Summer Bird's Belmont Stakes

re: Summer Bird's Belmont Stakes

Eliza — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 11:23:59 GMT

I'm appalled, plain and simple. Young thoroughbreds are dying and at an alarmingly rapid rate. I wish I could offer a solution, but first I would have to know what's to blame. That's the great uncertainty. Perhaps racing professionals should try keeping these delicate creatures home and breeding them here and here only. Just a thought.

re: Summer Bird's Belmont Stakes

superdog — Sat, 28 Dec 2013 16:12:59 GMT

Great article Steve. Thanks for the memories.

re: Summer Bird's Belmont Stakes

smarie — Sat, 28 Dec 2013 03:03:35 GMT

I was so sorry to learn of Summer Bird's death. He was such a gorgeous horse and was so much fun to watch. I always thought trainer Tim Ice got treated quite badly when the owners took Summer Bird from him. Colic takes so many horses. I hope and pray that researchers can find an effective preventative and cure for this, as well as for laminitis.

R.I.P., Summer Bird. You will be missed.

re: Summer Bird's Belmont Stakes

Ida Lee — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 23:21:12 GMT

I heard an old song today...the last line is "don't fly away my beautiful Bird". My heart is just broken...I just loved this beautiful boy so much...

re: Summer Bird's Belmont Stakes

Soldier Course — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 18:41:23 GMT

I'm so sorry to hear about Summer Bird. In addition to his accomplishments on the track, he was just gorgeous.

re: Summer Bird's Belmont Stakes

Windolin — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 16:39:13 GMT

This is so sad. I so wish that we would have a break through on the causes and prevention of colic, laminitis and the fractures and life saving treatments as well. So many horses died tragically this past year. Rest in peace dear boy and deepest sympathy to the owners and connections.

re: Summer Bird's Belmont Stakes

Lise from Maine — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 14:40:21 GMT

Hi!

This is so sad to read that Summer Bird has died.

I have to wonder what causes colic in the first place.

God love him.

Lise from Maine

re: Summer Bird's Belmont Stakes

Coldfacts — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 13:43:08 GMT

Many thanks for the detailed and interesting revisit of the 2009 Belmont Stakes including its equine and human participants.

If my memory is correct the Sumer Bird Belmont marked the first time I posted a comment on a pending race on the Blood Horse Blog, titled Unlocking Winner.

The horse that was being heavily touted in the blog was the 11th place finisher in the Derby, Dunkirk.

My question to the many contributors favoring the colt was, how could the 11th place finisher Dunkirk be the focus over the 6th place finisher Summer Bird? I detailed why Summer Bird was the horse to beat and ended my post with the words “Fly home with Summer Bird.” Needless to state, I went wild when he grabbed the lead at 12-1. I secured a huge pay day and the bonus of bragging rights.

I have very fond memories of 2009 that include Summer Bird. After reviewing his MSW victory, I was so impressed that I posted a thread on the now defunct MSNBC Message Board touting him as a potential Derby horse. I did similar threads for the eventual 2009 Preakness and Derby winners as well. My evaluation skills have certainly diminished.

I have always questioned whether there was another stallion that sired different winners of TC races in the same year. While I recognized that my question could have been answered with research I was not prepared to undertake same. Many thanks for providing this information.

How could I not mention Unbridled, the greatest extension of Mr. Prospector in the Summer Bird Belmont review? The first three passed the post traced back to the great stallion. Dunkirk was sired by his son Unbridles Song. Mine That Bird and Summer Bird were sired by his grandson Birdstone.

RIP Bird. Although you no longer live, your Belmont win will live with me forever.

re: Summer Bird's Belmont Stakes

Eliza — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 09:42:02 GMT

I remember the 2009 Triple Crown season and most vividly. I didn't like the way Mine That Bird was ridden in the Preakness or Belmont. To me, he was the little horse who should've. The victories of Rachael Alexandra and Summer Bird, as much as I admire both of them, were anti-climactic. Mr. Haskin, this is a fantastic recollection and interpretation of events which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I am pleased Mine That Bird received the attention and respect he so richly deserves.

re: Summer Bird's Belmont Stakes

Deltalady — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 08:10:55 GMT

The wild and "woolley" year that was 2009 racing had one more amazing race to go. At the time you wrote this, Steve, you couldn't have known the cherry on top was still to come: Zenyatta's 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic! Rest in peace, Summer Bird. He will be missed.

re: Summer Bird's Belmont Stakes

mz — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 06:10:09 GMT

I am sorry about Summer Bird bc I was looking forward to his babies carrying on the Bird Line.

But now for something completely different, can someone explain to me whether a chip in a sesimoide is something that can mean taking 8 Months to a year off and then coming back or whether it is a life threatening kind of thing? (I don't want to rant about New Years Day and then have to pull an Emily Littela*)

*SNL when it mattered

re: Summer Bird's Belmont Stakes

Debbiek — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 03:20:46 GMT

I am so sad about Summer Bird. He was such a beautiful boy. My condolences to all of his connections. RIP sweet boy.

re: Summer Bird's Belmont Stakes

Agnes — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 01:51:17 GMT

I was so sad to hear about the death of Summer Bird. He only had one season at stud and who knows how well he would have done to continue the strain of his illustrious sire, Birdstone. It's a pity.

re: Summer Bird's Belmont Stakes

Paula Higgins — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 01:38:43 GMT

Thank you for this Steve. Rest In Peace Summer Bird.

re: Summer Bird's Belmont Stakes

Delrene — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 01:19:37 GMT

Thank you so much for this tribute to Summer Bird. I was absolutely devastated to read of his death. Just a big beautiful boy gone too soon. What a run it was in 2009. I was able to meet Mine that Bird in New Mexico and Rachel Alexandra in Ky but never got a chance to see Summer Bird in person. He was such a beautiful colt. May he live on through his sons and daughters.

re: Summer Bird's Belmont Stakes

old woman — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 00:49:00 GMT

Summer Bird was pick that day for the belmont stakes that day and low and behold he did it I knew he could get the distance cause his daddy won it. also picked him to win I was saddened to my heart to hear he had passed loved that horse especially when he won the jockey gold cup and the travers he was a good horse R.I.P summer bird you will be forever missed love you boy forever

re: Summer Bird's Belmont Stakes

derbylin — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 00:28:32 GMT

Thank you, Steve, for posting this story again. It has truly been a sad day, losing Summer Bird and now New Years Day being retired. Maybe I am just being ignorant but it seems like we lose a lot of good ones once they go overseas.

re: Summer Bird's Belmont Stakes

Thoroughbreds are the best — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 00:17:01 GMT

So sad that this beautiful horse has left us too soon. It just adds to the strange saga of that exciting tritple crown. Colic and laminitis are such terrible reminders of how fragile these powerful animals really are.