A good racehorse is not a product of chance. He is carefully constructed, the result of planning, plotting, preparation. Those who seek to develop top runners know this, understand the rarity of success and the frequency of failure. Still, they keep trying. A classic winner could be right around the corner.
Possibilities start with the mare. She is the base, the product to which improvements must be made. If her race record boasts talent, so much the better. Case in point: La Ville Rouge, by Carson City.
Six wins. On-the-board efforts in four grade II and III events. Earnings of $262,594. One stakes winner, Holy Ground, already on the track. Potential greatness.
First comes pedigree analysis. Legends from the past inspire dreams of the future. Princequillo. Nasrullah. Native Dancer. Raise You. Then the matchmaking begins.
The bloodstock agent attempts to identify characteristics the mare is lacking. Does she need speed? Size? Conformation?
Perhaps the stallion is a relative newcomer to the breeding scene, one of many runners retired following the rigors of the Triple Crown season. Or maybe he's a proven sire, backed by winners and a resulting hike in fee. Like Dynaformer, by Roberto.
Solid race record. Multiple scores in grade II events. Solid progeny performance - including twelve grade I stakes winners.
The bloodstock agent knows the stallion, followed him since he stood for $5,000. Has always been a fan of the horse. Thinks the stallion's family - Roberto, Ribot - will blend nicely with the mare. The owners agree. They decide to take a shot.
Barbaro, a legend, is born.
There is no such thing as precision. Lightning rarely strikes twice. But the temptation to try the same combination, to carry on the legacy, is strong. Hope, as always, springs eternal.
In racing, we don't live in the moment. Expectations rise for glory that lies just around the final turn, somewhere down the stretch. When found, the glory is fleeting, but the memory remains. It will always be what it is.
And so, they plan again. Another birth, another foal. Could this one be the one? Only time will tell. - CN
Thanks to P. Headley Bell of Nicoma Bloodstock for contributing thoughts on this entry.
