Evening Gone Too Soon

re: Evening Gone Too Soon

Judy G ~ California — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 20:01:12 GMT

If my heart is broken, I can only imagine what her family is going through. My sincere condolences.

Beautiful Eight Belles greeted beautiful TUSCANY as she crossed Rainbow Bridge. They will be friends for eternity...

re: Evening Gone Too Soon

nina — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 02:10:46 GMT

Run free. RIP.

re: Evening Gone Too Soon

longtimeracingfan — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 18:39:01 GMT

As a longtime owner and breeder of another breed I have seen the same highs and lows... the birth of a new foal, the youngster learning, the adult doing his or her job... and the oldsters who enjoy retirement and an occasional ride and plenty of attention... but I've seen the losses too, the 5 year old's shattered leg playing in the corral, the colic from twisted gut that could not be saved... and the weanling who was mauled by a cougar... and a couple whose ailments were past the "quality of life" question. One makes the decision or the decision is made for us... it is never easy and it is always emotionally draining, these wonderful creatures (and I include my hounds in this too) who give us so much.

Becky, your tribute was lovely, and the reminder of the highs and lows was so well described. Tuscan Evening was taken too soon, but as someone else said, better that it be on her beautiful turf, and in the morning rather than in front of thousands. Mercy, I guess... but she was fun to watch, and gave us some great moments to remember her by. RIP gentle girl. Run with the greats... you earned it.

re: Evening Gone Too Soon

Dee — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:28:25 GMT

Thanks for the nice tribute to this fine mare, as well as the links to watch her victories. Watch the 2009 Redondo Stakes race as she not only leads wire to wire but jumps the shadows on the course.

re: Evening Gone Too Soon

Carolyn in ND — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:15:01 GMT

Thanks Becky for the tribute, very nice, Tuscan Evening's passing is another reminder that all living beings pass on to an enternal life.

Sometimes too quickly for those of us left on Earth. Condolances to Tuscan Evening's connections.

re: Evening Gone Too Soon

spitting the bit — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:13:33 GMT

Thank you Becky for such a lovely article and phrase for the passing our beloved racing warriors: "They are living, breathing fragile blessings that sweep into our lives and then just as quickly disappear. Alas, they can simply run out of heart." So true!

re: Evening Gone Too Soon

Dawn in MN — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 10:07:22 GMT

Becky, Please indulge this post on the topic of losing Tuscan Evening and now Odysseus. I was absolutely shocked to hear the news of Tuscan Evening's death. I wonder if we will ever know what the autopsy results are.

Odysseus was the star that I was hoping to see shine on the Triple Crown trail. That was not to be. When he was injured, and was off the Triple Crown trail, it was a disappointment, but it was reported as a non-life threatening injury. I will never forget his Tampa Bay Derby win. That race will always stand out as one of the gutsiest wins I have ever seen. Laminitis is such an insidious disease, I was shocked and deeply saddened to learn that laminitis claimed yet another champion.

re: Evening Gone Too Soon

Bellwether — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:02:01 GMT

i SEE TWO GREAT GIFTS HEAR...LOVE OF HORSES & EXPRESS N YOUR SELF ON PAPER...HEAR TO-DAY...GONE TO-DAY...LONG LIVE THE KING!!!...ty...

re: Evening Gone Too Soon

txhorsefan — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 02:35:50 GMT

Thank you for a beautiful commentary on Tuscan Evening and presenting her races for us to enjoy once again. Her sudden passing brings such sadness to her fans, as y'all have commented and my heart goes out to her connections as well. To them I say thank you for sharing your lovely mare with us for a while. To Greg J. - thank you for sharing that video - priceless.

Celeste

txhorsefan

re: Evening Gone Too Soon

ruffianruns — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 01:39:42 GMT

This song, Broken, has helped me be grateful for the highs and it has helped me understand the lows. I wish I could sing it to you all.

I'll miss you Tuscan Evening. All my love to you and your two-legged companions.

Broken

written by Thom Schuyler

performed by Andy Childs

I don't have to hide it, yes it hurts inside

It's not the way I'd like to feel

But in love you take the risk

That your heart could break like this

Or you just don't get behind the wheel

And I'd rather have it broken, broken, broken in pieces on the ground

I'd rather have it achin, shakin, and makin that melancholy sound

If I'm gonna taste that sweet, sweet honey, I'm bound to feel the sting

I'd rather have it broken, broken, than to never feel a thing

You can calculate how much love your heart can take

and still escape before you fall

But if you don't cross the line

There's a chance you'll never find

The kind of love that's worth it all

And I'd rather have it broken, broken, broken in pieces on the ground

I'd rather have it achin, shakin, and makin that melancholy sound

If I'm gonna taste that sweet, sweet honey, I'm bound to feel the sting

I'd rather have it broken, broken, than to never feel a thing

Even when I'm all alone, listening to it moan and groan

I'd rather have it broken, broken, than to have a heart of stone

And I'd rather have it broken, broken, broken in pieces on the ground

I'd rather have it achin, shakin, and makin that melancholy sound

If I'm gonna taste that sweet, sweet honey, I'm bound to feel the sting

I'd rather have it broken, broken, than to never feel a thing

re: Evening Gone Too Soon

Tracy W. — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 01:18:29 GMT

My mom actually introduced me to Tuscan Evening. I introduced her to Zenyatta years ago, so it only be fitting she return the favor with a mare who was undefeated this year.

My mom bets the horses almost every day, so I heard about Tuscan Evening practically the first time she raced in California. Admittedly, I looked at her past performances and just shrugged her off. After a couple victories, I could not ignore her. She was incredible.

She would have been something special.

What really broke my heart, however, was hearing of Oddyseus just now. First her, now him. I thought he would win the Derby. I'm starting to really believe the phrase that "they go in threes", although I'm really hoping this heartbreak stops at two.

re: Evening Gone Too Soon

MRO — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 01:13:09 GMT

Zenyatta's glory to Tuscan Evening's tragedy in less than 24 hours. Unbelievably sad.

re: Evening Gone Too Soon

Citation — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 23:49:59 GMT

Such a great article. Thank you. Outside of Zenyatta, I thought she was the most talented mare running in North America today. What a sad, sad loss for racing, and for her connections.

re: Evening Gone Too Soon

slee — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 21:47:09 GMT

Thanks for the thoughts and memories (and snuffly nose in that video!) of this wonderful mare.

And now Odysseus is gone too. Another victim of laminitis.

What small consolation that she died on the turf after a workout, and not in a race where others would have been in danger when she fell. I cannot imagine what Jerry Hollendorfer and the rest of her family are going through. Thanks for all the races you gave us with this wonderful mare on the turf.....and in our hearts.

re: Evening Gone Too Soon

Geegees — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 20:46:22 GMT

It is always sad when a wonderful animal runs faster and harder than their bodies can. We were lucky to watch this wnderful mare run with the wind and that is how I will remember her. Just as I will remember the othere that have gone to racetrack in the sky before her, EightBells trying to catch Big Brown, Go For Wand running her heart out against Bayakoa, Ruffian against Foolish Pleasure, Prairie Bayou tring for the Belmont Crown, and those are just a few. These glorious creatures truly run with the wind. It is only sad when they finish the race sometimes the wind they are running with is from heaven. Even though it makes me cry when a tragedy happens, I just think of the great moments these wonderful athletes havev given us. May they all run free in the sky.

re: Evening Gone Too Soon

Runfast159 — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 19:03:22 GMT

And now Odysseus. He was a beautiful and thrilling racehorse. It's been a tough week...

re: Evening Gone Too Soon

anna — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:27:27 GMT

i was watching tvg when nick hines and you could tell that it killed him to call in and annouce how horrible he felt since he was at the track watching her work and watched the whole thing happen, and people talk about how some horses have so much heart and sometimes their heart fails them in the end like it did for go between last january and if the newswriters know what the best thing is for the sport they'd vote her champion turf mare otherwise this business is truly going to die without fans, since it's the fans who make horses like her great.

re: Evening Gone Too Soon

DawnStorm — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:54:01 GMT

Time and time again we are reminded about the highs and lows of racing. But, I can not imagine any high erasing the loss of a horse. To the entire Tuscan Evening family, please accept my deepest and most sincere condolences. [quote]

^What Ghost Town said.^

Seems like Dawn is a popular name around here--I applaud your parent's good taste! I think I'll just go by the handle I use on other sites so there won't be any confusion on this one. And for those who already know me--yes I'm occassionally on this site too! You can't get rid of me! Bwaahaaaaa!!

re: Evening Gone Too Soon

Carrie — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:34:08 GMT

Very beautifully put. It always kills me when these magnificent animals are taken away from us so quickly. I loved watching Tuscan Evening run and will miss her greatly. RIP Tuscan Evening, may you run always in our hearts.

re: Evening Gone Too Soon

MyBigRed — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:29:29 GMT

Thank you Becky for the Tribute to Tuscan Evening. She was indeed, a Magnificent Race Horse and she will be missed by many. We need to appreciate ALL of the Equine Athletes regardless of which one is our favorite. After all, They Are God's Creations! Rest In Peace, Beautiful Girl.

re: Evening Gone Too Soon

Dawn — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 12:47:34 GMT

What an amazing article and a beautiful tribute to Tuscan Evening. We need to remember how fragile these awesome creatures are. These thoroughbreds try so hard with all their heart. We should embrace these thoughts every time they race.

re: Evening Gone Too Soon

Fran Loszynski — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 12:00:14 GMT

When I was younger my mother would see my low face if a horse had been hurt on the track or died from an accident while running. She simply said to me:

"Just remember racehorses gotta run!" Every racehorse has its Mt. Everest to climb and isn't it fortunate we are fans of this sport and can watch these magnificent animals catch the wind.

One other magnificent thing is there are hearts and longing for these horses, one of which is you.

.....And the race goes on.

re: Evening Gone Too Soon

GunBow — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 06:41:23 GMT

As a big fan of Tuscan Evening who is broken up about her passing, it was nice to have a forum like this to express my emotions and to see I'm not alone. And thanks Greg for the video. Her head, with that narrow white streak that disappeared, and that white/pink snout was unique.

re: Evening Gone Too Soon

Fuzzy Corgi — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 05:35:08 GMT

What a shock to see that another star has left us way too soon. When I read that Tuscan Evening probably died of a heart attack I instantly thought of Swale and Best Pal, both victims of the same ailment. Swale after a work out and Best Pal while in his pasture. I have seen two horses die of heart attacks and the only good part about this condition is they go quickly with little or no pain. But there is a pain in my heart that they are gone. Thanks for the wonderful memories pretty girl. Run with those that have also crossed the Rainbow Bridge and say 'Hi' to Lost In The Fog for me. Now I am crying again.

re: Evening Gone Too Soon

Freetex — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 05:27:00 GMT

A bitter pill indeed. I love the sport but, the death of a young horse is difficult to accept under any circumstances.

This will be a hard memory.

RIP Tuscan Evening.......