Boule d'Or - A New Beginning for an Old Friend

re: Boule d'Or - A New Beginning for an Old Friend

MJ Farms — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:41:21 GMT

To Linda in Texas and all others interested, We (MJ FARMS) have just today, 12/4/09, purchased Swissle Stick. He is officially retired. After 5:00 this afternoon he will never see another racetrack again. We are moving him to our farm in New Mexico where he will live in comfort. He will be bred to primarily Quarter Horse mares. We very exited to have found this horse and are proud to be the ones to remove this classy old man from the track. Sometimes treasures can be found in the strangest places.

Mac Murray and Janis Spencer Murray D.V.M.

re: Boule d'Or - A New Beginning for an Old Friend

whoapony — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:46:22 GMT

Robert Gray should be commended. No, he is not the only one who did good things in this story, but as the horse's owner he could have said "if you want him, pay for him." Instead he donated the horse and money for his care and helped get him to Kentucky. He has gone above and beyond the call for this horse (compared to what many owners would do) and deserves some extra kudos.

re: Boule d'Or - A New Beginning for an Old Friend

personalensign79 — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 20:00:54 GMT

Marilyn, Old Friends does NOT breed. The whole point is to give them a retirement, not breed them. Some might go on to have a job like at the jockey school McCarron owns, but most of them are retired for good.

Sham...Evening Attire is going to stay in New York.

re: Boule d'Or - A New Beginning for an Old Friend

da3hoss — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:40:05 GMT

So sad someone wasn't there for Mi-Ray, who had to use up his young life at 8 by breaking down in a $10,000 claimer, despite winning stakes earlier in his career.

8 years old...the age they just begin to be mature enough to start the disciplines of eventing, endurance...

re: Boule d'Or - A New Beginning for an Old Friend

Vespone — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:51:44 GMT

Abbie - Yes, very good. Vespone is by Llandaff out of the Alysheba mare, Vanishing Prairie. He was a multiple group I winner in France, and is at stud in that country. First offspring are 2-year olds. Don't think he's had any winners yet. He is also a half-brother to Purple Moon, who was last seen finishing third in the 2009 Dubai Sheema Classic.

re: Boule d'Or - A New Beginning for an Old Friend

OldDog — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:16:14 GMT

What a wonderful story. Thanks to all those connections for making it happen!

re: Boule d'Or - A New Beginning for an Old Friend

Abbie Knowles — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:01:14 GMT

Thanks Vespone.

That is a clear explanation.

Wasn't there a son of one of Dahlia's son's called Vespone? Hopefully there still is! The name of his sire was Llandaff I think!!!!!!!!

God Bless

Best wishes

Abbie

re: Boule d'Or - A New Beginning for an Old Friend

Vespone — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:36:33 GMT

Abbie - The race that Da' Tara was in was an Allowance Optional Claiming race which means that a horse can either enter under the allowance conditions of the race (non-winners of 3 races, etc) or for a claiming tag. Da' Tara was in for the allowance condition. He could not be claimed.

These types of races are often carded when there aren't enough horses to fill up a straight allowance race.

re: Boule d'Or - A New Beginning for an Old Friend

Abbie Knowles — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:45:10 GMT

Of Course Nick Zito would never let his horses come to a bad end! Da'Tara just needs a change of scenery and I feel Bill Mott would bring the best out of him.

I do not understand The Claiming system in the US i have to say. In our Sellers and Claimers (in England) they all can be sold if they win no matter how much their connections love them.

I know Nick Zito loves his horses and rate him highy as a horseman!

But I said no disrespect was meant. Cash Asmussen and Bill Mott the two who originate from South Dakota are my personal favourites that is all!

God Bless

Best Wishes

Abbie

re: Boule d'Or - A New Beginning for an Old Friend

ceil — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 22:57:11 GMT

Da'Tara raced in an optional claimer, which means he was not allowed to be claimed. I don't think the horse has won a race since the Belmont and Nick Zito wanted to find a race he could win, mainly to give the horse some confidence. Nick Zito is very involved with horse welfare issues and would never let this horse come to a bad end.

re: Boule d'Or - A New Beginning for an Old Friend

Abbie Knowles — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 04:05:14 GMT

Great news about Boule D'or but am worried about the "SLEW'S"

I would add poor D'Tara to the list. Saw he ran in an Allowance Claimer! From Belmont Winner to an Allowance Claimer in about a year. Tragic. He needs a new trainer! Bill Mott please! No disrespect meant to anyone else! But Bill did wonders with Cigar after all and I am sure he will stop the hugely talented Adriano from dossing one day!

God bless you all.

Keep up the good work!

These horses need you to rescue them!!!!!!!

Abbie

re: Boule d'Or - A New Beginning for an Old Friend

Lola — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:23:49 GMT

Words are inadequate to express my deep appreciation to all parties involved in saving this wonderful horse. So many of these fine athletes have such great homes thanks to so much hard work & dedication. Thank you for a wonderful story with a very happy ending. If I ever meet Mr. Gray, I will give him the biggest thank you hug & kiss!

re: Boule d'Or - A New Beginning for an Old Friend

marilyn webb braudrick — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 05:25:37 GMT

boule d'or is a horse, not a gelding--can he be bred while at old friends?? he is exactly what the sport needs-a horse with incredible strength and stamina who raced all those years and is still sound-always was-we have some fillies that will breed when they finish racing and I want to breed them to a horse who can run, has won--ALOT-and is still sound. please advise

re: Boule d'Or - A New Beginning for an Old Friend

miamia — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:09:18 GMT

Skipaslew was pulled up and vanned off in his last race at CBY in June 2008. He has no workouts since.

Tiger Eyed isn't doing that badly. She won a race at LAD May 23 and has not been claimed.

re: Boule d'Or - A New Beginning for an Old Friend

Jen — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:42:22 GMT

What a great story. It is my hope, however, that someday these stories will no longer be 'news' -- because every horse will get the retirement they deserve. Sadly, that's nowhere near happening.

I'm also thrilled to hear about Benburb and Thornfield moving to Old Friends. I always wondered what happened to those two. Benburb was a particular favourite of mine, and I still remember him upsetting Alydeed in the Prince of Wales.

re: Boule d'Or - A New Beginning for an Old Friend

marilyn webb braudrick — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:25:40 GMT

I was worried sick about Bpule d'or-couldn't understand why they didn't shorten up his races as he would always figure early and sometimes go way, way out in front in an awe inspiring-pace-setting manner. He provided us with those awesome moments when we watched him race live at the end of his SOCAL races. He would run like the wind at the end and then just fade. Lava man did a couple like that at the end as well. These old horses !!! They'll be together at Old Friends. Did they race each other??? HOORAY for Old Friends and all who helped!!

re: Boule d'Or - A New Beginning for an Old Friend

Bellwether — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 03:48:36 GMT

GOOD TO SEA OTHERS CARE ABOUT THE CRITTERS...LONG LIVE THE KING!!!...

re: Boule d'Or - A New Beginning for an Old Friend

txhorsefan — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:51:07 GMT

Thank you for re-telling this story on Bloodhorse. I was in tears yesterday when I read it on your blog and could not comment then. Thank you.

re: Boule d'Or - A New Beginning for an Old Friend

MRO — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:39:21 GMT

Thoroughbred Info -

CANTER has an Ohio chapter that serves Thistledown & Beulah. I'm in Columbus, Ohio & donate. You can access CANTER-Ohio through the national organization. www.canterusa.org. I don't know whether you would be able to get Swissle Stick on the group's watch list, but it's worth a shot.

re: Boule d'Or - A New Beginning for an Old Friend

hmb0725 — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:23:52 GMT

Awesome story Keith!! :-) I enjoyed it very much.

re: Boule d'Or - A New Beginning for an Old Friend

Keith - TripleDeadHeat — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:54:42 GMT

Thank You everyone for the kind words regarding the story.

Hopefully this will help raise a little awareness for horse retirement facilities.

Here in Ontario, the LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society and the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society are doing great work on behalf of horses.

I recommend checking out what organizations might be involved with your local racetrack and getting involved.

Congrats to Boule d'Or!

Keith McCalmont

re: Boule d'Or - A New Beginning for an Old Friend

Thoroughbred Info — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:42:31 GMT

Good work all around!

As a fellow journalist, I also covered the exploits of Boule d'Or out here on the West Coast. He's a handsome, game guy who actually had quite a career in Europe before shipping to these shores, and I am so happy to know he'll now be looked after for the rest of his days.

Nothing -- and I do mean nothing -- is as satisfying as helping find Forever Homes for these old warriors. Over the past year, I have helped get the retirement ball rolling for two old favorites of my own: the 2001 Texas Horse of the Year Lights on Broadway ($572,445) and Medaglia d'Oro's half-brother, Cappucino Kid ($248,951). Lights was literally pulled off a slaughter-bound truck for a few hundred dollars and is now happily spreading the message of horse retirement in Texas, and Cappucino Kid was found discarded in a sad dirt feedlot in Washington. CK is now one of the lucky residents at Old Friends, thanks to the generosity of so many.

As journalists, we might not always be able to donate money, but what we can donate often means much, much more: our words.

Congratulations!

P.S. Allow me to add another valiant old guy to the watch list: Swissle Stick. This durable Cal-bred -- a $600,000 Barretts 2YO and half-brother to Santa Anita Derby winner Brother Derek -- is a multiple stakes-placed 7YO (non-gelding!) who has earned nearly $130,000 the hard way (even competing against Quarter Horses at one point), and who is now toiling away in $4,000 claimers at tracks such as Mountaineer, Thistledown and Beulah. I would sure love to see this honest old fella get the happy ending that is owed to him too.

re: Boule d'Or - A New Beginning for an Old Friend

Linda in Texas — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:54:35 GMT

When i was in my early teens, i was the lucky provider for 5 wonderful plain old horses bought by my dad for me, my sister and brother. I took care of them, cleaned their stalls, kept up the tack room, helped the stable person "Duffy" clean the stalls of private boarders.And of course rode Dagwood, Paint, Snowball, Chief and a lovely old gal named Brantley's Easter Rose, a Champion Tennessee Walker, which i claimed as mine. She could Tennessee Walk 13 mph without breaking gait. Those summer days were spent from 7 in the morning til 7 at nite for several years wil college called and they never will be forgotten. At 12 i told my dad, someday i want a home for old horses. That was in 1954 the year my mother died. That dream never came to fruition, so i envy those and praise them from my heart for their efforts in 'saving' old horses. I will be making a donation to those 'old horses homes' because i believe so deeply in all their efforts. And don't forget to call your U.S. Representatives to ask them to vote for the bills to stop the transporting of all horses on state and federal highways if they are destined for human consumption anyplace in the world. And Thanks to all who care.

re: Boule d'Or - A New Beginning for an Old Friend

Karen in Indiana — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:34:50 GMT

Oh, that brought tears to my eyes! How blessed this horse is to have people that care so much.

I'm following Tiger Eyed, the 2 yr. old filly that no one knew was pregnant until she gave birth in her stall at the track. She hasn't been doing so well and was claimed 2 races back.

re: Boule d'Or - A New Beginning for an Old Friend

Don in Massachusetts — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:18:25 GMT

Thanks for such a wonderful and heart-warming story of a great racehorse and his bright future at Old Friends!!!

A story like this should be front page news on Thoroughbred magazines and websites!

Gratitude to you, Keith, Mr. Gray, Gail Hirt, and of course, to Mr. Michael Blowen of Old Friends for caring about this horse. It's too bad that not all ex-racers will get the love and pampering Boule d'Or will get. Michael Blowen is the best there is, and his love of these animals is as big as the acreage at Old Friends. Former race-horses have no greater or excited friend than they have in Michael.

Old Friends, Inc. continues to house these magnificent horses and continues to need support from all lovers of horses. Please help support this organization is any way you can. The website is www.oldfriendsequine.org.

God bless all involved in this story! A truly blessed event!!!