Visiting Silver Charm in Japan

re: Visiting Silver Charm in Japan

Tammy in Cal — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 23:57:30 GMT

Thanks for keeping us all posted on the Wonderful Horses now living in Japan. Especially the dearest Silver Charm. It is nice to hear about how well they are being cared for by loving people. Silver Charm ran with so much heart, I cry when I watch his race videos. What a super horse! He happens to be the sire of my sister's beloved horse HURRY HOME HENRY. Henry didn't make it as a race horse, but now as a kid's trusted trail horse. He is such a character and likes to pose too.

re: Visiting Silver Charm in Japan

Otherlyn — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 03:24:29 GMT

Oh Yes Please DO go back to report on as many as possible. It's important to let them know that an American spotlight of interest and scrutiny protects the horses sent there. Thank you also for mentioning BAGO. I have often wondered and worried about him. ROSES IN MAY is also there. Please don't forget him.

re: Visiting Silver Charm in Japan

Carole — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 18:27:29 GMT

Please try to visit Azeri and War Emblem, two of my favorites and the ones who got me into this sport.

re: Visiting Silver Charm in Japan

LeeAnne — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 02:35:26 GMT

Thank you for the updates on all of the horses you mentioned. I knew Silver Charm, War Emblem and Charismatic were in Japan but I had no idea that Forty Niner and Azeri were!

I hope you can get to see Azeri some day.

re: Visiting Silver Charm in Japan

KathPoet — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 20:17:09 GMT

I am SO happy to hear that Charismatic is doing well! I always have had a soft spot in my heart for him, and thought he looked so much like Secretariat - too bad he didn't get the part in the movie! My most vivid memory of him is after he was injured in the Belmont, how patiently he stood, waiting for the humans to come and help him. Thank goodness they were able to! I hope that he will be coming home to America someday soon. Please publish some photos of Charismatic if you get the chance -and thanks for checking on all these great horses!

re: Visiting Silver Charm in Japan

diasu — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 05:44:44 GMT

OMG! Forty Niner is still alive? I'm so embarrased to say I thought he had passed on! And I've always had a special spot in my heart for War Emblem. I sure wish he could come home for more sex therapy on home ground with the speicalists more readily at hand.

re: Visiting Silver Charm in Japan

Anne from Paramount CA — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 03:41:54 GMT

I am SO happy to read about Silver Charm!!! Thank you, Kate. He became MY horse just after I got into racing...it does my heart good to know he is being treated so well and that you get to spend time talking with him and that he poses for you. Next time be sure to tell him hello from me. I think of him a lot...as the others have said, the Charm, Free House, Charismatic and of course Real Quiet. Yes, a party at Three Chimneys--count me in!

re: Visiting Silver Charm in Japan

Kate Hunter — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 04:53:22 GMT

For those of you interested in pictures of Silver Charm, you can find them on my blog's flickr account. There is also a link to it on my blog's home page. :) I have over 200 shots of him. I went a little overboard. :)

re: Visiting Silver Charm in Japan

tbpartnerperson43 — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 13:31:59 GMT

I think when SC comes home, we should all be there at Three Chimneys to greet him. What a party that would be! I feel like Sentinel. RQ and SC will always be paired in my mind. They had those TB characteristics of heart, and will to win, and were lucky enough to have inherited speed and stamina too. On top of it all, they were blessed with good training and care.

re: Visiting Silver Charm in Japan

derbyfan — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 11:28:15 GMT

I have to say every time I here about a horse going to Japan I cringe inside remebering what happened to Ferdinand.

re: Visiting Silver Charm in Japan

sentinel — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 03:59:16 GMT

That was wonderful to read about Silver Charm, especially since Real Quiet just died. I always grouped them together in my mind. I wish I knew how to find your px of SC.

Thanks for a great article.

re: Visiting Silver Charm in Japan

Kate Hunter — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 23:20:01 GMT

Charismatic: He is at the JBBA's Shichinohe Stallion Station in Aomori. Just south of where Charm is. Charm spent 2 years there before moving to the farm he is at now. While I have not visited him, he seems to be doing well. He is bred about as much as Charm but he has had a few good runners.

War Emblem: He had a grade one winner back in 2008, Black Emblem. he is doing well and is owned by the very very rich Yoshida family. They bought Sunday Silence. War Emblem never have anything to worry about.

Roses in May: Is a very popular sire right now. One of his top babies is Cosmo Laputa. He is a 3yo colt out of a Tony Bin mare. He will be starting in the Japan's equivalent to the Belmont a week after next! He is owned by Big Red Farm, one of the largest farms in Japan. The owner is known for his love of horses.

Boston Harbor: Also owned by the JBBA is at their best Stallion Station in Shizunai. He has had steady enough success that he has been able to stay at the highest JBBA farm.

Forty Niner: He is alive and is living out his retirement at the JBBA's Shizunai Stallion Farm. I hope to visit there next year.

Chief Bearheart: Also owned by the JBBA and is stationed at Shizunai as well. He is VERY VERY successful here in Japan. He sire the GI winning Meiner Kitz and G3 winning sprinter B B Guldan who has been nose hairs away from winning a GI twice.

Captain Steve: He is current at the same farm as Charismatic, Shichinohe. He is still breeding and has had some decent runners, no superstars though.

re: Visiting Silver Charm in Japan

JK — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 21:23:44 GMT

Thanks for the update on SC! I'd love to hear about Charismatic, as well. I've almost lost track of which American stallions are over there so I need to think over that to have a better idea of who to ask about. Could we get a running list going?

I know it's a lot to ask for this particular blog but for those traveling abroad, if anybody out there goes over to South Korea, Turkey, or Saudi Arabia at some point, we have some prominent stallions there it would be great to hear about. Strike the Gold was my first Derby on tv and my first pick so I'd probably start bawling if he ever made it back home. I'm also fond of Volponi.

re: Visiting Silver Charm in Japan

barry aksarben — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 20:40:44 GMT

I loved Silver Charm also but have a special place in my heart for Roses in May who my mother loved to watch as she was born in may and always loved a black horse. Hope he is doing well also.

re: Visiting Silver Charm in Japan

JSNKN — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 18:55:50 GMT

What a great read! Silver Charm is my favorite as well and this article just made my day. Thanks so much!!

re: Visiting Silver Charm in Japan

slee — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 17:14:34 GMT

What a wonderful visit with Silver Charm, and thanks for all the pictures from 2009 and 2010.

He looks like he's lost some weight and muscle mass between the 2 visits. Do you think so? He is a grand looking horse, and I'll always remember his racing days.

re: Visiting Silver Charm in Japan

Kibble — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 16:42:43 GMT

Love the pics of Silver Charm. He's one of my all time favorites as well.

As for other horses, I agree with the first comment. My first thought was Azeri, it would be wonderful to see how she is doing!!!

re: Visiting Silver Charm in Japan

Carolyn — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 16:36:12 GMT

Enjoyed your encouraging & happy update on "The Charm". What a breathtaking runner he was!! Is there anything positive to report on the whereabouts or possible (Hopeful) return to the U.S. of Charismatic or War Emblem? Looking forward to our "treasures" coming home. Thanks to people like you & horses like them.

re: Visiting Silver Charm in Japan

Smarie — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 15:28:59 GMT

Hope all the Thoroughbreds their owners sell to Japanese interests get back safely to the USA when their breeding days are over, no matter how successful or unsuccessful they have been. 75% of Thoroughbreds are slaughtered in Japan according to a recent Blood Horse article. This is appalling, but all too true. We can't ignore this and have to keep tabs on our horses that go over there. I am glad to read that Silver Charm is doing well and I hope all the others are doing well too.

re: Visiting Silver Charm in Japan

Rachel — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 13:30:01 GMT

Wonderful...

Would love to hear how Charismatic's doing...loved that horse...

Boston Harbor was a favorite of mine, too.

Also Forty Niner, Roses in May, Came Home, Squirtle Squirt and of course...War Emblem

...and how's our dear Azeri doing...do they love her?

re: Visiting Silver Charm in Japan

lobieb — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 13:18:40 GMT

So excited to see the pictures of my boy. Three Chimneys has been more than gracious when I E Mail them about Charm. Bought by the Japanese or not Charm's contract with them is he will be returned to Three Chimneys when his stud career is over. Can't wait to see him back home one of these days.

re: Visiting Silver Charm in Japan

Fran Loszynski — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 12:13:59 GMT

I had the priviledge of meeting Beverly Lewis at the Saratoga Turf Writer's Dinner when I was a guest of Afleet Alex's owners, they both received the Vanderbilt Award. She was a lovely and "charming" lady. I've found racehorses are great alot due to their "great" owners and breeders.

re: Visiting Silver Charm in Japan

Kate Hunter — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 05:12:53 GMT

For those of you concerned about Azeri, mares are amazingly hard to get access too, but hopefully as I worm my way into the sport here, I'll be able to get permission one day to visit her, or be able to get a verbal update. I will write about her Japanese babies though! Including the little Distorted Humor foal I am assuming she popped out sometime this spring.

re: Visiting Silver Charm in Japan

Kate Hunter — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 05:06:57 GMT

I am so glad you all liked it. I enjoyed every second I spent with him over the past two years. I can't wait to see him next year and the year after. As long as I am in Japan I will be making plans to visit him. :) Adding to my already very very large collection of photos. haha

re: Visiting Silver Charm in Japan

needler in Virginia — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 02:57:24 GMT

A lovely and welcome report on one of my favorites, Kate. Thanks very much for the update; I could only hope for some photos!

It's good to know that Charm is doing well; he is sorely missed on this side of the Rim and I can hardly wait for him to come home.

Cheers and safe trips.