractive woman, and I see no reason why she cannot be played up in the media. Horse racing needs all of the positive press it can get. So why not play up Chantal and Game on Dude at the BC?

re: Chantal

Alex'sBigFan — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 22:41:34 GMT

Linda in Texas,

I was thinking about Sweet Ducky after IHA's Japan deal was announced. I have no idea on Sweet Ducky's well being. He is supposedly in Russia. Maybe we should try to get an inquiry going.

Or maybe if the Halls, who sold him, read any of Steve's blogs they can answer the question if they have kept tabs on what the Chechen president did with Sweety Ducky. Last I heard he was going to run the Russian Derby after a poor performance in Dubai. What has transpired after I have no idea.

Fran,

How cute with Alex! I hope you get to go soon. I wish I could go. Alex loved kids so I guess that is why he responds to shorter people. God knows what Alex would do with me, I am 5'9" and wear heels all the time and that puts me at about 6'. Alex was bottle fed milk by the breeder's little girl so that is where his love of children comes into play, they are his "mother."

And poor Hansen had "mommie dearest" for a mother. Land O' Goshen!!!!!!!!!! Lucy said that in an episode once and that is the name of the farm where Hansen was born!!!!!

re: Chantal

kincsem — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 19:17:46 GMT

Cassandra, Since Chantal's riding skills are about average in the competition whe keeps, I find it rather fair to say she is benefitting from the attention to her looks. Would you say that's a fair statement? Mike doesn't have to copy her; he can ride. And when he uses his famous left handed whip, you don't see his mounts bumping the outside competition like hers do, repeatedly.

Steve, I tracked down Justin Evens and told him we were discussing Matto mondo on a national blog. He said the owners insisted on running that long at Del Mar. Now, a different set of Justin's owners own Matto Mondo and will run him 6 1/2 , one turn at Zia Park. I told him I would be interested when Matto Mondo is no longer able to run. He said he took my contact info...I left a message at the CARMA office for Lucinda Mandella, hoping that she would have a spark of interest. Please help me keep track of the horse. Thanks!

re: Chantal

Karen in Texas — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 18:24:57 GMT

I agree, Cassandra.Says, with your 3:49 A.M. post. Maybe I wasn't expressing it quite so plainly, but I suspect kincsem (and a few others) just don't "like" Chantal in the first place.

Yes, mz, I do believe Woodbine was dissed in order to make a point tangentially...

re: Chantal

Cassandra.Says — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 07:49:36 GMT

Whoa. Chantal is "using" her looks to get rides? Just what, exactly, would that involve? What would she do to "use" her looks that she would not otherwise do?

Take the bag off her head?

It's reasonable, if snarky, to suggest that Chantal's looks get her more attention than she would get were she plain, but to describe her looks as some tactic she employs is just silly.

If it was a tactic she employed, we'd all be copying her. Even Mike.

re: Chantal

Linda in Texas — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 02:29:01 GMT

lunar spook your mention of Pants on Fire made me think of SWEET DUCKY.

Alex'sBigFan - or anyone, any news any place about him? I liked him a lot and bam he was gone.

Meant to ask about him in my post yesterday.

Keeping it short. So have a great week end all. And happy and safe horse racing to man and beast alike.

Thanks Steve. This blog makes a week go by pretty quickly and i love the week ends! Plus look at all we learn. And i respect so many here who have been in and around this sport since they were little tykes learning from their dads. And that is nice. Love those dads. And miss mine for sure.

Linda

re: Chantal

mz — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 01:21:20 GMT

Kincsem:: did you just diss Woodbine?!?!?

Nothing like kicking us when we're down!

re: Chantal

kincsem — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 15:57:46 GMT

Karen in Texas,

Yes the repeat was for emphasis. Thanks for picking up on that! You might notice that the level of competition in Canada is perhaps not as stiff as it is at Santa Anita, or Belmont. If it were, our top jockeys would be going THERE to ride. That being said, all the attention Chantal gets is for her looks, not for her superior jockey skills.I thought women were supposed to be beyond this idiotic behavior, but I guess not. The Brits saw right through her, didn't they?

re: Chantal

lunar spook — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 15:35:08 GMT

LINDA IN TEXAS- thanx for the compliment on my user name , i have 6 all time favorite horse names: lunar spook, demons begone, giants causeway, bates motel, criminal type, ichobad crane and pants on fire !

re: Chantal

Fran Loszynski — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 15:19:59 GMT

Paynter should run in the Travers. He deserves that final turn and down the stretch because of his awesome run in the Belmont. Hope he's okay.

I once read Steve that colts love to be around female humans. They love their tender touch on their foreheads. So female jockeys really already have an "in" with racehorses. I wish instead of being 5'4 1/2 inches I turned out to be 4'8"! I know when I visit Afleet Alex and pet his forehead star he bobs his head up and down and sideways!!!

re: Chantal

Will — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 13:06:14 GMT

With Paynter and Bodiemeister's careers now on the ropes as they threaten to join the ranks of Grade 1 horses dropping like flies this year, the only hope for racing's image seems to be to change the focus to the more constant human element. So pump Chantal and market her wherever and whenever possible. Of course, it will all be naught if there's nothing left on the track for her to ride. In this current generation of brittle, drug weakened horses the odds must be long that Game on Dude can and will make it in sound condition to the BC Classic.

re: Chantal

The Deacon — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 06:52:29 GMT

Linda in Texas: A very kind hello to you as well and all the other familar bloggers.............

re: Chantal

Shutterbug — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 02:57:28 GMT

Hi kincsem. Eight-year-old Matto Mondo was claimed during the Hollywood Park meet by trainer Justin Evans of Turf Paradise. A simple google of his name brings up things like the following: Mar 28, 2012 ... Justin Evans had 7 positives for alcohol in Arizona and is not eligible for ... He

has had multiple infractions over the years for all sorts of misconduct.

Currently the gelding is at the $12.5K claimer level. I think it's sad. Thanks.

re: Chantal

Steve Haskin — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 21:57:02 GMT

I didnt think anyone could get the Beav in more trouble than Larry Mondello, but Gilbert had him beat I think. He was a master instigator, and, yes, would have made a great politician. Of the Beaver girls, let us not forget the irrespresible Judy, perhaps the most obnoxious girl ever.

re: Chantal

Linda in Texas — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 21:55:23 GMT

I think that this particular blog has introduced more subjects not having to do with the subject 'Chantal' at all, than any blog we all have read and ever responded to.

Just reading this and the posts takes history back how many, 50 years?? And diddly squat 100.

Summing it up, one horse is in trouble and probably needs a rescue referring to I Like Candy's mention of Matto Mando, since some mares were dropped of at Round Mountain in Texas, maybe best we be on the look out for Mando! That is the most pressing subject to me that needs tending to.

Then Chantal is pretty and i am in agreement. Don't think i ever see a horse being smacked but across the side of the saddle cloth and never on the backside or neck. It is not made out of a steel rod for God's sake. Sometimes the jockey will raise the whip and get the horse's attention by the horse just knowing that dad nabbed thang is behind him!

Never watched "The Jockeys."

Let's see, Beaver, yes guilty. Not much else on then. Loved The Fonz. Deacon he had a head of hair in a pompadour, wasn't that his style.

White tee shirt and black leather jacket and short black boots. Cool man, totally cool!

Hope I Like Candy answers kincsem.

Glad you wrote a new article Steve.

I was about to write can't we all just get along. Speaking of which, Rodney King passed away over a month ago.

And Deacon, hello to you sir.

And an ol'rail bird, what books do you read? Thought i better spiff up my vocabulary and my spellin' cuz i don't know as much as Dr. Drunkinbum, and you blistered him

with your come upin's pretty good.

And diddly squat. Now that is serious stuff there! I don't think i would care to meet diddly squat.

Sounds rankish to me.

And my final take away from this article which was not Steve's intent is: Danica needs to stay away from Paynter.

Lunar spook - favorite newest post name.

And Oldie - you are the best. I will admit i liked auto racing too until Dale Sr, lost his life. You are a good sport to admit it.

I LIKE CANDY - see kincsem's post please 15 Aug 2012 2:58 PM.

Thanks, Steve.

And my very best for a full and speedy recovery to Monarchos who is home from the vet.

Being watched and cared for by tender hearted caring folks,and supervised by Mr. Charles Nuckols, Jr. He is a gray now, you know.

Love them all.

re: Chantal

Karen in Texas — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 21:06:20 GMT

kincsem----Thanks for your reply. I don't believe Chantal is receiving an unwarranted number of accolades for her riding abilities--most opinions seem to describe her as good, but not great. Her 'level of competition' speaks for itself, and she could well win the Classic if G.O.D. is primed for another good effort. I'm wondering how she used her pretty face to achieve the Sovereign Award as Canada's top apprentice jockey in 2001--there must have been some stats to back that up. I guess we can agree to disagree on some of this....time will tell how she will be viewed historically. (BTW, your second sentence above says, "she does not deserve, because she does not deserve..."??

re: Chantal

El Kabong — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 20:56:40 GMT

Steve, Dr. D

Any show with Gilbert was a treasure. There was always one guy in the pack that knew how to encourage trouble then duck out. Gilbert knew how to create a mess and then excuse himself tactfully. He was also very skilled at pointing out the obvious stupidity after the fact. All the essentials of a budding politician if I'm not mistaken.

re: Chantal

kincsem — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:58:23 GMT

Karen in Texas,

Yes, I would expect P Val to ride better - which is the point of my contention. Chantal does not deserve all the accollades she gets as a rider, because she does not deserve them. And she is an opportunist because she is using her looks to attain a level of competition she would not have entree` to without that pretty face (or, it could be argued, being Mike Smith's fiancee for a while ).

Steve,

who's barn is Motto Mondo in? I have found homes or rescues for several OTTBs (and own one myself)and would love to help.

re: Chantal

ksweatman9 — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:45:39 GMT

I wanted to respond to the idea of bringing in new fans for the sport via way of "fresh" faces. I've thought of this often, as I've watched interest in the sport decline dramaticly over the years. In the 1960's my mother started watching soap operas, daily, for decades she followed the characters and plots. I was going to the track with my dad in the 60's. I grew up following the ponies. I could never sit through 30 minutes of one of mom's soaps. My mom watches the big races on TV and picks the horses out by color. She has no idea who they are, where they come from. How is it possible to tell her all she missed? You almost need the history of this game to see the true beauty of it. I believe that's why it's so hard to recruit new fans into the sport. If you missed the glory days of the past, you missed too much. Some would say, you missed it all. Even though I didn't see Man O'War and other legends of that era, I read about them, heard stories, and they're in my heart and mind. Horse racing is dying with US. All that may be left of the greatest sport on earth could be mere words on paper. "Fresh faces", only if they have cotton stuffed in their ears. We need more horses like Zenyatta to give a blood transfusion to our anemic sport, and that's a tall order.

re: Chantal

Karen in Texas — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 16:12:01 GMT

barb---- Am I reading/understanding your 8/14 10:36 P.M. post to say that the foals of Zenyatta and Rachel A. were, and will continue in the future, to be removed to nurse mares? Please cite your source. As far as I can determine that is not correct, and I would appreciate seeing your information. You will find on Zenyatta's website that her foal was weaned ~yesterday along with an explanation of weaning procedures for most thoroughbred foals. If you click on "Lane's End Visit" you will find a "tweet" to the right side of the page by the Mosses announcing the foal's recent weaning. Similar information can be found on Stonestreet's Rachel Alexandra site. It does not appear that either foal was removed from his mother's care/presence until this summer, when the weaning began. The foals are ~5 and 7 months of age.

http://www.zenyatta.com/