Shackleford Calls it a Career

re: Shackleford Calls it a Career

Uncle Smiley — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 02:01:55 GMT

Thank you, Shack, for some three years of honest to goodness racing.

When I had the opportunity to watch, my chant was Go Shackie, Go!

Like to see you hook up with Thundering Emilia.

re: Shackleford Calls it a Career

Stretchrun — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 02:49:32 GMT

On Shack's Preakness Day, at post time, I snuck out of church (my son's confirmation), watched the race on my phone, and snuck back in. Not so sure Jesus was with me as he was with Shackleford that day. :)

re: Shackleford Calls it a Career

Delrene — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 15:55:20 GMT

Thanks Claire for this terrific article about one of my all-time favorites. I hope he enjoys his retirement and new career. I feel so lucky I've seen him in person at the various tracks and he always, always gave his best. He put quite a show on in the BC in the paddock. Quite the rodeo star!!!

re: Shackleford Calls it a Career

Cris — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 18:09:03 GMT

It was early morning at Pimlico and I was sipping a welcome cup of coffee. I noticed this really handsome horse walking up the other side of the fence from me. He stopped right beside me and I looked up at the rider and told him how beautiful his horse was and I asked if I could pet him. He said sure. I wished him all the best in the Preakness and the rest of his career. I sat in my seat Preakness day and gritty Shack won his race. What a thrill that was. He walked right in front of me after the race with his new Preakness blanket on and I got a shot of him looking right at me. It is my screen saver on my computer. He is the blue collar G1 horse of today. He dances every dance and does what he can. He might lose but he never gives up. That is why we all love Shack.

re: Shackleford Calls it a Career

laurenk106 — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:54:50 GMT

I became a fan of Shack after seeing him race in the Florida Derby on television. I became a devoted fan of his from that moment on and looked forward to all of his races. I had the honor of meeting him in person after the Met Mile last year and it was an amazing experience. While I am going to miss seeing him run, I am so happy that he is retiring healthy and as a champ. I look forward to visiting him in Kentucky one day and can't wait to root for all the Little Shack babies that are to follow in his footsteps. He is an amazing animal!!!

re: Shackleford Calls it a Career

Lammtarra's Arc — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 23:41:20 GMT

I hope he gets good mares booked to him.

re: Shackleford Calls it a Career

Wrensflight — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 16:49:16 GMT

Shackleford is proof that a great horse is not necessarily the horse who wins the most. He has always been such a gutsy, determined horse who will not give up. I haven't been such a committed fan for any horse in a very long time and was thrilled with his win in the Clark. We need more like him in the Thoroughbred gene pool. And Smartysgal, love those "Shackettes!"

re: Shackleford Calls it a Career

SUNNY FARM — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 02:04:16 GMT

Best of luck and happiness SHACKLEFORD ! I have always thought you were awesome. Mr. Romans sure did a great job with a very fine colt ! Looking forward to seeing some nice foals and wishing you & your connections all the best.

re: Shackleford Calls it a Career

Fran Loszynski — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 16:16:54 GMT

Have a great life Shack. I hope you get to meet Afleet Alex along the way on your journies. You share the ultimate heart for racing. I still say I could sit back and remember Secretariat in you hoofs. A sweet life to you. Those front hoofs just wouldn't give up.

re: Shackleford Calls it a Career

papillon — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 05:25:15 GMT

there are so many disappointments in this game--but one of the happiest days at the track for me ever was was shack's clark victory.

i so wanted him to go out a winner--if ever a horse deserved to go out like that, he did.

mr. romans-- if your out there--thank you so much for letting our last racing memory of this mighty horse be that magnificent win.

i've been rooting for shack since i bet on him blind as the 60-1 long shot in the fl derby--and have been in his camp ever since.

one thing his race record doesn't really capture is how close most of his losses were--he was only a few inches shy from having had not just a solid career, but a magnificent career--won the hard way, by blazing a path ahead of the pack, and running all the other speed into the ground.

oh boy am i gonna miss this horse!

happy retirement shack! looking forward to all the little shacklets on the way!

re: Shackleford Calls it a Career

greyghost — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 21:31:43 GMT

Your summation of Shackleford's achievements, including what he has accomplished in the name of the sport, is like frosting on the cake. He is every trainers dream. May his retirement from the track be equally successful.

re: Shackleford Calls it a Career

Carol Schwankl — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 18:12:14 GMT

I love Shackleford...remember seeing him that first time when he ran in Florida. Have to identify with his antics before racing as he seems nervous. I hope Darby Dan will let visitors see him. And, I look forward to seeing his babies. Dale Romans--thanks for letting us see him race as a 4 year old.

re: Shackleford Calls it a Career

deb — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:55:58 GMT

I love Shack. I am not a fan of chesnuts but once in awhile one comes along that steals my heart and Shack did. I never tired of watching him, even when he lost, I know he is a true champion among others. I look forward to seeing his children burning up the track and doing his pre victory dances!!

re: Shackleford Calls it a Career

217hz — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 02:29:36 GMT

Going to miss this horse. He may not have been a superstar, but he was sound, tough, and never gave way in a stretch battle out of fear of looking another horse in the eye. From his guts-alone win in the Preakness to his gritty run in the Met Mile, he was a reminder of why we love Thoroughbreds. I'm happy he went out on a win, but sorry he had to go out at all. Here's hoping that, in a couple of years, we'll get to see a good crop of big-blazed chestnuts glaring down their challengers as they come in on the wire.

re: Shackleford Calls it a Career

Maria Knack — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 23:07:33 GMT

Great article! Shack was so fun to watch and so beautiful. Won our hearts and is going to be sorely missed. Friends ask what horse are you going to follow now and I think I am going to wait for his offspring. He was so special, no other horse stands up to him. Good luck Shack!!

re: Shackleford Calls it a Career

Linda in Texas — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 15:51:48 GMT

Shackleford. A beauty. A handsome finely honed magnificent creature whose bones and muscles all came together in perfect form. His heart was full of win, his antics were to be chuckled at. He has his own mind and will win as he wishes. Parading to the gates one last time i knew he knew this was a special race. No doubt about it. To me it was his best win of all. A last hurrah until one day we see his likeness in the foals then colts and fillies who will perhaps race against the Rachel Alexandra's and Zenyatta's,and Tapit's, etc. and all of them will be remembered again. In 2 or 3 years, we shall all have something to think back on. Emotional yes. Attachment you bet. Admiration of course. First race i ever watched him run, i was hooked. Lather and all. Attitude and all. He is a stallion after all so what else should he do?

Wrote something the other day about him and felt on Paynter's Blog it would not be appropriate so i am glad you gave us the chance to speak Claire. Thank you.

And appropriate thanks for the great memories to the Messers Lauffer and Cubbedge. So also to Dale Romans, Tammy, and the entire Romans family of hot walkers, grooms, and all who cared for Shackleford. Give yourselves a treat for a job well done. You certainly contributed to giving his fans one every time he showed up looking race ready and full of himself. He is special.

Now my 2012 hero favorites are set.

1. Paynter/I'll Have Another (Tie)

2. Shackleford *wire to wire on his

Clark Win* was awesome.

Thank you Claire. To me your shot of Shack and Jesus walking off into the sunset captured a poignant precious scene.

re: Shackleford Calls it a Career

Bill Rinker — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 15:33:56 GMT

Claire, Thanks for the great article and photos. It has been very enjoyable following Shackleford the past few years, the way he carried himself while racing was reminiscent of his sire, and as noted he is an exceptional Thoroughbred. I was very fortunate to share a few special moments with him while standing at the rail at Pimlico, of which I'm sure I'll never forget. It will be interesting to see how his offspring turn out. He has a very good pedigree, and his racing attributes are what you would like to see in a stallion. Best of luck to all of his connections, past, present and future.

re: Shackleford Calls it a Career

Tiz Herself — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 15:33:16 GMT

Shackleford will be missed and I look forward to seeing him my next trip to Kentucky.

Would like to thank Dale Romans and Shack's connections for giving the fans and racing world alike the chance to get to know Shackleford better and raced him at the age of four. Too often, many of our young talent is retired and put to stud and it is hard for a hard core fan or a casual one to follow anyone in the sport when you only get a glimpse of them. Shack was consistent and he was competitive, tenacious and courageous. He will have a caring and loving home in Darby Dan.

I hope Shack and his connections are an inspiration to others who have a talented horse to keep them racing and that they can have sound, healthy careers.

Thanks for the memories Shackleford, will never forget the Shack Attack! From your biggest Alberta fan!

re: Shackleford Calls it a Career

Trebloc — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:52:59 GMT

Love this horse and his pedigree! I will be sending one of my mares to him this winter/spring.

re: Shackleford Calls it a Career

DianaP — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 02:37:50 GMT

thanks shack for dancing the dance. love your connections. human and not. will miss you

re: Shackleford Calls it a Career

Dr Drunkinbum — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 02:18:39 GMT

I didn't think Shackleford was going to win The Clark until I saw him pre-race. He looked magnificent, raring to go but totally under control from what I could see on the internet. It certainly is fitting for him to go out with a win after all of the excitement this warrior has given us. Now it's time to get ready to shack up in his new career, and I expect him to be a very successful sire, passing on his gameness and enthusiasm, heart and beauty. A true champion. Hats of to Romans also for choosing this race. I now believe 9f to be Shacklford's ideal distance, and obviously he has the ability to win at longer also.

re: Shackleford Calls it a Career

Brown brother — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 01:58:52 GMT

Nice piece. You hit the nail on the head in that just making all those top class races is a fear in itself these days. Die hard fans appreciate a horse like shack as much or more than the higher percentage winners like ghostzapper, invasion, candy ride and even the great zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra, who were more fragile. And, I think he will make hardier and perhaps even more brilliant progeny.shack will be missed but no true fan could say he could have given more.

re: Shackleford Calls it a Career

Husky — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 01:41:12 GMT

Thank you for writing such a wonderful article about Shackleford. He's such a powerful and resilient racehorse who made it through all of those races without injury and, I might add, with a mind of his own. I believe he could have another good year or so of racing. However, he will now go to stud, and many of us will miss him greatly. He's my idea of an ideal racehorse. Thanks.

re: Shackleford Calls it a Career

MRO — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 01:31:26 GMT

Great article & photos. Love the Darby Dan picture. Hopefully, 1/2 brother Stephanoatsee will step up in class next year. He also is stunning with a huge white blaze.

re: Shackleford Calls it a Career

Mary Jo in Florida — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 00:53:52 GMT

Thank you for the lovely article and beautiful photos. Hope Darby Dan allows visits.