tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68885171366160104422024-02-18T19:30:04.498-08:00Nip & Duck: A Horse JournalHorses are what Nip & Duck is about. I tackle stories about Thoroughbreds, backyard horses like my paint mares, colt starting contests, cowboys and even the mystery of Levi Rosaba. I hope you'll enjoy the ride.
"Look back at our struggle for freedom; trace our present day's strength to its source. And you'll find that man's pathway to glory is strewn with the bones of the horse." Author Unknown.Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197412375251715269noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888517136616010442.post-83397507490424886172022-04-17T15:23:00.010-07:002022-04-24T07:52:41.591-07:00Winning, a Relative Term<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgOhjEcVG4702OeAG3dLa5T0xE_m3P0XI91xoJwN8rDvEphxaBehDSgMByPvnwdGzYBgRF5HvBAq02_eEP-AZ_ZebLxzUmgTAmIjnYAIuUoB4zVJlx3eI9fJyC29kqXSbZ7Mt9Ot1XfIDsQ0cPEAjg7E_02oO4suxf_EkdfaBJg1VzagPmmS--DybYQ/s676/Zippy%20Chippy%20iv.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgOhjEcVG4702OeAG3dLa5T0xE_m3P0XI91xoJwN8rDvEphxaBehDSgMByPvnwdGzYBgRF5HvBAq02_eEP-AZ_ZebLxzUmgTAmIjnYAIuUoB4zVJlx3eI9fJyC29kqXSbZ7Mt9Ot1XfIDsQ0cPEAjg7E_02oO4suxf_EkdfaBJg1VzagPmmS--DybYQ/s320/Zippy%20Chippy%20iv.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Zippy Chippy</p>Zippy Chippy, a son of Compliance, passed into eternity on April 16, 2022, just four days short of his 31st birthday at Cabin Creek, Greenfield Center, New York. Cabin Creek is a satellite of Old Friends, (thoroughbred retirement center) located in Lexington, Kentucky.<p style="text-align: left;"> His record of near misses, reluctance to compete and cantankerous refusal to cooperate are legendary, and because of it, in the end, he too, Zippy Chippy, became the stuff of legend. He shared a pedigree littered with many of racing's all time greats, for example: Buckpasser, Count Fleet, Bold Ruler, War Admiral and the famed Blue Hen, La Troienne. While he shared their pedigrees, he shared none of their inclination, dawdling along hearing the slow beat of his own drummer. So dismal were his performances that he was forbidden to run at track after track until he was retired from racing in 2004. His post race career lead to a brief stint as an outrider's pony at his home track, Finger Lakes in New York.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsC8GHXTa2XSjfrkKXce0ofruzFtLfN0FJMr3D8RgH6wRfANnNot0X-77wRHi7bpirWTVaF1bYQkAzg6pxpHT4sw9rgHLAUf97qqUX9IdaPQdkVY5siQpRGy-d3fRta-iM7zklBNHVaFU-NQ3dMb0LFpHWnC0BsxcSQWmR051qVYGCVWEu1Bznw5drQ/s1280/zippy%20chippy%20III.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="819" data-original-width="1280" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsC8GHXTa2XSjfrkKXce0ofruzFtLfN0FJMr3D8RgH6wRfANnNot0X-77wRHi7bpirWTVaF1bYQkAzg6pxpHT4sw9rgHLAUf97qqUX9IdaPQdkVY5siQpRGy-d3fRta-iM7zklBNHVaFU-NQ3dMb0LFpHWnC0BsxcSQWmR051qVYGCVWEu1Bznw5drQ/s320/zippy%20chippy%20III.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Zippy Chippy training in 1998 at Finger Lakes with Jorge Hiraldo up.</p><p style="text-align: left;">And who couldn't love a horse that devoured junk food, like popcorn, pizza and ice cream. Everyone has a favorite secret indulgence and Zippy's was Doritos and beer, which he is said to have shared with his trainer. Somehow it seems fitting, doesn't it?</p><p style="text-align: left;">His infamous ineptitude lead to his being named one of the year 2000's "Most Intriguing Characters" by People Magazine. His ignominy was chronicled in the William Thomas' book, The Legend of Zippy Chippy: Life Lessons from Horse Racing's Most Lovable Loser. The book was simply a cheap attempt at humor at the expense of the horse. In other words, it was self-aggrandizing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzcBjBv1K3MPg7XcShXSR2GUKSgVx6tqq6hFV9xEOwfiiXwEEGIFrXSKmqSW4VUq015yGCESh_W_lNc7_RDQtvtvTHfC2qgIi8wL7HGVAuwGh-kjqfVxw_4JtaOpj01buXPBO1MG6yMEy6iQE_Ty43eB9ZWONWqTRcfONMRjJsUHQFxHZBkVmBAY4MA/s650/zippy%20chippy%20ii.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="650" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzcBjBv1K3MPg7XcShXSR2GUKSgVx6tqq6hFV9xEOwfiiXwEEGIFrXSKmqSW4VUq015yGCESh_W_lNc7_RDQtvtvTHfC2qgIi8wL7HGVAuwGh-kjqfVxw_4JtaOpj01buXPBO1MG6yMEy6iQE_Ty43eB9ZWONWqTRcfONMRjJsUHQFxHZBkVmBAY4MA/s320/zippy%20chippy%20ii.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Zippy at Cabin Creek</p><p style="text-align: left;">Joann Pepper, owner and manager of Cabin Creek, said that Zippy was "...so content, and would not do anything he wasn't in the mood for," yet he was the retirement venues star attraction and "finally found solace with a paddock mate, Red Down South, a chestnut New York-bred gelding.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznhBM2GFvge-7YsRdQfRfnDaQEuuSunMHIK8dvyRWgVGRLUWKdHZofvrPb5eAVn9RlSrtjzM2ZabqPUOsCl6NZhnw5MBoTi5u11hoL2JGOjTrFhlsFXZt9h-ktQ3yBdyjH1_hozpXeYHGOrmBeGacw5WUrAkBqbTa65ns9Ix1UBfzXyEToZeLTNL7vg/s1599/zippy%20and%20red%20south%20down%20iv.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1599" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznhBM2GFvge-7YsRdQfRfnDaQEuuSunMHIK8dvyRWgVGRLUWKdHZofvrPb5eAVn9RlSrtjzM2ZabqPUOsCl6NZhnw5MBoTi5u11hoL2JGOjTrFhlsFXZt9h-ktQ3yBdyjH1_hozpXeYHGOrmBeGacw5WUrAkBqbTa65ns9Ix1UBfzXyEToZeLTNL7vg/s320/zippy%20and%20red%20south%20down%20iv.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Zippy and Red South Down</p><p style="text-align: left;">Old Friends founder and President Michael Blowen said, "Zippy found his greatest success as a retiree," attracting hundreds of fans each year. "He was finally a star."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFJOKlHuE0lqYv82rQ7Sd0uK32xzYfrWmCmAYy8EZ5rIl9icpKzqfT5LhlY5wcNrCpV-eLwD0Dx7_8y_8QOJr1Il3aDQBar7roCq6Zk4XEEStQjTmCe9NcoAlAaeT9EfXeKGb3dh3wQNS7SG-H1225aJ3DlC7lYgAucjiYHgiLBEXbgYJEkCe-lS1Tg/s1500/Zippy%20Chippy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1500" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFJOKlHuE0lqYv82rQ7Sd0uK32xzYfrWmCmAYy8EZ5rIl9icpKzqfT5LhlY5wcNrCpV-eLwD0Dx7_8y_8QOJr1Il3aDQBar7roCq6Zk4XEEStQjTmCe9NcoAlAaeT9EfXeKGb3dh3wQNS7SG-H1225aJ3DlC7lYgAucjiYHgiLBEXbgYJEkCe-lS1Tg/s320/Zippy%20Chippy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Zippy Chippy was never a winner on the track, but a winner nonetheless. Rest easily old boy, those are the gates of heaven opening and not the starting gates. Your race is run. Rest in Peace.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Copyright April 16, 2022 by Loren Schumacher</p><p style="text-align: left;">Credit for all photos belong to the photographer</p>Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197412375251715269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888517136616010442.post-79304794717126624662019-04-03T16:22:00.001-07:002019-04-03T16:22:25.403-07:00Another Black Eye for Racing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
With the death of yet another horse at Santa Anita, making 23 in the last four months, United States Senator Diane Feinstein has asked the California Horse Racing Board to suspend racing at the track and to move its dates to another venue. Die hard fans of horse racing are beginning to turn away from the carnage.<br />
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If the tragedy of Santa Anita weren't enough, add to it the drowning of a trotting horse at Miami Valley Gaming's harness track in Monroe, Ohio.<br />
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"The horse was already dead when he got there," The "he" is Mike Jameson, Turtlecreek Township Fire Chief, who donned his wet suit and entered the murky, cold water, feeling blindly for the horse, even though it was known where the horse had entered the water. While a track worker had immediately gone into the water after the horse, it took two rotating 2-man teams an hour to find the animal that was still harnessed to its sulky.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTlufaevNb6G8LlMHpvZXmkTfno_pVRIicPB45VA2H4hy4mY8d58-tksZCvi3nVf48veZRXy9UxvhwqbQupJ42CsYtPDDw2xAtJJeiuLvOK3rTzU4VyiDbeCCBXwIY1a1YVAoFXIGF8UV/s1600/harness-racing-crash-3165643_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="800" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTlufaevNb6G8LlMHpvZXmkTfno_pVRIicPB45VA2H4hy4mY8d58-tksZCvi3nVf48veZRXy9UxvhwqbQupJ42CsYtPDDw2xAtJJeiuLvOK3rTzU4VyiDbeCCBXwIY1a1YVAoFXIGF8UV/s400/harness-racing-crash-3165643_large.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Wrecks like this one in Australia can be deadly to horse and driver.</div>
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The race was a 1-mile event with a $12,500 purse. Driver Kayne Kauffman, a winner of more than 3000 races and $20 million, fell into last place. As he began to move his horse "He's A Perfect Ten" into contention, the racing was four-wide in front of him. Another driver, seeing no way around the bottleneck, slowed, causing Kauffman to check-up, and when he did, he was hit from behind and thrown from his bike (sulky).<br />
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The track announcer warned the drivers of the driverless rig loose on the track, warning them to use caution. But the horse "spooked" and ran into a retention pond where it sadly drowned in ten feet of water.<br />
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But it is the callousness of race officials who did not suspend racing, but allowed the card's last two races to be run, that boggles the mind. And it is just this kind decision making, absent of the natural human emotion that attends tragedy, that gives the radical animal rights activists fodder for their cause and causes the fan to turn away from the spectacle of horse racing.<br />
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When all goes well.</div>
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Of course this incident was a freak accident, but consequences have very little regard for the facts.<br />
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Copyright by Loren R. Schumacher April 3, 2019<br />
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Photos: Credit belongs to the photographers</div>
Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197412375251715269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888517136616010442.post-1180486416087799172019-03-25T16:21:00.000-07:002019-03-29T14:00:30.507-07:00Money is Always the Answer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There has always been the stench of impropriety surrounding horse racing. In the early 20th Century the practice of using drug cocktails containing such things as heroin or cocaine to enhance performance was common. The standard seems to have been, "Just don't get caught." While testing today is more sophisticated, there are those willing to buck the system. Drugs can be used to enhance performance or to mask injuries allowing unfit horses to run without regard to consequences for the animal. Rick Dutrow, who trained Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown, was suspended several years ago for flagrant and ongoing violations, including improper drug use. His attempts to overturn his suspension in the court system have failed. Dutrow's circumstance is the exception rather than the rule however.<br />
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Harness racing has not been immune to controversy either. In the United States, harness racing once rivaled baseball in popularity. The sport is thought to have originated with Assyrian kings more than 3500 years ago and ripened among the Greeks and Romans. By the fourth century, Rome's Circus Maximus, where harness racing took place, seated 200,000 citizens.<br />
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Roman harness racing was corporately sponsored, had professional officials; widespread betting; riots among fans and DOPING!<br />
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Corruption, immorality and inhumanity can be jarring things when we are exposed to them. The following is a Facebook conversation that I was involved in recently, which graphically shows the lengths that some will go to in order to win.<br />
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First, a disclaimer. I do not know the person who makes the claims here. He, and it is a "he", would not allow me to interview him, refusing saying, "No, I am not interested in that at all." And finally, he claims in writing to be a trainer/racer, but a check of his Facebook profile showed that he is a groom. To protect him I have deleted his name. I might add that his typing and spelling is iffy.<br />
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The track that I make reference to in the conversation is the old Lebanon Raceway, where my uncle, who is deceased, worked and was part owner of an unruly trotter named Speedy Trip, a gelding foaled in 1961.<br />
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Deweycheatumnhow 2007 Photo by Dean Hoffman</div>
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" <span dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="_3l3x _1n4g" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't care which trainer is which. Etc. The fact of the matter is we are dopping in this sport. I train and race standardbreds. It is hard to compete and make money when people dope for speed. I see it way to much</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">I enter a horse in a 5k race</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Beca</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">use of the dope I get 2nd or 3rd. It's ok money but I or the owners can't live off it. What do you do? We have to do something ! I'm no expert. I'm just a half ass trainer trying to figure </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">The best our for everyone"</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a class="_6qw4" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1182582803" href="https://www.facebook.com/loren.schumacher.7" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-weight: 600; text-decoration-line: none;">Loren Schumacher</a> <span dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="_3l3x _1n4g" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Brendan, we had a harness track near me that was notorious for various improprieties, among them race fixing etc, I know that is true, because my uncle was an owner/trainer there.. I can't speak to any doping issues at that venue, but I do know that r</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">acing in all its forms is killing itself for the lack of uniform and enforceable rules relating to drug use etc. The public perception of racing is that it is: first, corrupt and second, inhumane. The half-assed approach that the Stronachs have taken at Santa Anita has done nothing to improve that image. Sadly, drug use has existed for a long, long time. The best book I have read on MOW speaks of rampant use of cocktails comprised of such things as heroine and cocaine and who knows what else. If you have substantive proof of drugging, you and other owner/trainers should turn the offenders over to the authorities. It would make your life uncomfortable, but in the end all of racing and the horses would be better for it. You and people like you are in a tough spot, trying to make a living in an expensive sport and doing what you love. I think that race fans would stand behind those who try to clean up the sport. While i sympathize with owner/trainers, like Joe Vargas, my concern is for the horse. Without them, there is no racing. None.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span dir="ltr" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="_3l3x _1n4g" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">" it has gotten so bad that race secretaries, judges and the racing commison just say we are building a case which means they just turn there head. We had a case a few years ago where a standardbred w named killean cut kid I think. Was f</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">ound in a kill pen and rescued. The horse had blisters thay festerd from inside out at his lower joints above the p1. A investigation happened they found that the previous owner had used snake venom in the joints which is a extreme form of a nerve blocker in the joints to reduce pain in a lame horse. The horse recoversd and is at a rescue he's only 6 or 7 years old. The trainers received a slap on the wrist. You can't do anything when know one will do anytjing and just look the other day."</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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Donato Hanover 2007 Photo by Dean Hoffman</div>
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As depraved as those who dope horses are, it is the stomach-turning cowardice of racing's governing bodies in dealing with the issues, which has severely damaged racing's image in the public view. Doping is just one of racing's many concerns. Consider the increasing number of race and training related deaths, as well as the number of horses being found in kill pens and you easily see why attendance, handles, foal births and ownership are in decline. </div>
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I don't want to close without acknowledging the strides made in equine aftercare.</div>
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Trainers and horse lovers are working together to provide new homes and new careers for horses whose racing days are over. There are numerous organizations, such as Old Friends in Georgetown, Kentucky, that provide forever homes for pensioned horses, whether they raced to glory at Churchill Downs, or labored in anonymity. All are welcome.</div>
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Copyright March 25, 2019 by Loren Schumacher<br />
All photos by Dean Hoffman i<br />
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Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197412375251715269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888517136616010442.post-27731181893797699462019-03-01T15:30:00.002-08:002019-03-01T18:02:11.916-08:00The Girls<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It has been quite a while since I've mentioned either of my horses, known collectively as The Girls. They are getting older and it is hard to believe that fifteen years have passed so quickly.<br />
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One of them, Callie, my dark bay paint will be seventeen late this year and most likely had a bout of colic last weekend. While she didn't evidence some of the classic signs: rolling on the ground or nipping at her sides, she was listless and her quiet eyes were dull and hooded. There was an 11 p.m. call to our vet who prescribed 10cc of Banamine. She was some better the next morning, but often stood motionless for long periods, her eyes nearly closed or she napped on what little grass there is in a February pasture.<br />
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We put her on half-rations which she largely picked at, so with growing concern, a flurry of text messages passed between my vet and me. On the second night more Banamine was needed, but I had used all I had the night before. Thankfully the next option was Previcoxx, an anti-inflammatory, that we keep on hand because of Callie's past Navicular problem. By late the second day she seemed to come around, hassling her sister Stormy and nuzzling me, looking for comfort.<br />
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Stormy (Stormy Monday), soon to turn nineteen, a black and white paint horse, has had her issues in the recent past. Grossly obese at nearly 1100 pounds and standing just 14.3, she began to limp. Sensitivity and blood tests showed that she is metabolic, unable to absorb glucose and showing the first signs of laminitis.<br />
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Life-style changes were made quickly. Her activity levels were raised significantly (which she hated). She was started on a course of Previcoxx and Isoxsuprine, a combination that relieved the pain in her front feet after just a few days. And her sweet feed became a memory as we transitioned both horses to a Purina Welsolve LS (low starch) feed, which they loved and devoured, always looking for more.<br />
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The last box to be checked was getting Stormy fitted for a grazing muzzle. I'll save the story of how I got her to accept the muzzle for another day.<br />
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Today Stormy is a trim 868 pounds and she looks better than at any time since I've owned her.<br />
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So now it's time to introduce, or reintroduce them to you as the case may be, but in a most unusual way.<br />
<br />
A friend of my wife's, Cris Fee, is an artist, a fiber artist who creates art quilts that are stunning works and have been exhibited in juried shows throughout the country. Some of her work can be viewed on her website: https://crisfee.com/. This is her latest:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIywmmcW-2esk03LQBVQSOBpmLBz47N29MJDkf987rXlTuKAK90rJ5Ek4pPIvWt1fEZvlI9IEpM-4T0zCXBK5OyuU9FtzPdWgAuZsmPdYj08vhz69ijSxsxE2zsk2Z-o1BUdND4Bi4FXa/s1600/Stormy+and+Callie+III+by+Chris+Fee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="660" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIywmmcW-2esk03LQBVQSOBpmLBz47N29MJDkf987rXlTuKAK90rJ5Ek4pPIvWt1fEZvlI9IEpM-4T0zCXBK5OyuU9FtzPdWgAuZsmPdYj08vhz69ijSxsxE2zsk2Z-o1BUdND4Bi4FXa/s640/Stormy+and+Callie+III+by+Chris+Fee.jpg" width="440" /></a></div>
<br />
"The Girls" - Stormy on the left and Callie.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Just a few more words about The Girls. They are friends first and foremost, their likes and dislikes as familiar as my own. They seek comfort from me when the are scared or uncertain and warn me when things in their world are perceived as a threat. Sometimes they are lazy and uncooperative and other times playful brats. They give and take on a whim. Callie, the performance horse, a powerful sweet child, can be guided with just a thought and Stormy, who has tested my leadership for fourteen years and will for another fourteen, I hope. Her feet barely touch the ground in flight, her tail raised in fluttering salute to her joy in being a horse.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I wouldn't have them any other way.</div>
</div>
</div>
Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197412375251715269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888517136616010442.post-62133746810847368222018-12-20T14:29:00.001-08:002018-12-21T14:01:13.414-08:00A Few Desperate Moments<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Geronimo had been in custody for 367 days when the second
Wyoming Territorial Fair opened on September 6, 1887.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Sundance, Wyoming, Harry Longabaugh, alias
the “kid” (yes, that Sundance Kid) and his accomplice, were busy stealing Tom
McCoy’s horse. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In May, Montrose, ridden
by Isaac Lewis, beat Jim Gore in the Kentucky Derby.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cheyenne’s newspapers bannered headlines that ran the gamut from
the sensational:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">He Will Be</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hung</b>, to the
mundane: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Compulsory Education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According
to one paper it was a world that still lived in fear of Indian uprisings, while
it raced headlong into the modern era. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And although the Wyoming Territory had mandated Women’s
Suffrage in 1869, it would not become a state until July 10, 1890. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
September 6, 1887 was a very long time ago.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Attendance needed a boost after the disappointing opening
day crowd in 1886.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cheyenne and
Laramie Club Cup Race, sure to draw large crowds, would be the highlight of the
fair’s opening day. The clubs were comprised primarily of rich cattlemen, those
who survived the devastating, cattle-killing winter of 1886-1887 with more than
the shirts on their backs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
eligibility rules were simple: only members could participate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The horses, themselves thoroughbreds, must
all be Wyoming bred, “or (from) so close to the line of the territory as to be
acceptable to the committee.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was
particularly helpful to the owners of three of the mounts entered by Davis and
Choate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>N.R. Davis was president of the
Cheyenne National Bank and his partner, fellow Bostonian and jockey E.C. Choate,
owned the Owl Creek Ranch located 12 miles south of Cheyenne in Weld County,
Colorado.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The jockeys must also be members of the “club,” and weigh a
hefty 150 pounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The winner’s bounty
was $100, bragging rights for a year and a Tiffany trophy, itself valued at
$500. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Win the race twice and the trophy
was yours to keep!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By afternoon the streets of Cheyenne were all but deserted. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was “a trifle too hot, but this did not
particularly worry those who occupied the reserved seats in the
grandstand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The grandstand “is bright in
the interior with sky-blue painting.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The track for the 1-1/8 mile Cup race was “conceded by the horsemen
to be in the best possible condition.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Happily,
“the enclosure about the track was lined with carriages and the grandstand was
well crowded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of the spectators
were ladies who naturally added to the interest of the occasion and contributed
to the excitement during critical stages of the racing.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Three horses were entered by Davis and Choate. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Climax, a sorrel gelding, was ridden by F. M.
(Francis Morgan) Ware, son of a prominent Boston Unitarian clergyman. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His silks that day were crimson and purple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Climax was sired by Huerfaus by an unknown
dam. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Resplendent in magenta and black silks, E.C. Choate rode
Bashaw, a chestnut gelding. The third member of the Davis and Choate cabal,
Wyoming, a bay mare, was ridden by Captain Wyndham Quinn who wore blue and
white. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
F.M. Ware and Climax September 6, 1887</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There were four other entries: co-favorite Endebar, a grey
gelding ridden by Sterling Birmingham, Trouble, a bay gelding ridden by G.A.
Saportas and Dee Dee, another bay gelding ridden by F.T. Islin.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Betting was heavy on the two favorites, Endebar and the
difficult to manage mare, Wyoming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
was nearly $2000 in the betting pool.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Cantering” to the starting line, the horses were nervous, even
impatient, “evidently understanding that a great struggle for supremacy was
about to ensue.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With Dee Dee on the
pole the horses were “off like the wind” as the flag dropped.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wyoming drove to an
early lead with Dee Dee, Trouble and Climax in pursuit, followed closely by Choate’s
Bashaw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Birmingham, riding co-favorite
Endebar, evidently a closer, “pulled his horse and dropped back until the 3/8
pole was reached.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The race was “for blood.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Early front runner, Wyoming, gave way to Dee Dee at the half
mile while Climax lurked in third place with Trouble trailing the field. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tough mare, Wyoming regained the lead at
the ¾ mile mark.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the 3/8 pole
Endebar began to close on the leaders with a burst of speed under Birmingham’s
whip and spur. But Endebar’s run came to naught, he was just too far back.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Up the home stretch
it was a race for life.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trouble racing
from “hindmost” in a headlong charge gained the lead in the stretch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nearing the finish-line it was Saportas’
sorrel gelding, Trouble, head and head with Climax.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both horses were nearly identical in
appearance with Trouble being a “trifle” smaller. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the rhythm of their hooves there were desperate moments as
each horse reached its limit, their lungs burning with jagged breath, nostrils
flaring and blood red with effort. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was Climax by “half a neck” at the wire, or was it Climax by a head?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The result was reported both ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many said it was a dead heat, “…there was a
decided confusion of tongue.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Climax was
declared the winner and “…the great throng of people on the grandstand rose to
their feet and cheered loudly.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The game Trouble was followed home by Bashaw, Endebar,
Wyoming and Dee Dee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the race
Captain Quinn, who rode the troublesome Wyoming, made it clear to anyone who
would listen that it was not his fault that Wyoming finished fifth, because “…
he was not acquainted with the peculiarities of his mount.” <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
And the winner is...</div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Climax’s race passed in 2:16, a snail’s pace when compared
to the North American record of 1.45 flat set in 1988 by a four-year-old, Simply
Majestic, who carried just 114 pounds.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Davis and Choate
prided themselves on bringing their horses along slowly over several years, so
it is no surprise to find that Climax, born in 1878, was 9 years old when he
crossed the finish line in 1887. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Considering his age and the weight he carried,
Climax ran a pretty good race.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The winner’s circle photo shows a thirty-year old Ware sitting
comfortably astride Climax. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the
style of the day his stirrups are very long, and he appears to be wearing
spurs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The face behind his brushy florid moustache is
without emotion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He seems comfortable
with success and in fact success seemed to follow him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is a Harvard graduate, Class of 1879, and
during his lifetime he will write three books concerning the horse (still
available with a Google query) and many articles for magazines such as
Outing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interestingly, he wrote
extensively about harness racing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He also managed The Brockton Fair Horse Show for 28 years
and served as manager, treasurer and auctioneer of New York City’s American
Horse Exchange.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are just two of his
many successful enterprises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>F. M. Ware
died of pneumonia in 1926.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the brand, ND
over a bar raised in scarred relief on Climax’s left shoulder that first grabs
your attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The brand is a
derivation of one registered in 1872 by N. R. Davis, once the largest cattle
rancher in Weld County, Colorado. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
horses were his passion and in 1887 Davis owned more than 200 mares with foals
at their sides.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Climax is alert, his ears pricked, and he stands rock steady
facing the photographer. His features are refined and dominated by a broad
white blaze and one white stocking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
is muscular but not particularly tall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After another fashion of the 1880’s, his tail is cut quite short which
robs him of the length and grace his body possesses.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The voice on the phone belongs to Roda Ferraro of the
Keenland Library, “We don’t run into too many dead ends, but on this one we
did.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Cheyenne and Laramie Club Cup race is Climax’s only race
of record. * **<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the horse-drawn world of 1887, horses lumbered over
rutted roads carrying us to work, to school, and to war.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That horses could still bring us to our feet,
could make us cheer ourselves hoarse, could give us moments of escape from the
stifling boredom of humdrum lives and the prison of backbreaking labor is still
a thing of wonder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Climax was one of
those horses.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Confirmed by Allan Carter, Historian, National Museum of
Racing and Hall of Fame.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
**Climax has been a common name for thoroughbreds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From 1885 through 1889 another horse named
Climax raced along the East Coast from Gravesend and Saratoga to Lexington,
Memphis, Nashville and New Orleans. In five years he raced 53 times and was in
the money 79% of the time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sources:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
United States Census 1880, Massachusetts, Suffolk, Boston<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Northwestern Livestock Journal 9/9/1887, Pg.4 Col. 3 &
4, #12<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cheyenne Daily Sun 9/7/1887, Pg.6 Col 3 & 4, #173<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cheyenne Daily Leader 9/6/1887, Pg. 3 Col. 1, #173, Pg.2 Col
1, #287<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cheyenne Daily Sun 9/6/1887, Pg.6 Col. 3 #151 (#25)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cheyenne Daily Leader 9/7/1887 Pgs.3&4 Cols. 2,3,4 #265
& #101 <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Alan Carter National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jennifer Alexander Wyoming State Museum<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Linda Fabian Wyoming Historical Society, Laramie City
Chapter<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sources Cont’d:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Daniek Long, Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Roda Ferraro, Keenland Library<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="mailto:Lenore.Harriman@Greelygov.com">Lenore.Harriman@Greelygov.com</a></span>,
Brand Registration<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Molly Countryman, Northwest Livestock Journal 8/19/1887,
Pg.4 Cols. 1,2,3,4<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
John J. Devine, Research Services Department, Boston Public
Library. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two Minutes to Glory: The Official History of the Kentucky
Derby, by Brodowsky and Philbin, Pgs. 66 & 67<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Photos:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Author’s Collection<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /></div>
Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197412375251715269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888517136616010442.post-38603441426109906462018-10-31T16:00:00.001-07:002018-10-31T16:00:31.233-07:00Ranger<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My friend, Steve Woodruff and his 17-year old horse, Ranger have roamed over every nook and cranny of Montana it seems, all without incident. But as we know, a horse can find mischief or injury almost anywhere. And in fact just a few months ago, Ranger did, and to this day Steve has no idea what actually happened to him.<br />
<br />
If you have a queasy stomach, you may want to to take a look at a feature I've done on Steve's incredible photos in my post, "Step Off The Sidewalk."<br />
<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ranger Gashed.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFi0-X2Ou1HDTZYx6fA3XX1pXLjXmjueU74YYTzHqE4JuZ2m0qIu0pWRDuu6OFsCZ0dfqR-0FYuP1O1_zPh4hYr8fjlVL9EdDzX6_0969uDYd1oKnI_sC-6MCnGPgTyu9vOsgADwITN35j/s1600/Ranger+being+stitched+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="585" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFi0-X2Ou1HDTZYx6fA3XX1pXLjXmjueU74YYTzHqE4JuZ2m0qIu0pWRDuu6OFsCZ0dfqR-0FYuP1O1_zPh4hYr8fjlVL9EdDzX6_0969uDYd1oKnI_sC-6MCnGPgTyu9vOsgADwITN35j/s400/Ranger+being+stitched+up.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Steve's vet stitching Ranger up.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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Healing.</div>
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"What a fine day to be a horse-and a horseman-in Montana."</div>
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Ranger in a very recent post by Steve.<br />
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Steve and Ranger on the prowl.<br />
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Steve is retired as a teacher from the University of Montana at Missoula. His prose are witty and his photography captures light and emotion in incredible ways. </div>
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I hope you enjoyed this short pictorial essay.</div>
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Copyright October 31, 2018 by Loren R. Schmacher</div>
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All photos by Steve Woodruff.</div>
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Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197412375251715269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888517136616010442.post-11405804433644553192018-09-17T14:43:00.000-07:002018-10-03T13:48:44.649-07:00Now He's Just Immortal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
By the time this post is published I will have been to visit Justify at Winstar Farm in Versailles. Kentucky. My wife and I will take as many pictures of the horse I've called "the living statue" as possible and add the best ones later. We'll keep the crappy ones on our computer and no one will be the wiser.<br />
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None of the photos taken by his admiring fans have captured his imposing size, 16.3". Nor does the poor light of Winstar's viewing area do justice to the beauty of the copper coat that stretches across his ribs, or the muscle mass gathered in knots beneath skin that threatens to rupture. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcR68UPnx9Yf8mQNQ5NB_wHpklDN-P7vYp0JtgFFcnYybvKKsJETYPIjc-UlnVvfzcOEtH_N5rsuJ_Mv4r3nfnTLCUA4PntWjxBlC1rzMepOnT1bw4e4SY3K9JV-v44p-1CVbuRSRMcI_U/s1600/Justify%252C+the+one+and+only%252C+the+original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="878" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcR68UPnx9Yf8mQNQ5NB_wHpklDN-P7vYp0JtgFFcnYybvKKsJETYPIjc-UlnVvfzcOEtH_N5rsuJ_Mv4r3nfnTLCUA4PntWjxBlC1rzMepOnT1bw4e4SY3K9JV-v44p-1CVbuRSRMcI_U/s320/Justify%252C+the+one+and+only%252C+the+original.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is Justify.</div>
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No, in most of the photographs he seems to slouch, his muscular frame a bit atrophied, his color washed out and his expression dull and lifeless. Perhaps he is mortal and not the mountain I have seen bolting from a starting gate, dashing to the lead and carrying his speed until that speed breaks the horses in his wake. His turn of foot reminds me a good bit of California Chrome and like Chrome, the innate ability to turn back the pressure that came to him. To Bob Baffert the key to each of Justify's six races was the same: Justify had to get away cleanly from the starting gate. With Baffert the strategist and the tactician, Mike Smith aboard, Justify romped, with strides thought to be longer than Secretariat's, to 9-1/2 and 6-1/2 length margins in his first two races.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK5UXerbHvtOStcQpMQfkZw9LLaYtetZGYaforwWC7k-qOCiRwlVZTeWdnQGhrpvERhQkkzKAGWNJuoSwQmke3iOiqRRwr_1v-Q42Vl5z_i4e9hZoeWyfm2EvG8hi650l2sOvycxSU7qgk/s1600/Justify+flies+in+winning+the+2018+Preakness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="1200" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK5UXerbHvtOStcQpMQfkZw9LLaYtetZGYaforwWC7k-qOCiRwlVZTeWdnQGhrpvERhQkkzKAGWNJuoSwQmke3iOiqRRwr_1v-Q42Vl5z_i4e9hZoeWyfm2EvG8hi650l2sOvycxSU7qgk/s400/Justify+flies+in+winning+the+2018+Preakness.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Justify jumping tracks in the mud at the Preakness.</div>
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But wait a minute, his six consecutive wins were not enough for many. One of the chief complaints, one most champions have had to reckon with, the caliber of his competition. Yet those in the know felt the 2018 Derby field to be the strongest in many years. He is a proven winner on dirt, whether dry or in the primordial glop of Churchill Downs, or the Preakness. And in the Santa Anita Derby he ran with a sprung shoe (I understand that is not uncommon). Proving that he could run at the front or stalk from just off the lead as he did in the Derby, haunting Promises Fulfilled before leaving him in his wake.<br />
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A loose shoe on Justify's right front during the 2018 Santa Anita Derby.<br />
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2018 Kentucky Derby<br />
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If the lack of quality competition were not indictment enough, here are some comments about Justify's confirmation that appeared in a thoroughbred chat room that I belong to...and sometime wish I didn't. No names though. </div>
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Lovely shoulder.</div>
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I don't like him. I honestly cringed when I saw it. Post-legged behind, very upright pasterns...but his front legs seem off. (Off what, his body?) Nice hip, but I still don't like the appearance of his hindquarters.</div>
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I like the length of his neck. Pretty face. He is nothing compared to American Pharoah.</div>
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Wouldn't pay a cent to breed to him.</div>
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...but a horse with confirmation like that, who had physical problems as a yearling, wasn't sound enough to race at two and retired unsound after four months at the track... I wouldn't send a mare to him even if he was at $20,000.</div>
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...it will take an impressive mare to throw a foal that doesn't have some of his more major faults.</div>
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...looks like a typical Ghostzapper.</div>
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I will add that some of the comments are made by former race track denizens, exercise riders, grooms and several who specialize in breeding and confirmation.</div>
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When asked where they would rank Justify among the thirteen Triple Crown winners, the groups were equally unkind. Most ranked Justify near the bottom of the list and one ranked him ahead of American Pharoah. This person is usually unhappy if their ice-cream is cold. One thoughtful person said, "Not bottom, but not top. Still a really great horse who could have probably gone a lot farther later in his career,"</div>
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Then I added my wordy two-cents worth:<span style="background-color: #eff1f3; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Its all subjective. He is not number one, but after all he did win the Triple Crown and I don't care what people say about him, (and I have heard and seen written a lot of sour grapes regarding him lately) he is a damn fine horse. I saw him in p</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">erson on Thursday and I can tell you that having seen both CC and AP immediately upon their retirement, Justify looks much the worse for the experience. He is not a particularly pretty horse, especially when compared to AP. He is extraordinarily muscular and it is obvious that it will be months before he is no longer a race horse. He is anxious, restive and bores very easily. It is evident to me that there was and may still be a bit of a problem on his left rear. Could be just the hair, but it looked like he may have had a procedure of some kind. I could be dizzy with oxygen deprivation. I was very, very surprised that he was still wearing shoes! To me he looks tired and he may well be. 200 pounds and several months rest will make him a different horse. I really think we should all be glad that he survived. As far as ranking, well, he is in the top 13.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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This is the only good photo (Including mine) that I have seen of Justify taken at Winstar.<br />
I believe the photographer is Delana Harp Bryant.<br />
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These are my comments after seeing Justify:</div>
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<span style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I saw Justify today and I was not as impressed as I thought I might be. He is not as massive as he appears to be in most photographs, or when he is underway. The irony is that several others on the tour felt exactly the same. He also looks a little </span></span><span style="background-color: #eff1f3; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">worse for wear to me, there is the cinch rub that you can see in this picture and you can tell something has been going on in the left hind. He is fit to the point of being almost too trim, perhaps a bit over trained, who knows? His muscularity is incredible however and his hind quarters are massive. His back legs have been criticized as "post legs" and having pasterns that are too upright. I looked and I looked again and I don't believe there is a major problem back there. He does have foot problems and Winstar are allowing him a lot of r & r. He seemed very restless, but you would expect that with his having so recently been in training. Part of what I observed may be answered by a comment made by the tour guide. When asked if he were being ridden, as half of the Winstar stallions are, she said that if he were saddled today he would mentally return to his last race, The Belmont. And then there is that biting thing. But when he puts on a couple of hundred pounds and is rested and begins to relax, he will be spectacular. By the way, his coat shimmers in the light. I saw both AP and CC shortly after they retired and just thought they came out of their careers in better physical shape. Mentally, who knows? They can't tell us what they are thinking or how they feel and that is the shame of it. All in all Justify is the Champ and I am still a fan.</span></span></span></div>
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As a horse racing fan, I am sure you have your own opinion regarding Justify and his place in horse racing history.<br />
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Listen to Larry Collmus' call of the last race of Justify's gloriously undefeated and all too short career. Pay attention to what he says of Justify as he crosses the finish line.<br />
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"And now ,<span style="text-align: center;">he's just immortal."</span></div>
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2018 Belmont Stakes with Larry Collmus' call.</div>
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<span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody" style="background-color: #eff1f3; border-radius: 18px; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">Copyright September 17, 2018 by Loren Schumacher</span><span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody" style="background-color: #eff1f3; border-radius: 18px; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">All photo rights belong to the photographer.</span><span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody" style="background-color: #eff1f3; border-radius: 18px; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">I will post my own shortly.</span></div>
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Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197412375251715269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888517136616010442.post-53125356907033003232018-07-13T13:30:00.001-07:002018-07-13T16:26:29.009-07:00At The Post<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This was a post I did for Facebook's Justify Fan Page yesterday, July 12, 2018. I was profoundly surprised by the overwhelming response to what I had written, and doubly surprised by the class shown in the two or three "criticisms" posted in response.<br />
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"I happened to see a picture of Barbaro yesterday and was struck by the similarities between him and Justify. Perhaps it is just an illusion, or I've lost my mind, you can tell me, I won't mind.<br />
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Both are chiseled, ripped into elemental muscle and the sinew that holds all things together and cloaked in burnished, hand rubbed beauty.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjuI8tJpR8RaH7QiL69gQhgck_f9rM4Jc8EJsm8fXrymWOZ19NOp2LerjtG_WWvtRwALZ4LyNMf2RW17vjfJZOLaUoGMgUuAVEwMcvgqE-zUkys1zyK6uJSXzuRn8MDVJSpLGU9PIHALZ/s1600/Barbaro+at+the+Preakness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="400" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjuI8tJpR8RaH7QiL69gQhgck_f9rM4Jc8EJsm8fXrymWOZ19NOp2LerjtG_WWvtRwALZ4LyNMf2RW17vjfJZOLaUoGMgUuAVEwMcvgqE-zUkys1zyK6uJSXzuRn8MDVJSpLGU9PIHALZ/s320/Barbaro+at+the+Preakness.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The legend, Barbaro at the Preakness.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1G-D8ZRl8VpU50CGVYlmLcdhY2hyphenhyphenE8E9axgmfIbfdwT74W5dTdjHBQYF69auNaSxILhZHX8f6UNCEyRGVCXJ2-p9gGOpcgPzIGZMe-lqzwzSosrFygI_Y9Oz-3JmxNPFm8FQyHslucDGx/s1600/Justify%252C+the+one+and+only%252C+the+original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="878" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1G-D8ZRl8VpU50CGVYlmLcdhY2hyphenhyphenE8E9axgmfIbfdwT74W5dTdjHBQYF69auNaSxILhZHX8f6UNCEyRGVCXJ2-p9gGOpcgPzIGZMe-lqzwzSosrFygI_Y9Oz-3JmxNPFm8FQyHslucDGx/s320/Justify%252C+the+one+and+only%252C+the+original.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The living statue, Justify.</div>
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I could find no reference to Barbaro's height, although Edgar Prado, his jockey, said he stood 17 hands high, while Justify is an inch shorter at 16.3. Even their records are the same. Justify is undefeated at 6-0 at this point in his career. Barbaro was undefeated with six wins entering the 2006 Preakness where he broke his right hind leg leaving the gate. Ironically, it was the magnificent Bernardini who won the race.<br />
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Barbaro's Agony with jockey Edgar Prado.</div>
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Even though there was never a chance that Barbaro would race again, no expense was spared by his owner, Roy Jackson, in trying to save his life. While the leg healed, it was laminitis that made euthanasia necessary after an eight month struggle.</div>
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A nursery rhyme sums up the effort expended in trying to save Barbaro's life, "...all the king's horses and all the king's men, couldn't put Humpty together again." </div>
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His trainer, Michael Matz said, "I think the mystery will always be how good could he have been? I'd like to think he'll be remembered as one of the best. He certainly brought a lot of people together."</div>
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We can all hope that this is where the similarities between Barbaro and Justify end."</div>
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In the fog, Justify leaps tracks in the turf during the 2018 Preakness.</div>
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Justify.</div>
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Copyright July 12, 2018 Loren R. Schumacher</div>
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Credit for all photos goes to the photographers. The author makes no claim to them.</div>
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Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197412375251715269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888517136616010442.post-28388389648288409912017-12-30T16:15:00.002-08:002017-12-31T06:12:47.642-08:00A Tale of Two Horses: Arrogate and Gun Runner<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Before the 2017 Breeder's Cup Classic, Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey said that Arrogate, the swashbuckling hero of the Dubai World Cup, had left his best races behind him. Bailey, for the second time on national television, mentioned that the race had taken the measure of Arrogate, had gutted him. Fans of the horse they call Big Blue were enraged when Bailey also declared that the powerful chestnut horse Gun Runner had surpassed Arrogate.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8FuU7meOb_j_Ok7sw2zSAqLQitdDjPMnHuhVg2usi6l5HlJ1GJbJxMngNb3v5aGb8Fl1lCUWjfTliJVhX95G_jYWow82KHhuyziCWs4Pn3JcFK05Xpcx4swDApFmoIP0hzsEakhimcSXU/s1600/Arrogate+Santa+Anita+Feb+14+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="217" data-original-width="298" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8FuU7meOb_j_Ok7sw2zSAqLQitdDjPMnHuhVg2usi6l5HlJ1GJbJxMngNb3v5aGb8Fl1lCUWjfTliJVhX95G_jYWow82KHhuyziCWs4Pn3JcFK05Xpcx4swDApFmoIP0hzsEakhimcSXU/s400/Arrogate+Santa+Anita+Feb+14+2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Arrogate training at Santa Anita in February of 2017</div>
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After finishing second to to Arrogate in the Dubai World Cup, Gun Runner reeled off three consecutive GI wins, including the Stephen Foster and Whitney Handicaps and the Woodward Stakes, while Arrogate stumbled to a fourth place finish in the San Diego Handicap and a much improved second in the Pacific Classic. Before the Breeder's Cup, Gun Runner's career record stood an 10 wins in 17 starts, but he had never won at 10 furlongs (1-1/4 miles). His trainer, Steve Asmussen said, "He's had a lot of travel, a lot of fast races, and he is better today than he has ever been."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1NM5kXlX64K4Nssq_D0fOFmWrRohr-fWI2J2pJ5QCwALqv4HvzLJRX-foGUrAKMXfZyBkqTDMUj8_Zi0_8MaCmEppwcnKzEGQqdxc4TTQurURN3lXZM4rh1u-jF2_4k6MyAaxr_Hl_YM/s1600/Gun+Runner+Portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="644" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1NM5kXlX64K4Nssq_D0fOFmWrRohr-fWI2J2pJ5QCwALqv4HvzLJRX-foGUrAKMXfZyBkqTDMUj8_Zi0_8MaCmEppwcnKzEGQqdxc4TTQurURN3lXZM4rh1u-jF2_4k6MyAaxr_Hl_YM/s400/Gun+Runner+Portrait.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
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Gun Runner</div>
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Arrogate had shown blinding speed, the ability to race on or off the pace, and to win from anywhere on the track surface, regardless of the distance. But the Del Mar turf was his bugaboo. Arrogate had already lost twice on the Del Mar surface and his jockey, Mike Smith said that he had difficulty getting a hold of the track. Many looked askance at his world's number one ranking yet still made him the 2-1 co-favorite with Gun Runner entering the Classic.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEBUfWXwGGJ7YF8qJp_PugglaRksNvFNdThSuYFrKyeJEdCL39rsVPvziddyykv0OnVHWn1AwN18caFlQLbF_ojSMvWP3WOtwCvnfxe_3aibgirJbqkxUhYHOeAzhWpGXU4VCxYQRs42a/s1600/dana-barnes-arrogate-header-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEBUfWXwGGJ7YF8qJp_PugglaRksNvFNdThSuYFrKyeJEdCL39rsVPvziddyykv0OnVHWn1AwN18caFlQLbF_ojSMvWP3WOtwCvnfxe_3aibgirJbqkxUhYHOeAzhWpGXU4VCxYQRs42a/s400/dana-barnes-arrogate-header-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Dana Barnes aboard Arrogate</div>
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While training well at Del Mar, there was guarded optimism in the Arrogate camp, but Bob Baffert, seeming to hedge his bets, arrayed a four horse juggernaut against Gun Runner. Up and comers Collected, who won the Pacific Classic this summer, West Coast, winner of the Travers Stakes and the Pennsylvania Derby, along with the improving Mubtaahij, winner of the Awesome Again Stakes, would enter the starting gate as well.</div>
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Racing from the number one post position, Arrogate veered sharply toward the rail while Gun Runner broke smartly, taking the lead with Collected in hot pursuit. Reaching Gun Runner from his outside post position and early traffic may well have robbed Collected of the speed and stamina he would need later in the race.</div>
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On the back stretch the leaders, having run a half mile in 46 and change were never more than a half length apart. Rounding the far turn, Collected and Gun Runner began their furious assault on the Del Mar turf, where, according to Jay Privman in a Daily Racing Form article, the jockeys, Martin Garcia on Collected and Gun Runner's Florent Geroux, began shouting at one another. Garcia turned to Geroux and shouted, " I have a lot of horse." "Me too," Geroux replied. And at the quarter pole Garcia said, "Let's go."</div>
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Garcia pushed Collected away from Gun Runner because he knew "Gun Runner likes to fight." But Gun Runner's speed, power and will proved too much. Garcia said, "I know (knew) he'd respond. My horse tried. I couldn't do anything. Gun Runner is a really good horse. He got good position, and I let my horse run a little early to get position."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7ff0vvn1k0DDuqWnlZoBYpYbVR3dg0xuE4jBs46e979aYtuIIvK0OXd09StAj9SDP6Y4zCDZPWFuRemgb_s91S8yVTHjngUzpdQQFmoFNUhi2uXo2nXzpATnJY03w0qj6UlXhDKjjKZL/s1600/My+beautiful+Gun+Runner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="955" data-original-width="1440" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7ff0vvn1k0DDuqWnlZoBYpYbVR3dg0xuE4jBs46e979aYtuIIvK0OXd09StAj9SDP6Y4zCDZPWFuRemgb_s91S8yVTHjngUzpdQQFmoFNUhi2uXo2nXzpATnJY03w0qj6UlXhDKjjKZL/s400/My+beautiful+Gun+Runner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A fantastic photo of Gun Runner in training.</div>
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Fighting off Collected's bid, Gun Runner pulled away to an expanding 2-1/4 length lead, winning his fifth race in six starts and earning a 117 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest of his career. By winning the Classic he assured himself of the Horse of the Year and Champion Older Dirt Male titles.</div>
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Baffert's horse West Coast finished an improving third, while Mubtaahij drifted back to a disappointing eighth place.</div>
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Arrogate, never a factor, finished in a dead heat for fifth place with Gunnevera and afterward was lead away to begin a stallion's career. Once his sperm was worth millions of dollars, but his fall from grace eroded his fee to $70,000.00, still a healthy price by any standard.</div>
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Perhaps Arrogate was never a great horse, but just a very good one. Maybe our expectations for him were more than he could have ever hoped to deliver. In a Facebook chat room early in 2017 I wrote, "There is not a horse living today that can beat Arrogate." It is likely that when all is said and done, the only horse to beat Arrogate was Arrogate himself, broken by his herculean effort on a stifling desert night.</div>
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There is a saying, "The king is dead, long live the king." The old saw speaks of respect for what has gone before and an orderly and respectful succession. Arrogate is gone, but but Gun Runner remains.</div>
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Gun Runner, the Breeder's Cup Classic Champion</div>
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Copyright December 30, 2017 by Loren R. Schumacher</div>
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All photo credits belong the photographers</div>
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Today is the 17th anniversary of my father, Edward C. Schumacher's death. This article is dedicated to his memory. Thanks dad.</div>
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Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197412375251715269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888517136616010442.post-70290931538710526512017-12-11T17:45:00.002-08:002017-12-16T06:31:24.598-08:00Lilac Fire/San Luis Rey Training Center/Will you help?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In recent days California has been stricken with devastating wildfires, one of which, the Thomas Fire, has consumed nearly 200,000 acres. Almost everything in its path has been destroyed, but thankfully as of now, there seem to be no human casualties.<br />
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But in San Diego County near Bonsall, California a catastrophic wildfire struck the San Luis Rey Training Center, with tragic results. </div>
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Trainer Martine Bellocq was critically burned trying to save her nine horses from the flames. To date there have been 46 horses killed and most assuredly there will be more casualties in an area littered with horse farms and facilities.<br />
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Sadly one of those horses trained by Peter Miller, 3 year old California Diamond, who in 14 starts won 5 stakes races and finished second in 5 more, succumbed.</div>
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California Diamond</div>
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In their panic, a small group of horses broke through a "knockdown fence" and vanished into the surrounding hills. Spokespersons are confident that they will be located and returned to their owners.</div>
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Panic stricken, horses flee the flames and smoke.</div>
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A volunteer tries to calm an approaching horse.</div>
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There were nearly 450 horses at San Luis Rey, and those that have survived owe their lives to the grooms and volunteers who walked into the inferno in order to save them from a hideous and tortured death.<br />
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But as always, those who have the least lose the most. Nearly all of the grooms and other backstretch workers lost all of their possessions trying to save their beloved horses. Many funds and truckloads of supplies and clothing have been rushed in to assist in the human recovery.<br />
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Taylor Made Farm have donated a no-guarantee season with California Chrome and will donate the booking fees before they have been collected. The money will be used to help the track workers get back on their feet.<br />
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Panic in the alleyways of San Luis Rey (SLR).</div>
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At one time 260 of the approximately 500 horses were housed at the Del Mar race facility. Sixty more moved just across the street from SLR to the Trifecta Equine Athletic Center, an equine rehab facility, and in recent days more have been distributed to Santa Anita and Los Alamitos. While they wait to be reclaimed by their owners, those that need medical attention for burns receive immediate attention. It remains to be seen what effect smoke inhalation will have on them.</div>
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Horses being loaded into trailers at San Luis Rey Training Center.</div>
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In the midst of this chaos, we should remember to say a silent prayer for the home and business owners of California, whose lives have been forever altered by the fires. We hope that they will recover their balance and find the emotional and financial resources to jump-start their lives once more. </div>
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In the ash and rubble of ruined dreams, some smaller stables will cease operations. Grooms and trainers will find other jobs in the racing community, but they will never again be in charge of their own futures. But for others, like Peter Miller, sad news was offset by good news. Miller's horse Calculator, who ran second to American Pharoah in both the FrontRunner Stakes GI and Del Mar Futurity G1, was reunited with the trainer after being missing.</div>
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Calculator</div>
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<b>HOW CAN YOU HELP?</b></div>
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Santa Anita Park, The Stronach Group (owner of Adena Springs Farm) and Del Mar Thoroughbred Club have created a GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/thoroughbredcare. To date more than $598,000.00 have been donated. <b>No amount is too small and donations are desperately needed. </b></div>
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I've donated and I hope you will too.</div>
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Copyright 12/11/17 by Loren R. Schumacher</div>
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All photo credits belong to the photographers<br />
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Update 12/15/17</h2>
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The news is both good and bad with regard to the monstrous wildfires plaguing California. </div>
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The Thomas Fire, already the fourth largest in California history at 250,000 acres, will no doubt grow in the face of Santa Ana and Sundowner winds from Thursday the fifteenth through Sunday the seventeenth. Sundowner winds are unique to the Santa Barbara area and originate off-shore with wind speeds reaching those of tropical storms, 60 miles per hour. The Santa Ana winds are expected to range between 15 and 25 miles per hour with gusts to 40 miles per hour. Not particularly encouraging.</div>
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Still more sad news regarding the death of San Diego area firefighter Corey Iverson, 32 years of age. He leaves behind his wife who is expecting their second child in the spring of 2018 and a 2-year old as well. Our condolences, of course.</div>
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A filly by Grazen x Chelcees Hope, named Scathing, is the first horse from the San Luis Rey fire to race and to the delight of everyone. she won. Racing last to first in a five furlong race, a distance which is a bit short for her, she split horses in the final furlong to win by one and one-half lengths. </div>
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Symbolic win for Scathing</div>
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Scathing was claimed for $8000.00 at Santa Anita on October 6 and had been training well since her removal from San Louis Rey. Her barn was never threatened and she remained in her stall while panic overcame those who had to be freed in order to save their lives. By the way, my vet's tech told me that she heard the heat was so intense in the recent fire at San Luis Rey, that the horse's red blood cells exploded among those who perished!</div>
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Scathing</div>
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Scathing was cleared for competition after an "auscultation of the lungs and airways" by attending and state veterinarians. All horses stabled at San Luis Rey will undergo similar tests before being cleared to return to racing.<br />
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Scathing at the wire</div>
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Finally, Juddmonte Farm auctioned a "no-guarantee" season with Uncle Mo. The winning bid of $110,000 was matched by Juddmonte. The money will be donated to Thoroughbred Charities of America's Horses First Fund.<br />
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Update copyright 12/15/17 by Loren R. Schumacher<br />
Photo of Scathing copyright belongs to the photographer or race facility.</div>
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Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197412375251715269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888517136616010442.post-19777829237031644242017-11-29T17:21:00.003-08:002017-11-30T06:34:31.343-08:00The Perfect Racehorse: A final visit with Holy Bull<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Life has been extraordinarily busy for the past few months and I have had very little time to write, so I hope you will enjoy the reprise of my story about Holy Bull which ran in the on-line magazine, Horse Network, earlier this year. There is new content coming.<br />
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The stallion barn at Darley's Jonabell Farm was drowsy and still except for the droning of fans mounted over each stall door. Most of the stallions were dozing in the early June warmth, or searching listlessly for wayward bits of hay that remained from their morning feeding.<br />
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2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist stood in the deepest shadows of his stall, as Medaglia d'Oro, stunningly large and perpetually anti-social, slouched with only his backside visible. Frosted, "too smart for his own good," is rowdy and playful in a juvenile way. And the magnificent Bernardini searches your soul with his placid kind eyes.<br />
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Frosted, "too smart for his own good."</div>
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But it is Holy Bull, the barn's elder statesman pensioned in 2012, who stands largely unnoticed in a corner stall near the door. He is framed in the white light of the early Bluegrass summer, and at 26 still commands attention. I knew very little about him other than his attention-grabbing name.</div>
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"...framed in the white light..."</div>
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A handler said that he is being treated for a melanoma common in older gray horses. Like Alphabet Soup at Old Friends, he is being treated with a vaccine made from the cells of his own tumors. Thankfully, it is working for Alphabet Soup.</div>
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The video images of he Haskell, the Travers Stakes, the Met Mile and the Florida Derby are grainy and time worn, like our memories of him. Each is a blurred testament to the greatness of the horse, Holy Bull. Tom Durkin's call of the 1994 Woodward still echoes down the years, "Holy Bull running like a champion...with devastating ease! Holy Bull toying with the best horses in training." His time, just 3/5 of a second off the stakes record set by the legendary Secretariat.</div>
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The 1994 Woodward (G1)</div>
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At the Travers he was tested early by the rabbit, Comanche Trail, while D. Wayne Lukas' Tabasco Cat watched and waited. But as long, fluid strides brought the closer Concern to Holy Bull, the gray horse found a last fragment of courage under the relentless rhythm of Mike Smith's left-hand. Winning by a neck, Tom Durkin said of Holy Bull, "What a hero."</div>
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The 1994 Travers Stakes</div>
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In 1994 he was the Eclipse Champion Three Year Old and Horse of the Year, and ultimately was elected to racing's Hall of Fame. President of Godolphin USA, Jimmy Bell, once owner of Jonabell Farm, said of Holy Bull, "I've always said he wasn't a specialist - short, grass, long or dirt. You can't mention his name without using words like fighter, determination and guts."</div>
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Winning 12 of his 16 starts (12 of his first 14, among them 6 GI and 3 GII races) and collecting nearly $2.5 million in career earnings, he proved equally adept at single turn races, like the Hutcheson Stakes or the Met Mile, as he was in route races. But his career was not without failure and disappointment. The odds-on favorite to win the 1994 Kentucky Derby, The Bull finished a dismal 12th behind Go For Gin. To the end of his days, trainer Jimmy Croll said that someone had "gotten to" Holy Bull before the Derby. His long time rider, Mike Smith to this day fails to come up with an explanation. In the Fountain of Youth Stakes, a displaced palate left The Bull Gasping for breath, and finishing sixth.</div>
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Skeptics opined that he was just a sprinter, but after his decisive Florida Derby victory (.46 flat for the 1/2 and a mile and an eighth in 1:47 2/5) there was little room for speculation or doubt. Hall of Fame trainer Jimmy Croll said, "After the race he cooled out in 15 minutes and was screaming for his dinner. He cleaned out every oat and the following morning he was bright as the sun."</div>
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For most of the 1995 Donn Handicap, it was a match race between The Bull and Cigar. The Bull was gaining ground on Cigar, when Mike Smith felt something off and pulled him up. It was a career-ending ligament injury, and The Bull was retired to Jonabell Farm.</div>
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In his career as a sire he gave us a Derby winner Giacomo, as well as Macho Uno, the winner of the 2000 Breeder's Cup Juvenile and descendants such as the undefeated Caravaggio, Judy The Beauty and Munnings. In all, Holy Bull;; gave racing more than 700 winners with earnings totaling more than $60 million.</div>
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Holy Bull at Jonabell</div>
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These are the facts, brittle statistical validation of Holy Bull's greatness. But it is the heart of Holy Bull and others like him that statistics alone cannot define. Puncher and counter puncher, he was a fighter that refused to lose. Even when pushed to the limit, dogged by first one challenger then another, Holy Bull seemed to glide across the surface as though he were out for a Sunday hack. He ran with deceptive ease, but each stride was a demonstration of his power, thunderous, devastating and violent.</div>
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When asked by a tourist, "What is the perfect racehorse?" Holy Bull's groom, Bob Coffey, pointed to his horse saying, "Right here. There is a perfect racehorse."</div>
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Holy Bull, The Perfect Race Horse</div>
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On that day in early June (2017) he seemed a bit restive, his head swaying back and forth as if the movement comforted him and relieved the boredom of the day's confinement. His eyes were soft and warm, at times a little vacant as if he were lost in thought. His ears reacted to the sounds of his small world, at times nearly flat and mulish, then pricked and alert. And his coat, once a steely dark gray, was now a mantle of white, still dappled and with a fine silken mane. He was beautiful.</div>
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Just five days later on June the 7th, at the age of 26, Holy Bull was euthanized due to the infirmities of old age. Surely he went to his death in much the same way he raced - with courage and dignity. You would expect nothing less from him.</div>
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I have nearly two dozen photos taken of him on that warm Friday afternoon, none of them very good, but they are among the last - perhaps the very last - photos taken of Holy Bull.</div>
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In retreat - Holy Bull</div>
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<b>Post Script: I was touched to have seen Holy Bull in his last days, and perhaps I will think of him in my last days and face their end with his courage. I choose to believe that the light in which he stood that day was the light of Heaven as it opened to receive him. I could be wrong, but I don't think so.</b></div>
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Copyright Loren R. Schumacher July 14, 2017</div>
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All photos are credited to the photographers except the photos of Frosted and Holy Bull in white light which are by Loren R. Schumacher and are copyrighted as of June 2, 2017.</div>
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Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197412375251715269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888517136616010442.post-64411159427419885402017-09-02T19:00:00.000-07:002017-09-26T08:44:50.704-07:00Something About B.F.Wano<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There was baseball, boxing and horse racing. At the turn of the 20th century they were the big three of American sports. And clearly the most favored of all was horse racing, particularly harness racing, and specifically, Dan Patch, a natural pacer (both right side legs move, followed by both legs on the left side).<br />
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No sports figure of that sport-happy time in America's brief history garnered more ink in the press or cash at the turnstile. Twice in his fabled career, Dan Patch drew crowds in excess of 100,000 at a reported one U.S. Dollar per head. His name appeared on everything from cut-plug tobacco cans and cigars to washing machines and pool cues.<br />
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One of many products using the Dan Patch name.</div>
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He traveled in a custom built railcar with his picture appearing on both its sides, and, they say, its interior was lined in red velvet. The Jersey Lilly, the famous Lilly Langtry, came to meet him. President Eisenhower remembered seeing him at the Kansas State Fair in 1904 and as a boy, President to be, Harry Truman, sent him a fan letter. Dan Patch even had his own pet dog.<br />
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So dominating were his performances that often no horse would challenge him and he would pace against the clock. Dan Patch lost just two heats in his career and never lost a race. Fourteen times he broke world speed records and his official record for one mile stands at 1:55 1/4.<br />
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At the Minnesota State Fair in 1906 he scorched the track in 1:55 flat, an unofficial record which stood for thirty-two years until matched by Billy Direct in 1938. It was a four horse race with two of the contenders staying close to Dan, but video footage shows that both of these horses have broken and are galloping by the race's end. It was not until 1960 when Adios Butler paced a mile in 1:54 .3, that Dan Patch's unofficial record was broken.<br />
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The 111 year old video of the Minnesota State Fair race of 1906 follows. Imagine the times that Dan Patch might turn on today's modern tracks and using today's sophisticated equipment.<br />
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The following is a lovely tribute to Dan Patch.</div>
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As popular as harness racing had become, no horse approached the fame and popularity of Dan Patch. He had no peers and every other horse raced in his long shadow. They ran at county fairs and tracks in places that have long been forgotten. Their careers and lives were the definition of anonymity.</div>
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B.F. Wano was such a horse. Not much is known about him. He was a trotter (legs move on the diagonal: right front, left rear , etc.) and not a pacer. Like Dan Patch, Wano was a stallion and for that time, big for the breed at 15.3 hands, or just over five feet in height at the withers and weighing about 1100 pounds. He was powerfully built, muscular and well proportioned, with a short back and very straight legs. Across his form lay a lustrous, rich brown coat. Most assuredly all comparisons to Dan Patch end there.</div>
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The weather on September 21, 1906 at Fort Wayne, Indiana was undoubtedly fine as the average temperature for the month was 70.4 degrees, and it must have suited B.F. Wano, because in the third heat of the day he set a race record of 2:141/4. Or did he? According to a piece used to advertise his availability as a "sure foal getter," he did. But thanks to Paul Wilder at the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in Goshen, New York, I learned that he tied the record and did not set it.</div>
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The race consisted of four heats with Wano finishing second in the first and second heats, and first in the third and fourth heats. His driver was obscure, someone named Morgan. For now this is all that is known about B, F. Wano, but on this one day in 1906 he ran his heart out (actually he trotted) and proved himself to all who watched.</div>
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His owner, W. H. Stults of Wren, Ohio, claimed in his advertising that B.F. Wano had trotted a mile in 2:10 and a half in 1:03. Who knows? Perhaps Stults engaged in a bit of advertising bombast so common in the early twentieth century when he said that, "in style and action he is perfect," and "his colts are large with fine style and action." </div>
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From the Wilshire (Ohio) Herald, May 5, 1904, "W.H. Stults and J.L. Moser were Wilshire vistiors Saturday afternoon. The latter is president and the former cashier of the Bank of Wren. They are both hustlers, and the leading financiers of their bailiwick." Hustlers? Mr. Stults later lived in Indiana where the trail ends - for now.<br />
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If anyone should know more about B.F. Wano or W.H. Stults please leave a comment.</div>
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This article, in a slightly different form, appeared in the Horse Collaborative, now Horse Network.<br />
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Copyright 2015 by Loren R. Schumacher<br />
Photo of B.F. Wano from the author's collection.<br />
All other photos and videos belong to Getty Images or Youtube by unknown sources.</div>
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Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197412375251715269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888517136616010442.post-23945623500158845142017-07-27T15:47:00.000-07:002018-10-06T07:57:52.161-07:00Road To The Horse 2017: A Celebration of the Cowgirl<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
While the Road To The Horse (RTTH) colt starting championship's format changes little from year to year, producer and owner Tootie Bland reaches deeply into her imagination to present interesting and innovative programs to excite and engage her audience.<br />
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However, change may be in order to prevent the show from becoming a boring parody. Why? There simply are not enough stars in the trainer/clinician universe to maintain interest. There are many top-flight trainers, but very few are successful and entertaining enough to sell out Altel Arena at The Kentucky Horse Park. Once beyond Craig Cameron, Parrelli, Lyons and Clinton Anderson, not to mention Chris Cox, four time undefeated champion of RTTH, the pool becomes very shallow.<br />
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This year's contest was billed as a Celebration of the Cowgirl, but seemed to walk a fine line, perhaps unintentionally, between a contest of skilled competitors and a feminist forum. Tootie Bland often said that this event will/would prove that women are as good as the men. Anyone with their wits about them knows that horsewomen are every bit as skilled and generally more empathetic than their male counterparts. Woman have competed at RTTH in the past and done very well, thank you. Several years ago Sarah Dawson, competing against both men and women, lead until the last day of the competition when she was thrown from her horse. Little was made of the fact that Sarah was a young woman and the daughter of former RTTH winner Richard Winters. And I don't remember the sequin spangled Bland cheerleading like a spastic marionette for Sarah, or Obie Schlom, the other female competitor of that year.<br />
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The lack of star power almost surely reduced the gate in 2017, and I am just as certain that there were far fewer men in attendance than in the past. Men, it seems (I'm a guy), don't seem to be very interested in watching women compete athletically. What a shame, because one of the women, Vicki Wilson, put on a hell of a show and could/can compete toe to toe with any of her male counterparts.<br />
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The Running of the Remuda (horses are provided by Texas' 6666 ranch) heralds the beginning of each Road To The Horse, and this year's herd was memorable because of two of its 3 year old cast members: a big gorgeous gray that came to be know as Checkers and hip #7, a feisty, running, bucking, kicking brat of a horse that everyone fell for immediately. Incidentally, #7 was not chosen by any of the four competitors but was the backup choice by three of the women. <br />
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This is 2015's remuda.**</div>
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A cowboy from the 6666 ranch. The wranglers manage the remuda and the horses selected by the four competitors.**<br />
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Tootie wanted a rodeo atmosphere for the RTTH and five years ago brought aboard the annoying magpie, Matt West. He is an emcee for PBR (Professional Bull Riders) events nationally and in Canada. I hear his voice and want to reach for a PBR (Pabst Blue Ribbon beer). He replaced the low-key and well-liked Rick Lamb, host of the nationally known television program, The Horse Show. Believe me it has been all down hill since Rick was sidelined. West has not profited from his exposure to this event. Over the years, Wests seems to have gained little or no insight into the competition and simply parrots the remarks of any celebrity he can buttonhole. Repetition, of course, breeds contempt. His specialty is the irritatingly juvenile count-down, you know: 10, 9, 8... before introducing any act or change of direction in the program. Ugh!</div>
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Worse still was his co-host Stacy Westfall, (a woman by the way), winner of the RTTH in 2006. She is also a former<i> NRHA Freestyle Reining Competition </i>champion. Her ride sans bridle created a sensation and the <i>YouTube</i> video of her run has been viewed more than 1,000,000 times. Today she competes successfully in mounted shooting, and with her husband Jesse, presents clinics worldwide, while still finding time to train horses and produce <i>How To</i> videos. On the street she would have a ton of CRED. I hate to say it, but she was a complete zero, adding little and all but disappearing on day two of the event.</div>
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Originally Barbara Cox, wife of Chris Cox, was scheduled to compete. But due to a very serious back operation was unable to participate. In all likelihood her competitive career is over due to the serious nature of her spinal surgery. Her obligations as wife and mother had a significant influence on her decision to leave competition.</div>
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My wife, Carol and Chris Cox. Chris told Carol a great deal about his wife's condition **</div>
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Rachelle Valentine worked as an intern with Clinton Anderson, worked with Dean Locke and is now an assistant trainer for Sean Patrick in Florida, From the beginning it seemed that the moment was too big for her as she made several mistakes with her gelding, the huge gray she named Checkers. And because of Checker's size, the insipid Matt West christened him "Chubby" Checkers after the 1960's singer who gave us the hit tune, <i>The Twist. </i></div>
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Like nearly all of the 6666 horses, Checkers was difficult to move forward. Hard to imagine after you see them race the arena over and over again. The members of the remuda are more or less wild horses with little in their past to prepare them for these three days, three of the most important days of their lives. They know the way of the herd and little else and have spent a year or two on the plains of Texas without human contact. Once under saddle, Checkers gave Rachelle all she could handle. But Valentine's problems began during one of the mandatory rest breaks for Checkers. On day one the great gray was left alone in the round pen saddled and bridled as were all of the other contestants horses at one point or another. But Rachelle left one of her reins dangling and Checkers stepped on it, then danced in panic for a few moments. Point deductions by the judges followed.</div>
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Her barrel-chested gelding pushed past her and broke for freedom as she closed the round pen gate after riding him outside its limits for several minutes. More penalty points. After day one, Rachelle spent her time looking up at her fellow competitors, a place she never relinquished.</div>
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Rachelle Valentine and Checkers outside the round pen.**</div>
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After breaking free.**</div>
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Checkers pushing a ball while crossing a tarp. Difficult work well done.**</div>
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After the obstacle course. The use of pink and white on the course to emphasize femininity made a mockery of the contestants.**</div>
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On a horse Sarah Dawson is fluid and graceful, her every movement has a purpose and nothing is left to chance. She is a terrific horsewoman and I think often overlooked because of her quiet, almost shy demeanor. She shares one characteristic with her father, Richard Winters, she is a phenomenal rider. I am not being crude when I say that her butt never leaves the saddle no matter the gait. Not every competitor, male or female, can say the same.</div>
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She is newly married and with her husband Chris, they operate Dawson Performance Horses in Aubrey, Texas. Their focus is on Reined Cow Horses and they currently have about sixty head in one state of training or another. Her marriage and professional success have given her once flat delivery during demonstrations a boost. There is a joy and happiness evident when she speaks now and she wears it well.</div>
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Sarah has two NRCHA (National Reined Cow Horse Assoc.) World Championships to her credit and was the 2015 Snaffle Bit Futurity Limited Open Champion and has been a finalist in every NRCHA premier event. At this writing, Sarah is currently ranked eighth nationally, while her husband is ranked number two. Chris was in Las Vegas competing while she started her colt at the RTTH. </div>
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Sarah Dawson on her colt. #4**</div>
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Despite her usual solid work, Sarah spent the weekend in third places with less than ten points separating her from the top spot and Kate Neubert. Sometimes it just doesn't pay to be too good at what you do.</div>
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Kate Neubert grew up starting horses with her father, clinician Bryan Neubert, in California. Her specialty is in cutting horses, where her winnings are approaching $200,000. She qualified two horses to the semi-finals in the 2014 NCHA Futurity, her first year competing in this prestigious event.</div>
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She describes herself as Kate the horse trainer, the competitor and as a somewhat quiet girl from California, but also as a servant of God and student of the horse. </div>
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As she enters her round-pen you are struck by how small she is, tiny by any measure, but tough and thorough, competent and aggressive. In her brochure she is quoted as saying, "We can take young horses - horses that are frightened, stressed or confused, and in a short amount of time (and with the right efforts) we can teach them understanding, trust and encouragement. We can mold them and shape them and create a willing partner, all because of our approach. If we can apply these tactics to every corner of our lives, just think of the growth and impact we can have on ourselves and others!"</div>
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Her comments define the perfect strategy for any horse endeavor, but especially one such as the RTTH, where the time allowed with a young gelding is at a premium and the results can define the rest of the horse's life.</div>
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Kate Neubert and her young gelding.**</div>
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In first place at the end of day one, she began day two by striding confidently into her round-pen, insisting on forward movement from her 3-year-old charger. I've noticed over the past several years that horses provided by the 6666 ranch tend toward a bit of indolence, perhaps a byproduct of fear caused by their separation from the herd. But it is a contest that requires forward motion.</div>
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With a scant ten point margin over Kiwi Vicki Wilson in second place, Kate literally did a hop, skip and jump as she entered the arena and began to prepare her horse for the obstacle course on day three. The obstacle course, as you might expect, separates "the men from the boys" and the audience responds to each competitor with encouragement,. thunderous applause and ear-splitting cheers. </div>
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Somewhere on day three it began to go wrong for Kate Neubert. I couldn't tell you where exactly, mostly it came down to her horse's capacity to learn and willingness to cooperate. Many have said, "How did we ever train horses without blue tarpolins?" Sluggish at pole-bending, with uncertain and ragged passages over the next two obstacles, the dreaded tarpolin reared its cobra-like head and bit Kate Neubert. But this time the tarp was white with Zoetis printed in bold bright orange letters across its surface and may as well have been ten feet tall, because Kate Neubert's horse would not cross.</div>
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Vicki Wilson, the last minute replacement for Barbara Cox, came to the arena wearing riding breaches, a helmet, tight calf-high riding boots and a flat saddle. A champion show jumper in her native New Zealand, she speaks in a slightly nasal clipped accent that combines a bit of English haughtiness with a demand for your respect. No one could have looked or sounded more out of place than Vicki Wilson in the good ol' boys environment of western colt starting. </div>
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Vicki Wilson and the horse she named Kentucky. **</div>
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Notice that there is tape over the name on Vicki's saddle cloth. Not unusual, when my horse Stormy Monday and I appeared with Rick Lamb on The Horse Show, I had to remove my Chris Cox vest! At that time ADM, the show's sponsor, also sponsored Clinton Anderson.</div>
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Vicki and her two sisters are well known for their work saving the wild horses of New Zealand and now have brought their passion to the United States and our native horse, the mustang. And I think it is the word "passion" that best describes Vicki Wilson's relationship to her horses and life.</div>
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It was not her accent or her garb that riveted those in the arena, but her skill in coaxing everything that her horse Kentucky had to give at any given moment and rewarding his effort with rest.</div>
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No one really saw what happened, only that it appeared she had been thrown. In fact, she had somehow dislocated her left shoulder, an old injury, and leaped to the ground landing on her bum. Scrambling to her feet and doing a passable job of mending the joint, she continued as though nothing had happened. Vicki is a tough and experienced competitor and as Chris Cox said of her, "If you shake hands with her you'd better hold on to something." Earning Chris' respect is a trophy to cherish.</div>
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Returning the next morning, day two, with her arm in a sling, she said that she had spent an uncomfortable night, had seen a "physio" and was back to to do the job she came to do. In that moment she won over the assembly, if not the judges. She remained in second place behind Kate Neubert by a mere ten points as day three dawned.<br />
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For three days Vicki Wilson demonstrated knowledge, competence, courage and extraordinary skill, whether showcasing her diagnostic and chiropractic skills in a demonstration (she even had adjusted Stacey Westfall's horse once and had been asked to do another adjustment), or in a dream-like spotlit performance aboard one of Dan James' horses, she simply stood taller than her fellow competitors.<br />
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Vicki Wilson and Pegasus</div>
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Vicki Wilson and one of Dan James horses in a bridle-less exhibition.**</div>
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It was among the pink and white fixtures of the obstacle course that Vicki Wilson excelled and laid claim to the 2017 title. Her vast experience and calm reassuring demeanor led her horse, Kentucky, to accomplish what a horse with little more than three hours of training should not have been able to do.</div>
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A timed event, Vicki and Kentucky finished the obstacle course with minutes to spare. She eliminated his fears with gentle but firm guidance, giving him courage and confidence where fear had reigned just seconds before. In the process she was creating the brave and trusting horse that all of us want to ride. Understanding his reluctance before an obstacle, Vicki several times dismounted and walked her horse around and through or over the obstacles that shook his resolve. In particular the white Zoetis tarp that I mentioned earlier, first walking Kentucky across, then remounting and riding him across. In that moment the audience picked their winner. It was left only to the fickle judges to confirm the victory. I might add that while the audience had selected a winner, the judges seem to grudgingly accept the vaguely different methods used by foreign competitors, primarily Australians, before awarding them the brass ring.</div>
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With the smallest margin of victory in the competitions fifteen year history, a new champion was crowned: Vicki Wilson of New Zealand. And deservedly so. She'll be back in 2018 to defend her crown and she will do an exceptional job of it, be sure of that. We can only hope that the 2018 version is not billed as a "battle of the sexes." This is not the WWE (professional wrestling), it is the beginning of a new life for a horse that only days before will have roamed freely on the Texas plains. </div>
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It is not about gender, it is the about the horse - always the horse, first and foremost, the horse.</div>
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Amid the pyrotechnics the winner is... Notice her left arm in a sling,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-I4SgWjxTSN1n0wv01Ka99Lt6_qIvsHANtYiI9bBAiuTr1T-8iE2O_5w0UILcmvzvpF1jW_bkjUmj5CwP4r-T4YHcRJxFogxbtk8FMg0fIe0LgIVTa8caMSiFAbiEBiarFzpyyOjt3Wa/s1600/and+the+winner+is+vicki+wilson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-I4SgWjxTSN1n0wv01Ka99Lt6_qIvsHANtYiI9bBAiuTr1T-8iE2O_5w0UILcmvzvpF1jW_bkjUmj5CwP4r-T4YHcRJxFogxbtk8FMg0fIe0LgIVTa8caMSiFAbiEBiarFzpyyOjt3Wa/s400/and+the+winner+is+vicki+wilson.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Tootie Bland and Vicki Wilson.</div>
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Copyright, July 27, 2017 by Loren Schumacher</div>
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All photos marked ** are copyrighted by Loren Schumacher, July 27, 2017</div>
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All other photo copyrights are by the photographer, RTTH or by Western Horseman Magazine</div>
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Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197412375251715269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888517136616010442.post-20557705436059715142017-06-08T17:34:00.000-07:002017-06-08T20:19:53.323-07:00Derby Winner Classic Empire...!! What?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is a story the Cincinnati Enquirer printed in its Saturday, May 27, 2017 edition. The article read:<br />
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<b><i>Derby Winner Classic Empire skipping Belmont</i></b></div>
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<b>New York - Kentucky Derby winner Classic Empire will Skip the Belmont Stakes next month after finishing eighth in the Preakness.</b></div>
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<b>Trainer Todd Pletcher says the 3-year-old will be pointed toward either the $600,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga on July 29 or the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth on July 30, according to the Daily Racing Form.</b></div>
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<b>Trainer Chad Brown says he will wait until after the Memorial Day weekend to announce where Preakness winner Cloud Computing will run next. However, it appears likely that he will run in the Belmont.</b></div>
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<b>The Belmont field is limited to 16 starters. Horses expected include Conquest, Mo Money, Japan-based Epicharis, Gormley, Irap, J Boys Echo, Lookin At Lee, Meantime, Multiple, Patch and Senior Investment.</b></div>
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<b><i>Associated Press</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Derby Winner Classic Empire (?)</i></b></div>
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The Cincinnati Enquirer began as the Cincinnati Commercial in the mid-1800's and survived the shake-out of our two afternoon daily newspapers, The Cincinnati Post and The Cincinnati Times Star. It was a proud newspaper with a great tradition and a conservative editorial board. But with the advent of online resources the Enquirer, like many other newspapers, began cutting costs to make up for lost revenue and increased costs. The Enquirer isn't even printed in Cincinnati anymore, it is printed in Columbus and is now owned by the USA Today group.</div>
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The paper staggers beneath the weight of change, but never is its decline more evident than in the quality of its editing. There are grammatical and syntax errors and this unedited news wire story makes you wonder about the accuracy of stories that are of substantially more significance than this </div>
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collection of misbegotten prose.</div>
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So I wrote the following email to Jason Hoffman, the sports editor.</div>
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<b><i>Jason,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Of course by now you know that it was Always Dreaming who won the Kentucky Derby and not Classic Empire as reported in today's Enquirer. Over the past several years I have been disappointed by the quality of editing at the Enquirer. This egregious error is just another reason why newspapers straddle a fine line between relevance and obsolescence. It makes no difference that the blurb about Classic Empire and the Belmont may have been sourced from the Associated Press, the error should have been caught.</i></b><br />
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<b><i>As a writer of articles that primarily deal with horses and horse racing, I am always careful to make certain my facts are in order, and I have an editor that demands that accuracy. We rely on you to bring us sports news that is accurate and not merely laughable.</i></b><br />
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And in all fairness I have to report the presence of <b>egg on my face</b>, because in my haste to dash off this email to Mr. Hoffman, I typed "...Always Dreaming who one," when I meant Always Dreaming who "won" the Kentucky Derby. lol.<br />
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By the way, The Enquirer did not respond to my email.<br />
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Wearing the symbol of his Kentucky Derby win, Always Dreaming.</div>
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Copyright June 6, 2017 by Loren Schumacher</div>
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Photo copyrights belong to the photographers</div>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">Derby Winner Classic Empire skipping Belmont</i> by the Associated Press and published by The Cincinnati Enquirer on May 37, 2017</div>
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Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197412375251715269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888517136616010442.post-22248345952245487102017-05-04T16:24:00.001-07:002018-01-02T14:51:14.276-08:00Wild Dayrell<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The three foundation sires of the modern Thoroughbred date to Byerly Turk, 1680, Darley Arabian, 1704 and Godolphin Arabian in 1729. Wild Dayrell, an English Thoroughbred foaled in 1852, was just six generations removed from Herod and eight from Godolphin Arabian. He was the product of the union of Ellen Middleton, a horse purchased for 50** guineas and the runner up in the Epson Derby of 1838 to Ion. A photo of Wild Dayrell taken in 1855, the year he was retired, is the earliest known photographic image of a Thoroughbred.</div>
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Wild Dayrell in 1855</div>
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The Geelong Advertiser and Intelligencer (Canberra, Australia) of Friday, September 14, 1855 described him this way:<br />
"He is a rich brown horse, standing sixteen hands one inch high of immense power, he has a good lean head, rather long arched neck (compare to paintings of the Godolphin Arabian), good shoulder, great depth of girth (69 inches), immense ribs, and very powerful strong muscular quarters, immense arms (?), gaskins, knees, and hocks and is very short from knee to ground. If anything, he is a little "in" at the elbows, and his toes turn outward. He has no white about him and "take him all in all," is one of the finest specimens of a race horse that has been seen for years." It looks like he might be "sickle hocked" as well, but it could just be the way he is standing.<br />
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His breeder, Francis Popham of Littlecote House in Wiltshire, had no prior experience in breeding horses, nor did his "trainer," John Rickaby, Popham's "hunting groom." Throughout his brief but successful racing career, Wild Dayrell was dogged by the public's opinion that he had been "trained by a gardener."<br />
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Wild Dayrell's name is the stuff of local legends in Wiltshire. It is said to stem from the murder of an illegitimate child. Its unthinkable death came at the hands of one of Popham's male forbears named Darrell. The child was first thrown into an open fire at Littlecote House. When it somehow escaped the flames, the baby was thrown onto the fireplace grate where it died. A scorned husband could leave no evidence of a woman's infidelity it seems.<br />
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Wild Dayrell was sold as a yearling for 100 guineas, with an extra 500 guineas to be paid should the colt win the Epsom Derby. The purchaser was John Kent, the agent for Lord Henry Lennox, the son of the Duke of Richmond. These people traveled in lofty circles.<br />
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As a two-year old in 1854 he was repurchased by Popham for 250 guineas after proving himself "backward and immature." Popham sold a share in Dayrell to Lord Craven and on September 27, 1854 the horse easily won by two lengths a three-horse sweepstakes at Newmarket, beating horses named Hazel and Para. In winning, Wild Dayrell so impressed onlookers that he was installed as a contender for the following year's Epsom Derby.<br />
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After turning down a 3000 British pound bid for the horse by Baron Meyer de Rothschild, his owners stepped up the pressure, racing him in a private trial just 10 days before the 1855 Derby, where he soundly defeated three rivals, including a classy colt by the name of Jack Shepherd, while giving away 21 pounds to his three rivals.<br />
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What followed is the stuff of Hollywood. Gamblers and bookmakers feared loosing a small fortune should Wild Dayrell win the Derby. A member of Popham's staff was let go for acting "suspiciously" and the horse was put under guard. There is more. The horse-box (trailer) hired to transport the colt was sabotaged and collapsed when it was pulled by a bullock. Then a 5000 British pound bribe was offered to Popham and Lord Craven, which they refused,<br />
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The even money favorite against an eleven horse field that included the 2000 Guineas winner, Lord of the Isles at 7/4. Stalking the leader Kingstown, Dayrell made his move just a furlong from the finish, winning by a length from Kingstown with Lord of the Isles finishing third. Lord Craven made a killing on the outcome, winning 10,000 British pounds, While Lord Craven cashed in, Dayrell emerged from the race lame in the left front, most likely because of the course's firm turf. His unfortunate injury would resurface later.<br />
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He won in a lark at York in the "Ebor St. Leger" over a well thought of colt named Oulston. He was next entered in the Doncaster Cup, a race of two and a half miles. While he was the favorite and gave away seven pounds to his rivals, he came to the post with heavily bandaged legs. He pulled up lame, failing to finish for the first time and suffering his only defeat. A short while later he was retired and first stood at Littlecote for 30 guineas, where he sired many winners including his daughter, Hurricane, the 1000 Guinea winner of 1862 and Atlantic, the 1874 winner of the 2000 Guineas.<br />
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Wild Dayrell died where he was born, at Littlecote in November 1879. He was 27.<br />
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One writer said of him, "There is no saying how good as a race horse he really was," because he was never truly tested.<br />
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Compare if you will, the photo of Wild Dayrell to Thoroughbreds of more recent vintage:<br />
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The beautiful Practical Joke.</div>
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The incomparable American Pharoah.</div>
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Regardless of who wins the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 6, 2017, we wish horses and riders alike a safe trip and God's speed.<br />
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** A historical currency calculator gave me the buying power in current US dollars and these are the results.<br />
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30 guineas, Dayrell's opening stud fee: $3507.00 in today's dollars.<br />
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50 guineas, purchase price for Ellen Middleton: $5844.00 in today's dollars.<br />
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100 guineas, Dayrell's original selling price: $11,689.00 in today's dollars.<br />
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250 guineas, price Popham paid to repurchase Dayrell: $29,244.00 in today's dollars.<br />
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3000 British pounds, price offered by Baron de Rothschild for Dayrell: $333,999.00 in today's dollars.<br />
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5000 British pounds, bribe offered Popham to pull Dayrell from the Epsom Derby: $556,666.00 in today's dollars.<br />
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10,000 British pounds, Lord Craven's winnings at the Epsom Derby: $1,033,338.00<br />
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These numbers would be enough to save Downton Abbey!<br />
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Copyright May 4, 2017 by Loren Schumacher</div>
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Copyrights for all photos belong to the photographer</div>
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Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197412375251715269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888517136616010442.post-62451291042157954862017-02-13T18:55:00.000-08:002017-02-14T05:50:04.179-08:00...step off the sidewalk.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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"For the record, we were NOT lost-not after we figured out we'd dropped two miles and 1,500 vertical feet in the wrong direction in a near-whiteout." Just a postcard from the edge. </div>
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...in a near-whiteout."</div>
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To be honest, I really don't know Steve Woodruff well. He is the friend of a friend. What I know of him comes from our brief and infrequent digital correspondence and his photographs. But we do share a love of horses and the outdoor life. And for me, that's enough.</div>
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Montana is fly-over country. It is the hyphen that connects the urban centers of the east and west coasts. The graceful neck around which hang the pearls. There are just over a million people living in Montana. Compare that with Ohio, where I live, and its population of nearly twelve million souls. There are few homesteads, outposts in a sea of grass, and fewer cars. The wind gathers up what is not secured and pushes it for mile upon mile until a taut fence line catches up what it can. Tumbleweed, just Russian Thistle really, torn from the thin soil rushes about madly just ahead of the wind. And there is water, cold water and cutthroat trout, elk and deer, the larder of past times. Foxes raise their generations, while buzzards make death pristine and hawks deal with the problem of over population. There is still more in the jagged granite peaks, creeks that tumble white over their rocky paths, and rolling meadows of purple and yellow blooms rife with long grass,sweet and green.</div>
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Steve, you see, is not afraid to step off the sidewalk, to peer through the hedges, to look up and down country. He fishes for trout in cold fast running streams and scours the tussocks for pheasant along with his two yellow labs, and rides his good horse Ranger along narrow paths into a wider, wilder world.</div>
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There is an intimacy and warmth in Steve's photographs. However, in many of the photographs, survival and not the animal is the real subject. No matter the animal and no matter its size, all of them face deep snow, brutal cold and solitary searches for food that never end. For the most part, leisure and a full stomach are unknown in the animal world. </div>
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Steve has graciously allowed me to use his photographs. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. </div>
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First, the horses:</div>
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Ranger in a sea of grass. Notice his muscle mass.</div>
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<i>Zimba's Partial Eclipse</i><br />
My favorite of all the horse photos.<br />
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Zimba is Ranger's pasture buddy.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOf1PtrNYd1nufpDCZsqIVPqwVrHKijW69h_XWgNUJEP-8hLz-tU5H7MQ-Dbqx6Ww2MYJnITfqR8rFP-x1OY3S5pVn_cqDHjxQb5RcLe51DKbPG8_bYZ_juxINmwozOf-U15-xee18gTzJ/s1600/Ranger+III+By+steve+woodruff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOf1PtrNYd1nufpDCZsqIVPqwVrHKijW69h_XWgNUJEP-8hLz-tU5H7MQ-Dbqx6Ww2MYJnITfqR8rFP-x1OY3S5pVn_cqDHjxQb5RcLe51DKbPG8_bYZ_juxINmwozOf-U15-xee18gTzJ/s640/Ranger+III+By+steve+woodruff.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Ranger patrolling the fence line.</div>
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From the field:</div>
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Timeless</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WRXtnGek-RJf495ELMs-HfEbuiFTq6VmWsNwot_fnj7vzPShpauNBB6MiuDqB08uKmhBZJUdTBYzVLE7keXIW_ymrv_oO0W0fRC5LPtEnTcrpGkpuP0rjGG1ZR3KQLPOz9AcdazuqiaG/s1600/If+Today+Would+Last+Forever+by+Steve+Woodruff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="521" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WRXtnGek-RJf495ELMs-HfEbuiFTq6VmWsNwot_fnj7vzPShpauNBB6MiuDqB08uKmhBZJUdTBYzVLE7keXIW_ymrv_oO0W0fRC5LPtEnTcrpGkpuP0rjGG1ZR3KQLPOz9AcdazuqiaG/s640/If+Today+Would+Last+Forever+by+Steve+Woodruff.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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If Today Could Last Forever. <br />
This is achingly beautiful and almost moves me to tears.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRJs161EzKa1drPadtwoM3xD_VdGnBKRq_Pg3sUC-0OZXdpqpediJXdMqTvzpBx0BUgBLfUvZNeVHTErBygIcS7AbP7-tBCWFe9AH2qaeGx3VEAgI7icreLIyIattyylyUWaRTJ9kTsp9/s1600/rough-legged+hawk+by+steve+woodruff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="449" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRJs161EzKa1drPadtwoM3xD_VdGnBKRq_Pg3sUC-0OZXdpqpediJXdMqTvzpBx0BUgBLfUvZNeVHTErBygIcS7AbP7-tBCWFe9AH2qaeGx3VEAgI7icreLIyIattyylyUWaRTJ9kTsp9/s640/rough-legged+hawk+by+steve+woodruff.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Rough-Legged Hawk <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixootwc39BXXD9rT-bFBn3DdHX5n0IwLRtzu_O5eY9cNrD40WB5s2D4FTgaSSG_8WuEGr0TcSkzYz-n2cCHD3OVyT5xyAyUiBPuaZxbuDqupdhR17NtJ0Jk5FrmJbWUPq977vMdOXB2aWx/s1600/by+steve+woodruff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixootwc39BXXD9rT-bFBn3DdHX5n0IwLRtzu_O5eY9cNrD40WB5s2D4FTgaSSG_8WuEGr0TcSkzYz-n2cCHD3OVyT5xyAyUiBPuaZxbuDqupdhR17NtJ0Jk5FrmJbWUPq977vMdOXB2aWx/s640/by+steve+woodruff.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Coyote and Hitchhiking Magpie</div>
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Bison<br />
In order to subjugate the Plains Indians we nearly<br />
hunted the Bison to extinction. When that didn't work, we rounded up<br />
their horses and killed them all.</div>
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Bull Elk</div>
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Great Blue Heron on the Bitterroot River</div>
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Magpie in the Snow <br />
Magpies are ubiquitous. And everywhere too!<br />
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Winter on the Mountain</div>
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Day's End<br />
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All photos by Steve Woodruff, Copyright 2/13/17</div>
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Text and captions by Loren Schumacher, Copyright 2/13/17</div>
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Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197412375251715269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888517136616010442.post-39930261380474964662017-01-01T20:24:00.001-08:002017-01-08T13:59:07.932-08:00In The Rear View: 2016<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Maybe it's because I don't have the best eyesight, that I love to look at pictures. Life in stop action, every detail frozen in time to be savored, to be examined in your own good time. I've collected photographs since I can remember and the computer, a treasure trove of digitized images, has given me a resource that I could never have imagined and at a price that anyone can afford.<br />
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Horses satisfy our souls, elevate our spirit and stir our hearts and let's not forget the human beings who ride them, the courageous men and woman who risk their lives to do the one thing that few can, ride a thoroughbred gate to wire faster than the rest.<br />
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These are just a few of the photos I've collected in the past year, 2016. Perhaps one of these horses is a favorite of yours. I hope so.<br />
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First, a remembrance or two and some wistful goodbyes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHVJiwVRsjvA7JkTxBvCRrb-TAOO7EB44roEe8lNJhT4RbnX6N0bUDHE4IHr22E7vANftBmfW-N96Dp92H-r-sBvIYxHTbP9nwQkpAmkUJJPSnbntv_qFo4B447AXdMuhBEHYCDpbOeYs/s1600/Beholder+says+goodbye+to+Richard+Mandela.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHVJiwVRsjvA7JkTxBvCRrb-TAOO7EB44roEe8lNJhT4RbnX6N0bUDHE4IHr22E7vANftBmfW-N96Dp92H-r-sBvIYxHTbP9nwQkpAmkUJJPSnbntv_qFo4B447AXdMuhBEHYCDpbOeYs/s400/Beholder+says+goodbye+to+Richard+Mandela.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Trainer Richard Mandela saying goodbye to Beholder</div>
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Cigar 15 days before his death.</div>
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Lady's Secret, the Hall of Fame daughter of Secretariat.</div>
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Secretariat is better known for his fillies and mares than his male progeny, an exception is Tinner's Way, now a resident of Old Friends Equine in Georgetown, Kentucky. While she is deceased, Lady's Secret's record remains.</div>
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Arguably the greatest thoroughbred of all time, this is Secretariat in 1973, his legendary Triple Crown year. This photo was taken by famed photographer Barbara Livingston when she was twelve years old. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguX3prO501CcJ2Q0M_fudRv3X0Suf70SObMaOuuflYpFLgYQPGaKiTFnw9TwZqNmHCF5oz4DzOkBMV7NNz7_Rrmtk76alhMfKK8w0WSb2O1TtNzWG83wb1CB0b1LM17NUslAPwnQYdXGz9/s1600/The+late+Garett+Gomez+aboard+Beholder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguX3prO501CcJ2Q0M_fudRv3X0Suf70SObMaOuuflYpFLgYQPGaKiTFnw9TwZqNmHCF5oz4DzOkBMV7NNz7_Rrmtk76alhMfKK8w0WSb2O1TtNzWG83wb1CB0b1LM17NUslAPwnQYdXGz9/s400/The+late+Garett+Gomez+aboard+Beholder.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The late Garrett Gomez aboard the incredible Beholder.<br />
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Speaking of Beholder, six year old Beholder ( 8) with Gary Stevens up, defeats three year old Songbird (1) and Mike Smith by a scant nose in the 2016 Breeders Cup Distaff.<br />
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Beholder was retired to Spendthrift Farm in Lexington after winning the Distaff in perhaps the greatest horse race anyone has ever seen. Her first suitor in February will be the great Uncle Mo.</div>
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Earlier I mentioned the danger in horse racing and the courage of the jockeys.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXlpC6wFQl514aI-tYT0Pb5DNW-zwLXmdpnV8IN2gzfrrYi9lG8zLXQ0WIDx6IXbViXQuMsNe7ifFiQZr3C5l6GqolMn4irRef0Ts01DgQVGKKYy5OC_KscOc1rkkgzdyE_ZiTuQTL2uz/s1600/Aiden+Coleman+falls+from+Mick+Thonic+11+13+in+Cheltenham+England.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXlpC6wFQl514aI-tYT0Pb5DNW-zwLXmdpnV8IN2gzfrrYi9lG8zLXQ0WIDx6IXbViXQuMsNe7ifFiQZr3C5l6GqolMn4irRef0Ts01DgQVGKKYy5OC_KscOc1rkkgzdyE_ZiTuQTL2uz/s400/Aiden+Coleman+falls+from+Mick+Thonic+11+13+in+Cheltenham+England.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Aiden Coleman falls with Mick Thonic at Cheltenham, England in late 2016.</div>
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Northside Downs, North Sydney, Australia. A catastrophic wreck in which everyone, horses and drivers survived, although one of the drivers was hospitalized.</div>
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Lest we forget the ladies.</div>
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Chantal Sutherland</div>
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Chantal Sutherland has been a very successful jockey in her home country, Canada. She always ranks among the leading jockeys at Woodbine. She has had more difficulty finding rides and owner/trainer support in the states, but is currently riding at Santa Anita Here she is seen aboard Coasted, a contender for the 2016 Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf </div>
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Chantal was once the paramour of Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith and was featured in the realty series,Jockeys, which ran for two seasons. Her rocky relationship with Smith was the focal point of the series and when the break-up came between them, the series ended. The two were lovers and roommates and the series' tension was driven by the dichotomy of her love for Smith versus his ego and unwillingness to commit to the Canadian beauty. His loss.</div>
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Afterward she married and had a child, retired and began a career unrelated to horse racing, but she simply could not stay away and she has returned to her first love, racing.</div>
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Nicole Vuille, an Australian jockey whom I became aware of through Facebook. Click on the photo and see that she is screaming. I would have been too.<br />
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It has been a year of retirements, too.</div>
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Frosted in a lather.</div>
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Frosted (Tapit x Fast Cookie) needs no one to apologize for his sterling career. He was always a threat whenever he raced. Wherever there was racing, Frosted and his connections were there, be it in Dubai, Kentucky, Maryland, New York or California. He raced the life out of a tired American Pharoah at Saratoga, but he seemed to have a problem carrying his speed to the finish in some of the longer route races. But his record setting effort in the 2016 Met Mile (1:32.73), winning by 14 1/2 lengths, was a historic achievement and his victory has been judged the premier racing performance of the year. He is retired now and I think racing is poorer for it. I will try to see him at Godolphin's Jonabelle this year.</div>
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The haughty visage of Tourist (Tiznow x Unbridled Melody x Unbridled's Song).</div>
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This is Tourist, who defeated the favorite, Tepin, in the 2016 Breeder's Cup Mile. In the same race in 2014 he finished 13th and 8th in 2015. Look at the hard set of his eye. I imagine that this horse can be a handful if you don't stay on top of him and after seeing him act up during a workout prior to the Breeder's Cup, my suspicions were confirmed. I believe that Frosted would have easily bested Tourist in the BC Mile.</div>
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It was a year of early retirements, adding credibility to what we already knew, that stallions and mares are chattel to be used as cash generating breeding machines, until they can no longer perform or are too old and fragile to bear a foal. </div>
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Nyquist ( Uncle Mo x Seeking Gabrielle ) was never right after winning the Derby this year. Mysterious illnesses plagued him off and on and his performances suffered. His connections sited a "growth spurt." He is recovering nicely at Godolphin's Jonabelle farm after recent colic surgery!</div>
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Ironicus, the middle distance turf horse by Distorted Humor was retired to Claiborne Farm. In the last two years the five year old won 5 of 10 races with 4 second place finishes.</div>
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Tamarkuz (x Speightstown) won the BC Dirt Mile in 2016 with Mike Smith aboard. The five year old began his career in Great Britain before heading to Dubai and then the U.S. A winner of 8 of 20 starts with additional placings, Tamakuz won nearly two million dollars and will spend retirement at Sheikh Handen's Shadwell in Kentucky.<br />
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Run Happy</div>
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Known as much for his hilarious sleep habits as his speed, Run Happy was retired to Claiborne Farms after finishing 8th in the BC Dirt Mile as a four year old. He was undefeated in sprint races and was 6 for 7 as a three year old, winning an Eclipse Award as Champion Male Sprinter. </div>
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But in the present and recent past there more than enough equine heroes to capture our attention and our hearts.</div>
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After American Pharoah and Frosted, my personal favorite is the Candy Ride colt, Gun Runner. This is a horse that can never be counted out and while he may not be Arrogate, he brings grit, guts and determination to every starting gate. In 11 starts he has 6 wins, 2 seconds and 2 thirds, among them a win in the G1 Clark Handicap in November. He is a possible starter in the Pegasus, where he will acquit himself with his usual maximum effort. Did I mention that I love this horse?<br />
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My guy, Gun Runner.</div>
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And here are a few more still racing in the present or in out hearts.</div>
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California Chrome will race anyone, anywhere, anytime. He will be retired to Taylor Made after the Pegasus.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKso7F7KNpGOQuzd0K83Qso2gAbEZLQvQjZNWwXvP2Xr58QZNqON9nF6C_MEkv7Ql6d0WEA7EX6sODynF3G0DswgkiyJfNuysrfq8L5HRxQMOojmSOB7EdTldGNsn2xCWAcB1wjDtawjE/s1600/Arrogate+with+dana+barnes+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKso7F7KNpGOQuzd0K83Qso2gAbEZLQvQjZNWwXvP2Xr58QZNqON9nF6C_MEkv7Ql6d0WEA7EX6sODynF3G0DswgkiyJfNuysrfq8L5HRxQMOojmSOB7EdTldGNsn2xCWAcB1wjDtawjE/s400/Arrogate+with+dana+barnes+up.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Courage and speed to spare, Arrogate with Dana Barnes up. He was scratched from the San Pasqual<br />
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Effinex, post race, with lightening in his veins. His eyes appear almost glazed and vacant. He is spent after giving everything.</div>
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Two words: American Pharoah. Nothing more needs to be said.</div>
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And I've saved the best for last (If you don't count American Pharoah.).</div>
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My paint mare, Callie (Calliope)</div>
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This is my beautiful girl fresh from a bath, but still wearing a dirty face, courtesy of a weed in our pasture that goes dormant every fall. At fourteeen Callie has never been able to give everything that she has to offer because of a chronic navicular problem, aggravated by her foot stomping fly dance during the summer. I hope to give her relief this year with two injections of Osphos, a drug whose specific purpose is to relieve navicular distress. The drug can lead to colic, so I have every finger crossed.</div>
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She is unbelievably powerful, a bit stubborn and given to atmospheric bucking when her thoughts on an issue go unresolved. I have never ridden a horse that is so responsive. You have only to stay centered on her long back and think about what you want from her. </div>
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Callie is playful, winding up my other mare, Stormy Monday, whenever she takes a notion to. She is loving and affectionate and I can only hope that Osphos will be a blessing to my good and kind friend. Oh yes, she likes to eat and will defend her vittles from her domineering sister, Stormy...so long as there is a gate between them.</div>
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Callie makes the world a better place.<br />
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Stormy<br />
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Her name fits her. Stormy, my pint sized registered paint horse, thinks, connives, remembers and gets even. She is a second hand rose that no one could do anything with, but she was looking for someone to trust, someone strong enough to endow with the title of <b><i>herd leader</i></b>. Though she never stops testing me and never will, I've gained her trust and that means a lot to me.</div>
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Stormy is difficult to ride, her trot is killing, because she has a short wheelbase, but her slow canter is worth whatever the cost might be. To watch her canter or gallop freely is like watching Astaire and Rogers, or Gene Kelly in Singing In The Rain on the silver screen. She is that graceful. Stormy needs an experienced rider, but if the rider begins to daydream, there is a price to pay. The price, she assumes you are no longer in control and so she must be. Stormy will tolerate no passengers. </div>
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As I said, she can be difficult and quite often her eyes are as hard and edgy as they appear in her picture. Romance her, but don't bribe her and she will be putty in your hands. Well, you can bribe her just a little if it makes you feel better. If she knew how predictable and funny she is she would be mortified. There is no other like her and I am glad for that.</div>
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Copyright, January 1, 2017 by Loren R. Schumacher</div>
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Photograph credits as noted, or photos in the public domain.</div>
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Callie and Stormy Photographs, Copyright, Loren R. Schumacher, January 1, 2017</div>
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Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197412375251715269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888517136616010442.post-11985971078480699612016-11-26T16:42:00.000-08:002016-11-26T16:48:56.408-08:00The Long Riders<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Somehow the words to the song Route 66 came to mind whenever I read about Valerie Ashker, her friend Peter Friedman and their two off-track Thoroughbred horses, Primitivo and Solar Express, on the Off-Track Thoroughbreds.com website. Route 66, now a relic of our motoring past, ran from Chicago to LA, nearly 2000 miles one way, but only two-thirds the distance Ashker, Friedman and their horses planned to ride.<br />
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For those of you who have never been to the United States, it is a big country. I mean it is a big country. More than 3300 miles end to end, it crosses desert infernos, the Rocky Mountains, where a fourteen thousand foot mountain is more the norm than an aberration, The Great Basin, home to freakish weather and the dust storms of the Great Depression, until the green rolling land of the mid-east gives way to the ancient Appalachian Mountains and then to the eastern most coast and some of America's greatest urban centers. </div>
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Valerie Ashker, 60, is a long time Off-Track Thoroughbred trainer, she, her daughter, Lainey a four-star Eventer and Rolex competitor and Friedman left her Georgetown, California ranch in May of 2016.</div>
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A joyous gallop for the camera. Valerie Ashker and Primitivo.</div>
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(photo by Tylir Penton)</div>
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The mountains and high altitude came quickly, as did a number of falls that left Ashker with broken ribs and and a broken clavicle. Along the way a suspicious spot discovered on her lungs was found to be scar tissue from an earlier injury and not cancer, as was first feared. The emotional and physical toll did not weaken her resolve as she was determined to "call attention to the usefulness of Thoroughbred horses once their racetrack careers are over."</div>
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Of the ride she said, it is "not about me, but about the horses that have so much to give once their racing days are past."</div>
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It was when Ashker and Friedman reached Cincinnati (my hometown) in mid-October that I began to follow their progress as they made their way toward Loudon County, Virginia, their destination. Solar Express and Primitivo ambled along our city's congested roads with the cool confidence that experience bestows. They stood calmly as children from a city apartment complex swarmed around them "like bees," asking countless questions and hoping to pet the horses which most of them had never before seen in the flesh.</div>
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Valerie Ashker and Peter Friedman near Cincinnati's Paul Brown Stadium, home of the Cincinnati Bengals.</div>
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By November 7th, the caravan had crossed into Grafton, West Virginia where Ashker took time to thank the local Dairy Queen for the complimentary ice cream cones (for human consumption only) and gave thanks for the great weather that we have experienced in the mid-east this fall. By now we are usually experiencing nights in the low 30's F, killing frosts and torrents of bone chilling rain that can turn to sleet and sometimes to snow.</div>
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The journey ended in November with their arrival at the Middleburgh Training Center in Loudon County, Virginia, with smiles, hugs and a good gallop by the fit and trim Thoroughbreds that delighted the eye and the camera.<br />
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Welcoming Valerie Ashker and Primitivo to Virginia.</div>
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Primitivo, Ashker said, began as "sort of spooky, " but quickly adjusted to the noise and confusion of busy highways and congested cities. "Along the way he became more confident in his own skin," she said.</div>
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Primitivo in Virginia.</div>
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"This horse never stops," she said of Solar Express. "He had his eye on the next mountain and the next twenty miles the whole way." Solar Express was once her Eventing horse and Ashker once said that he was "on the muscle too much." She added, "Now I see that he belongs in the realm of endurance horses. He lead the entire time...his ears pricked."</div>
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Seventeen year old Solar Express.</div>
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Ashker and her horses will soon be moving to Virginia where they will have time to reflect on their journey and its meaning, Saying of the long haul, " I have a total new appreciation for the country and its people. And the timing was right. Looking back on the entirety of this, I'd say its been the ride of a lifetime."</div>
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A fitting end. Look at the condition of these two horses.</div>
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Copyright, November 26, 2016 by Loren R. Schumacher</div>
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Sources: Off-Track Thoroughbreds.com, The Loudon Times-Mirror.</div>
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Your can also learn more about Valerie Ashker's journey on her Facebook page: 2nd Makes Through Starting Gates. </div>
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Only one photo has been credited and the balance came from each of the websites/Facebook pages noted above. They seem to be without credit.</div>
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Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197412375251715269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888517136616010442.post-46866466113798259932016-10-18T15:48:00.001-07:002016-10-19T17:44:07.985-07:00A Local Legend Calls It Done<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Russell Road, a 10-year old gelding by Wheaton out of the Verification mare Roberta Grump (Roberta Grump produced 11 starters, all winners), called it a career recently at Charles Town (W Va.) Races. Winning more than two million dollars during his career, Russell Road leaves behind a stellar record of 31 wins (22 were stakes wins) in 62 starts.<br />
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A farewell to Russell Road</div>
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Bethanny Roll, a photographer at the Hollywood Casino at the Charles Town Races, had this to say about the chestnut gelding;</div>
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"This horse was truly something to watch, He won over half of his career starts and is a local legend here at the Charles Town Races. </div>
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He was always a competitor at the race track. In fact, when the track had him in the post parade for the West Virginia Breeder's Classic, a race he won three times, he was a struggle to jog off the track, because he wanted to join the competitors and race again.</div>
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He had a presence when he came on the track unlike any other (you get an idea of his presence in the picture above). He was the type of horse you knew was something big without even knowing his name."<br />
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Russell Road winning the 2014 West Virginia Breeder's Classic</div>
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Owner Mark Russell knows that Russell Road is a candidate for the retirement blues and needs to stay busy. "He'll make any kind of jumper or riding horse and we're going to explore those possibilities for him. He's not the kind of horse that's going to be happy stomping flies out in the field. Russell said. He wants to do a job, he loves being around people, he loves having something to do. It's just who he is. It doesn't matter if you take him home and put him out in the paddock. 30 minutes later he's at the gate wanting back in. He just likes that connection with folks."<br />
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Russell Road wins the 2015 Roger Ramey Stakes</div>
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Russell Road is the second leading money winner among all West Virginia bred horses and is held in such esteem that the Wild & Wonderful-a race Russell Road hit the board in three times in his career-will be renamed the Russell Road Stakes in 2017</div>
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I published this little story of an obscure gelding from a third tier track because so many stories from the racing world are scarred and ugly. corrupt and tawdry. Tales of injured horses running on pain-killing drugs until they break down or are sold to slaughter when they can no longer produce on the track or the pay window are common. This is a story of triumph. A happy story. Racing needs more of them. And so do we.</div>
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Copyright: October 18, 2016 by Loren R. Schumacher</div>
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Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197412375251715269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888517136616010442.post-6766104495290034162016-10-06T14:14:00.002-07:002016-10-06T14:18:19.107-07:00The Soft White Underbelly, Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Since the coming of American Pharoah I have thought about little else, when it comes to horses, than thoroughbreds and racing. I'm never going to know the lineage of every champion who put hoof to dirt or shoe to turf, but I will always love the game, the color, the mud spattered jockeys and the thoroughbred's time-compressing speed. Feeling the tension before my horse enters the gate is part of the thrill of racing for me. I remember literally being unable to sit down in the hours just before American Pharoah ran the Belmont and then plundered the field in the Breeder's Cup Classic in 2015. Similarly, I suffer with California Chrome and Frosted each time they race.<br />
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One of my favorites was Big Brown (Boundary - Mien by Nureyev), trained by Rick Dutrow. Now eleven years old, his progeny have begun to make their presence felt in racing circles. His Derby and Preakness victories in 2008 left the racing world hungering for a Triple Crown Winner, the first since Affirmed decades before. But in the Belmont he finished 9th, barely crossing the finish line before the last beer concession closed for the day. A collapse so dramatic that it cast his entire race record in doubt. In eight races, he finished first in seven of them. His list of victories also include the Florida Derby, The Haskell Invitational and the Monmouth Stakes. But to this day, a stench surrounds his career, the same stench of unscrupulous illegality and deception that follows trainer Rick Dutrow.<br />
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Big Brown and people who loved him. Check out the watch on this guy.<br />
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Trainer Rick Dutrow. <br />
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Dutrow is now serving a 10-year suspension (at one point the state's Racing and Wagering Board recommended Dutrow be banned for life) of his trainer's license in 2011 by New York regulators.</div>
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The former trainer of Big Brown has waged a continuous legal fight to have that judgement overturned. But the beleaguered trainer's most recent appeal was rejected in federal court.<br />
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"The board's decision resolves two specific matters that arose in November 2010: Dutrow's horse Fastus Cactus tested positive for the drug butorphanol-a pain killer 10 times more potent than morphine-after winning the third race at Aqueduct Racetrack on November 20, and three hypodermic needles "loaded with the drug Xylazine" were found in Dutrow's desk in Barn 10 at Aqueduct on November 2. Xylazine is an analgesic and tranquilizer that can enhance performance by alleviating lameness or calming a nervous horse." While he had probably not done anything that other top trainers had done, or been suspected of, he did get caught with his hand in the cookie jar, not once, but many times. Bob Baffert and Steve Asmussen, both Hall of Fame trainers, have been under some scrutiny in the past for similar infractions. "If anything, he's (Dutrow) had multiple opportunities to practice his profession in compliance with the rules. After all these infractions, I don't think any court will say he has been discriminated against...given his record" said Louisville attorney and racing official Robert Heleringer.</div>
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While there is nothing to say Dutrow could not set up shop in another state, most racing jurisdictions will uphold the findings of other racing authorities. An exception might be Louisiana where Heleringer said they "have a reputation for being more lax when it comes to honoring suspensions, <br />
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At the apex: Big Brown</div>
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but Dutrow's notoriety makes it less likely a state would take that chance." If he were to apply for a license in a state other than New York and was denied, he would have to disclose the denial in future applications.<br />
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So unless Rick Dutrow pulls some nefarious behind the scenes shenanigans, he is out of racing,<br />
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At this point Big Brown's future is much brighter than Rick Dutrow's. And that is a good thing.</div>
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Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197412375251715269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888517136616010442.post-35945153640087753732016-09-11T15:36:00.001-07:002016-10-04T07:12:35.042-07:00When The Racing Gods Are Smiling<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This story appeared on the McKathan Brothers Training Center Facebook page today. It is a testament to experience and courage under extreme stress. <br />
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A five furlong turf race, just over a half mile, can seem like a ten furlong route race when you are trailing a field of seven $10,000 claimers. Jockey Marcos Meneses stepped on the throttle heading into the far turn when his reins broke, first one, then the other.<br />
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Marcos Meneses, broken reins in hand and four-year-old Chia Ghost</div>
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Chia Ghost drifted outside leaving the turn heading into the stretch. Meneses remained calm, grabbing Chia Ghost's mane and the neck strap of his bridle, riding him to the wire and victory.</div>
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After his second straight victory, Chia Ghost, trained by Bernardo Lopez, galloped out on the outside rail and was picked up by outrider Paul Haffner on the backstretch. Haffner escorted Meneses and Chia Ghost to the winner's circle.</div>
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In the victory circle I'm sure there were lots of smiles, and no doubt heavy sighs of relief, and for jockey Marcos Meneses, a hurried trip to the restroom.</div>
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I love this story and hope you enjoyed it as well.</div>
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Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197412375251715269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888517136616010442.post-22634295113580379582016-09-08T16:41:00.000-07:002016-09-08T17:28:50.565-07:00Soul Searching<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hoping to satisfy the hunger that rattles in their stomachs, they amble, unconcerned, onto US 191 stopping traffic, their ribs showing, their eyes hollow and empty. They are homeless gypsies: paints, palominos, red bays, roans, duns and blacks. Their groups are small in number. The colts are vital and spirited, alert and quick, not yet broken by hunger and the experience of relentless heat, thirst and privation. There is no one to inoculate them, float their teeth or trim their hooves. Hell, there is no money to feed them, let alone money for health care. Still the young ones move with an elasticity and grace that is missing in the adults. Their prancing, mincing youth dams up the pity you would otherwise feel for them all. <br />
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The only horse I was able to photograph, this one in Cheyenne, Wyoming, truly a one horse town.</div>
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In addition to 37,903 families in Navajo land, there are 37,008 motor vehicles and 35,000 horses, nearly one per family! Perhaps horses remain a deep reservoir of pride for the Navajo as evidence of affluence, masculinity or even currency. Poverty is everywhere, inescapable, in your face, loud and damning, yet nearly every home or trailer, ramshackle or otherwise has a horse. Usually they are confined to grassless paddocks so small that a canter would be nearly impossible even if there were just one horse. It is not unusual to see two or more confined to a small area without shade. But more importantly, I think the horses provide a source of pleasure, escape, competition and balance a razor thin existence with laughter and smiles. I say this because I lost track of the number of rodeo arenas that I saw. The horse remains important to the average Navajo.<br />
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This is Chinle, Arizona, the heart of the Navajo reservation, where hope seems lost in a flickering memory that is ancient and in conflict with Burger King and the buzzing and beeping of cell phones. Chinle is about government entities, both Federal (Bureau of Land Management ), the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Navajo. Tough tribal police, high crime rates and a serious drug problem have filled the large juvenile correction facility on Indian Road 7. <br />
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What drives the crime rate? A youthful population that averages 24 years of age. 40% of all Navajo live below the poverty line with a median family income of just $22,000.00. 32% have no complete plumbing, 60% are without phones and 54% of those aged 25 and older are without a high school or higher education. The reservation is an incubator of discontent, acting out and crime. All of these facts and figures are compounded by the fact that the youth have no interest in the values and traditions of the Navajo. I was told that fewer and fewer speak the native language.<br />
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The plight of the Navajo and I'll wager most native Americans, has not changed a great deal in the sixteen years since these stats were collected. It is an embarrassment and we should be ashamed. </div>
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In the quiet of nearby Canyon de Chelly (pronounced Shay) the past and its ancient traditions hang by a slender thread in the hands of the few Navajo who tend their cattle, sheep and sparse gardens of beans, squash and corn ( the three sisters of Puebloan culture ) there. This national park is unique in that it is populated, although sparsely, by Indians living on ancestral lands, the titles for which stretch into antiquity.</div>
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The August gardens at the bottom of the canyon. Chinle Wash to the left beyond the trees.</div>
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Canyon de Chelly's solitude is broken by the raspy voice of circling Ravens, and the lowing of cattle in the canyon depths below. There is only one hike in the park that can be done without a park ranger or Indian guide and that is the trail that leads to the White House ruins wedged into a cliff wall crevice 600 feet below the canyon's rim. Why can I hike to White House and nowhere else without a guide? Because these ruins are not Navajo. The ruins date from 750 to 1300 and were built by ancestral Puebloans. Although the Navajo, who call themselves Dine', say they have always lived here, they actually date from about 1700, after the Hopi left the canyon.<br />
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The hike, just 2.5 miles, descends a trail dotted with long stretches of slick-rock and laced with so many switch backs that the route seems as though it were stitched by a surgeon. Dropping down onto the trail, I was struck by gnarled and twisted sandstone, burnished red and blasted smooth, wrinkled like an ancient skin over millions of years. Where the slick-rock sloped away from the cliff toward a fall no one could survive, I put a hand on the cliff wall to give me the courage that was at the moment lacking. I am not crazy about high places.<br />
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A fellow traveler took this photo of me on the trail.</div>
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The 600 foot descent took about forty minutes and passing through a short tunnel I stepped into the onset of evening on the canyon floor. After I snapped a photo of the Navajo Hogan ( a building used in many traditional rituals and found nearly everywhere on the reservation ) just beyond a fence, I noticed a small sign that read: No Pictures. It should have read, "This place, this land and our ways are sacred to us. Respect them."<br />
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The sandy bottom of Chinle Wash, which wanders for miles, made the hike to the ruins slow and heavy. Rain slicked the surrounding cliffs, turning them from a powdery red to a slate grey color. <br />
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After the descent, a long sandy trek across the flat, then a short climb up a rise marked by cholla cactus (pronounced choya), the ruins appeared in a niche some 8o feet or more above the canyon floor. A phalanx of grazing cattle, one with well developed forward pointing horns...a female by the way, stood between me and the ruins. I didn't stop for a selfie, but taking a deep breath walked between them and made the last hundred yards to the ruins. <br />
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Indians selling jewelry in Arizona is not unusual, but I was surprised to see Navajo selling goods from a couple of card tables under a tree just in front of the ruins and more surprised that they had gotten to the bottom of the canyon in cars! <br />
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The White House ruins in Canyon de Chelley. Click on the picture to enlarge it and you can see the pictograph.</div>
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I once stood under a natural overhang like the one in this picture, but one much, much smaller. Little taller than me and perhaps no more than 8 feet deep and no more than 15 feet in length, it was once home to a family. The ceiling was blackened from the open fires used to heat and cook and I could place my finger tips over theirs in places where they had plastered the ceiling of their sandstone home. It was literally a hole in the wall. There was no evidence of the engineering I saw in the ruins high above the canyon's floor in front of me. It was the definition of primitive, just a rocky place in the Arizona desert, but it was a home.</div>
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I couldn't reach the White House ruins, a chain link fence kept visitors like me far enough away so that the worst among us could not plunder or damage them. If you knew how much I wanted to find the worn moqui steps in the wall above the dwelling on the canyon floor, and trusting my balance and nerve, climb to the uppermost dwellings and explore them. Just a few minutes alone with them, to share their view of the world and to wonder what drove them to live this way and in the end, to vanish. There is no written language and there are few if any answers. </div>
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Still these people reach out to us sharing their dreams, their gods or their fears in pictographs. There is no Rosetta Stone to help us interpret their drawings. There are as many meanings as eyes to see their work. If you look closely at the picture of the ruins and count over five windows from the right, there is a large pictograph on the wall, big enough to be seen from a hundred yards and across 700 years.</div>
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Copyright September 8, 2016 by Loren R. Schumacher</div>
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Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197412375251715269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888517136616010442.post-42175791195403270332016-07-26T15:31:00.004-07:002016-07-26T15:50:25.009-07:00"...'whenever I'm ready.'''<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><i> Once again that tired cliche, I am so, so sorry, proves to </i></b><b><i>be not nearly enough.</i></b><br />
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I suppose there is some perverse irony in the death of the four year old filly, Pramedya, after breaking her left front cannon bone racing on the turf course at Pimlico on Saturday. Her owners, Gretchen and Roy Jackson also bred the talented Barbaro. Barbaro broke down during the 2006 Preakness and was euthanized some ten months later in January 2007. The only picture of Pramedya that I could find was of her in the final minutes of her tragic life, her front legs folded beneath her as she tried to remain standing. Soon she would be dead. I would not and could not include that photo. Her jockey, Daniel Centeno, broke his collarbone in the fall, but he will live to race again.<br />
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In the first race on Saturday's card, nine year old gelding Homeboykris (in his sixty-fourth start) won, reaching, straining and racing to the end. A digital photo was snapped in the winner's circle, there were smiles all around, and during the walk to his stall, Homeboykris collapsed and died of an apparent heart attack. Stretching irony still further, Honeboykris' body was sent for a necropsy to be performed at the same hospital that treated Barbaro. Homeboykris was a graded stakes winner, winning the 2009 Champagne Stakes Gr.1, and he finished tenth in the 2010 Kentucky Derby. In sixty-four starts he won more than $500,000. His record: 14 wins, 10 seconds and 5 third place finishes. His grandsire was Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus. His blood was a champion's.<br />
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In a recent report <em>The Jockey Club</em> showed that fatal injuries dropped to 1.62 per 1000 starts in 2015 from 1.89 per 1000 starts in 2014. Horse racing is that rare sport in which the principal participants regularly suffer catastrophic injuries resulting in their death. Nonetheless we cannot look away. Racing's efforts to police itself and to burnish its image can never completely erase the revulsion that follows calamitous injury to or tragic death of a horse. I can only think of automobile racing as the sport which most closely parallels horse racing. We will watch a spectacular, firey crash replayed countless time and remain more or less unmoved, yet the thought of a suffering animal shreds our emotions. Only the most callous among us remains unmoved.<br />
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If you don't believe me, just look at the headline of <em>The Cincinnati Enquirer</em> for Monday. May 30, 2016: <i style="font-weight: bold;"> Community saddened by killing of gorilla at Zoo. </i>A four year old boy somehow managed to elude his parents and all of the safeguards surrounding the gorilla exhibit at the Cincinnati Zoo. He fell into a moat and was <i style="font-weight: bold;">rescued </i>by a 17 year old western lowland gorilla named Harambe. The zoo's emergency response team, in order to save the child from a life-threatening situation, was forced to kill Harambe. The story was reported worldwide. resulting in intense responses that included charging the parents with neglect to a petition to make an incident that results in the death of an endangered species a crime with which the parent might be charged. A vigil for Harambe was held at the zoo's main entrance on the afternoon of May 30.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCI3moqDx1qTnvU53VjjM3fo8v4VyYCz_vAL5T89wDIPUmGEOXmoyOG0Bri4B8ycLQKbk6QXeqf22_PC50xlcrOVCBjll-h1GVJhWLoppwu8CgZt5c1keB6rbqMkVJ4vaJ5GIInIUtrYfs/s1600/Homeboykris+last+race+a+win.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCI3moqDx1qTnvU53VjjM3fo8v4VyYCz_vAL5T89wDIPUmGEOXmoyOG0Bri4B8ycLQKbk6QXeqf22_PC50xlcrOVCBjll-h1GVJhWLoppwu8CgZt5c1keB6rbqMkVJ4vaJ5GIInIUtrYfs/s400/Homeboykris+last+race+a+win.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Honeboykris, #3, by a nose at Pimlico, May 21,2016</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FCm0IBkEDqMy_HzesnFRh-rjMCo7JcvLb13dUR1aCGs1islkk5H3az0KVmzZrTpspMN5CSbUmK_QmF9Y_XzmROQBOaozcLuDrzaz8CqOX9okGRBUwO8Hstkv3IQmbWXOaqrGLH_7VA5A/s1600/Homeboykris+last+warmup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FCm0IBkEDqMy_HzesnFRh-rjMCo7JcvLb13dUR1aCGs1islkk5H3az0KVmzZrTpspMN5CSbUmK_QmF9Y_XzmROQBOaozcLuDrzaz8CqOX9okGRBUwO8Hstkv3IQmbWXOaqrGLH_7VA5A/s400/Homeboykris+last+warmup.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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One last parade. Homeboykris, May 21, 2016.</div>
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The rains came and took up residence, but without the fury of the storm that overtook the Preakness in 2015, when American Pharoah left his mark on the second leg of the Triple Crown. </div>
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It is difficult to look at these magnificent animals, born to run, born to thrill us with their brilliant speed, to endear themselves to us with their quirks and antics and still denigrate their quality. Yet that is exactly what has happened in 2016. More than one expert has opined that this year's crop of three year old colts is not up to the quality of last years three year old contenders. Perhaps. After all, a clock never lies, though sometimes results will and ( tongue in cheek here) experts are never wrong.<br />
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Although a pall had been cast over the day, all was not doom and gloom, because there was still the annual infield bikini contest. I've seen the photos, they stand in line for this. And the girls do too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinz0OkdebscfPniBaXDB8Lwxe-rOVpur8_TVNspXEKOMw6WuPVIa1CoNWdHrfuXrDjD5KCtuY35iQ_j6A4ZSfoD4y4Nqw9lfFqQSd8EX4g1-lX7EB_wItdOUnUyyx5k_Jcfq741_n3z9oP/s1600/Preakness+Bikini+contest.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinz0OkdebscfPniBaXDB8Lwxe-rOVpur8_TVNspXEKOMw6WuPVIa1CoNWdHrfuXrDjD5KCtuY35iQ_j6A4ZSfoD4y4Nqw9lfFqQSd8EX4g1-lX7EB_wItdOUnUyyx5k_Jcfq741_n3z9oP/s320/Preakness+Bikini+contest.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Take that Kentucky Derby. Number 14 just may have had a wedgy.</div>
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Nyquist entering the Preakness with eight consecutive wins ( including four G1 races ), was the betting public's favorite at 3-5, with second choice Exaggerator at 3-1. Although beaten on four occasions by Nyquist, Exaggerator's breathless closing in the Derby gave the faithful something to hang their hats upon.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFRMPao-Vo4-zoV25eizcnJpbuGIi-pkSd3iZgjGYtwXADQROSbeTGi7JqtgACwoqnemzMG3TeyPV8zsmuRI0EgU6a5xO1IY4LfOPEKeWxagDPS31ojMBxegB6VsuNB6fn1QQO3ysDGPj/s1600/Nyquist+Trains+at+Pimlico+with+Amir+Cedeno.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFRMPao-Vo4-zoV25eizcnJpbuGIi-pkSd3iZgjGYtwXADQROSbeTGi7JqtgACwoqnemzMG3TeyPV8zsmuRI0EgU6a5xO1IY4LfOPEKeWxagDPS31ojMBxegB6VsuNB6fn1QQO3ysDGPj/s400/Nyquist+Trains+at+Pimlico+with+Amir+Cedeno.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Nyquist training with Emir Cedeno up.</div>
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Exaggerator's trainer and Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux's older brother, Keith said, "We respect what he (Nyquist) has done, but we're hopeful of turning the tables."</div>
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Breaking from the third post position, Nyquist and Uncle Lino sprinted the first quarter in 22.38, the fastest in Preakness history, and blistered the half in 46.56. Whether the result of a shaky strategy or a rush of adrenaline, jockey Mario Gutierrez dogged the speed horse Uncle Lino. Trading the lead by fractions on the back stretch, race viewers were treated to a classic duel while Exaggerator trailed the leaders by as much as 13 lengths. The leaders flew rather than slogged across the waterlogged track surface and began the run to glory. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3GgivXaBp3nthAgJBQbiQ1CrZwfSF7CB0Lx43J2KliKAK7M-R-82jQVXbpXOU93ALmNiKRlkgq1gILQ7qc0ABy0K2lKJDYarC3CIpDqo4GvG5HkhUyOoA_aM2QLbNyVXfz4nsAa1SmWv/s1600/Exagerator+after+schooling+at+Pimlico.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3GgivXaBp3nthAgJBQbiQ1CrZwfSF7CB0Lx43J2KliKAK7M-R-82jQVXbpXOU93ALmNiKRlkgq1gILQ7qc0ABy0K2lKJDYarC3CIpDqo4GvG5HkhUyOoA_aM2QLbNyVXfz4nsAa1SmWv/s400/Exagerator+after+schooling+at+Pimlico.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Exaggerator after schooling at Pimlico. The young woman is Keith Desormeaux's girlfriend and assistant, Julie Clark. Clark says of Exaggerator, " It would be nice to have a little bit of a break from him sometimes, because he is always on his toes and squealing around..."<br />
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The stretch run was too much for the speedy Uncle Lino who began to fade, ultimately finishing seventh. Desormeaux said, "To me it looked like Nyquist was trying to establish an outward position, maybe in the four path. And Exaggertor just kind of slid up the fence to the far turn where I actually got to slow him down and say 'whenever I'm ready.'"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia93cUvAPOJWcs6ABBXy6y40mYylP1mg66zLoapp10zRCJvseP4gY9mSl4YV8dv8vn2VKjcx2f7bvwmjBg7nrj3Yhb_M2oMCHG8HVl6sqkXcEUW-bBXZOXqkwMgDFPLj-M9sc8rnIZ_EMA/s1600/The+moment+Ex+and+Nyquist.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia93cUvAPOJWcs6ABBXy6y40mYylP1mg66zLoapp10zRCJvseP4gY9mSl4YV8dv8vn2VKjcx2f7bvwmjBg7nrj3Yhb_M2oMCHG8HVl6sqkXcEUW-bBXZOXqkwMgDFPLj-M9sc8rnIZ_EMA/s400/The+moment+Ex+and+Nyquist.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Mud spattered and victorious. Exaggerator passes Nyquist.</div>
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Exaggerator's experience in adverse conditions in the Santa Anita Derby were crucial, but it was Kent Desormeaux's experience at Pimlico that may have been the deciding factor. Having won two prior Preakness contests he added, "I had a dream trip today. I was on the fence and they stayed wide. These turns you want to paint the fence. We did, they did not, and not for nothing, knowledge is power."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBamFgLtaAxE5ogRpbcfedpWSjGVHDyCO3jBTiz612AlqgOOAroYBbPWSCpR3rXjPBmB4my_iaZrcNmlayVYv_2ygwKURhHvRw53zZiaVaKHFpSpwzfvl7C33fqw5OczkTF5EH710lrDy/s1600/Exaggerator+nips+Nyquist+at+the+wire+at+Preakness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBamFgLtaAxE5ogRpbcfedpWSjGVHDyCO3jBTiz612AlqgOOAroYBbPWSCpR3rXjPBmB4my_iaZrcNmlayVYv_2ygwKURhHvRw53zZiaVaKHFpSpwzfvl7C33fqw5OczkTF5EH710lrDy/s400/Exaggerator+nips+Nyquist+at+the+wire+at+Preakness.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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From 13 lengths back, Exxagerator wins. Nyquist in Purple and eventual runner-up, Cherry Wine</div>
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The story of the race seemed to be Exaggerator's charge from 13 or more lengths off the pace, but watching the race replay, Cherry Wine ran down the pack from even further back in the field, painting the hedge much as the winner had. A classy, gutty performance by the grey son of Paddy O'Prado.</div>
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An anonymous gambler plunked down $80,000 on Stradivari to win, making the fourth place finisher the favorite for nearly two hours. As I finish this piece on July 26, Stradivari is recovering from surgery to repair a condylar fracture and an axial fracture of a sesamoid in his right front foreleg, suffered as he galloped out after breezing with Belmont runner-up, Destin, at Saratoga on July 22. Stradivari will never race again, but he is alive and that is all that matters</div>
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Stradivari at Belmont.</div>
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After the Preakness it was announced that Nyquist had suffered another bout of the same mystery fever that sidelined him after the Florida derby. With a fever of 102 plus and a high white cell count, he was pulled from The Belmont to be run on June 11. All of which serves to remind us of the Triple Crown's difficulty and American Pharoah's greatness as he remained sound throughout that grueling pursuit of history and how he thrilled us all as he took it in his stride.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5KHujbZWg1C_os4j20QwTt5n4vNcVNhQ8n5KMosB-7y5RymHS2iDLXmzLYzxbRuPN2J_LPJmkSANZ4vwYHlqR-MKbCI4re0MDFIJ8ykr2fKVEBC81HTN0Y-WRmCXQynqbg6sI0MBxWN1/s1600/Morning+at+Pimilico.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5KHujbZWg1C_os4j20QwTt5n4vNcVNhQ8n5KMosB-7y5RymHS2iDLXmzLYzxbRuPN2J_LPJmkSANZ4vwYHlqR-MKbCI4re0MDFIJ8ykr2fKVEBC81HTN0Y-WRmCXQynqbg6sI0MBxWN1/s400/Morning+at+Pimilico.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Racetrack morning, this one at Pimlico.</div>
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Copyright, July 26, 2016 by Loren R. Schumacher</div>
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Photo credits as noted.</div>
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Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197412375251715269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888517136616010442.post-24421476947842989542016-07-11T16:48:00.005-07:002016-07-16T06:59:57.129-07:00"The Chance of a Lifetime in a Lifetime of Chance"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
And so the poignant lyrics of Dan Fogleberg's song, Run For The Roses, go. They speak to us in an oddly melancholy way, because during Derby week, chance meets opportunity in perhaps the most famous, if not the richest horse race in the world. <br />
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At Churchill Downs excess breathes excitement. While private jets sit wing tip to wing tip and nose to tail at the local airport, thousands pay $300.00 each to swelter in the noonday sun while they party on, dancing, drinking or sleeping off a colossal hangover, only to rise like the Phoenix to party again. The infield is so crowded that few if any will actually see the race. Most will watch on huge screens posted variously among them.<br />
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But if you have $12,000.00, you may spend the afternoon seated in air-conditioned comfort high above the race course on the grandstand's topmost floor, enjoying much of what money and privilege offer and allow.<br />
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There are other diversions though. Hats so grotesque that they are no less than a milliner's nightmare.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPh6imDQry45-YHLkxWb4Onrsx4zx14IH0OdetW3iGpA6LfPzkv72SWx__3l81GqvOqu05SakffTvb6Uo2gSaTNfO-_4nWN-9lk7Umu_LCpphwLHEN6pg7sESSnwWl_FC0704_caxcTGfz/s1600/Nothing+Can+Top+This+Hat+OMG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPh6imDQry45-YHLkxWb4Onrsx4zx14IH0OdetW3iGpA6LfPzkv72SWx__3l81GqvOqu05SakffTvb6Uo2gSaTNfO-_4nWN-9lk7Umu_LCpphwLHEN6pg7sESSnwWl_FC0704_caxcTGfz/s400/Nothing+Can+Top+This+Hat+OMG.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It takes some moxy to wear this little number.</div>
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To walk among the throng of race goers is to be treated to a movable feast of fashion the likes of which you have seldom, if ever, seen. Coiffed, barbered and dressed to the nines, men and women strut their finest, often without regard for taste. Taste, well, just take a take a gander at the great skier Lindsey Vonn's ensemble. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJmsNGOCLqopHzxwzQfxrJu1xurBWU-gxiLritfDDJwObKcvpo1vZXL3d9mnqpnK0_V8MPh6J1prYiolnf_bY1r0EyaicT4Lo7CIs8B94IA2dlLQ7hgk8tbTtBIPk_Adg1vesW6n4V0VP/s1600/Lindsey+Vonn+at+the+Derby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJmsNGOCLqopHzxwzQfxrJu1xurBWU-gxiLritfDDJwObKcvpo1vZXL3d9mnqpnK0_V8MPh6J1prYiolnf_bY1r0EyaicT4Lo7CIs8B94IA2dlLQ7hgk8tbTtBIPk_Adg1vesW6n4V0VP/s640/Lindsey+Vonn+at+the+Derby.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
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Lindsey Vonn. Tasteful, tasteless or just hot?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBKecFZ7wD_u27GyDtVrqP9SFVJ1cgbgBpgQIGkQQ03pA2Kael8CUhDQ8cYX0djBEAMKPfFaBualyAyrDjqryU0NUI-3hvYAkW5wxdSxRWr4EOcLi7oJLj0gxzQuQqLTAxijycHSeaZiT/s1600/Not+confined+to+women+at+the+Derby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBKecFZ7wD_u27GyDtVrqP9SFVJ1cgbgBpgQIGkQQ03pA2Kael8CUhDQ8cYX0djBEAMKPfFaBualyAyrDjqryU0NUI-3hvYAkW5wxdSxRWr4EOcLi7oJLj0gxzQuQqLTAxijycHSeaZiT/s640/Not+confined+to+women+at+the+Derby.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A believer in equal opportunity, this gentlemen joins in the fun. And the beer.<br />
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And don't forget the ubiquitous and vile tasting Mint Julep. Here is one of many recipes for making the classic Derby Mint Julep:<br />
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<li>1 cup of sugar</li>
<li>1 cup water</li>
<li>1 cup of rinsed mint leaves, de-stemmed and coarsely chopped</li>
<li>1 (750 ml) bottle of respectable Kentucky Bourbon. (Not sure there is such a thing.)</li>
<li>crushed ice</li>
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What no cherry?<br />
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The run to the first Saturday in May began 56 million years ago, when the dawn horse, the tiny Eohippus appeared in what would become The United States. The horse's appearance marked the beginning of and proliferation of life as we know it. Prolific, the early horse quickly spread, perhaps across the land bridge to Asia, Africa and Europe. Millions of years passed and for reasons yet unknown, the horse disappeared from the American landscape, reappearing in the sixteenth century with the arrival of the Spanish conquerors. <br />
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Long prior to their reintroduction to the Americas, horses, because of their speed and grace, made racing a sport on the steppes of Asia, in the sylvan settings of Europe and the sands of North Africa. It remains so today.<br />
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I often compare the Kentucky Derby to the circus. We tolerate the hideous clowns, the men on stilts and the souvenir hawkers, while waiting, scarcely breathing, for lumbering elephants to appear and finally, the lions and tigers, who though caged, bring us to the edges of our seats in anticipation of a disaster that might befall the lion tamer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlt3tYhobQFAiiSvLXxa0gv6l9AQmI-g-_jNj0Qu9rCkrWhpGF2z-wJb96l6l6UIIqt0mh4c8J0Xh_h7zT9oBo3pyqu0i_eD7i8rH5z8hXbxDdOtX0FaRWg0oxndR2Uae5eeR1ceDCiJt2/s1600/Gorgeous.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlt3tYhobQFAiiSvLXxa0gv6l9AQmI-g-_jNj0Qu9rCkrWhpGF2z-wJb96l6l6UIIqt0mh4c8J0Xh_h7zT9oBo3pyqu0i_eD7i8rH5z8hXbxDdOtX0FaRWg0oxndR2Uae5eeR1ceDCiJt2/s400/Gorgeous.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Just one look at this animal and you understand why we love them so much.</div>
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Cathryn Sophia made her mark early in Derby Week by biting her groom in the stomach and knocking him out of her stall. She was a bargain priced yearling filly (Street Boss x Sheave x Mineshaft), just $30,000. She provided a pretty substantial return on investment in her 2-3/4 length victory over Land Over Sea in the 1-1/8 mile G1 Longines Kentucky Oaks on Friday. The purse: $1,000,000. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYO2tTjCdQmcv2ahZxve6Xok8_GUqeiGPYOOawBNbAGsUGKZQV2fgIVJlZwjBlrwYAEMBB3IkyyVBd57gPGgv8XyIJNd_XedJSkxx7YrSbbZMyj-1Ml3RrdX-QiT8QfK2t-OnU0JUdl-J/s1600/Cathryn+Sophia+The+Brat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYO2tTjCdQmcv2ahZxve6Xok8_GUqeiGPYOOawBNbAGsUGKZQV2fgIVJlZwjBlrwYAEMBB3IkyyVBd57gPGgv8XyIJNd_XedJSkxx7YrSbbZMyj-1Ml3RrdX-QiT8QfK2t-OnU0JUdl-J/s400/Cathryn+Sophia+The+Brat.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The brat: Cathryn Sophia, in the Kentucky Oaks.</div>
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Her trainer, John Servis, said, "She's not crazy, she's just mean. She's not like that really out of the stall, but when you're in her stall, that's her stall." See what I mean about the circus coming to town.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6I0w-CtKc99M3DDKmxYrVjsBfoXVJwOidixpgxfribObFZ6HszJuiZ8zZeJCsn_o_gRyBG4jYhIX8yxbXaJonq-pavtDefkmgzFJ7ho-Tfv2OTC_lm4eaECvSb9BBsdcZLzEqWESn5B2/s1600/Winner+of+the+Pat+Day+Mile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6I0w-CtKc99M3DDKmxYrVjsBfoXVJwOidixpgxfribObFZ6HszJuiZ8zZeJCsn_o_gRyBG4jYhIX8yxbXaJonq-pavtDefkmgzFJ7ho-Tfv2OTC_lm4eaECvSb9BBsdcZLzEqWESn5B2/s400/Winner+of+the+Pat+Day+Mile.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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On the Derby undercard, Sharpe Azteca, winner of the G3 Pat Day Mile.</div>
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My vote for the best turned out horse of the entire card.</div>
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Nyquist's glittering record of seven consecutive wins, especially his trouncing of archrival Mohaymen in the Florida Derby, did little to add to his luster in the public eye. How does American Pharoah capture the public fancy and Nyquist, on paper more accomplished than AP, does not? Nyquist has won "over four race tracks covering the East Coast, the West Coast and Kentucky. He has won on the lead and from off the pace. He has overcome trouble out of the gate and forced to go wide." There is just no explaining the presence, the grace, or magic of American Pharoah. Nyquist, the talented workman, or AP and his ballet on four flashing hooves. The public has clearly made its choice.</div>
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Breaking well from stall thirteen, Nyquist showing early speed, was throttled back by jockey Mario Gutierrez, allowing speedster, Danzing Candy, to assume the lead at the first turn.</div>
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At the head of the stretch, Nyquist running outside and out of trouble along with Gun Runner, overhauled the tiring Danzing Candy. Gun Runner "pricking his ears back and forth at the top of the stretch," assumed the lead briefly before Nyquist rallied in top gear, speeding to the finish line ahead of a desperate charge under the whip of Kent Desormeaux, by the luckless Exxagerator.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVan9EO_OjfFIoFHypYOGwQRu0Ral_KYKTPcmHdIDfIwwQTC-kGOXRAioXB9ueiSk8PaLuoWY6xWOJw8rskvdAtIMsX_sMK8i8cTkfsuhshKbsuTwF8d2WDgLfxvAAwzYLpvkaWCCkp4v/s1600/Derby+Stretch+Drive+2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVan9EO_OjfFIoFHypYOGwQRu0Ral_KYKTPcmHdIDfIwwQTC-kGOXRAioXB9ueiSk8PaLuoWY6xWOJw8rskvdAtIMsX_sMK8i8cTkfsuhshKbsuTwF8d2WDgLfxvAAwzYLpvkaWCCkp4v/s400/Derby+Stretch+Drive+2016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Derby stretch drive. Nyquist, center, with red shadow roll. </div>
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The winning time: 2:01.31 before the Derby's second largest crowd of over 167,000. And the finish was just the way the public bet them: Nyquist, Exxagerator, Gun Runner (my choice) and Mohaymen. </div>
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For Exxagerator and the Desormeaux brothers, now 0 for 4 against Nyquist, its back to the drawing board. Perhaps they will stay closer to the pace in the Preakness. Seems the only thing to do. And what of Mohaymen, a son of Tapit? The gritty Gun Runner? Who knows? The racing gods do.</div>
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And the tents were folded and shipped off in the night and somewhere a tiny Eohippus, the dawn horse, raises its head, offers a soft nicker and resumes its grazing.</div>
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** My apologies, the centering and spacing are off and I am unable to correct them for some reason unknown to me.<br />
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Copyright, July 11, 2016 y Loren R. Schunacher<br />
Photos copyrighted as noted.</div>
Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197412375251715269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888517136616010442.post-72536112439302784652016-07-04T16:37:00.000-07:002016-07-05T07:33:25.497-07:00Independence Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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From me, my family and our horses, Stormy and Callie, Happy Birthday America, July 4, 2016.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaD79BJ-iDEa28tYDZ7ZidF_KZpkSEGR0Z4izRyABs7-yQ0aALmm0Q9th4Wmz99fl7mhgGHONSI-GWdzJIPhhGQoegYVW2zv4fUPohwlWroS29lAIwHQ0zoZfji5dcckbtOfzFMtmLhbPo/s1600/Independence+day+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaD79BJ-iDEa28tYDZ7ZidF_KZpkSEGR0Z4izRyABs7-yQ0aALmm0Q9th4Wmz99fl7mhgGHONSI-GWdzJIPhhGQoegYVW2zv4fUPohwlWroS29lAIwHQ0zoZfji5dcckbtOfzFMtmLhbPo/s400/Independence+day+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We have it all: strength, grace, choice and freedom.</div>
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God bless the USA.</div>
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Lorenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197412375251715269noreply@blogger.com0