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CONTENTS FLORIDA FOCUS
8
DOWN MEMORY LANE 16 By Jo Ann Guidry
FTBOA NEWS DIGEST 18 CALDER, FHBPA SIGN CONTRACT 26 By Carlos E. Medina
A WINNING HAND 28 Involved in the Florida Thoroughbred industry for 12 years and counting, Fred and Jane Brei continue to enjoy success in the name of their Jacks or Better Farm. By Jo Ann Guidry
ALL-STAR STABLE 36 Orlando Magic’s All-Star forward Rashard Lewis is finding success as horse owner. By Nick Fortuna
SUNSHINE STATE SIX PACK 40 Florida Cup Day at Tampa Bay Downs featured six stakes races worth $85,000 each. By Nick Fortuna
MAY 2009 • V O L 5 2 / I S S U E 5
46 EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY Thermography can be used to detect abnormalities weeks before they cause lameness. By Denise Steffanus
50 WHAT’S BUGGING YOUR HORSE? Understanding pest behavior can help you better protect your horses. By Saundra Ten Broeck, Ph. D.
51 FLORIDA’S LEADING SIRES 52 A.P. INDY COLT TOPS OBS APRIL SALE By Nick Fortuna
58 FLORIDA-BRED GORGEOUS GOOSE LOOKS THE PART
62 PLAYER’S PAGE By Paul Moran
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Pedigree oPerformance o Conformation 801 SW 60th Avenue • Ocala, Florida 34474 (352) 732-8858 • Fax: (352) 867-1979 • www.thefloridahorse.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Michael Compton BUSINESS MANAGER
Patrick Vinzant ADVERTISING MANAGER
Summer Best ART DIRECTOR
John Filer CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
JoAnn Guidry WRITERS
Carlos Medina • Nick Fortuna ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Beverly Kalberkamp CORRESPONDENTS
Ben Baugh, Jay Friedman, Doug McCoy, Cynthia McFarland, Mark Shuffitt PUBLISHER Florida Equine Publications, Inc. (A corporation owned by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association)
Executive Office - 801 SW 60th Avenue • Ocala, Florida 34474 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Gilbert Campbell, President/Board Chairman Eddie Martin, 1st Vice President J. Michael O’Farrell, Jr., 2nd Vice President Mark Roberts, Secretary Diane Parks, Treasurer EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Richard E. Hancock CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Michael Gilliam
© THE FLORIDA HORSE (ISSN 0090-967X) is published monthly except July by THE FLORIDA HORSE, INC., 801 SW 60th Ave., Ocala, Florida 34474, including the annual Statistical Review in February. Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Florida Equine Publications or the Florida Thoroughbred Breedersʼ and Ownersʼ Association. Publication of any material originating herein is expressly forbidden without first obtaining written permission from THE FLORIDA HORSE©.
Statistics in the publication relating to results of racing in North America are compiled from data generated by Daily Racing Form, Equibase, Bloodstock Research Information Services, and The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc., the copyright owners of said data. Reproduction is prohibited. A dvertisin g co py d ead lin e 5th o f mo n th p recedin g p ub licatio n. Su bscrip tio ns and ch ang e of add ress: Please m ail to – Circulation s D ep artment. T HE FL ORIDA H ORS E, 801 SW 60th Ave., O cala, Florida 34474.
Printed by Boyd Brothers, Inc.
Kingmambo—Commodities, by Private Account • $5,000 live foal
The only graded stakeswinning son of Kingmambo ($250,000 stud fee) in Florida! Kingmambo is the sire of 73 stakes winners and 8 champions. Rey de Café was a winner sprinting and routing on dirt and turf. His offspring should also excel on synthetic surfaces. El Crespo, Rey de Cafe's half-brother, won the recent Palm Beach Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park!
BOYD
American Horse Publications • FLORIDA MAGAZINE ASSOCIATION • MEMBER BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU
COGLIANESE PHOTO
FTBOA OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS Gilbert G. Campbell, President J. Michael O’Farrell, Jr., Second Vice President Eddie Martin, First Vice President Mark Roberts, Secretary Diane Parks, Treasurer
DIRECTORS Fred Brei Donald Dizney Barry W. Eisaman Michael Mulligan Peter Vegso
Sheila DiMare Bonnie M. Heath III George G. Isaacs Jessica Steinbrenner Charlotte C. Weber
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
Richard E. Hancock
Book Now!
Multiple Mare Discounts
NOMINATED TO Florida Stallion Stakes
www.doublediamondfarm.com
899 S.W. 85th Ave., Ocala, FL 34481 o (352) 237-3834 o Fax: (352)237-6069
Also standing: AMERICAN SPIRIT oo PROUD AND TRUE oo WEKIVA SPRINGS THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009 5
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Michael Compton
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Making
Strides
ith the close of the extended legislative session of the Calder stakes schedule and the six juvenile stakes in Tallahassee just days away as this issue went races that were bolstered appears on page 27. “Thanks to our Florida Stallion Stakes Committee to press, Florida’s Thoroughbred industry stood on the verge of some significant accomplishments. Chairman Fred Brei, we are able to offer one of the best Combined with strides the FTBOA has made on many juvenile racing programs out there,” said Richard Hancock, other fronts in the last year, and despite the unprecedented executive vice president of the FTBOA.“With the added challenges facing our business, Florida’s Thoroughbred in- incentives, it will make it even better.” Switching leads: At the State Capitol, The FTBOA supdustry appears poised to move forward. The Board of Directors of the Florida Thoroughbred ported legislation to secure a non-profit Thoroughbred racBreeders’ and Owners’Association rolled out its Economic ing permit for Marion County to run a short race meet Stimulus Plan for the state’s Thoroughbred industry in Oc- similar to Keeneland and Oak Tree. The FTBOA backed legislation to reduce the 50-percent tax rate on slots revenue tober of 2008. “Implementing a multi-platform plan of attack, in concert to 35 percent; and also pushed for legislation that will allow withAssociation members, legislators, racetrack operators and for more flexibility of the Breeders’Awards program, in rehorsemen, we will return Thoroughbred racing in the Sun- sponse to rapidly changing awards programs in other states. FTBOA’s partnership with shine State to its rightful rank as the Thanks to our Florida Stallion Max/West Environmental Systems best place to breed, raise, train, sell and Stakes Committee Chairman Fred to produce environmentally friendly race Thoroughbreds,” FTBOA President Gil Campbell said in announcing Brei, we are able to offer one of the energy using horse and wood waste best juvenile racing programs out continues to progress and may be up the Economic Stimulus Plan. there. With the added incentives, it and running by the end of the year. As noted in this column last will make it even better. Initial plans call for the conversion month, the FTBOA has already —Richard Hancock of 100,000 tons of waste into energy. checked off one of the objectives outThe daily output of energy would lined to the membership. In conjuncpower more than 1,400 homes. Eartion with the Florida Horsemen’s lier this year, the project received a Benevolent and Protective Associagrant award in the amount of $2.5 tion and Churchill Downs, purses for million from the Florida Energy and Calder’s juvenile racing program Climate Commission for a green-enhave been increased this year. ergy project. Straight maiden purses have been In light of the challenges facing hiked to $32,000, which includes our industry, the FTBOA held open $5,000 in FSS supplements and $5,000 in Florida Owners’ Awards, making this year’s houses in an effort to increase communication with members. The Association has also sent many e-mail blasts to Florida Stallion Stakes series the most lucrative ever. Prior to the start of the Calder meet, the FTBOA pledged members with e-mail addresses on file, updating them on an additional $300,000 for juvenile purses at the Miami legislative news and information impacting our industry. To remain updated on news and events impacting track to offset a similar amount of money which was threatening to sink a purse contract between the horsemen and Florida’s Thoroughbred industry, e-mail our office to enthe track. The contract was in peril after Calder’s parent sure your e-mail address is on file. Send addresses to company, Churchill Downs Inc., objected to changes which info@ftboa.com. ■ Enjoy the May issue. would have cost between $250,000 and $300,000. A listing
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JOE DIORIO PHOTO
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6 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009
New Multiple
Mare Incentives
Best of the Rest
Skip Trial - Obstinacy, by Valid Appeal Fee: $1,500 LF
Concerto
Chief’s Crown - Undeniably, by In Reality Fee: $5,000 LF
Concorde’s Tune
Concorde Bound - Parisian Tune, by Tunerup Fee: $2,500 LF
Drewman
Unbridled - Lucky Soph, by Cozzene Fee: $1,500 LF
New for 2009
Gottcha Gold
Coronado’s Quest - Gottcha Last, by Pleasant Tap Fee: $2,500 LF
High Cotton Dixie Union - Happy Tune, by A.P. Indy Fee: $2,500 LF
Montbrook
Buckaroo - Secret Papers, by Jet Diplomacy Fee: $10,000 LF
Sweetsouthernsaint
if you want a runner,
look to Ocala Stud
Saint Ballado - Sweetsoutherncross, by Tri Jet Fee: $2,500 LF
Stallions Available Daily For Inspection.
J. Michael O’Farrell, Jr. • P.O. Box 818, Ocala, FL 34478 352/237-2171 • FAX 352/873-3223 • www.ocalastud.com All stallions nominated to Breeders’ Cup, FSS & FTCS Mark J. Barrett photo
104605-OcalaStud-Roster-FH.indd 1
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Freshman Sire Wildcat Heir Gets First Winner BENOIT & ASSOCIATES PHOTO
Kitty in the Bag takes two-furlong sprint at Santa Anita
Kitty in the Bag
By NICK FORTUNA Freshman stallion Wildcat Heir did the equivalent of hitting a home run in his first major-league at-bat on April 1, when the first starter from his debut crop of 2-year-olds won a two-furlong race at Santa Anita Park. Florida-bred filly Kitty in the Bag broke sharply under jockey Tyler Baze to win a $41,024 maiden special weight race by 3¼ lengths. The filly, out of the unraced Friendly Lover mare Gold Bag Lady, covered the quarter-mile on the stretch-run por-
tion of the track in 21.11 seconds. Kitty in the Bag was bred by Ken Breitenbecker Jr., the general manager at Journeyman Stud in Ocala, where Wildcat Heir stands for a $6,500 stud fee. “I’ve been saying all along that Wildcat Heir could get winners early and often, so we’re really excited about it,” Journeyman Stud owner Brent Fernung said of the victory. “The filly won the race easily by three or four lengths, and the jockey was looking behind him during the second half of the race.” Kitty in the Bag is trained by Melvin Stute for Patrick and Elizabeth Everard. She was a $20,000 purchase at OBS in October 2007. Wildcat Heir, a 9-year-old son of Forest
Wildcat, has 122 horses in his first crop of 2year-olds. He won six of his 12 starts from ages 2 to 5 for $424,460 in career earnings. His best season came at age 4 in 2004, when he won the $300,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (G1) at Pimlico, captured the $60,000 Icecapade Stakes at Monmouth Park and ran second to Canadian Frontier in the $100,000 Teddy Drone Stakes at Monmouth. Wildcat Heir earned his third and final stakes victory the following year in the Teddy Drone. “I have five Wildcat Heirs that I’m training myself, and every one of them can run.” Fernung said. “This horse seems awfully consistent, so he’s going to make an impact on the freshman sires list.”
It’s a Bird Flying High for Wolfson BY NICK FORTUNA Florida-bred It’s a Bird and Honest Man were both assigned the high weight of 119 pounds for the $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2), but at the end of the April 4 race at Oaklawn Park, it was clear who the real heavyweight was. It’s a Bird reached a pair of milestones in romping to a six-length victory, earning his 10th career victory and becoming Florida’s newest millionaire. The horse, bred at White Cross Farm, gave owner Edmund Gann his third winner in the Oaklawn Handicap, joining Medaglia d’Oro in 2003 and Florida-bred Peace Rules in 2004. It’s a Bird ran just behind the pacesetter, Jonesboro, before taking command 8 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009
COADY PHOTO
Florida-bred hits milestones with Oaklawn Handicap win
Itʼs a Bird winning the Oaklawn Handicap.
around the final turn and pulling away for the win, finishing the nine-furlong race in a time of 1:48.96. The 6-year-old horse
was making his third straight start with jockey Julien Leparoux aboard. Brazilian colt Runforthedoe rallied to finish a distant second, while Jonesboro held on for third. Honest Man, the 7-5 favorite, finished sixth. It’s a Bird has finished in the money in 16 of his 29 starts and earned $1.17 million. The son of former Florida stallion Birdonthewire has won five of his nine starts since being transferred to trainer Marty Wolfson from Todd Pletcher last summer, including a 5 ¼length score in the Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Park in January. “He’s in very good form right now and came into this race training beautifully,” Wolfson said. “He’s probably one of the best handicap horses around right now. He ran just like he did in the Sunshine Millions. I was concerned when they ran the half-mile in 46 and 3,
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Eddie Woods sells top horse for $1.9 million
Local Consignors Lead the Way at Keeneland BY NICK FORTUNA Marion County-based consignors dominated Keeneland’s sale of 2-year-olds in training April 6 and 7 as Ocala’s Eddie Woods sold an A.P. Indy colt named Vallenzeri for $1.9 million, the highest price for a horse sold at a public auction this year. Vallenzeri’s sire was named Horse of the Year in 1992, and his dam, the Jade Hunter mare Azeri, was Horse of theYear in 2002. The colt, listed as hip No. 22, breezed an eighth of a mile in 10.2 seconds during the sale’s preview day on April 2. Trainer Bob Baffert signed the ticket on behalf of Kaleem Shah.The horse, the only million-dollar purchase at the sale, was bred by the Allen E. Paulson Living Trust. “The sales topper was a star,” Woods said. “He has an international pedigree and the looks to match, and he brought what he should have brought. It wouldn’t have been but he was able to put away that horse (Jonesboro) around the turn and draw off.” Wolfson said one of the keys to the performance was the condition of the track, which was labeled as “fast.” Last month, It’s a Bird ran in second place for much of the New Orleans Handicap (G2) on a sloppy track at Fair Grounds Race Course but wasn’t able to rally down the stretch, finishing third behind fellow Florida-bred Macho Again. “The New Orleans track wasn’t in good shape, and I don’t think he liked the track,” Wolfson said. “I think the track beat him that day.” The Oaklawn Handicap marked the second career graded win for It’s a Bird, who also captured the Spend A Buck Handicap (G3) at Calder Race Course in October. That race capped a three-race winning streak for It’s a Bird that included a wire-to-wire victory in the $55,000 Plagiarize Stakes, his first stakes win.
horses that vetted well, there were people there, but for the others, there was no one there. Some of the middle-of-the-road horses were very useful, and we were just mystified that we weren’t able to move some of them.” Woods has enjoyed success at the Keeneland April sale over the years, having consigned last year’s Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner, Big Brown, at the 2007 sale. Other local horsemen also were among the leading consignors at this year’s sale. John and Jill Stephens’ Morriston-based Stephens Thoroughbreds ranked second with sales of $1.35 million from seven head. Niall Brennan Stables was third with $1.34 million from five horses, while a surprise if he brought more. Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree Stables He has everything you look for sold seven head for $1.18 million. in a horse. I was delighted with They were followed by the the way he worked. That kind of Scanlon Training Center, with was expected of him, and he Eddie Woods eight head sold for $1.14 million; stepped up and did it.” Baffert said he was very pleased with the Leprechaun Racing, seven head for $1.13 million; and the Jerry Bailey Sales Agency, purchase. “I am really excited to get him,” Baffert three head for $900,000. Baffert purchased Vallenzeri on Monday said. “He’s well-conformed, he has a fluid way of moving, and with that type of pedigree and bought Tuesday’s highest-priced horse as – by a champion and out of a champion – you well. Hip No. 203, a Smart Strike colt out of have to step up to the plate and take a chance.” the Belong to Me mare Private Feeling, Woods led the way during a two-day sale in brought a final bid of $475,000 from Baffert which 66 horses sold for $11.8 million, down on behalf of Mike Pegram, Paul Weitman and 28 percent from last year, when 77 juveniles Karl Watson. The horse, consigned by Bailey sold for $16.3 million. Woods consigned nine as agent, had worked an eighth of a mile in horses for a total of $3.13 million, or an average 10 seconds flat during preview day. “I wasn’t going to go home without him,” of $348,000, the highest average at the sale. The sale’s average price was $178,864, Baffert said. “He worked well, and he’s a down 15.5 percent from last year’s average of good mover.” Leprechaun Racing consigned Tuesday’s $211,675. This year’s median price was $117,500, a drop of 21.7 percent from last year’s second-highest-priced horse, hip No. 168, a mark of $150,000. The buy-back rate increased colt from the first crop of Rock Hard Ten. The from 38 percent last year to 44 percent this year. son of the Deputy Minister mare Fiddlin “The sale was like every other sale – it was Devon drew a final bid of $440,000 from very spotty,” Woods said. “For the better Centennial Farms. “We’re always looking for a classic colt,” horses, we had a very successful sale and were very pleased with it. For the better said Centennial President Donald Little Jr. THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 20089 9
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Mare Gives Local Breeder Two Winners on Same Day Accredit captures $280,500 Churchill Downs Stakes that’s home to half a dozen broodmares. The best horse they’ve ever produced is Accredit, who went wire to wire to earn his first graded victory on May 2. Accredit set fast fractions of 22.94 seconds for the first quarAccredit ter-mile and 45.59 seconds for a halfmile with Julien Leparoux aboard. He then held on to finish the seven-furlong race in a time of 1:23.24 and improve his record to 5-for-5 on wet tracks. The colt returned mutuels of $10.60, $5.40 and $4 as the third choice in a field of nine 4year-olds and up. Accredit has won six of his 16 starts for $427,738. He’s the third-richest horse ever sired by E Dubai, trailing only Desert Code, with $1.09 million in earnings, and High Heels, with $484,636. Accredit was purchased
My Princess Jess Wins Beaugay
COGLIANESE PHOTO
BY NYRA PRESS Lael Stable’s Florida-bred My Princess Jess halted a three-race losing streak and began her 4-year-old campaign as a winner last month, rallying for a 1 ¾-length victory over the favored Carribean Sunset (IRE) in the 32nd running of the $109,000 Beaugay for fillies and mares at a mile and a sixteenth on the inner turf course at Belmont Park. The Stormy Atlantic filly, whose previous victory was in Saratoga’s Grade 2 Lake George last July, came on strong in the middle of the “good” course under jockey Cornelio Velasquez after sitting well off a pace of 26.07, 50.57, 1:15.27 and 1:38.97. Are We Dreamin had been the early pacesetter but was overtaken on the turn by Sunshine for Life, who wilted in midstretch. My Princess Jess “Cornelio rode her perfectly,” trainer BarclayTagg said. “I told him to tuck her in and wait until she got past the quarter-pole. He started to take a little more position there, which was fine. She really explodes if you wait until she gets past the quarter-pole. She has that quarter-mile in her, no more. She really gives you an explosive quarter-mile. I don’t know what’s next for her.” 10 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009
by Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey for $160,000 at the Keeneland sale of yearlings in September 2006 and is trained by Michael Maker. “He was always a nice, correct, longlegged foal,” Humphrey said. As a 3-year-old in December, Accredit won the $69,100 Parlay Me Stakes over a sloppy track at Aqueduct. Earlier in 2008, he won optionalclaiming races on wet tracks at Saratoga and Aqueduct. The May 2 race was only the second graded event of his career, following a thirdplace finish behind Semaphore Man in the $150,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park on April 10. At Calder, Grand Times prevailed in his second career start with Elvis Trujillo aboard. The juvenile is a son of Greatness, a stallion standing at Adena Springs South in Williston. Grand Times had finished second to Mission Impazible in his career debut, a $48,000 maiden special weight race at Keeneland on April 16. Grand Times was purchased by his trainer, Wesley Ward, for $14,000 at OBS last August. Humphrey said Accredit and Grand Times owe their ability to Pocketbrook, who had one victory and earned $14,120 at the racetrack. The mare has a weanling filly by Consolidator at her side as well as a yearling that’s a full brother to Accredit. “She’s a beautiful horse,” Humphrey said. “She didn’t do too well at the racetrack, and I’m not really sure why, but I think it’s because in her first or second race, she knocked herself into the rail, and she never really seemed to take to racing after that. But she’s a nice, big mare, and I like her. She’s from a family with a lot of nice horses.” PAM DIORIO PHOTO
BY NICK FORTUNA At about 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, there were few people at Calder Race Course wearing a bigger smile than David Humphrey, and he owes most of the credit for his mood to the Montbrook mare Pocketbrook. During a one-hour span, that mare sent two horses to the winner’s circle, and Humphrey got to see both races – one on television and one in person. Accredit captured the $280,500 Churchill Downs Stakes (G2) by 1 ¾ lengths at Churchill Downs, and with a lot less cash on the line, Grand Times won a $32,000 maiden special weight race by four lengths at the Miami track, giving Humphrey a day he won’t soon forget. “I’m not complaining,” Humphrey joked. “You don’t get days like that too regularly. It’s nice to know that a small breeder – the little guy – still has a chance in the game. It’s not just the big people who have a chance.” Humphrey lives in South Florida in Homestead and owns a 17-acre farm in Ocala
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David Goldman Passes Away David Goldman died on April 23, in Ocala after a long battle with cancer. He was 76.
12 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009
Goldman was born Dec. 26, 1932, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, son to Rose and Bob and brother to Sam. He attended Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, GA and then returned to the Boston area to attend Brandeis University. Goldman was accepted to Harvard Law School, but was then drafted, serving in the Navy from 1955-57. His hobby and greatest passion was Thoroughbred racing, his father having been one of the country’s original turf writers. His love of racing, together with his unique gift for writing, eventually led him to a life-long career devoted to the Thoroughbred industry. Goldman began his career in Massachusetts, and was a regular at all the New England tracks, including those long gone–Narragansett Park, Lincoln Downs, Scarborough Downs and the county fairs–Brockton, Northampton and Great Barrington. He soon left for Ocala, when he saw Florida emerging in national prominence in the Thoroughbred industry. Before leaving for Ocala, in 1961 Goldman married Susanne Ronai, mother to his sons, Robert, 46, and Peter, 44. In a career that would ultimately have him writing for virtually every prestigious racing publication, domestically and abroad, he first landed in Ocala in 1962, becoming the business manager for the world-renowned Farnsworth Farms. He then moved to South Florida where he be-
came a marketing executive, at various times, for each of the racetracks: Hialeah Park, Gulfstream Park, Tropical Park and Calder Race Course and later, Florida Downs near Tampa. In 1976, he returned to Ocala to become marketing director for the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company (OBS), and later formed Florida Thoroughbred Advertising, an advertising and marketing agency. In that position, he has been responsible for all the TV advertising of OBS. Goldman’s major claim to fame as a breeder was Caltech, winner of the 1989 Budweiser (Washington) D. C. International (G1) and an earner of more than $700,000. He then reached his crowning journalistic achievement (in a multi-part series for Daily Racing Form), “The Sunshine Boys,” which chronicled the colorful and rich history of racing in Florida. Goldman’s in-depth knowledge of racing pedigrees and the Thoroughbred industry was unmatched. In 1983, he married for the second time –to Catherine Bloomfield Goldman–a world-class equine artist. Dave then discovered another joy–becoming the proud grandfather of Julia (11) and Emma (9). Although he will be sorely missed by the entire racing industry and anyone who had the privilege of knowing him, Goldman leaves behind a “stable” rich with friends and family, who loved and adored him more than words can express.
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Millionaire Western Pride Sires First Winner
Dinner in Odem Prevails in Tampa’s Chris Thomas
Bwana Charlie’s First Starter Wins at Keeneland
Florida-bred Dinner in Odem made a four-wide move into the final turn then ran down the leaders in the final strides to prevail in a three-horse photo in the $75,000 Chris Thomas Turf Classic last month at Tampa Bay Downs. Fellow Florida-bred Sir Dave moved from third to briefly gain a short lead inside the eighth pole, but had to settle for second, a neck behind the winner. Ridden by Phil Teator for trainer Peter Wasiluk Jr., Dinner in Odem covered about 1 1/8 miles over a firm turf course in 1:46.68. The son of Quaker Ridge was bred in Florida by T.H. Heard Jr.
Malawi, a 2-year-old filly from the first crop of Bwana Charlie, became the first starter and first winner for her sire, impressively drawing off to win her debut by four lengths in a 4 ½-furlong maiden special weight race last month. Heiligbrodt Racing Stable bred and owns Malawi, a filly out of the Gilded Time mare Malady. Steve Asmussen trains the filly. Heiligbrodt and Asmussen also teamed to campaign Bwana Charlie. Multiple graded stakes winner Bwana Charlie, a son of Indian Charlie, stands at Brent and Crystal Fernung’s Journeyman Stud. His 2009 fee is $5,000.
14 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009
LOUISE REINAGEL PHOTO
Dinner in Odem
LOUISE REINAGEL PHOTO
Western Pride, a three-time Derby-winning 3-year-old and four-time graded stakes winner, stands at Signature Stallions in Ocala for a fee of $2,500.
COOLEY PHOTO
Multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Western Pride sired the first winner from his debut crop, as 2-year-old filly Straight Western went gate-to-wire in a Trial race on April 17th at Turf Paradise. Straight Western broke well and opened up on the field of nine, taking a five-length advantage into the stretch of the 4 ½-furlong heat. The bay filly hit the wire on top in a final time of 53.07 over a fast track. Out of the Straight Man mare Straight Time, Straight Western was bred in Florida by William Schettine. She is trained by Derek Couch for owner Matt Keneley.
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HORSEPHOTOS.COM
‘04 Down Memory Lane Southern Image
By JO ANN GUIDRY outhern Image led an outstanding class of 2004 Florida-bred champions, which won 18 stakes races that included 13 graded stakes wins and seven Grade 1 victories. With a pair of Grade 1 victories and $1.6 in seasonal earnings, Southern Image was named the Florida-bred Horse of the Year and champion older male. A 4-year-old colt by Halo’s Image out of the Dixieland Band mare Pleasant Dixie, Southern Image kicked off the season in attention-grabbing fashion. On January 24, the Arthur I. Appleton-bred colt romped to a three-length win in the $1-million Sunshine Millions Classic at Santa Anita Park. Southern Image encored that with another tally in a $1-million race, scoring a victory in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) on March 6. A cross country trip to the East Coast did little to slow Southern Image down. On May 14, he captured the Pimlico Special (G1). Owned by the partnership of Blahut Stables, Kagele Brothers, and Allen and Josh Tepper, Southern Image closed out his season with a runner-up finish by a nose to Colonial Colony in the Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) on June 12 at Churchill Downs. The Michael Machowsky trainee banked $1,612,150 on the year in three wins and one seconds in only four starts. Southern Image was consigned by Apple-
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16 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009
2004
ton’s Bridlewood Farms to the 2002 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s March 2-year-olds in training sale. He was purchased for $300,000 by trainer Machowsky for his current owners. Other 2004 Florida-bred champions which won Grade 1 events were: Lady Tak, the champion older female who won the Ballerina Handicap (G1) and Gallant Bloom Handicap (G2); Afleet Alex, the champion 2-year-old colt, who won the Hopeful Stakes (G1) and Sanford Stakes (G2); Splendid Blended, the champion 2-year-old filly who won the Hollywood Starlet Stakes (G1); Midas Eyes, the champion sprinter who won the Forego Handicap (G1) and Star Over the Bay, the champion turf horse who won the Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship Stakes (G1), Del Mar Handicap (G2) and Sunset Handicap (G2). Rounding out the season’s roster of Florida-bred champions were: Limehouse, the champion 3-year-old colt who won the Hutcheson Stakes (G2) and Tampa Bay Derby (G3); and Hopelessly Devoted, the champion 3-year-old filly who won three stakes including the listed Calder Oaks. Bridlewood Farm stallion Halo’s Image, the sire of Florida-bred Horse of the Year Southern Image, was the leading Florida stallion by progeny earnings with $3,478,969. Wild Event, who also stood at Bridlewood
Farm, was the leading Florida juvenile sire with progeny earnings of $722,940. Adena Springs South stallion Running Stag was the leading Florida freshman sire with progeny earnings of $529,072. The late John Franks was named the Florida Breeder of theYear for the second consecutive year. Franks was the leading Florida breeder by Florida-bred earnings ($8,923,116), Florida-bred stakes winners (15), Florida-bred stakes wins (23) and Florida-bred wins (466). Lady Tak, the 2004 Florida-bred champion older female, was Franks’ leading Florida-bred money earner. Raced by Heiligbrodt Racing Stable, Lady Tak won the Ballerina Handicap (G1), Gallant Bloom Handicap (G2) and Winning Colors Handicap on her way to earning $439,412 on the season. That total contributed to Lady Tak becoming a Florida-bred millionaire with a career bankroll of $1,155,682 at the end of 2004. Florida-bred Skip Away, who was the 1998 North American Horse of the Year, was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York. Bred by Anna Marie Barnhart, owned by Carolyn Hine and trained by Hubert “Sonny” Hine, Skip Away also garnered Eclipse Awards as 1996 champion 3-year-old colt and 1997-98 champion older male. In a remarkable career from 1995-98, Skip Away won 16 graded stakes and was stakes-placed 16 times in 38 starts to earn $9,616,360. Among his 16 graded stakes wins were 10 Grade I events: Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1); Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), twice; Woodbine Millions (G1); Hollywood Gold Cup (G1); Haskell Invitational Handicap (G1); Pimlico Special (G1); Gulfstream Park Handicap (G1); Woodward Stakes (G1) and Donn Handicap (G1).
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Florida Thoroughbred Retirement Farm
Situated on 100 grassy acres in northeast Marion County,
The farm is operated in conjunction with the Florida Department of Corrections and Marion Correctional Institution and all the horses are cared for by female inmates from the Lowell Correctional Institute. The women, all non-violent offenders, spend their days learning barn management skills including grooming, feeding, doctoring, and physical therapy and they help teach the horses new disciplines. It’s a symbiotic relationship whereby the horses learn the skills they need to go on to new careers and the inmates learn about teamwork and trust. At the conclusion of the year-long program, having successfully passed 22 written tests covering all aspects of horse care, inmates graduate with a vocational certificate in equine care technology. Upon their release, some of the graduates have gone on to work in the industry as grooms and stable managers. Two famous Florida-bred champions permanently reside at the farm: Carterista, the 1993 Florida Champion Turf Horse and winner of eight stakes races, and Shake You Down, the 2003 Florida Champion Sprinter and winner of nearly $1.5 million.
Meredith Woods Photos
the Florida Thoroughbred Retirement Farm is home to more than 50 Florida-bred ex-racehorses. All of the horses arrive at the farm after their careers on the racetrack are over. Sure, their racing days are behind them, but after rest and retraining, many of the horses at the Florida TRF are ready for adoption. Many go on to enjoy second careers in dressage, trail riding, jumping, pleasure riding and other uses. Even those horses that are not rideable may find adoptive homes as companion animals. As more horses are adopted into new homes, more spaces are available for horses to join the Florida TRF program.
The Florida TRF currently has a waiting list for incoming Thoroughbreds. In order to join the list, the horse should be a Florida-bred Thoroughbred, coming straight from the track. The horse should be retired due to age or physical condition. Contact Florida Thoroughbred Charities for more information at 352-629-2160. A donation is requested along with each horse accepted into the program. Founded in 2001, the farm is supported though the concentrated efforts of Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, Florida Thoroughbred Charities, Ocala Breeders’Sales Company, Gulfstream Park, Calder Race Course, Tampa Bay Downs, the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, the national Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, as well as by many individuals who contribute through donations and fundraising efforts. For more information on adopting a retired Florida-bred racehorse, please contact the FTBOA offices at 352-629-2160. Since 1990 Florida Thoroughbred Charities, the non-profit, charitable arm of the FTBOA has raised more than $3.5 million for a variety of community and Thoroughbred industry causes. Much of the fundraising efforts are made possible due to the support FTBOA and FTC receive from corporate sponsorship.
FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’ AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION 801 SW 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474 352-629-2160 • Fax: 352-629-3603 www.ftboa.com • info@ftboa.com
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FTBOA, FHBPA and Churchill Downs are raising purse money in the juvenile racing program at Calder this year and growing the Florida Stallion Stakes, making the popular series more lucrative
than ever in 2009!
$32,000 minimum purses for maiden special weight, which includes $5,000 FSS supplements and $5,000 Florida Owners’ Awards. Take advantage of your next opportunity to purchase a Florida-bred at the OBS June sale in Ocala!
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Gilbert G. Campbell President
Eddie Martin First Vice President
J. Michael O’Farrell Second Vice President
Mark Roberts Secretary Diane Parks Treasurer
DIRECTORS Fred Brei Donald Dizney Barry W. Eisaman Michael Mulligan Peter Vegso Sheila DiMare Bonnie M. Heath III George G. Isaacs Jessica Steinbrenner Charlotte C. Weber Richard E. Hancock
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association 801 SW 60th Ave. Ocala, Florida 34474 Phone: (352) 629-2160 Fax: (352) 629-3603 visit us at www.ftboa.com e-mail: info@ftboa.com
FTBOA to Continue Offering Legislative e-mail Updates s of press time, several issues targeted by the FTBOA as economic stimulus items necessary to maintain and improve Thoroughbred racing in Florida are still under consideration by the Florida Legislature. Updates will be released by the FTBOA via email as they are available. Anyone wishing to receive the latest updates on legislative action and other issues affecting the Thoroughbred industry in Florida can sign up by submitting their e-mail address to our office. Those wanting the updates can send an e-mail to info@ftboa.com. Please include your name, address, phone number and FTBOA membership number, if you have one, in the body of the message. Membership is not required to sign up for email updates. Among the items currently under consideration by the Florida House and Senate are a notfor-profit Thoroughbred racing permit for Marion
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County, the reduction of taxes levied on slot machine revenues from the current 50 percent rate to 35 percent and the Breeders’ Flexibility provision, which would allow more freedom in how breeders’ awards can be distributed.
FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED CHARITIES RAISES $21,000 IN AUCTION The Florida Thoroughbred Charities’ 19th annual Live/Silent Auction held on April 18 raised more than $21,000. The event was held on the opening day of the Ocala Breeders’Sales Spring Sale of 2-yearolds in training and included such items as tickets to the World Series, the Indy 500 and Brickyard 400. Other items included a suite at Gulfstream Park for the Sunshine Millions or Florida Derby, memberships to Golden Hills Golf and Turf Club and Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Center and an equine care package from OBS Feed and Supply. The money raised during the auction is in addition to the nearly $105,000 the FTC raised during its annual Stallion Season Auction, also held at OBS in February. A season to Bridlewood Farm’s stallion Put it Back received the top bid. The 2009 foals of stallions who participated in the auction will be eligible for the Florida Thoroughbred Charities Stakes, which is run during the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Day of Champions races. This year Florida-bred Dukes Flying Tiger, by former Hartley/De Renzo stallion Tiger Ridge, won the race on Feb. 16. see Charity Auction page 20 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009 19
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Charity Auction continued awarded to 33 students planning on attending accredited two or four-year colleges or universities Additionally, the Florida Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, which is also administered by the FTBOA, was recently presented with a check for nearly $6,000 from money collected during the annual country barbecue held in conjunction with the Adena Springs 2-year-olds in training sale in March.
Calendar of events
Florida-bred Dukes Flying Tiger won this yearʼs Florida Thoroughbred Charities Stakes.
“We’d really like to thank all the stallion owners and those who donated items to the auctions, as well as our staff who put so much work into the auction. We are appreciative of all those who participated to help support the charities and the community organizations they assist, especially in these difficult times,” said Richard E. Hancock, executive vice president of the FTBOA. Since 1990, Florida Thoroughbred Charities Inc. has raised nearly $4 million to bene-
20 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009
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fit thoroughbred industry and community organizations. The FTC is the charitable arm of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’Association. The next FTC event is the annual golf tournament in October. All proceeds raised at the event will go toward the FTC scholarship fund. The scholarship program is open to FTBOA members, their children, their employees and children of employees. Last year, more then $50,000 in scholarships were
Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico
June 6: Belmont Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park
June 13: Calder Race Course’s Summit of Speed Preview, featuring the $100,000 Unbridled Stakes, $100,000 Leave Me Alone Stakes, $75,000 Ponche Handicap and $75,000 U Can Do It Handicap
June 16-17: Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. June sale of 2-yearolds and horses of racing age
July 11: Calder Race Course’s Summit of Speed, featuring the $350,000 Smile Sprint Handicap (G2), the $350,000 Princess Rooney Handicap (G1), $200,000 Carry Back Stakes (G2), $200,000 Azalea Stakes (G3) and the $150,000 Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint Handicap
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Showing t 22 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009
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Florida-bred Hooh Why led all the way to upset heavily favored champion Stardom Bound in last month’s Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. The daughter of former Florida sire Cloud Hopping covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.80.
the Way
KEENELAND PHOTO BY Z
Owned by Derby Daze Farms and Mark Hoffman, Hooh Why was bred by co-owner Gail Gee at her Derby Daze Farms. The filly was broke and trained in Ocala by Dominic Brennan.
THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009 23
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Florida-bred Advice charged through the stretch to register a come-from-behind victory in the Lexington Stakes (G2) at Keeneland on Saturday, April 18. The son of Signature Stallions’ Chapel Royal earned himself a spot in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby (G1) with the impressive score. Bred by Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Rogers, the WinStar Farm colorbearer was raised in Marion County at The Acorn and was sold by Eisaman Equine. KEENELAND PHOTO BY Z
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Advice, who is trained by Todd Pletcher, covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.33.
THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009 25
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Calder, FHBPA
JOE DIORIO PHOTO
Sign Contract FTBOA Pledges $300,000 for Juvenile Purses By CARLOS E. MEDINA alder Race Course and FHBPA officials signed a purse contract days before the Calder meet was to kick off, ending the prospect of a repeat of last year’s extended stalemate. The parties agreed to the contract after the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association stepped in and pledged an additional $300,000 for juvenile purses to offset a similar amount of money at the heart of the dispute. Both Calder and the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association verbally agreed to a contract in late March, but the contract hit a snag after Calder’s parent company, Churchill Downs Inc., objected to a provision that could have cost it between $250,000 and $300,000. “I’m glad that we could help get this purse contract signed, and I tip my hat to John Marshall (Calder general manager and vice president of racing) and Sammy Gordon (FHBPA president) for getting together and agreeing to what can be one of the best juvenile meets in recent Calder history,” said Richard E. Hancock, FTBOA executive vice president. “With the contract now settled, I hope it will give buyers attending OBS sales confidence that they will not only have a place to race, but they will be racing in one of the best
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26 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009
juvenile programs around,” Hancock said. Among the other items in the contract is a minimum average overnight purse increase to $160,000, a minimum purse target of $10,000 from $7,500 and improved reporting of handle and source market fees from Calder. “I think it is a fair contract, and I am glad we got it done just in time before the meet starts,” said Kent Stirling, FHBPA executive director. “We appreciate the (FTBOA) stepping up and adding the extra enhancements.” Calder’s Marshall praised Hancock and the FTBOA board of directors for their efforts in helping to get the contract signed. “This agreement is a positive development for everyone with a stake in South Florida racing, especially Thoroughbred racing fans,” he said. “Our renewed partnership with the FTBOA and FHBPA could not come at a better time.” The FHBPA’s Gordon was also thankful for the FTBOA’s support. “We are delighted to have a signed agreement for the upcoming season,” Gordon said. “We appreciate the partnership we’re forming with the new management at Calder and look forward to a successful year.” The $300,000 in added purse money will bolster six juvenile stakes races. The six $50,000 overnight stakes races will double in value to $100,000 with the additional funds pledged by the FTBOA for winning Florida-breds. Two of
those races are the JJ’s Dream and the Frank Gomez Memorial stakes on July 11. Calder’s Juvenile Showcase card on Aug. 29 will have an additional $200,000 in purses for four overnight stakes. Again, $50,000 in additional purses for winning Florida-breds would double the value of the Seacliff, the Lindsay Frolic, the Turf Dash and the Catcharisingstar stakes. The Juvenile Showcase features the Affirmed and the Susan’s Girl divisions of the Florida Stallion Stakes series, which would remain valued at $150,000 each. The added purse money further improves an agreement that enhanced the Florida Stallion Stakes series and increased purses for 2-year-old maiden special weight races, as well as the FTBOA Stakes Program. The original enhancements specifically called for a contribution to FSS purses of $100,000 each from the FTBOA, Calder and the FHBPA. Purses for 2-year-old maiden special weight races would increase to $32,000, which would include $5,000 in FSS supplements and $5,000 in Florida owners’ awards. Last year, Calder operated almost three months of the meet without a contract. Calder’s total purses were down almost $8 million from 2007 numbers. Horsemen also lost as purses, some stakes and race days were cut because of the lost revenue. ■
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Quick Returns For Florida-bred Juveniles at Calder RACE
DATE VALUE
Frank Gomez Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . .7/11/2009 J J’s Dream Stakes-fillies . . . . . . . . . .7/11/2009 FSS Desert Vixen Division-fillies . . . . . .8/8/2009 FSS Dr. Fager Division . . . . . . . . . . . .8/8/2009 FSS Susan’s Girl Division-fillies . . . . .8/29/2009 FSS Affirmed Division . . . . . . . . . . .8/29/2009 Seacliff Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8/29/2009 Lindsay Frolic Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . .8/29/2009 Turf Dash Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8/29/2009 Catcharisingstar Stakes . . . . . . . . . .8/29/2009 Brave Raj Stakes-fillies . . . . . . . . . . .9/26/2009 Foolish Pleasure Stakes . . . . . . . . . .9/26/2009 FSS My Dear Girl Division-fillies . . . .10/17/2009 FSS In Reality Division . . . . . . . . . .10/17/2009 Cassidy Stakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10/17/2009 Birdonthewire Stakes . . . . . . . . . . .10/17/2009
DIST.
$100,000 (including $50,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) 6 furlongs $100,000 (including $50,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) 6 furlongs $100,000 FSS (including $50,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) 6 furlongs 6 furlongs $100,000 FSS (including $50,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) $150,000 FSS 7 furlongs $150,000 FSS 7 furlongs 1 mile $100,000 (including $50,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) 1 mile $100,000 (including $50,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) 5 furlongs $100,000 (including $50,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) 5 furlongs $100,000 (including $50,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) $75,000 (including $15,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) 1 mile and 70 yds. $75,000 (including $15,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) 1 mile and 70 yds. $400,000 FSS 1 1/16 miles $400,000 FSS 1 1/16 miles 5 1/2 furlongs $75,000 (including $15,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) 5 1/2 furlongs $75,000 (including $15,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund)
FLORIDA MILLION Joe O’Farrell Juvenile Fillies . . . . . .11/14/2009 Jack Price Juvenile . . . . . . . . . . . . .11/14/2009 Arthur I. Appleton Juvenile Turf . . . .11/14/2009 John Franks Juvenile Fillies Turf . . .11/14/2009
$150,000 (including $75,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) $150,000 (including $75,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) $100,000 (including $50,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund) $100,000 (including $50,000 FTBOA Stakes Fund)
Stakes Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,700,000 40 Maiden Special Weight 2YO races - $32,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,280,000 (including $5,000 FSS & $5,000 FOA) $3,980,000
7 furlongs 7 furlongs 1 1/16 miles 1 1/16 miles
Buy a Florida-bred at the OBS June Sale to take advantage of these opportunities.
For more information, contact the FTBOA at
(352) 629-2160
THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009 27
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AWinning g Involved in the Florida Thoroughbred industry for 12 years and counting,
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Hand Fred and Jane Brei continue to enjoy success in the name of their Jacks Or Better Farm.
By JO ANN GUIDRY
Call it a Thoroughbred royal flush.
Monsieur Cat stand stud at Jim and Sheila DiMare’s Ocala-based Rising Hill Farm. Jacks Or Better Farm has twice garnered the Needles Award (2001& 2004), which annually honors the most successful small Florida breeding operation. In 2008, horses bred by Jacks Or Better Farm earned $1,045,420. As an owner last season, Jacks Or Better Farm posted earnings of $815,539.
fter establishing their Reddick-based Jacks Or Better Farm in 1997, Fred and Jane Brei began to buy broodmares. At that year’s Keeneland November breeding stock sale, they paid $80,000 for Bayou Plans. The stakes-winning daughter of Bayou Hebert had earned $308,959 and was in foal to Mountain Cat. Longtime card players, it was arguably the best COMING TO THE SUNSHINE $80,000 bet the Breis ever made. Fred and Jane Brei met at Canterbury Corporation, Bayou Plans has since produced Florida-bred graded stakes winners Midas Eyes and Bayou’s Lassie, as well a long-term retirement facility in Crystal Lake, Illinois, as Florida-bred stakes winner Bourbon N Blues. She is in the mid-80s. Fred, a longtime builder/developer, also the dam of Cup o’Joe, a 2-year-old colt by Medaglia built and became chief executive officer of Canterbury d’Oro who the Breis sold for a sales-topping $1.6 million at When Jane brought up my past involvethe 2009 Fasig-Tipton Calder selected juvenile sale. ment in the Thoroughbred business in Illinois, “Obviously Bayou Plans we started thinking about giving it another has been a great broodmare try. We decided against Lexington because we for us,” said Fred Brei, who didn’t want to be where it got cold again. We hails from the Chicago, Illinois area and was briefly inhad heard plenty about Ocala but had never volved in that state’s been there. We took out a road atlas and Thoroughbred industry. planned a trip to Ocala. –Fred Brei “She’s definitely earned her keep year after year. She’s the kind of broodmare that everyone wishes they had.” Corp., where Jane was the director of nursing. Married But even more impressive is that the Breis’ success in 1991, the Breis left Canterbury in 1995 with extends beyond Bayou Plans and her accomplished off- thoughts of early retirement. spring. In the name of their Jacks Or Better Farm, the They bought a home in Savannah, Georgia, and the Breis have bred and/or raced such outstanding Florida- plan was for Jane to renovate the 1910 Southern manbreds as graded stakes winner Radical Riley and stakes sion while Fred played golf and went fishing. winners Garter Belt, Honey Honey Honey, Hear No “Basically we got bored,” said Fred. “And when Jane Evil, Awesome of Course, Monsieur Cat, Ladyinared- brought up my past involvement in the Thoroughbred dres, My My Mine, Scrubs, Antsinmypants, Friday’s A business in Illinois, we started thinking about giving it Comin’ and Winnie’s Pooh Bear. Still owned by Jacks another try. We decided against Lexington because we Or Better Farm, Awesome of Course, Hear No Evil and didn’t want to be where it got cold again. We had heard
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Fred and Jane Brei have found success in Ocala.
SERITA HULT PHOTOS
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We really breed to race. We like racing and just don’t sell that “many at the public auctions. But this Medaglia d’Oro colt was something special from day one. He was the most gorgeous horse ever born on our farm and he was always an extraordinary mover even as a baby. He would just glide across the paddock with no effort. We thought he’d be a nice yearling to sell. –Fred Brei
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The Breisʼ filly Garter Belt (below) recently won the Green Oaks Stakes at Delta Downs.
30 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009
plenty about Ocala but had never been there. We took out a road atlas and planned a trip to Ocala.” Driving down in the fall of 1996, the Breis knew Ocala was where they wanted to be. By the end of December, they had bought an 88-acre farm on 225A. Previously known as Double R Farm, the the card-playing Breis renamed it Jacks Or Better Farm. Once renovations on the farm were done, the Breis went broodmare shopping. At the 1997 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s January mixed sale, the Breis bought the Maudlin mare Winning For Glory in foal to Silver Buck for $7,000. They then bought three mares privately: Vogueing, Tudor
Guest and Picnic Basket. Off to Kentucky for the 1997 Keeneland November breeding stock sale, where in addition to buying Bayou Plans for $80,000, the Breis also bought graded stakes winner and millionairess Lottsa Talc for $575,000; stakes winner Mais Oui for $200,000 and multiple stakes producer Nifty Fifty for $170,000. All money well spent. From that first batch of mares, the 1998 Jacks Or Better Farm Florida-bred foal crop produced graded stakes winner Radical Riley, stakes winners Winnie’s Pooh Bear, Antsinmypants, Friday’s A Comin’ and Monsieur Cat, as well as stakes-placed I Am Nifty. “Looking back now, it’s hard to believe how many years ago that was,” said Brei. “I guess our horses pretty much hit the ground running.” BAYOU’S BABIES
Bayou Plans’ successful offspring may have come a couple of years after those initial stakes winners, but they’ve definitely made up for lost time. Bayou Plans’third foal was Midas Eyes, a very appropriately named 2000 colt by Touch Gold. He made his first start carrying the Jacks Or Better Farm silks and broke his maiden by eight. Sold privately shortly after to Edmund Gann, Midas Eyes definitely brought home the gold. He won the Forego Handicap (G1), Swale Stakes (G3) and DerbyTrial Stakes (G3) on his way to banking $616,528. Midas Eyes was named the 2004 Florida-bred champion sprinter. He currently stands stud at Empire Stud in Hudson, New York. Bourbon N Blues, who was Bayou Plans’ 2001 colt by Lycius, was also raced by Jack Or Better Farm. The stakes winner of $90,590 stands in New Mexico at DeGroot Farm. Also bred and raced by Jacks Or Better Farm was
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Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner 850-488-4366 • Fax 850-922-0374 e-mail: davisp@doacs.state.fl.us 407 S. Calhoun • 412 Mayo Building, Tallahassee, FL 32399
Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association 801 SW 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474 352-629-2160 • Fax: 352-629-3603 www.ftboa.com • info@ftboa.com
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graded stakes winner Bayou’s Lassie, a 2003 mare by Outflanker. Racing three seasons, Bayou’s Lassie won six stakes, including three graded, and was stakes-placed four times in 21 starts to earn $707,207. She won a graded stakes as a three, four and five-year-old: 2006 Frances A. Genter Stakes (G3), 2007 Stage Door Betty Handicap (G3) and 2008 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes (G3). Consigned by Hidden Brook, agent for the Breis, to the 2008 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November mixed sale, Bayou’s Lassie sold for $450,000 to Haruya Yoshida. “Since Bayou Plans is still going strong at 18 and her 2008 foal was a filly by Lemon Drop Kid, we decided to sell Bayou’s Lassie,” explained Brei. “She was a super racehorse and I’m sure she’ll be a good broodmare.” And it was with Bayou Plans’ 2007 Medaglia d’Oro colt that Brei hit an even bigger jackpot in the sales ring. “We really breed to race,” said Brei. “We like racing and just don’t sell that many at the public auctions. But this Medaglia d’Oro colt was something special from day one. He was the most gorgeous horse ever born on our farm and he was always an extraordinary mover even as a baby. He would just glide across the paddock with no effort. We thought he’d be a nice yearling to sell.” The Breis entered the dark bay, nearly black colt now named Cup o’ Joe in the 2008 Keeneland September yearling sale. But when he failed to meet his reserve on
a final bid of $325,000, Brei had no qualms about bringing the colt home. “I’ve never believed in giving our horses away. I’ve always said that we breed better racehorses than we do sale horses,” said Brei. “I knew this colt was special. I decided I’d break and train him then see where to go with him from there.” Where Cup o’ Joe eventually went was the 2009 Fasig-Tipton Calder selected juvenile sale. Consigned by Wavertree Stables, agent for the Breis, the colt was the sales topper when he sold for $1.6 million to John Ferguson Bloodstock. The latter representing Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. “Once the bidding on the colt got to a million and then past that, I was very happy,” said Brei. “It validated what I knew about this colt. I would’ve been happy to race him, but I’m also happy he sold for what he did. For someone who doesn’t breed to sell, that was something special.” Bayou Plans has a 2008 Lemon Drop Kid filly named Shesnolemon and a 2009 Awesome of Course filly. At this writing, Bayou Plans was scheduled to be bred to Candy Ride (Arg). BREEDING TO RACE
The Breis maintain a broodmare band of 20-25. In addition to Bayou Plans, the current 22-member group also includes stakes producer Sexy Stockings, dam of 2009 Florida-bred stakes winner Garter Belt; stakes winner Ladyinareddress; stakes-placed I Am Nifty; and stakes winner Precious Feather. The Breis privately bought Precious Feather, a 1997 mare by Gone West out of the *Vaguely Noble mare Last Feather, following the
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1998 Keeneland September yearling sale. Racing for them in the stall on the first day. On the second day, we’ll Jacks Or Better Farm, Precious Feather won four stakes get someone up on their backs while they’re still in the and was stakes-placed three times on her way to earning stall. By the fourth day, they’re being hand walked in the $257,441. She is the dam of stakes-placed Brooks’n shedrow with a rider on their back. Then we progress to Down, by Montbrook, has a 2006 Medaglia d’Oro colt jogging in the shedrow, usually for about two weeks. By named Precious Beans, a 2007 Congaree filly named then they’re ready to go the training track.” Diary, a 2008 Awesome of Course filly and is in foal Brei likes to ship the more advanced group of two again to the latter. year olds to the track by early April. By that time, they’ve “We’re very hands-on with our horses,” said Brei, been to the gates once a week for a month and posted a who in addition to being a couple of half-mile works. breeder/ owner/ trainer, is also a “Our horses are fit when they My theory is, and I could be director on the Florida Thor- wrong, is that if people come in go to the racetrack,” said Brei. oughbred Breeders’and Owners’ as owners of two year olds and “The next step in their education Association’s board. “I’m there is acclimating to the racetrack can make some money, they’ll environment, which depends on when every one of our mares stay in the game. And if they do the horse’s personality. But if all foal. We don’t feed in the padthat, it impacts not only racing, goes well, most of our two years docks so our horses are brought in twice a day to be fed and han- but the breeding and sales mar- old are ready to make their first dled. We always know what’s start on average 28 days after kets as well. –Fred Brei going on with our horses.” they got to the racetrack.” After leasing stalls at various training facilities, the Not surprisingly, Brei is a strong supporter of 2-yearBreis bought 13-acres at Nelson Jones Farms and Train- old racing. ing Center. The farm’s training operation includes a 24“The FTBOA has been working with Calder to emstall training barn, six-stall isolation barn, turn-out phasize 2-year-old racing again,” said Brei. “The purses paddocks and use of the facility’s training track. In ad- for 2-year-old races, especially the Florida Stallion dition to the horses in training at the farm, there are an- Stakes, need to come up to attract owners and trainers. other 21 with Louisiana-based trainer Kenny Decker and There has to be purse incentives to encourage people to nine with Calder-based trainer Stanley Gold. buy two year olds and race them. My theory is, and I “We break and train all our horses here at our train- could be wrong, is that if people come in as owners of ing center,” said Brei. “And because they’re handled so two year olds and can make some money, they’ll stay in much early and often, most of our horses are easy to the game. And if they do that, it impacts not only racing, bring along. We can usually put a bridle and a saddle on but the breeding and sales markets as well.” ■
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JOE DIORIO PHOTO
Hip #94 (left) brought $1.6 million at the Fasig-Tipton Calder juvenile sale.
THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009 33
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Horse Heaven o Ocala/Marion County is blessed with mineral-rich soil and water, moderate climate and high concentration of top industry professionals. Florida’s exceptional agriculture and business climate for breeding, training and racing means Thoroughbreds from the Sunshine State start with an advantage. All of this and more is why Ocala/Marion County, Florida, is known around the globe and throughout the equine industry as the Horse Capital of the World.
Discover Horse Heaven on Earth.
Discover
BARBARA D. LIVINGSTON PHOTO
Ocala/Marion/County, Florida!
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on Earth
FLORIDA DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner 850-488-4366 • Fax 850-922-0374 • e-mail: davisp@doacs.state.fl.us 407 S. Calhoun • 412 Mayo Building, Tallahassee, FL 32399
FLORIDA THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS’ AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION 801 SW 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474 352-629-2160 • Fax: 352-629-3603 www.ftboa.com • info@ftboa.com
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All-Star By NICK FORTUNA s one of the best players on one of the NBA’s top teams, Rashard Lewis already was assured of a highly competitive playoff season. But for the Orlando Magic’s All-Star power forward, game-winning 3-pointers aren’t the only exciting events he can look forward to this spring. Lewis and a group of childhood friends have partnered to purchase three Thoroughbreds that have already taken them to some of the biggest races in the sport of kings. Lewis said he didn’t know much about horse racing before being introduced to the sport last year, but now that it’s in his blood, it’s become a passion that likely will end up becoming his second career. “It’s most definitely something I see myself involved in when I retire,” Lewis said. Orlando Magic’s All-Star forward “With horse racing, even though I’m not actually competing myhas three-horse stable self, it’s still competing.” Lewis shares ownership of his horses with a group of friends from Houston, where he went to high school. One of those friends is his business manager, Jake Ballis, a real estate developer whose father, John, owned stakes winners such as Groovy, Cutlass Reality and Goodbye Halo. Lewis’s other partners are Jake Ballis’s brother, Reed, an attorney, and brothers Will and Reagan Swinbank, who run a trash-collecting business. Lewis said he was familiar with horses such as Kentucky Derby winners Street Sense and Big Brown, but it wasn’t until he saw his first race in person at Saratoga last summer that he began to fall in love with the sport. Prior to that race, Lewis and his friends had bought a Sky Mesa colt named Join in the Dance and sent him to trainer Todd Pletcher. The colt immediately rewarded the basketball star for his investment, winning by three lengths in a $74,000 maiden special weight race. While at Saratoga, Lewis also met University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino, a Thoroughbred owner who told him how much fun he’s had in the sport over the years. “I brought him to Saratoga, the best track you can go to and the best environment,” Jake Ballis said. PHOTO BY FERNANDO MEDINA/NBAE VIA GETTY IMAGES
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Stable three starts in Europe last year before making her U.S. debut in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita, where she finished last in a 12-horse field. Beyond Our Reach spent the winter preparing for her 3-year-old season at J.J. Pletcher’s Payton Training Center in Ocala. Lewis said he was surprised that one of his horses made it to the sport’s biggest stage in his first year as an owner. “It was a fun, but at the same time, it was strange because they say a lot of people would die to go to the Breeders’ Cup or the Kentucky Derby, and for me to be in my first year in the business and have a horse in the Breeders’ Cup, hopefully it’s a good sign that they’ll be good things to come,” he said. “But I know
Join in the Dance might be slated for the Preakness Stakes.
PAM DIORIO PHOTO
“Join in the Dance broke his maiden there, so there was a lot of excitement. It got him hooked.” Since then, Join in the Dance has provided plenty of excitement for Lewis and his friends. The 3-yearold colt led for most of the $300,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs in March before finishing second to Musket Man by a neck as a 35-1 long shot. Join in the Dance also ran fifth last month in the $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland and set the pace in the $2 million Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs before finishing seventh. Ballis said Join in the Dance might run in the $1 million Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico on May 16. Lewis and his partners also own Beyond Our Reach, a 3-year-old, Irish-bred filly. She made her first
THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009 37
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NBA star Lewis finding success as horse owner
PHOTO BY FERNANDO MEDINA/NBAE VIA GETTY IMAGES
May at Belmont Park, and plans call for all three of his group’s horses to compete at Saratoga this summer. Though Lewis saw the Tampa Bay Derby in person, his busy schedule with the Magic prevents him from attending many of his horses’ races, including the Breeders’ Cup. Still, Ballis said the basketball star is far more than just a silent partner. “He gets updates every day,” Ballis said. “He calls me about three times a day asking about the horses. He’s a lot more involved than anybody would ever think he is. It’s a lot of fun.” For Lewis, success in horse racing has come even quicker than in basketball. After entering the 1998 NBA draft straight out of high school, Lewis watched as his hometown Rockets chose three players instead of him in the first round. Lewis was drafted by Seattle in the second round and averaged just 2.4 points during his rookie season with the SuperSonics. Since then, Lewis has blossomed into one of the NBA’s best talents. He was named an All-Star for the second time this year, his second season with Orlando following nine years in Seattle. For his career, he’s averaged 16.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. This season, he’s partnered with All-Star center Dwight Howard to give Orlando one of the best front-court tandems in the league and a Southeast Division title. Lewis joined the Magic in 2007 with a six-year, $118 million contract. That kind of money obviously can buy a lot of horses, but Ballis said he plans on keeping the stable small for the foreseeable future. It’s most definitely something I see myself “We have three, and we’ll involved in when I retire. With horse racing, even though I’m not probably stick to three for a actually competing myself, it’s still competing. —Rashard Lewis while,” he said. “That’s the plan right now, but it depends it’s very tough, and it’s not something that just hap- on how the other ones run. If we have success, I’m hoppens normally. Some people never get a horse that’s ing to get a couple other basketball players involved and good enough to run in a race like that.” keep it a small group.” In addition, Lewis and his friends recently purLewis said he also plans to grow his stable slowly, chased a juvenile colt from the first crop of Florida- though his interest in the sport has grown by leaps and bred Limehouse. Ballis said the horse likely will be bounds. named Dream Shake in honor of Hakeem “The “I’ve gotten really into it,” he said. “When I watch Dream” Olajuwon, a Hall-of-Fame basketball player ESPN, if I see ‘Horse’ at the bottom of the screen, I wait with the Houston Rockets who invested in real estate on it to see who they’re talking about and what they’re deals with the Ballis family. The colt was purchased talking about. I’ve been reading more about it and lookfrom Juvenal Diaz, who owns Omega Farm in Ocala. ing at other horses that are running. I catch myself Ballis said the colt likely will make his first start in watching other horses.” ■
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38 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009
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Winners
– both equine and human – possess a keen eye for opportunity.
Don’t miss your next opportunity to acquire race ready, Florida-breds! OBS June Two-Year-Olds & Horses of Racing Age Sale – June 16-17 Florida’s breeders have produced 46 national champions, including 2008 Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Benny the Bull. Two other Florida-breds – Ginger Punch, a previous Eclipse winner, and Vineyard Haven – were also Eclipse finalists this year. Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs has been honored as the nation’s leading breeder for five consecutive years and swept top breeder and owner categories at this year’s Eclipse Awards. Success like this is why Florida is the ideal place to breed, raise, sell, and race champion Thoroughbreds.
Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner 850-488-4366 • Fax 850-922-0374 e-mail: davisp@doacs.state.fl.us 407 S. Calhoun • 412 Mayo Building, Tallahassee, FL 32399
Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association
801 SW 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474 352-629-2160 • Fax: 352-629-3603 www.ftboa.com • info@ftboa.com
Don’t let the chance to acquire a
potential future champion bred and raised in the Sunshine State pass you by!
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Sunshine State
S Pack
ix
By NICK FORTUNA
s the horses were loaded into the starting gates for the Hilton Garden Inn Sprint, trainer Lynne Scace couldn’t help but notice that one of the leading contenders wasn’t very happy to be there. How’s Your Halo was in gate No. 9, just to the inside of her horse, On the Vineyard, and was making his displeasure known to everyone within earshot. “He was acting up, and I could hear the banging around in there, and I said, ‘Oh, my God,’” Scace said. “But On the Vineyard just stood right there and never batted an eye. He never even twitched.”
COOLEY PHOTOS
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Florida Cup Day featured six stakes races worth $85,000 each
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Florida Cup Day wasn’t. I was pretty sure then she would be alright getting seven furlongs for the first time. We were just breezing along at the wire.” Along with Scace, trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. and jockeys Daniel Centeno and Elvis Trujillo were the big winners of the day with two stakes victories apiece. Trujillo steered Quiet Meadow to her first stakes victory in the 11⁄16-mile L and D Farm Distaff, for fillies and mares ages 4 and up. The 4-year-old filly, bred by the late Arthur Appleton and owned by Hidden Brook, entered the top of the stretch with a one-length lead and held off the favored Scolara to win by half a length. The victory gave Quiet Meadow three wins in 11 starts and earnings of $135,008. “We got away really well early,” Trujillo said. “She can be a bit eager, and I had to make her relax getting into the backstretch. We got a break when the leader drifted out entering the turn and we were suddenly on the lead, maybe a bit too soon. A horse came at us in the stretch, and I touched her twice with the whip; she didn’t like that, so I went back to hand riding, and she was going again at the end.” Trujillo also won the nine-furlong Kinsman Farm Turf Classic aboard Fearless Eagle, who rallied past Marquet Cat to win by a neck. Fearless Eagle, a son of Rising Hill Farm stallion Invisible Ink, earned his fourth
COOLEY PHOTOS
Quiet Meadow (below) held off Scolara to win the L and D Farm Distaff.
On the Vineyard’s professional approach paid dividends that day, as he earned his first stakes victory as a 30-1 long shot. His performance was part of a memorable Florida Cup Day at Tampa Bay Downs on April 4, when six stakes races worth $85,000 apiece were contested by horses bred in the Sunshine State. On the Vineyard ran just outside the pacesetter, Stradivinsky, for much of the six-furlong race before making his move near the top of the stretch. He finished in a time of 1:09.59 with Willie Martinez aboard to win by 1¾ lengths and earn his fifth victory in 12 career starts. The 5-year-old son of Lite the Fuse has earned $130,447 for Scace, who bred him at her Double S Farm in Ocala and still owns him. Scace had scored another victory earlier in the day with Snow Lass, who won the seven-furlong Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies Stakes by 3 ¼ lengths in a time of 1:23.78. The 3-year-old filly led the race most of the way to remain undefeated in three starts and boost her earnings to $77,320. The daughter of Stormy Atlantic was bred and is owned by Ocala’s Bridlewood Farm. “She has a nice turn of foot, and I wanted to get her away first and keep the other filly with speed inside me,” winning rider Rosemary Homeister Jr. said. “We were clear going to the turn, and I looked around at the quarter pole to see if anyone was coming – there
42 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009
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Snow Lass remained undefeated in three starts while winning the Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies Stakes. Fearless Eagle (below) won the Kinsman Farm Turf Classic by a neck.
stakes victory. He had also won the Lord Juban, Jackie Wackie and Pete Axthelm stakes at Calder Race Course. Fearless Eagle has won six of his 18 starts for $253,870 for breeder/owner Isaac Muhtar and trainer Plesa. “I had never ridden the horse before, so I wanted to be careful and save all the ground I could,” Trujillo said. “He wanted to get after them in the backstretch, but I kept him behind horses and made him wait. When the rail opened going into the stretch, he really went for it. It might have looked close at the wire, but
we were eating up the ground.” Centeno and Bee Cee Cee won the seven-furlong Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore Stakes by three lengths for Plesa and owner J. Robert Harris Jr. The 3-year-old son of Songandaprayer, bred by Ocala’s Marion Montanari, had gone winless in seven straight races since capturing the B L’s Sweep overnight stakes at Calder in June. Bee Cee Cee has won three of his 10 starts for $159,900.
THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009 43
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Florida Cup Day
44 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009
won the Arthur I. Appleton Juvenile Turf at Calder in November and has earned $138,976. “We broke well and got across just off the leaders, and he did relax nicely,” Centeno said. “I went after them going into the turn, and he had to work hard to get by. Maybe he was tiring because he was trying to get in on me in mid-stretch, but I got him straight, and he pulled away. I knew something was coming fast outside us, but we were there first.” ■
COOLEY PHOTOS
Heavily favored Tamborim (above) wins the Dayton Andrews Dodge Sophomore Turf. Bee Cee Cee (at right) won the sevenfurlong Ocala Breedersʼ Sales Sophomore Stakes by three lengths.
“When we got clear going into the turn, he really started to roll,” Centeno said. “Going seven furlongs was no trouble for him at all.” Centeno also piloted the heavily favored Tamborim to a win in the 11⁄16-mile Dayton Andrews Dodge Sophomore Turf. Tamborim, a 3-year-old son of Belong to Me, beat Duke of Mischief by three-quarters of a length to earn his third victory in seven starts. The colt, bred and owned by Ocala’s Haras Santa Maria de Araras, also
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Breeders & Stallion Owners Awards $7.0 million
Owners’ Awards FTBOA Stakes Program
$7.0 million
The Sunshine Millions at Gulfstream Park The Florida Millions at Calder Race Course Florida Cup Day at Tampa Bay Downs
Florida Owners’ Awards
$3.0 million
(Paid by individual Florida racetracks to the owners of FTBOA registered Florida-bred winners)
Florida Stallion Stakes
$1.3 million
(Only foals by eligible Florida Sires registered with the FTBOA) (Total Florida Stallion Stakes Program)
T o ta l F l o r i d a - b r e d Aw a r d s P r o g r a m
$18.3 million Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner 850-488-4366 • Fax 850-922-0374 e-mail: davisp@doacs.state.fl.us 407 S. Calhoun • 412 Mayo Building, Tallahassee, FL 32399
Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association 801 SW 60th Ave. • Ocala, FL 34474 352-629-2160 • Fax: 352-629-3603 www.ftboa.com • info@ftboa.com
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Tells a Story Equine are C
Thermography can be used to detect abnormalities weeks before they cause lameness
By DENISE STEFFANUS
ain and swelling often are the first
P
signs that a horse is going lame.
The groom or trainer may notice
the problem when the horse comes back from the track, or it may appear out of the blue with no apparent cause. At this point, the horse has to be sidelined or its training cut back to allow time for the
46 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009
horse to be treated and recover.
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Thermography, a noninvasive diagnostic tool, can enable a veterinarian to detect subtle alterations in blood flow weeks before clinical signs appear. Many times, this early warning allows trainers to make changes in the horse’s care and training or seek medical treatment that can prevent it from becoming lame. More importantly, thermography’s ability to reveal stress fractures may save horses from catastrophic breakdowns. Tracy Turner, D.V.M., M.S., has been studying the efficacy of thermography for more than a decade. His work with actively racing Thoroughbreds has shown that thermography has merit, although it was received with skepticism when it was first introduced to equine veterinary medicine in the 1990s. RACEHORSES BENEFIT
Thermography records the skin temperature and presents a pictorial representation of the surface of the horse. Although images measure only skin temperature, they also reflect alterations in circulation of deeper tissues. Unusually hot or cold areas may be indicative
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of some underlying pathology. This ability to noninvasively assess inflammation makes thermography an ideal imaging tool to aid in the diagnosis of certain lameness conditions, such as those affecting the upper hind limb. “We did a study at Canterbury Park in Minnesota over a two-year period,” said Turner, a board-certified surgeon at Anoka Equine Veterinary Services in Elk River, Minnesota. “On average, we could pick things up two weeks before they became clinical.” Turner performed his first racetrack study in 1998 at Canterbury Park and Ellis Park in Kentucky when he was a researcher at the University of Minnesota. At first, trainers were skeptical that an image of the skin temperature of the horse could reveal deeper problems. But as veterinarians looked more closely at areas flagged by the thermal images and found underlying problems that no one knew existed, trainers became more convinced of its validity as a diagnostic tool. “Several trainers were convinced we made their horses winners because we discovered muscle injuries they were not aware of that
they subsequently treated,” Turner said in 1998 upon completion of the study. “And we found one horse in every trainer’s barn [who participated in the study] that the trainer sent home because of what we found. They were not lame but had training problems, and we kept discovering more and more inflammatory spots.” Turner and his colleagues found that some stables seemed to have more of a particular problem, such as sore tendons or inflamed joints, than other issues. They concluded that the injuries might be related to the trainer’s management practices and/or training style. So they made suggestions on how the trainer could avoid such injuries, and most trainers took their advice. THERMAL PATTERNS
Thermal patterns are the key to thermography. Normal horses have a familiar pattern of temperature variations. Different temperature ranges are displayed on the image as different colors. Local circulation determines the thermal pattern.
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ROUTINE OR LAST-MINUTE
Equine Care
To achieve the best benefit, a trainer ideally should incorporate thermography into While factors such as poultices or linihis or her training program. In his racetrack ments may indicate the presence of heat on studies, Turner took 20 key, whole-body imthe thermal image, experienced thermologists ages of each horse at seven- to 14-day inusually can differentiate between artifacts and tervals. These 20 images, which typically valid readings. take about 10 minutes to complete, are ones “Poultices and things like that tend to give that he and his colleagues determined are very telltale signs, so we can look at the image the most pertinent and provide the most inand determine it was due to a poulformation. tice,” Turner said. “But if I’ve had a Using this protocol, Turner esSeveral trainers were convinced we made tablished a routine that enabled him poultice on two front legs and I take it off and look at the horse, and one their horses winners because we discovered to follow each horse through trainleg is still way hotter than the other, ing and racing, noting changing patmuscle injuries they were not aware of that you better look at that leg because it terns in the thermal imaging. If he usually is an indication that somefound changes that did not look northey subsequently treated. And we found thing else is going on.” mal, he would discuss them with the one horse in every trainer’s barn [who par- trainer, and they would decide how Skin temperature increases with ticipated in the study] that the trainer sent to proceed. muscle activity, so even subtle changes in temperature can raise a home because of what we found. They were Establishing a baseline reading red flag for closer investigation. For and following a horse throughout its example, a horse whose front legs not lame but had training problems, and we training program is not necessary, show up as slightly different colkept discovering more and more inflamma- however. ors—one has more blood flow than “We can go in blind and look at —Tracy Turner, D.V.M., M.S. tory spots. the other—may reflect an effort by them,” Turner said about performthe horse to guard a leg that is bothing a thermography scan before enof heat and swelling displayed as bright-red hot tering a horse to ensure it is sound going ering it by moving it more restrictively. “You have to learn how to read these little spots. The challenge was to identify problems into the race. “What you’re trying to do is nuances,” Turner said. “It’s not just find the that no one knew existed, and this required ex- make sure nothing happens [to injure it].” hot spot and you’re OK. It’s looking for other pert interpretation of the thermal image. None of the horses in Turner’s study sufAn experienced thermologist learns to rec- fered a catastrophic injury, but he is reluctant subtleties, too.” Besides problems with tendons, ligaments, ognize certain abnormal thermal patterns and to say it was because of the thermographic muscles and other soft tissues, thermography associate them with specific lameness issues. monitoring. One horse whose tendon Turner can shine a light on stress fractures that, if left When one of these patterns, which Turner monitored throughout the study finally unattended, could escalate to catastrophic calls “an index of suspicion,” occurs, other di- bowed a month after he left the program. agnostic modalities—radiographs, ultrasound breakdowns. “We had one horse whose tendon we “It’s a good screening tool, although it’s not scans, bone scans or magnetic resonance im- watched all year long, and it always had an absolute,” Turner said. “It can pick up a lot aging (MRI)—can be used to investigate the some heat in it, but it never got really hot,” of stresses before you ever know they’re there. areas of concern more closely. Turner recalled. “We did some ultrasounds “What everybody would like is for the and watched it and got the horse through the We can certainly see stress fractures. And there are things that I’m starting to see now thermal image to have a hot spot right where whole meet, only that 30 days after it left higher up—stress fractures in tibias and other the problem is, and you could go there and here, it bowed a tendon finally. I felt like we things that I’m beginning to recognize. What find the stress fracture,” Turner said. “It’s not had kept it under control by following it you will see are patterns that become abnor- quite that simple. Skin temperature is directly along.” mal, and once it becomes abnormal, then you related to the circulation and the blood flow, As veterinarians become more experiand that’s all regulated by how the animal uses enced at using thermography, the knowlhave to figure out why it’s doing that.” When thermography first was introduced the leg. If you expect it to be like the Star Trek edge base associated with this diagnostic in equine medicine, both veterinarians and tricorder, where it beeps and finds the spot, modality will continue to expand. Once horsemen were disillusioned when they found it’s not going to do that for you. It does require horsemen recognize its value, imaging a it entailed an extensive learning curve. Lame- some interpretation, but it can be really use- horse before a big race may become part of ness problems already showing clinical signs ful.” the protocol for making racing safer. ■
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Florida-bred Trust Or Bust Wins Second Straight Stakes By CARLOS E. MEDINA lorida-bred Trust Or Bust has busted out with three straight wins in 2009, including his second stakes win in a row, after taking the $75,000 Panhandle Handicap May 2 in gate-towire fashion at Mountaineer Park. Bred in Florida by Briggs/Cromartie and Craig Wheeler’s Montgomery Farm, the 4-year-old son of Trust N Luck has hit the board in all six of his starts this year. The streak goes back to his 3-year-old campaign. After a sixth-place finish in March at Gulfstream Park, Trust Or Bust won or hit the board in his next four sophomore races. The gelding, out of the Nureyev mare Dance Lead, has only missed the board twice in his career. “He is a very versatile horse,” said Wheeler, who sold the horse privately to Happy Hour Stable a few months ago. “He can run on the grass, the dirt and the slop. It’s a good thing to have that versatility. We always liked him; we just happened to be in the spot where it was time to move some horses, and he got caught up in that. “The only race he ever blew was his first one, when he got mixed up in the pack and got bumped around some. That’s the only bad race he’s ever had,” he said. “The new owner has found a niche for him and has picked his spots well.” Trust Or Bust went off as a 3-1 pick in the five-furlong race, but he ran like the favorite. He broke on top from the third spot and never let go of the lead. Staying toward the inside, Trust Or Bust led easily and came around the turn with a one-length lead. He was asked by his jockey at the top of the lane and responded, extending his lead through Craig Wheeler and the stretch to win by 3 ¼ lengths. Florida-bred Trust Trust Or Bust paid $7.80 for the win and Or Bust (above) have three straight extended his career record to five wins in 13 wins in 2009. starts. He has now earned $177,120. In his last start April 18, he won the Webb Snyder Stakes at Charles Town. Trust Or Bust won that 4 ½-furlong contest by half a length and scored a Beyer Speed Figure of 95, equaling his best, which he earned in an allowance race just 16 days earlier. “We are tickled to death for the owner. When you sell a horse, you want people to do well with them so they come back,” said Wheeler. “The owner is also the trainer, and it’s a very hands-on operation.” Wheeler remembers Trust Or Bust as a easy-going horse. “They put blinkers on him. We never did because we didn’t think
F
he needed them. He is the kindest horse you’ll ever come across. When we ran him down south, Pete Anderson had him, and he just loved him. He was a nice mover and always was easy on himself. Pete said he almost trained himself,” Wheeler said. “I hope they bring him back to Florida. We wish him all the luck.” ■
THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009 49
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What’s Your Horse? By SAUNDRA TEN BROECK, Ph.D., University of Florida Equine Extension Specialist
f you own horses, you will certainly have flies. Horses and horse manure are powerful attractants to a large number of fly species. Though flies are seasonal, Florida’s mild winter climate provides ideal conditions for some species of fly pest year round. Understanding the seasonal patterns of these pests, the conditions that are hospitable to their reproduction and their feeding behaviors will help horse owners develop strategies to protect their animals. The most common fly pests of horses in Florida are stable flies, house flies, tabanids (horse, yellow and deer flies), mosquitoes, horn flies and cullicoides (no-see-ums). Life cycles of flies vary but they are time dependant upon temperature and moisture. The life stages include egg, larva, pupae and adult. The life cycle from egg to adult in ideal conditions for house flies is 6.5 days, for stable flies is 10-4 days, and for horn flies is 21 days. Stable flies thrive in cooler, wet months
I
Controlling the F l ies
Fly control is best accomplished by using several management strategies. Flies need breeding materials, optimum moisture and adequate warmth to complete their life cycles. Elimination of breeding materials, control of moisture, mechanical control and judicious use of insecticides in combination are the best approach. Good sanitation, composting, use of fans and removal of standing water are relatively inexpensive, environmentally friendly approaches to fly control. These practices can also get you high marks with the neighbors.
50 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009
Understanding pest behavior can help you better protect your horses. when hay residue is available as a breeding medium. These flies are persistent blood feeders delivering a painful bite. Both male and females take blood meals during the day and the preferred feeding site is the lower legs. If you see a lot of foot stomping, it is likely that your major problem is stable flies. Cleaning up hay residue, composting manure and dragging pastures are the best methods of control. Tabanids include several fly groups, most notable the horse fly, deer fly and yellow fly. The females take blood meals by inserting their bayonet-like mouthparts into the horse, creating a wound and lapping up the blood. Horses react to the bite and often dislodge the fly, interrupting the meal. The fly then makes another wound and continues until full. They also inject an anticoagulant into the wound so the blood drip remaining is an attractant to other flies. They produce only one generation per year in marshy areas and emerge in early summer. Horn flies are cattle pests and the horse is a dead end host. Horn flies remain on the host animal at all times, leaving only to lay eggs in fresh cow patties. If your horses are near cattle pastures, you will likely see horn flies on their backs and bellies. Though they take blood meals and are a nuisance, they are of little economic consequence. Cullicoides, also known as no-see-ums, punkies or biting midges are small flies that feed on the ears, neck, chest, belly and tail of
horses. Many horses are hypersensitive to these pests and will develop what some refer to as muck itch. They feed at dust and dawn but do not seem to like to come indoors. Fans and housing horses indoors at night seem to limit exposure. Application of fly spray in the evening is also helpful. House flies can develop in almost any decaying matter, but horse dung is a favorite breeding medium. Though house flies do not bite, they typically leave a vomit droplet along with a fecal drop when they visit a feeding site. Thus, they can serve as mechanical transmitters of harmful microorganisms and are an intermediate host for stomach worms in horses. Due to a very short life cycle, house flies can establish very large populations in a short time. ■
What about Mosquitoes?
Mosquitoes require water to lay eggs and have a relatively short life cycle under good conditions. During dry weather, mosquito numbers may be low, but 10 days after a rain event, the hatch rate will be noticeable. Mosquito bites are not only irritating, they can transfer diseases such as Encephalitis or West Nile Virus. It is critical that horse owners vaccinate prior to the June rainy season so that horses will be protected when mosquitoes emerge. Boosters need to be given throughout the year based on where you live, the amount of standing water and the rainfall which will dictate mosquito prevalence. Mosquitoes feed from dusk until dawn and are not strong fliers. Bringing horses inside in the evening and running fans can limit the number of mosquitoes feeding on them.
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Leading Florida Sires The following list includes currently active, deceased, and pensioned stallions, with racing results updated through May 5, 2009. Statistics provided by The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc.
PUT IT BACK Farm Name
MONTBROOK
CHAPEL ROYAL NA Stk Gr Earnings Strtrs Wnrs SW's Wins SW's Earnings
Leading Earner
Leading Earnings
Yrlg Sold
Yrlg Avg
2yo Sold
2yo Avg
Name
Sire Name
Put It Back
Honour and Glory Bridlewood Farm
$1,119,068
93
38
4
5
1
$1,166,786
High Resolve
$177,000
5
$12,300
5
Chapel Royal
Montbrook
Signature Stallions
$1,011,524
78
29
2
2
1
$1,084,755
Advice
$224,240
45
$30,646
9
$44,222
Montbrook
Buckaroo
Ocala Stud
$987,683
89
34
2
2
0
$987,683
Oilgonewile
$90,000
13
$19,246
16
$40,013
Concerto
Chief's Crown
Ocala Stud
$943,099
64
26
1
1
1
$943,099
Finallymadeit
$270,000
5
$10,500
4
$34,500
Graeme Hall
Dehere
Winding Oaks Farm
$832,182
88
38
1
1
0
$832,182
Stoneyer
$50,319
20
$30,370
5
$105,400
$23,000
Milwaukee Brew Wild Again
Adena Springs South
$801,477
77
32
2
3
0
$810,746
Milwaukee Appeal
$98,760
32
$14,363
14
$32,750
Halo's Image
Bridlewood Farm
$730,613
72
24
1
1
1
$730,613
How's Your Halo
$115,450
6
$19,617
6
$25,583
Halo
Alphabet Soup
Cozzene
Adena Springs South
$672,353
109
31
1
1
0
$675,329
Walloon
$38,468
19
$23,030
3
$31,667
Double Honor
Gone West
Get Away Farm
$632,849
83
30
0
0
0
$654,577
Double Or Nothing
$50,860
8
$6,113
8
$11,525
Untuttable
Unbridled
Stonehedge Farm South $648,401
51
14
1
2
1
$648,401
This Ones for Phil $265,000
1
$19,000
5
$20,500
THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009 51
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A.P. Indy Colt Tops OBS’s April
Sale of Juveniles A By NICK FORTUNA
n A.P. Indy colt brought a final bid of $675,000 to top the OBS spring sale of 2-year-olds in training, becoming the highest-priced juvenile sold at OBS this year. The horse was purchased by John Ferguson, the chief bloodstock adviser for Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Godolphin and Darley racing operations. Seventeen horses sold for $100,000 or more at the four-day sale April 20-23. A total of 809 horses were sold for $20.2 million.That figure was a 10.6 percent decline from last year’s
sale, where 772 head grossed $22.6 million. The average price at this year’s sale was $24,962, a drop of 14.6 percent from last year’s average of $29,246. The median price this year was $15,000, down 16.7 percent
second with 35 horses going for $981,000. The sales-topping colt, listed as hip No. 38, was consigned by M. Neal Sims for Carl Bowling, who purchased the horse for $175,000 at last September’s Keeneland sale of yearlings. During the OBS under-tack show, the colt breezed an eighth of a mile in 10 2/5 seconds. Sims said the horse had been scheduled to be sold in March at Fasig-Tipton’s sale of selected 2-year-olds in training at Calder Race Course, but he was pulled out of the sale after sustaining a deep cut to his hip. “Carl Bowling told everybody when he
Seventeen horses go for $100,000 or more at four-day sale from last year’s figure of $18,000. The buyback percentage fell to 23.1 percent this year from 27.6 percent last year. Barry Eisaman’s Williston-based Eisaman Equine operation was the leading consignor at the sale, with 30 head selling for $1.27 million. Ocala Stud Farm ranked
JOE DIORIO PHOTO
Hip #38 sold for $675,000 at the OBS Spring sale of Two-Year-Olds in training
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bought him how much he liked him and that if they didn’t give him $400,000 or above, he wasn’t going to sell the horse. He was going to race him and prove that he was a racehorse,” Sims said. “He has a standout pedigree, and he’s a standout individual. He trained really well, and he just has an air of class about him. I think everybody that was here looking for the standout horses really liked him.” The colt’s sire was the 1992 Horse of the Year after winning the Belmont Stakes (G1), the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on his way to $2.98 million in career earnings. The colt is out of the Signal Tap mare Got Koko, who won seven races for $960,946. As a 3-year-old in 2002, Got Koko earned the biggest victory of her career in the La Brea Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park. She also earned Grade 2 victories at the California track in the El Encino Stakes, the La Canada Stakes and the Lady’s Secret Breeders’ Cup Handicap. The horse who brought the sale’s second-
highest price was a Sky Mesa colt, hip No. 105, who sold for $240,000. The colt was consigned by Casey Newick, agent, and purchased by John Oxley. The horse breezed an eighth of a mile in 10 3/5 seconds at the under-tack show. The colt’s sire won the Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga in 2002. The juvenile is out of the Dr. Blum mare Impulse Shopper, who had four victories for $157,043. That mare has produced two winners – Dubliner and Second Marriage. Hip No. 237, a Tapit colt, Neal Sims brought a final bid of $190,000 from Bear Stables. The horse, consigned by Ricky Leppala, agent, breezed a quarter of a mile in 21 2/5 seconds at the OBS training track. His sire won the Wood Memorial (G1) at Aqueduct in 2004. The juvenile is out of the Wild Wonder mare Luvthat’ Jackie. A Florida-bred Snow Ridge filly sold for $180,000, the fourth-highest price at the sale. Ferguson purchased the filly, listed as hip No. 443 and consigned by Leprechaun Racing, agent. At the under-tack show, the filly
worked an eighth of a mile in 9 4/5 seconds. Leprechaun Racing owner Mike Mulligan had purchased the horse for $20,000 last September at the Fasig-Tipton sale of yearlings in Timonium, Md. “She’s just a really special filly,” Mulligan said. “She worked great and galloped out perfectly. I got her in 20 flat for the quartermile. She’s done everything right and never had a bad day. She’s just a superior filly. She was really impressive and balanced. I just wish I could have a year where I had 10 or 15 fillies like her. She’s a lovely filly, and everybody who knows what a good horse looks like was bidding on her.” Snow Ridge won the San Carlos Handicap (G1) at Santa Anita in 2002 on his way to $711,989 in career earnings. Hip No. 443 is out of the Gilded Time mare Placerita, who was a winner at age 3 and earned $84,800. The broodmare has produced four other registered foals, including three winners. Rounding out the sale’s top five horses was a Stormy Atlantic filly who brought a final bid of $170,000. The filly was consigned by Randy Miles, agent, and purchased by Roger Dreyer. The horse is out of the Mr. Greeley mare Virginia Miss, who won three races and earned $116,375 at the racetrack. Hip No. 859’s sire won the Damitrius Stakes at Delaware Park and finished his career with $148,126 in earnings. At the OBS under-tack show, the filly breezed an eighth of a mile in 10 seconds. “When she was at the farm, she was just another good horse,” Miles said. “She did everything right. But from the time she came here, she acted like she owned the joint. She walked to the track like she was a 3-year-old. She was 110 percent A-plus and handled everything with class while she was here. She just thrived.” ■ THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009 53
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Mine That Bird Pulls Off Upset in Kentucky Derby By BETH HARRIS AP Racing Writer LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Calvin Borel was in a familiar place, along the rail and urging Mine That Bird to fly through the mud. Trainer Bennie Woolley Jr. was someplace he never imagined—the Kentucky Derby, with his horse in the lead. Together they pulled off one of the greatest upsets in 135 years of America’s most famous horse race. “It was a Street Sense move,” Borel said May 2nd, referring to the same rail-hugging ride he gave that colt to win the Derby two years ago. “They can only go so fast, so far. When I hollered at him, he just went on.” Sent off at 50-1 odds, Mine That Bird pulled away in the stretch to score a 6¾length victory at Churchill Downs, the second-biggest upset in Derby history. His margin was the largest since Assault won by eight lengths in 1946.
The gelding ran 1¼ miles on a sloppy dirt track in 2:02.66 and paid $103.20 to win second-largest payout in Derby history behind Donerail ($184.90) in 1913. Pioneerof the Nile, trained in Ocala at the McKathan Bros. Farm in Citra, finished second for freshly minted Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, a three-time Derby winner. Musket Man, winner of the Tampa Bay Derby, was another nose back in third, followed by Papa Clem. Friesan Fire, the 7-2 wagering favorite of 153,563 fans, was 18th in the 19-horse field. Earlier in the day, I Want Revenge became the first morning-line favorite to be scratched on Derby Day after inflammation was detected in the colt’s left front ankle. The injury wasn’t believed to be career-threatening but worrisome enough to prompt trainer Jeff Mullins and owner David Lanzman to withdraw. Mine That Bird got squeezed coming out
of the starting gate, but Borel took a firm hold and wrestled the horse to the rail while they were in last place. They were 12th and going strong with a quarter mile to go, after working their way around Atomic Rain. Borel quickly angled Mine That Bird back to the inside with threesixteenths to go and shot the gelding through a tight spot approaching the eighth pole. “I had enough room,” Borel said. “He’s a small horse.” Once free, Mine That Bird quickly accelerated toward an improbable victory. “I salute Calvin for his terrific ride,” said trainer Todd Pletcher, whose Derby losing streak extended to 0-of-24. “It’s an amazing story. It just shows you how special this race is. Anything can happen.” Woolley, a former Quarter Horse trainer who spent time on the rodeo circuit as a bareback rider, hobbled on crutches to the win-
JOE DIORIO PHOTOS
Calvin Borel celebrates after winning the Kentucky Derby aboard Mine That Bird.
54 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009
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ner’s circle. The 45-year-old self-described cowboy from New Mexico broke his right leg in a motorcycle accident two months ago. “I’m feeling like I never have before,”
Out of Nowhere LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - The horse came out of nowhere. The trainer might as well have, too. Maybe the reason no one saw Mine That Bird and Bennie Woolley Jr. coming is because they started one of the most improbable journeys in Kentucky Derby history some 21 hours and 1,700 miles away. The one-time bareback rider-turned-trainer hitched a horse van to the back of a pickup at his home base in New Mexico, loaded Mine That Bird, then pointed it toward the finish line at Churchill Downs. A tick past 6:30 p.m., EDT, they arrived. “Theyʼll know me now,” Woolley said, “wonʼt they?” He was leaning on crutches and drinking in the scene behind dark glasses, a broad-brimmed black cowboy hat added the finishing touch. His horse got squeezed coming out of the gate, and Woolley had no problem admitting he lost sight of the small bay gelding soon after that. But he had enough confidence in jockey Calvin Borel, who already had one Derby win under his belt, that he wasnʼt the least bit worried - not when Mine That Bird got squeezed coming out of the gate and had to settle for dead last heading into the first turn. “I never gave him instructions,” Woolley said. “All I asked him was to lay back and pick his spots.” Fittingly, he missed the two breathtaking moves that locked up the race: the first, when Borel took Mine That Bird off the rail at the far turn and around Atomic Rain; the second, in
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Woolley said. “I was just blown away.” He met up with a tearful Borel, whose mind was on his parents and paid them tribute by crossing the finish line with his whip
mid-stretch, when the jockey squeezed past two more challengers along the rail just before pulling away. “I looked up at the eighth pole,” Woolley said through a widening grin, “and he was already in the lead. I was just blown away. ... Usually, when you start out a race in trouble, it never gets any better.” Truth be told, Woolley already felt like he was in the Derby on a free pass. Mine That Bird won four of five starts at Woodbine in Toronto and was Canadaʼs 2-yearold champion. The plan was to race him at Sunland Park and if the gelding did well there, start talking about the Kentucky Derby. But Mine That Bird ran a disappointing fourth and the target became the Lone Star Derby in Texas instead. Then Woolley broke his right leg in a motorcycle accident and had to turn most of the training duties over to his older brother, Bill. “In the meantime, horses started dropping out of the Derby and we kicked up another notch, another notch, another notch,” he said. “We finally reached the point, we were 17th (in graded stakes earnings) and this is an opportunity you might never get again,“ When he finally reached Louisville, Woolley shared the backstretch with Hall of Fame trainers he knew only by reputation. But all those tales heʼd heard about the town and the knowledgeable fans turned out to be true. Reporters largely left him on
pointing to the overcast sky. “If they could only be here to see what I accomplish in my life,” he said, his voice choking. Borel became the first jockey since 1993 to complete the Oaks-Derby double, having ridden Rachel Alexandra to an eye-popping 20¼-length victory Friday. Woolley joined a parade of trainers who won with their first Derby starter, the sixth time in seven years it has happened. Still, he outfoxed Baffert and three other Hall of Fame trainers. Bill Mott was 12th with Hold Me Back, while Nick Zito was 17th with Nowhere to Hide, and D. Wayne Lukas was last with Flying Private. “Those cowboys,” Baffert said. “They came with a good horse.” Mine That Bird, the son of 2004 Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone, became the ninth
his own during the week leading up to the race, but just about every night at a restaurant, fans approached him for an update on Mine That Bird. “To be honest,” he recalled, “I didnʼt have any real feeling that I could win the Derby. All I knew is that weʼd be more competitive than anybody thought we would.” That could turn out to be the understatement of this thoroughbred racing season. Like his horse, Woolley just stepped up in class big-time. Heʼll get plenty of attention from all those trainers who walked by with a friendly nod or a few encouraging words, and little else. He can also count on more attention from the same reporters who scurried by his barn day after day on their way to interview somebody else. All Woolley asked is that the next time his story gets told, the journey from New Mexico slips a few paragraphs down in the copy. Bennie “Thereʼs been a lot made of Wooley that and maybe now,” he said to laughter, “they will start talking about something else.” That began bright and early the next morning, outside his barn, and that something else was the Triple Crown. Hard as it might be to imagine an undersized gelding going on to win the Preakness and Belmont, that journey canʼt be much more improbable than the Kentucky Derby winner arriving at Americaʼs most famous horse race in a van hitched to the back of a 40-year-old pickup. THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009 55
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Rachel Alexandra Romps In Kentucky Oaks Trainer D. Wayne Lukas joked during the week that his three entries - Stone Legacy, Be Fair and Tweeter - would have a better chance against Rachel Alexandra if they decided to turn the 1 1/8 mile Oaks into a relay race while the bay filly went it alone. That probably wouldn’t have worked, either. “There is no disgrace to get beat by the winner,” Lukas said. “Once Rachel Alexandra took off, the front-runner was of no consequence.” Rachel Alexandra took her time, loping along behind Gabby’s Golden Gal down the backstretch before Borel nudged her to the outside as they entered the far turn. A couple of quick strides put her in front and Borel knew it was over. “I just let her cruise, let her do her thing,” Borel said. “She loves to do what she does. When I stood up, I didn’t know she had won by that far.” The win was so dominant it did little to quell speculation that she could more than hold her own against the boys in Saturday’s Run for the Roses. Morrison, however, said there was never any serious discussion about running Rachel Alexandra in the Derby even though she ripped off four straight victories after teaming up with Borel last fall.
PAM DIORIO PHOTO
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Dolphus Morrison is a racing purist: The Kentucky Derby is for the boys; the Kentucky Oaks is for the girls. You won’t hear any of the Derby owners complaining. Morrison’s spectacular filly Rachel Alexandra crushed the field by a record 20¼ lengths in the $500,000 Oaks on May 1 at Churchill Downs, perhaps stamping herself as the best 3-year-old horse in the world, boy or girl. “If she stays sound, she’ll be the next Secretariat,” jockey Calvin Borel said. She certainly put on a performance that harkened back to the legendary Triple Crown winner. Rachel Alexandra eased past Gabby’s Golden Gal on the far turn then poured it on as she entered the stretch, extending the lead as 100,000 spectators roared with every stride of her eye-popping victory in the filly version of the Kentucky Derby. Borel blew a kiss and tapped her on the neck as they crossed the finish line for her fifth straight win, all by convincing margins. “I’ve never been on a horse that good, to tell you the truth,” said Borel, who won the 2007 Kentucky Derby aboard Street Sense. Stone Legacy was a distant second, with Flying Spur third.
Rachel Alexandra winning the Kentucky Oaks. 56 THE FLORIDA HORSE • MAY 2009
“I don’t think a stallion should be messed up by the occasional really, really outstanding filly,” the owner said. “They should run on their own.” The way she looked as she zoomed down the stretch, ears pricking, hardly exerting herself as she steadily pulled away, the guys should consider themselves lucky she’s not heading to the post on Saturday. The scary part? Borel still hasn’t needed to ask her to really run. That loving pat on the neck as they hit the wire was the only time he touched her all day. “As fast as you want to go, you can go,” Borel said. Justwhistledixie appeared to have the best shot at pulling the upset, but was scratched hours before the race due to a hot spot in her left front foot. The decision sent Rachel Alexandra off as the overwhelming 1-5 favorite. She covered the distance in 1:48.87 and was well into her gallop out before the rest of the field hit the line. “If I’d have reached and grabbed her by the 16th pole, she’d have went a lot farther and broke the track record,” Borel said. Morrison isn’t sure what’s next. It may be hard to find enough fillies to take her on. Walking back to the barn, she didn’t look like a horse who had just put together the race of her life. “She’s the epitome of race cool,” Morrison said. Jockey Corey Nakatani, a distant speck in Rachel Alexandra’s rearview mirror while finishing fifth aboard Nan, isn’t quite sure there’s a horse out there that can hang with racing’s leading lady. “We’d have been all right if I’d have had a rocket,” he said. “What can you say? She just ran away and hid.” ■
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(ex•cel•lence) noun the fact or state of excelling; superiority; distinction; possessing good qualities in high degree. For the second consecutive year, The Florida Horse magazine was honored as the top equine regional publication in the industry by American Horse Publications. Judges’ comments included: “attention to detail and a catchy eye for imagery help the action leap off the page. You can almost feel the ground shaking as you turn the pages.”
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Florida-bred filly earns first graded victory
Gorgeous Goose Looks the Part in Wilshire Handicap orgeous Goose’s late-closing running style had been her undoing in several graded stakes races in which she had to go very wide to find running room, if she could find any at all. But on May 2, the Florida-bred filly finally got the trip she wanted and took full advantage of it, capturing the $100,000 Wilshire Handicap (G3) at Hollywood Park for her first graded victory. Gorgeous Goose ran just off the pace during the one-mile turf test before finding a crease and rallying to gain the lead in deep stretch. She beat the 9-10 favorite, the British mare Diamond Diva, by three-quarters of a length, finishing the race in 1:34.54 with jockey Corey Nakatani aboard. Nakatani had ridden the horse once before, steering her to a thirdplace finish in the $85,000 Sandy Blue Handicap at Del Mar in August. Nakatani became available to ride at Hollywood Park when his mount in the Kentucky Derby (G1), Square Eddie, was scratched because of a shin injury. Back in Ocala, Gorgeous Goose’s victory was met with cheers from Mary Anne Denes and Mary Ellen Woelfel, friends and next-door neighbors who bred and own the horse. “We were very excited,” Denes said. “It was wonderful. We just love this filly. We watched the race here, and we really enjoyed it. We were really happy to have Nakatani ride her. He rode her once before and did a great job with her.” Gorgeous Goose returned mutuels of $25.80, $8.80 and $5.20, while Diamond Diva paid $2.80 and $2.60. The Irish mare Charming Legacy finished in third place, 1 ½ lengths behind the winner, and returned $5.20 to show. Gorgeous Goose has won four of her 14 starts for $223,574 in earnings. The 4-year-old daughter of Mongoose also won an
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optional-claiming race at Santa Anita in March following a fivemonth layoff. Her other victories came in 2007, when she broke her maiden at Hollywood and captured the $85,200 Blue Norther Stakes at Santa Anita. Gorgeous Goose had come up short in her five previous attempts in graded races, including a loss by a nose to Floridabred Tasha’s Miracle in the $106,100 Harold C. Ramser Sr. Handicap (G3) at Santa Anita in OcGorgeous Goose tober. Denes said she and trainer Mike Puype were expecting big things from Gorgeous Goose on Saturday because she had been training sharply, including a bullet workout at Hollywood on April 26 in which the filly handily covered five furlongs in 59.8 seconds. “We felt really good about the race,” Denes said. “With her style, she relaxes down the backside and lets the jockey make the call. Being a come-from-behind horse, she had gotten blocked or had to go way wide in a lot of her races, so I thought she was very unlucky last year. It was nice to see her get through on Saturday. She has that burst of speed at the end, and she just impresses everybody when she turns it on like that.” Denes and Woelfel also bred Gorgeous Goose’s dam, the Big Spruce mare Gorgeous Me, and sold her a few years ago. The horse was named Gorgeous Me because Mary Ellen Woelfel’s first two initials spell “ME.” Denes and her husband, Paul, own Sidehill Farm in Ocala and breed four to 10 horses per year, with most of the foals being born at Bridlewood Farm in Ocala. They bred Forty One Carats, who set a track record for six furlongs at Calder Race Course in winning the 2000 Smile Sprint Handicap in a time of 1:08.95. That horse also won the Pegasus Handicap (G2) at The Meadowlands in 1999 before retiring with seven victories and $828,843 in earnings. ■ BENOIT & ASSOCIATES PHOTO
By NICK FORTUNA
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Six Elected to Racing’s Hall of Fame
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began a transition to Thoroughbred racing “I feel honored. It’s a great honor to be in at the end of the 1970s. He saddled his first the Hall of Fame. I guess I’ve got to call my Thoroughbred winner, Flipper Star, at Ril- mother up and tell her. She’s going to be lito Park in Tucson, Arizona on January 28, happy. She says she’s coming.” 1979. Flipper Star’s victory came in a fourBaffert and Silverbulletday are the first furlong race for 3-year-olds that carried a trainer-horse combination to be inducted purse of $600. The winner’s share was $330. in the same year since Neil Drysdale and In the early 1990s, Baffert completed the A.P. Indy entered the Hall of Fame tomove to Thoroughbred racing and devel- gether in 2000. oped a distinguished record. “I’m excited about SilverHe was the leading moneybulletday,” Baffert said. “She winner trainer three consecuwas a great mare and it will be tive years (1998-2000) and great having Mike Pegram through 2008 ranks fifth allthere. Mike Pegram and Hal time among trainers in earnEarnhardt are the ones who ings at $134,822,227. He has motivated me to get in the won the Kentucky Derby Thoroughbred business. Mike three times, the Preakness Pegram put me on scholarship four times and the Belmont to get into the business and it Bob Baffert (above) and Stakes once. looks like it paid off well. It’s Tiznow (below) are Baffert wasn’t sure how to certainly fitting that I get in elected into Racingʼs Hall of Fame. react when told that he has with one of Mike’s horses.” been elected. Maple, 60, retired in 1998 with a resume “That is awesome. That is really awe- of 4,398 wins in a 34-year career. He won some,” he said. “I don’t know what to say. I the Belmont Stakes on Temperence Hill and never expected this when I got in the busi- Crème Fraiche, three runnings of the Metness. I’m sort of at a loss for words.” ropolitan Handicap, two Travers and two Baffert was quickly back in stride. Suburban Handicaps. Maple rode Arbees “It’s an honor,” he said. “It’s a very hum- Boy, Florida-bred Foolish Pleasure and bling feeling right now. I’ve always thought Quiet Little Table to victories over Forego about it but I really wasn’t mentally pre- and he rode Secretariat to victory in the pared for it when I heard about being on the Canadian International, the colt’s final start. ballot this year. He rode regularly for Hall of Fame trainer Woody Stephens, who put him on such top horses as Horse of the Year Conquistador Cielo, Devil’s Bag, Swale and Forty Niner. “I’m tickled to death,” Maple said when told he had been elected. “It’s an honor. There’s nothing but great riders, great horses, great trainers in the Hall of Fame. It’s just a great honor. I enjoyed riding all those years and to have something like this come back is really, really thrilling.” ■ NYRA PHOTO
rainers Bob Baffert and Janet Elliot, jockey Eddie Maple and the horses Ben Nevis II, Silverbulletday and Tiznow have been elected to the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame. The Class of 2009 will be inducted on Friday, August 14 in Saratoga Springs in a ceremony at 10:30 a.m. at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion. Baffert, Maple, Silverbulletday and Tiznow were elected in the contemporary categories by the 181 members of the Hall of Fame’s voting panel. Elliot, the second woman elected and the Hall of Fame’s first female trainer, and Ben Nevis II, winner of the English Grand National in 1980, were selected for induction by the Steeplechase Committee. In 2000, jockey Julie Krone was the first woman elected to the Hall of Fame. Baffert, 56, and the late Robert Wheeler were the finalists in the contemporary trainers category. Maple, 60, finished ahead of Randy Romero and Alex Solis in the contemporary jockeys voting. It was Maple’s seventh time on the ballot. Tiznow, the only two-time winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, received more votes than Best Pal and Point Given in the contemporary male division. Silverbulletday finished ahead of Open Mind and Sky Beauty in the contemporary female category. Baffert has trained the winners of eight Triple Crown races, seven Breeders’ Cup races and has handled 10 champions, including Florida-bred Silver Charm and Mike Pegram’s Silverbulletday. He was elected in the first year that his name appeared on the ballot. He had been eligible in 2007 and 2008, but had not received enough votes in the nominating committee process to become a finalist and appear on the ballot. After rising to prominence as a Quarter Horse trainer, Baffert
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UF Racing Lab Secures Kentucky Derby Contract efore the horses lined up at the gates at Churchill Downs Hoffsis, D.V.M., M.S., dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. “It is quite an accomplishment to successfully obtain the conon May 2 to run in the Kentucky Derby, veterinarians took tract from the state of Kentucky,” Hoffsis said. “And it’s a tribute to samples of their blood and urine. Those samples, along with samples taken from the winner and the people that operate and lead this laboratory. This has become a few other horses after the race was complete, made their way to one of the premier, truly high-quality leading laboratories that does the Florida Racing Laboratory at the UF College of Veterinary this kind of work in the United States and in the world.” The lab also does some sampling work for private individuals Medicine. There, lab employees tested and analyzed them, looking for drugs that may have enhanced the horses’ performances and and tests samples from horses and greyhounds for Florida’s Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, a state agency that oversees racing unfairly altered the outcome of the race. Within three working days of receiving the samples, the lab in Florida. Standards against drug use in racing horses are higher than those must submit preliminary results to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, the state agency that monitors the approximately 350 for Olympic athletes, according to Sams. “Only two substances are permitted for adminhorse races that take place in Kentucky each year. istration within a 24-hour period before race time Full results must be turned in “within 10 workin Florida,” Sams said. ing days of receipt of the samples,” said Richard Why such stringent regulations? He cited three Sams, Ph.D., the lab’s director and a professor in reasons for the strict rules. the College of Veterinary Medicine’s department of Safety is one issue. An injured horse receiving physiological sciences. Officials will not award drugs before a race to mask pain could be hurt prize money to the winner of the race until these more than helped by the medicine. results are submitted. “It may injure itself even more,” Sams said, The UF racing lab was one of six labs that bid “possibly to the extent that there could be a catafor the job of analyzing the samples taken before strophic injury that not only could have conseand after Kentucky’s horse races. It is one of five Dr. Richrd Sams quences to the horse, but other labs in the nation accredited by ISO For those horses in the most prestigious horses, jockeys.” 17025 standards established by the races, those horses will become breeding Another concern is the betting International Organization for Standardization. animals. The owners make very substantial that surrounds horse and greyhound racing. The selection process required investments in those horses, and a horse People placing bets need to befacilities to conduct proficiency tests owner wants their horse to compete with lieve the races are fair. Racehorse to identify drugs present in samples, other horses without any of those horses owners also are concerned about submit written proposals, participate being treated with drugs. –Dr. Richard Sams fairness for another reason. in interviews and give presentations. “For those horses in the most prestigious races, those horses “We had a small group that is affiliated with the racing commission who reviewed all the candidates and University of Florida will become breeding animals,” Sams explained. “The owners stood out as the best of the applicants we reviewed,” said Lisa Un- make very substantial investments in those horses, and a horse owner wants their horse to compete with other horses without any derwood, executive director of the KHRC. The contract is for one year but could be extended without re- of those horses being treated with drugs.” Sams said there’s a saying that “the horses should compete on peating the bidding process. Sams said the job will require the lab hay, oats and water.” to expand its staff and buy additional instruments. “Even a drug that you and I might take for relief of a minor ache In a tough economy, this increased revenue also helps the lab to stay open and continue providing services to Floridians, said Glen or pain is prohibited in racing for those three reasons,” he said. ■
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The Best
And the Worst ay is the best month of the year; or the worst. This Triple Crown thing can go either way. by Paul Moran The first four months of the year are anticipation wrapped around the first Saturday of May, the day on which, despite perhaps the lowest media profile in racing’s history, everyone is paying attention. A star is born at Churchill Downs on this day and, as we saw last year, horrific tragedy can be played out before dozens of camera angles and the largest audience the game will enjoy in any year. Always, hearts are won; occasionally, hearts are broken. There may be less racing than ever on television and the sport has been shunned by most of the nation’s most influential newspapers, but Derby day defies gravity. The winner is immediately larger than life and sets the tone for the two weeks that follow, a process that has made famous Big Brown, Barbaro, Smarty Jones, Funny Cide, War Emblem, Charismatic, Real Quiet and Silver Charm in the last dozen years. All of these, save Barbaro, won the Preakness and set the stage for the sport’s There may be less racing than ever on tele- greatest drama. Barbaro, vision and the sport has been shunned by undefeated until then, became the most famous most of the nation’s most influential news- racehorse in many years papers, but Derby day defies gravity. The when he was injured in winner is immediately larger than life and the Preakness and wrote his own epic. sets the tone for the two weeks that follow The people connected to each of these horses illustrate in small part the diverse cast of human characters involved in the sport, each story unique and plots that go from the homespun group of high school friends who were partners in Funny Cide to the fabulously wealthy Saudi Prince who died mysteriously in his native country not long after War Emblem stumbled at the gate in the Belmont Stakes. Real Quiet brought the Mike Pegram-Bob Baffert story to light for the first time and Smarty Jones made a temporary celebrity of his owners, small-time breeders, one wheelchair-bound but still playing the game. These stories are around all
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year long and involve the many people who work at the game without finding their way to the winner’s circle at Churchill Downs in a flurry of rose petals. But they are too seldom told. Even the bad things that happen at this time of year have a beneficial impact beyond the immediate body blow. Barbaro brought attention to aspects of the sport that are seldom examined – veterinary medicine, equine anatomy, the need for research funds and safety. The long-term benefit: Fans of Barbaro, an organization that came together at the time, nowadays devotes itself to fund-raising, rescue and anti-slaughter issues. The death of Eight Belles after the Derby last year and discussions during the Triple Crown centered upon anabolic steroids and their use in racing brought radical animal rights activists to the streets outside Pimlico and Belmont Park but also heightened awareness within the industry that has resulted in positive change beginning with a widespread ban of anabolic steroids in most racing jurisdictions and including the National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s efforts in the areas of safety and integrity. A thorough self-examination of the racing industry, which is for lack of a better term the sum of its very different if singularly purposed parts, would lead to an admission that there is a crisis of public confidence that persists and is sometimes nourished by the participants. These stories will provide background noise through the five-week span between the Derby and the Belmont and they have nothing to do with horses running against one another. Even while this group of three-year-olds was showing signs of being deeply competitive and interesting, the stories that demanded the biggest headlines and most discussion revolved around a detention barn violation at Aqueduct and a horrific revelation of unconscionable inhumanity on a upstate New York farm operated by a high profile owner from which 177 neglected and malnourished thoroughbreds were rescued. As Pogo once said: “We have met the enemy and it is us.” It’s May. We may see the next Triple Crown winner. But in the meantime hold your breath. ■
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