Owning Racehorses

Thanks!

2015-12-31T09:00:00.000-06:00

If you've reached this blog, thank you. I appreciate the visit!

I stopped chronicling here on December 31, 2015. The reasons are outlined here. I am still writing, though covering Midwestern racing at large not just my corner of it, over at the Midwest Paddock Report. If you're more interested in general essays on a variety of topics, you can check me out over at Fat Guys' Rants.

Finally, if you're Twitter enthusiasts:

@tlgrevelis - my personal account
@mwpaddockreport - the Midwest Paddock Report account
@FatRants_Ted - Fat Guys' Rants account

Thanks again or stopping by and I hope you'll visit at my new homes on the web!

Fizzy Popped!!!

2015-12-30T09:00:00.000-06:00

[NOTE: Originally published on 5/25/08, this was my first win in a group I had put together with a horse I helped to pick out. Very little help - Bernell has the eagle eye, not me! It was a kind of rambling and goofy post but the rush of a win is hard to explain - especially your first - and so I let the rambling speak for itself. This post really helps epitomize what racing is about for the little guy and a fitting 'best of' of close with.]

WOW! He did it. Under a great ride by Dean Butler, Fizzy put away a group of $16,000 claimers over the turf course at Canterbury today. Dean got him out of the gate well and positioned him off an honest early pace (23.9/48.1) about fifth coming down the backstretch. When he asked Fiz to move at the top of the lane he did, corralling the leader in the stretch. He tapped him a couple of time and, as the official chart says, rode him out for the win.

Before the race, Bernell, Dean and I (below) talked about what kind of race we wanted to see and the way it lined up was the way it went. It's hard to ask for more than that. It's also rare, so needless to say we are savoring it.
As you all know, I was nervous about bringing Fizzy back on 10-days, but Bernell was right on target. The last one didn't take much out of him and today he was ready to fire. It has to be said as well, that Dean Butler rode one heckuva race. He had Fizzy positioned perfectly, asked him at just the right time and won in hand, saving some gas in the tank for another day.

I had faith (see yesterday's post) that he would win, but the moment I knew he would win actually came in the day's 3rd race. Prior to leaving for the track, I placed a few bets on the early races because I knew we'd miss them live. I didn't plan on betting the third race, but I inadvertently bet the 1 across the board. I had wanted that in the 4th race but was trying to hustle out of the house and I messed it up. We got down to Shakopee just as the third race was going off. As luck would have it, the 1 went to lead and never looked back at 11-1. When I won that race, I knew Fiz was a lock - it was turning out to be that kind of day. By the way, the 1 in the fourth won as well...

One of our partners, Laura, brought her boyfriend Steve with her and he was hitting everything in sight. He hit a $180 exacta, Laura herself nailed one for $39. Of the 5 races I played (including Fizzy's) I won 3. One of other partners, Mike, left a graduation party way later than planned and just made it in time to hit the paddock with us - 20 minutes later we were in the winner's circle. We were under severe thunderstorm warnings, but didn't see a drop of rain. Our partner Josh (who brought his lovely girlfriend Erica with him) said he wouldn't bet Fizzy 'cause it was like betting on his kid's Little League team. We laughed, but he said just watch, you'll see. We did. It was just that kind of day. I think behind the clouds the stars were aligned just so.

On the way to the paddock we were laughing and smiling. It's really a rush waiting for your horse, trainer and jockey to come on by. After "rider's up!" we walked to the apron and waited. Bernell and I chit-chatted some more and I asked him to keep an eye out for another claim as our second group appears to be pulling together. All the while the minutes on the tote board ticked down MUCH slower than in 60 second increments. The gate sprung open and Fiz popped nicely as they passed the grandstand the first time. As I mentioned, Dean rode a great race and the only real threat appeared to be Deputy Tice who was gaining late, but he was no match for Fiz and Dean hand rode him under the wire to win by 1 3/4. As he passed under the wire Bernell turned to me with a huge smile, shook my hand and yelled "Congratulations!!". I said "You too!! Let's go get our picture taken!"

I think we all floated to the winner's circle. Mike, Laura and Josh were thrilled and I was beside myself. To be able to put this group together, spend 3.5 months scouting horses, finally dropping the slip, two tough thirds and then a clunker on the dirt up here and have it all come together in front of all the partners (except Jane in New Orleans - we missed you!!) in a minute and 36 seconds for the mile was a feeling I've never really experienced. It made all the work feel like it was play.

As you can probably tell with my rambling, I'm still on cloud nine. I probably shouldn't have posted yet. I should have waited to be more analytical and less emotional. Then I thought, why the hell should I? Kind of the point of starting this was to share with people all that it takes to get started in this business as a small-timer and sharing with you all the highs and lows. Apparently part of the highs is to babble like an idiot because the adrenaline rush lingers for hours!

Now we'll see how Fiz comes back and point him to his next engagement. You can bet it won't be at $16,000. Our new goal: by the end of the meet for people to say, "Can you believe they bought him for $10,000 and we could have had him for $16,000 back in May?"

Dean and Fiz come back to the winner's circle!

Cam Casby - One of A Kind

2015-12-28T09:00:00.000-06:00

[NOTE: Originally posted on 10/27/14, it has been a year now without Cam and we still miss her each and every day.]

“Do you mean he just left you down here…alone?”

These were the first words that Heather heard from Cam Casby. It was Canterbury Park opening day 2013 and Cam was horrified that I just left Heather to fend for herself. Of course that wasn’t EXACTLY the way it all went down: it was Heather’s first trip out to the track with me and she was hesitant to join me in the press box so she insisted on just enjoying opening night downstairs.

That was Cam. She took care of you if she could. She would take care of everyone if she could! There was nothing she wouldn’t do for her friends and to know Cam was to be her friend.

You never knew who Cam was waving at...she knew everybody

Cam was inspirational. Her enthusiasm for the sport was infectious. It’s no secret that this past summer was not one of our best but whenever I’d feel like packing it in, one conversation with Cam would change all that. I’d be rejuvenated and ready to try again. And again.

She encouraged cheering at her table. If you had a bet, a horse in the race or just wanted a rooting interest, she made sure you were yelling and screaming for your horse as the race unfolded. Fun was not only encouraged, it was mandatory.

Cam was wonderful with children. My son, Forrest, loved spending time with her. They would talk music and the instruments they each played. He, of our three, is the only one that loves the track as much as we do and he loved talking horses with Cam - and he took her mandate of loud rooting to heart. There wasn't a kid introduced to Cam that didn't love her - or she love right back.

Cam didn’t like going into the paddock before races but she encouraged others to go in there and support her horse. I wish I had a count of the number of people we brought into the paddock on her behest. And EVERYONE was invited to the winners’ circle if she was fortunate enough to win. Going to the track was supposed to be fun and she made sure you had it.

Cam enjoying Talkin' Bout stakes win on Festival Day, August 31, 2014

But Cam wasn’t just fun and games. There was no greater supporter of Minnesota bred horses than Cam Casby. She insisted that if we took care and bred carefully, our horses could compete anywhere in the country. She put her money where her mouth was and sent her MN-breds all over the country to win races and be stakes placed. Breed them right, train them right and then give them a chance to succeed. And tell her it can’t be done and then stand back and watch her accomplish it!

It was a long week last week. Rather than improving, Cam drifted away from us. I don’t know if she could hear us or not, but I made sure that heard Wildnightattheopera’s win from Wednesday and a recap of Talkin’ Bout’s race on Saturday.

Talkin' Bout, under Eddie Martin Jr, winning the Glitter Star Minnesota Distaff

Cam probably would have been appalled by all of us all there with her in that condition. I can almost hear her, “There’s nothing you can do? You have a thousand other things you have to get done that you CAN affect. You should be doing those things. Am I wrong?”

I understand that but I couldn’t stay away either. I wanted to hold on as long as I could. I wanted to talk to her one more time. There were things to share and horses to talk about. I wanted to maybe get her annoyed enough that should would just wake up and yell at all of us.

Of course that wasn’t meant to be and now we mourn the loss of a friend. The entire vibe of racing in Minnesota is now changed forever. I can’t imagine what being at the track will be like without her. Her advice, friendship and loving nature can’t be replaced.

I would ask that Cam watch over us all as we try and move forward without her but, knowing Cam, she’s already started doing that.

Farewell, Kat

2015-12-27T09:00:00.000-06:00

[Note: posted in December 2013, Kat wasn't ours when she went down but she is a bit emblematic of what we see on tracks all over the country. Less now than before, but still too much. Basilone, another I wrote about, was also a victim, but I had a connection to Kat and wanted someone to remember her.]

Kat as a foal (2010 - December 6, 2013)

After she broke her maiden – any time now we were telling ourselves – she was going to get some rest. It was November of 2012 and she had already spent the summer being expertly schooled at Eisaman Equine and the fall in the skilled hands of trainer Kathleen O’Connell. This was her 3^rd start for us and we had some decisions to make. Would she stay in Florida or move over to the Bernell Rhone barn and try and make her mark in Minnesota racing like her mom, My Philly, did? Should we give her a NW2 try at 2 or just shelve her until spring of her 3-year old year? Those were our big decisions ahead.

Third time was the charm and she ran a very professional race to win by three. Then there was the announcement: E Sveikata (“Kat”) was claimed for $32,000 by owner Joseph Balsamo and trainer Leo Azupurua Jr.

No. Freaking. Way.

She was valued at $16,000 when we bought 40% of her from breeder Gabe Puniska and his wife Jenepherin March of 2012. She was a daughter of Even the Score like our Tabby Lane out of a mare named My Philly who was an allowance winner over the Canterbury Park lawn. We had her in training from March and Kathleen took her time getting her to the races – making sure that everything was right with her.

Race 1 was learning experience. She finished 4^th and was a bit tired near the end. After all, this was running with purpose for an awfully long way! In race 2 she closed very nicely over the Calder slop, finishing a solid 2^nd.

Race 3 she came ready to play. She tracked the pace and when Eduardo Nunez asked her to go, she went. And then she went again. Away from our barn. Away from the carefully laid out plan. Away from the rest that she was due.

Of course we kept following her. Over the next 12 months, from November 8, 2012 to November 16, 2013 she ran another 12 times. The longest gap between races was about 6 weeks. She ran one more time in November and then took December off before coming back on January 10. Then later in the year, after a $6,250 claiming race where she finished a badly beaten 9^th on August 31, she had another six weeks off before another $6,250 race where she not only was eased, but was claimed!

She couldn’t get that third win at $25,000, $16,000 or $6,250 but apparently she was claim worthy at $6,250. She was having a tough time carrying her speed and, it seemed to me, that there was something wrong. Was she bleeding through her Lasix? Stopping like she had run into a wall was a hallmark of a bleeder but there is no way for me to know for sure. She was competitive for a while at $25,000, even notching her second win there, but suddenly could no longer keep up with the cheapest stock in south Florida.

In her debut for the new barn (Alphonso Miranda – owner/trainer) she was a badly beaten last and ran the same pattern in the $6,250 NW3 claiming race: get on or near the lead and then stop badly. That was on November 16. On November 29 she was a vet scratch in a $16,000 claiming race over the turf. Turf horse or not, THAT is a huge jump in class. In my opinion the fact that she was a vet scratch was ominous – especially coming 13-days after a race where she stopped so badly. Seven days later she was back in a $16,000 NW3 turf contest that was off the turf.

Kat broke like a champ. She took the lead at 67-1 and was able to hold it through the first ¾ of the race. Overtaken by eventual winner Big Debbie (a 16 ¾ length winner ironically trained by Kathleen O’Connell) she started drifting out in the lane. Jockey Ronald Ordonez was working on her pretty good and, after straightening out briefly, she started drifting back out again. Then she was down. During the live call of the race, the announcer made the astute observation that Kat was doing all she could just to hold the place spot. She couldn’t. Her next mention: “E Sveikata is down”. The head on told the full story. She had snapped her right front. From my brief glimpse, it doesn’t look like she ever got up again.

I called Gabe. He hadn’t seen the race so I had to break the news to him. He was remarkably sanguine about the events, though obviously sad and upset. Jenepher took it harder. Gabe said that there was just something nagging at him to not watch this one. I had a strangely different feeling. I felt like I HAD to watch it. I had to make sure that someone who actually cared about her watched her run – apparently not wholly unlike the feeling you get when you need to get to the bedside of a dying loved one.

Gabe and I had talked about claiming her back at one point. Our group had moved on and we had purchased Bourbonology so the cash flow wasn’t there – especially to take on a filly who I felt, at the very least, needed 6 months on a farm somewhere and quite possibly was ruined as a racehorse. Gabe was divesting himself of all interests in racing and, retired and battling some health issues, really didn’t have the disposable income either. We made business decisions. Sound business decisions, but shitty – at least on my end - humanitarian ones. Perhaps not. As a steward of other people’s money – several who joined AFTER Kat moved on, how could I possibly spend it on a horse that was having issues, possibly unsound and may never race again?

It is a decision that will haunt me for a while. As folks that are in the equine retirement business know, you can’t save them all. I know the course I would have taken if she were ours, but she wasn’t. Virtually no owner can go and buy back every racehorse they’ve ever owned a part of when they feel the horse should be retired or need a break either.

Kat deserved better. Our Tabby Lane is in foal to the Storm Cat stallion, Eastwood Dacat, and due to deliver in March. The obvious name is Tabby Dacat. I may change the spelling to Tabby DaKat.

Rest in peace, sweetie. I’m so very sorry

Racehorses, Responsibility and Heroines

2015-12-26T12:40:00.000-06:00

[NOTE: This was originally published on 9/19/11 and was, by far, the most shared and read post I ever had. This still remains a talked about issue in racing circles and, to its credit, the industry has really stepped up and has made significant strides in rehoming its equine athletes. In the post I mention a New Vocations horse. The folks at New Vocations was horrified at what had happened took steps to make sure that this couldn't happen again.]

Off the Track Thoroughbreds - playing, sound and adoptable at the MNRRP

I went to my first non-racehorse auction the other night with Annie Ringwelski and Jen Selvig of the Minnesota Retired Racehorse Project (MNRRP). Our mission, well, their mission, was to try and identify off the track thoroughbreds (OTTBs) and do what they could to bring them into the program and get them rehabbed, retrained and placed in a good home. For some background on the MNRRP, you can go back in this blog or visit theirs at www.retiredracehorses.blogspot.com.

The night started simply enough. I arrived at the wrong building and waited. I texted Annie, knowing that she would be the first to arrive, and told her where I was. What I didn’t admit was I had a knot in my stomach. I didn’t know what to expect and my biggest fear was that there would be OTTBs there from the recently concluded Canterbury meet. Even bigger was that I would recognize them and that they would have come from a trainer or owner that I knew. I expected horrible conditions and cramped quarters. Basically I feared the absolute worst.

When I got to where I was supposed to be, I surveyed the auction. The arena was clean and tidy. Stall space was nothing special, in fact I would consider it quite cramped, though the horses were only in for the auction and then moving on. Picture your standard racetrack stall and chop it into thirds and there you go.

One special section was set aside for “loose horses”. These would not be presented in the ring or ridden in to show off their skills. These were horses that, if they struck your fancy, you could buy cheaply at the end of the auction as they ran loose. If not, they were destined for the slaughterhouse. They were run through the ring quickly and were kept in makeshift pens. Three pregnant mares were together as were several yearlings with one elderly and emaciated pony and a couple of adults. All were sold to dealers except the pony who was taken home by Annie’s daughter Daria who spent her own money to save her. It’s not many nearly 13-year olds with that kind of compassion and heart.

Ginger the Pony, saved by Daria!

The auction was an all-breed auction but our hunt was very specific – we were on the lookout for OTTBs. Because the Canterbury and Prairie Meadows meets had just ended there was the very real possibility that some racers would have fallen through the cracks and ended up here, thankfully that was not the case...at least not here.

One of the first people we bumped into after entering the auction was a gentleman that had purchased horses with assistance from Project in the past. He had an OTTB, though not purchased through the program, entered in the sale. It had a stifle issue and he knew he wouldn’t get much for her but was going to send her through anyhow. I freely admit that I don’t know the motivation, but it certainly appeared by his body language that he was surprised to see Annie there. My guess is that he felt “caught” and that prompted him to withdraw her, though I could be wrong. MNRRP will now market the horse for him and make sure it gets placed in a good home – much better than a slaughterhouse. Victory number one. (She was privately sold this weekend as a hunter/jumper prospect.)

A little later as we perused the stalls and the kill pen we found a tattooed Thoroughbred. Jen ran the tattoo through The Jockey Club database and we discovered that the horse was a 9-year old gelding named Money Train. Money Train raced in Ohio and West Virginia and was able to win three races: a maiden and two allowances before starting to have trouble winning at the $5000 claiming level at Mountaineer. He was retired soon thereafter and went through the rehabilitation program at New Vocations in Lexington, KY.

He was placed with Bailey Saylor of Minnesota. Here is the description of that relationship straight from the New Vocations website:

Adopter Barry Saylor of Minnesota and Thoroughbred gelding “Money Train” aka “Cash” have covered over 395 miles of terrain in 2009 competing in endurance rides of 25-60 miles in length. He even plans to do a 100 mile ride next year! According to Barry, he could not ask for a better horse than “Cash”. He has the whole package for a sport that demands a lot from a horse. He is the best OTTB that he has ever had. He has the attitude; loves to go down the trail even at the 50 mile mark, takes care of himself on the trail, and has the physical attributes to enable him to accomplish the miles and stay sound. “I can’t keep track of the compliments that I get on how gorgeous he is when we pass someone going down the trail. He has stolen my heart with his personality, intelligence and his drive. He is a wonderful animal. Thank you for making our being together possible.”

The note that was left at the auction house for the horse gave some background about his endurance riding capabilities as well as a general description of his exemplary behavior.

Just after Money Train was identified, it was his turn to get sent through the ring. We literally ran back to the arena and jumped into the stands just in time for the bidding to begin. Initially the only bid was from a kill buyer and that was Annie’s signal to get into action. The bidding was raised a few times but there was only two-way action. Once the price got too high for the kill buyer to make a profit, the horse was property of the MNRRP - $210.

It was exhilarating. Victory number two. Sure, the gelding through the ring was just one, but it was a racer and a well-trained one at that. He certainly didn’t deserve to be dumped here. The goal of the program now will be to get him to a qualified new home as soon as he is ready. Considering he had been off track for a while in another discipline “Cash” will hopefully have a short stay since his down time to recover from the racetrack is non-existent. Still, work will have to be done with him in order to prove his soundness and readiness to move on. The adoption fee should cover his costs and provide a bit extra to be able to help another OTTB, giving the program the ability to grow and help more horses in need. If there is one thing that is certain in this world of the OTTB: there is more supply than help available.

I was Tweeting (@tlgrevelis, if you’re interested in following) as the experience was unfolding and Caroline Betts of the Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue immediately sent a response to a Tweet that she was sure Cash was a New Vocations horse. I was able to send a note to New Vocations through Facebook, giving them the heads up and the next day they were able to get in touch with Annie to give her his specifics. They were thankful that we were there and were able to prevent him being sold by the pound.

During the walk through the kill pen – excuse me, the loose horse pen – I spotted a large paint, possibly part Saddlebred. He was magnificent. He had one of the most beautiful heads I’d ever seen and he was very tall, over 16 hands high. He looked regal and totally misplaced in that pen. He allowed himself to be patted and seemed friendly, but as with the other kill pen…loose horse pen…horses, you never know what you’re getting.

The saved part Saddlebred paint and yours truly at the farm.

There was something about him, though, that gnawed at me. He wasn’t an ex-racer, so he couldn’t be a program horse so I resigned myself to the fact that this guy was getting shipped south, but he ate at me. There is a lot I’m still learning about judging a horse, but something with him just didn’t feel “right”. The next day we tried to raise enough money to buy him back from the kill buyer. Thanks to various friends and the networking available through social media, we were able to post his bail. I’m looking forward to helping out with him as he moves forward. I’m sure you’ll read more about him in this space as time goes by. While I was thrilled to pieces to get him out of there and a shot at a good life, what it led to was even more disturbing and was right in the Project’s wheelhouse.

When he was being picked up at the feed lot, a pen was discovered with five Thoroughbreds and another outside. All of the five still had their racing plates on.

These horses were purchased off the track by a known dealer who likes to say he has “a good riding home” for them, forks over a couple of hundred bucks and away they go to Mexico or Canada. Donating your Thoroughbred to the Project or another program can get you a $5000 tax credit. Selling to the dealer gets you $200 cash. Is it really worth it?

An outpouring of support from some of the local horse community, most notably from Minnesota Thoroughbred Association Board President Scott Rake among others, enabled the Project to save several of the horses, though it was already too late for one and an unraced Kansas bred. These horses are now in the program and can be read about at the MNRRP blog.

The entire experience was a roller coaster ride. The heartbreaking discovery of the OTTBs at the auction; the exhilaration of being able to save them for new careers; the high of knowing that no thoroughbreds fell through the cracks only to be brought crashing down to Earth the next day finding six in the feed lot; the last minute reprieve for the four, but not being able to save the other two. This was just two days in my life – this IS the life of the MNRRP.

The strength and dedication of these women is phenomenal. The deep well of compassion they possess tempered by the harsh reality that you can’t save them all is admirable and remarkable. Quite frankly, anyone who wants to own a horse – racehorse or otherwise – should have to experience what I did. They should have to see the pregnant mares that will be slaughtered along with their unwanted and unborn foals. They should see the fear in the eyes of the weanlings who never asked to be born and will only live a short and brutal life anyway. They need to see the starving and emaciated ponies that were simply discarded. Reckless breeding and even more reckless ownership needs to be avoided. A look at the harsh reality of what can happen "after" would promote more responsible ownership in all phases of equine activity.

It's important to recognize that while racing gets a bad rap, out of the 110 or so horse in the feed lot for shipment, only five were ex-racehorses. The remainder were dumped by owners involved in other disciplines or had them as pets. Even at the auction we only found 2 OTTBs compared to the hundreds run through the ring. Racing may not be perfect, but it is far from the largest cause of the problem.

If you’re in the game – an owner, trainer or even a fan, support your local organization that helps to retire these horses to another life and career.

It's A Wonder We Don't Eat Our Young

2015-12-23T09:00:00.000-06:00

[NOTE: This space wasn't only dedicated to our own exploits. Sometimes I got so worked up I had to blow up a little bit like during the Rachel/Zenyatta debate from March 2010]

"Dear Jess Jackson, You are a complete wuss!! Thank you for, yet again crushing the hopes of racing fans everywhere. Please grow some testicles and run your horse against me like you promised America you would. Thanks!!- Z"

- Status of "Zenyatta" on her Facebook fan page after the decision not to run Rachel Alexandra in the Apple Blossom

"Rachel is overrated....a horse racing exemplification of an air-ball....overrated....chonk chonk ch-chon-cha-chonk-adonk-overrated tw*t..."

- Comment on a Yahoo! Sports article on the Apple Blossom

I was searching for the nasty comments regarding Zenyatta, but they were too far back for me to dig up. But make no mistake - they were there. That she was a 'false' champion for never leaving home. That the Moss' were scared to run her on dirt or way from home. That she was simply the marvel of the synthetic surface and weak home state competition. It went on and on as well.

This should be a time that we look at the racing industry and think "Damn, are we lucky!" Instead, the blessing we have received by having two of the greatest distaffers of all time racing during the same time period has turned into a degrading and disgusting attempt to try and discredit and belittle each other's camp.

My choice for Horse of the Year last year was Rachel Alexandra. I simply thought her campaign criss-crossing half the country, beating not only her class, but 3-year old colts and older colts as well, was a better body of work than Zenyatta. My clear choice for moment of the year was Zenyatta's win in the Breeder's Cup Classic. I still don't think that I have ever seen a greater performance in my life. Secretariat in the Belmont may be close, but it was different: it was clear domination. Zenyatta's win was surreal.

The more I read, the sadder I get. Instead of being appreciative of what we were - and hopefully will continue to - able to witness last year it has become imperative for "fans" to tear down the other side. Right now it's Rachel and her connections' turn to be lambasted for being "afraid". Last year it was Zenyatta and her connections' turn for the very same reasons.

How about we admit, first of all, that these are racehorses, not machines? They do have to be fit and ready. They do have preferred surfaces. They may not fire every time out on the track. It is a very real possibility that Steve Asmussen may be right (horrors!) that Rachel was not fit and ready to go. Is it THAT important to be committed to the April 9 date or is it MORE important that the athlete is at her best and ready to go? I would think that Asmussen and John Shirreffs know more about their horses than we do. I'm willing to take them at their word.

Secondly, shut the hell up with the bashing already. I made my case for horse of the year last year in this space and on the radio show. I also prefaced every comment with, "I think that Zenyatta is amazing and it would not break my heart if she won". In my opinion, the important thing - the overwhelmingly important thing - is that I was lucky enough to be able to see the two of them run. Some of the greatest performances in racing occurred last year and were provided by these two. We are tremendously blessed to be graced by BOTH of these racehorses. It's time each "side" recognized the attributes of the other.

Finally, I want these two to meet - preferably more than once. I would like to see them go three or four times over dirt, synthetic and maybe even a romp over the grass. I do NOT want to see them in a match race. I also want both to be sharp, sound and at their best. At the end of the day, our sport is about winning. That is why we run the races. It's commendable to be passionate about your favorite horses. But be passionate about YOUR favorite horses, not against a competitor.

As racing fans we've had a lot to moan about the last few years: lower handle, dismal sales numbers, higher takeouts, bankruptcies and the closing of landmark racetracks to name a few. We have the opportunity to enjoy two of the greatest to ever step on a track. Don't lose sight of the beauty in front of you and get dragged down into the mire. There is no shame in admiring them both. In fact, it may be a bit helpful for the sport if we did. Racing could use this to bring more appeal to the masses and showcase two great champions. Let's take all that energy and channel it into something positive for the sport, not yet another self-inflicted black eye.

THIS is How to End a Partnership

2015-12-21T09:00:00.000-06:00

[NOTE: This was originally published on 8/24/08. It was the last races of Star of the North Partnership under the direction of David Miller. We closed it off with a win and a home for each of the horses involved. It was a great finish for a group of great people]

It was to be their last starts. Sister and brother duo of Somerset Wish (4-year old) and Somerset Sam (3) were more than likely going to retire after this weekend. Coincidentally both were running in Minnesota bred $7500 claiming races going six furlongs over the main track. Sammy on Saturday and Wish on Sunday.

On my way to the track on yesterday I needed to stop at an ATM. Of course the drive-thru ATM was closed so the line at the other was backed up 10 cars. But I had some time, so I waited. Apparently there were some folks re-financing their mortgages while I was waiting and it took almost 20 minutes. If you've ever been in a drive-thru ATM line, once you are in, you aren't getting out. After trailing folks who seemed to feel that driving 10 mph under the speed limit in the left hand lane of the Interstate was OK, I pulled into the parking lot at Canterbury in time to hear Paul Allen calling the first race. My pick was Your Imagination. I figured I'd get 6-1. Turns out he scores at over 25-1 triggering a $55.25 win mutual. To add insult to injury, or injury to insult as it turned out, my pick in the second race finished up the track with some obvious physical issues. What a start...

It was an absolutely gorgeous late summer day in the Twin Cities and there were some fun races throughout the day. I even managed to hit an odd trifecta (4-5 with 18-1 with 13-1) to pull better than even and helped erase the first race sting. When the 8th race came around I packed up my Racing Form, glasses and binoculars and headed down to the track photographer to pick up Fizzy Pop's finish line photo from his last race and close out my account with the hotel bookkeeper. I'd like to take a second here to thank both Beth Rutzebeck, Canterbury photographer, and Terri Hoffrogge, horseman's bookkepper. Both have been wonderful and professional to deal with and helped make our first summer racing a delight. Then it was over to the paddock to see Sam get saddled and be on his way.

The feeling watching Sammy get saddled up and prepped to go was mixed. If he could run well here we'd see him move on to Remington and continue to ply his trade. However I got the feeling that he really wasn't enjoying what he was doing. He tried hard, but was so big that it was hard for him to turn his stride over. When he showed us that he couldn't go long, well, if you don't have speed and you can't go long...time to find a new job. Once you get in the walking ring, though, doubts disappear and you start thinking, "yeah, we can beat this group. Sure we can. And once we're in Oklahoma, well, he'll just get better!"

I watched the race in the horseman seats on the mezzanine. Bernell Rhone and his brother Russ came by and sat with me as we watched the race. Sam broke OK but was bumped. Not badly shaken up, he was back on track and tracked the leaders in fourth but wide most of the way. In the stretch, Sammy really didn't improve his position. I The Jury smoked the field by 15+ lengths and Sam finished 5th, seven lengths out of second. Bernell and I looked at each other for a second and I said "That won't keep him racing." Bernell nodded and agreed, "Not with that time. Probably best to let him go."

David Miller, managing partner of Star of the North Racing (with whom we own Sam & Wish), will keep an ownership interest in Sam in order to monitor his retirement. He found a nice farm up in rural Minnesota for Sammy to retire to. He'll be retrained as a riding horse and should live a nice sedate life trail riding. Sam has a great disposition for that kind of life and kudos to David for being responsible and a leader in the truest sense.

If it's at all possible, today dawned nicer than yesterday. I'm sure most of the country would view this as a nice early fall day. For us up here this is a fine late summer day! There were no tie ups on the way to the track this afternoon. After one quick stop at the bank to deposit the Canterbury check, we were on our way to Shakopee for probably the last time this summer. We got there early and listened to Paul Allen and Kevin Gorg dissect the card and enjoyed a bag of nuts from Canterbury Park's 'Nut Lady'. Only one of them even mentioned Wish, and that was to finish second.

Rianne walked Wish into the paddock and Wish looked good. After "rider's up!" we talked a bit with trainer Larry Donlin about how well Canterbury promotes racing and how some other locations rake in slot money while doing nothing to promote the racing product. The perfect storm of utilizing slots to market racing - not just tolerate it - could be seen someday if the folks at Canterbury ever get the gift of slot revenue.

Wish broke a bit awkwardly but hustled up to track the leaders perfectly in third position through the turn. I had the glasses trained on her and partner Brian Nodolf kept asking, "How's she doing? How's she doing?" I kept saying, "he's not moving, he's still not moving. NOW - he's asking her!" as she surged to the front. But her stablemate, Squeezable, was not ready to give in, pulled alongside of Wish and got a neck out in front with about 100 yards to go. At that point we all thought it was a good second. Then we watched the slo-mo of the finish - she fought back along the rail and may have won! For the second time in three races I was waiting for the numbers to get posted. They showed the finish a couple of times and it looked like we got the head bob, but it was hard to tell because both heads were moving in the same direction in tandem. Finally Paul Allen announced, "the winner issssss...NUMBER ONE, Somerset Wish!" and we went nuts! We hustled down to the winner's circle and there was quite a crowd to see Wish off - Larry and his wife Maureen, Brian and his girlfriend Andrea, David, her breeder Jack Welch with his two grandchildren, exercise rider and assistant chart caller Lisa Johnson and even tout sheet seller Big Jake Mauer. It was a big and very happy crowd.

The last race was typical of Wish's career. In 11 career starts she had two across the board: two wins, places and shows. Add to that another 4 fourth place finishes and she was always close. You left her out of you superfecta ticket at your own peril! She was always in the hunt and she always tried hard. Her heart is a big as all outdoors and the way she fought back to win at the wire was typical of everything we have enjoyed from her the past two seasons.

Wish is off to live on a Wisconsin farm courtesy of Brian. Again, another partner and friend stepping up and doing what is right by the horse. Apparently this is a polo farm, so maybe she'll make some polo ponies in her future? I love to think of Wish as a mom.

David has always had the finances up to speed and in no time this partnership will be closed out once the final bills are in a few weeks. We did what was right by the horses and they did well by us. My rough figuring is that we'll walk away with three photos, great memories, lessons learned and little, if any, cash. Success? You bet your life savers it was a success.

In contrast to what I have written about in the past, THIS is the way things should be done. Very publicly I would like to once again thank my friend, mentor and partner David Miller for the fabulous job he has done with this, his first public partnership. Also thanks need to go out to Brian, Jack Gresser and Tony Miller who round out this partnership. Without all of us, this wouldn't have been possible. I hope we all stay in touch and get involved together again. It was a great ride. Finally, all the thanks in the world go to Somerset Sam and Somerset Wish. Two horses that I got to know and love. Thanks for showcasing your unique personalities on every barn visit and your hearts in every trip to the track. I hope you enjoy your retirements and I look forward to visiting you all as often as I can get out there to see you both. Well done everyone. Well done.

Working With Andy Beyer

2015-12-19T09:00:00.000-06:00

[NOTE: This is a repost from 9/7/11, my first year with the Daily Racing Form. For many handicappers and turf writers Andy Beyer is a legend and for a few years we worked together. Sort of...]

I was reading a story in the Daily Racing Form by Andy Beyer about a gentleman in Nevada diagnosed with pancreatic cancer trying to beat the odds and live long enough to make it until the National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas. Reading the story reminded me of an episode I had with Beyer in college back in the mid-1980’s.

I was a senior at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. My best friend, Paul Mooney, and I would make trips to play the races throughout New England when we had the opportunity. Back in the 80’s there was a dearth of handicapping information out there so you grabbed what you could find and latched onto it. For harness racing at Lewiston and Scarborough it was Ainslie’s Complete Guide to Harness Racing while for Thoroughbreds it was Beyer’s Picking Winners.

I had just come off of spending a year in Washington, DC spending my “year abroad” at George Washington University and Beyer’s column in the Washington Post was must reading. While he covered racing from a national perspective he also covered the Laurel/Pimlico scene in great detail. There were columns on track biases, equine stars and trainers, owners and jockeys. I couldn’t get enough Andy Beyer and I wrote one of only two pieces of fan mail I ever wrote in my life (the other was to Mel Blanc when I was in high school – quite the combo, huh?).

In my letter to Beyer I told him how much I enjoyed his work in the paper as well as paperback. I thought that the possibility of following horses every day was my idea of heaven and asked him: how do I get to be you when I grow up?

Beyer’s answer came back hammered out on a manual typewriter and hand signed: “You don’t want this gig.” Or something to that effect. I don’t have the response anymore, lost over time in my moves around the country and the world, but I will always remember the advice he gave me: get a real job and follow the horses in my spare time. He said that betting horses and writing about them wasn’t easy and that it didn’t pay particularly well, unless you got lucky.

I followed that advice. I graduated from college, attended graduate school at Maryland (and Pimlico & Laurel) and had a series of “real jobs” until getting laid off this past December. Thanks to the recommendation of a friend, I picked up a freelance job for the summer covering Canterbury Park for the same Daily Racing Form that Beyer calls home. His advice is still spot on. The gig is a lot of fun but I won’t get rich doing it. However while I’m looking for a “real job” I am living the dream and – technically speaking only – working with my hero while I’m doing it.

I have never met Andy Beyer and the odds are pretty good that I never will. I tried hard to follow his advice though the years yet when all was said and done, at least for now anyway, I ended up under the same masthead.

I promise, Andy, I AM looking for a “real job”…unless I get lucky!

Welcome to the World, Tabby Dacat!

2015-12-18T09:00:00.000-06:00

[NOTE: Tabby Dacat, the first of two Minnesota bred horses that we are breeders' of, was born on March 13, 2014. Here were some observations from Day 1. The second photo down wasn't part of the original post but I love it so much I added it here!]

Tabby Dacat (Eastwood Dacat-Tabby Lane-Even the Score)

Tabs loving on her baby in the first hour. She took to him right away and has proven herself to be a loving mom. I could not be more proud of her. My favorite picture of the two of them and one that I feel needs more exposure - it is a beautiful expression of unconditional and instant love and devotion between thoroughbred mare and foal. I'd really like to see Heather get some real recognition for capturing this moment so exquisitely.

Eleven months we waited. I watched our big, grey girl get progressively larger as the foal inside of her developed. Life off the track and impending motherhood appeared to have agreed with her. Her eye, chronically soft (off the track) got even deeper as she moved through her pregnancy. She developed a close friendship with another mother to be, Tez Savitri, and the two mares passed their pregnancy together uneventfully in the same pasture for nearly all of their gestation period.

As the time got closer and closer I became amazingly nervous and anxious. Horses have been having foals for thousands of years and Lisa and her team over at Dove Hill Farm and Reproduction are the best but I was perhaps move nervous than I was before I became a father.

------------------

Tabby Lane was my mistake. When you get into the business of racing horses, lesson number one is that you don't fall in love with them. Period. Horse isn't winning and you need to drop into the claiming ranks but you're afraid your horse might get claimed? See rule number 1. Not sure what to do when someone offers you a chunk of change for your racehorse? See rule number one. The horses I have had ownership stakes in previously (and since) were great. None of them climbed into my heart like Tabby Lane.

I can't even articulate very well how it happened or when. When I met her in the Canterbury barn for the first time we had owned her for a few months and she was successful for us immediately following the claim at Tampa Bay Downs. She was sweet and kind and just about to start a god-awful losing streak. She could not get untracked at Canterbury and we couldn't figure her out. But I kept visiting her and learned her personality and it seemed she took a liking to me as well. Her favorite activity, aside from rolling, was resting her big forehead on my chest as I rubbed her neck.

In her second season with us we hung out at Tampa Bay Downs together for a morning and we talked. I really needed her to get back on track. I could swear she remembered me but I'm guessing that was just my imagination. Whatever the case, it was GREAT when she dropped her head and rested it on me and I rubbed away!

Her racing career has been well documented here and when we were informed that her ankle was showing some wear and tear but we could race her if we ran her at the bottom, I couldn't do it. I wanted her to have a quality of life when her career was over - not to end up a crippled old racehorse. I took a look at her race record: 25% win percentage and over 50% in the money; earnings just under $120,000; allowance winner; nice (though admittedly not terrific) bloodlines; and thought that if we could find a way to breed her inexpensively (relatively!) we would do it.

Tabby was solid on dirt and turf and had a fondness for 7 furlongs to a mile and 1/16 but lacked a quick turn of foot. It took her a while to get rolling. If there was some speed that could be infused there, this could make for an impressive little runner. Taking advantage of the patience and knowledge of Deb and Jeff Hilger, I decided to send her to Eastwood Dacat, a quick son of Storm Cat who had some hard luck on the track but showed terrific speed before his career was curtailed. I bought a season at the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association's stallion auction and we were set.

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Eleven months took forever and got here in no time. Little Tabby Dacat (Heather's brainchild and, if I do say so myself, a terrific name!) is on the ground. He came into this world around 9:15 PM on March 13 in an relatively uneventful delivery. The only issue was after the little guy's hooves and head started to emerge, Tabby had wedged herself near a corner of the stall, blocking off the little colt's exit route! Lisa popped in, helped him shift a little bit and then he emerged.

We've decided that we shall love him, hug him, pet him and nickname him George.

Tabs took to George right away. They nickered at each other and she cleaned him off. He responded in kind and their bonding was heartwarming (the delivery in pictures - good Heather pictures, not my iPhone pictures - will be a not so distant future post). He's a big boy. I don't have his numbers yet but he's a leggy bugger and pretty correct for a newborn.

Mother and Son about an hour after delivery

I don't know what the future holds for him - or her for that matter. Breeding is a waiting game and an expensive one at that. The partners have dwindled and I'm contemplating selling Tabby (see rule number 1...) but nothing has been decided yet.

Maybe Tabby will stay in the family or maybe she will be moving on - an offer too good to refuse and I'll be reading rule #1 - but for now, congratulations, girl, on a beautiful little foal who is all hope and promise.

The Finish Line

2015-12-17T11:56:00.002-06:00

The goal of every race is to make it to the finish line first. We've been lucky enough to have our share of first place finishers over the years and hopefully there are more still in the cards. What they won't be, however, is chronicled in this space.

I tried to keep rolling the last couple of years but the pressures of work, the partnerships, the Canterbury Club and now the Midwest Paddock Report, Fat Guys' Rants and some freelance writing have strained my time resources to the breaking point.

The final straw for me was when I logged in here for the first time in a long while and saw that I had several unfinished posts laying about. They seemed like great ideas at the time but I whiffed on them and I decided it was time to pack this in. There are only so many hours in the day and maintaining a blog that I can only get to every few months...well, I just can't do that.

The timing is pretty good.

It's the end of another year and as it winds down, Owning Racehorses will wind down with it. Over the next week or two I will post a few of my favorites and some of the more popular posts over past eight years that I've been keeping this...online journal, I guess you could call it. I hope you enjoy them the second time around.

I'd like to thank you all for visiting this space from time to time and reading what I wrote. I've been fortunate to have been shared a time or two by Equidaily, the Paulick Report and the Blood-Horse. The blog also helped give me the opportunity to freelance for a few years for the Daily Racing Form covering Canterbury Park.

Special thanks go to David Miller, Jim Dunleavy, Jeff Maday, the folks over at Hello Race Fans, TURF and the Thoroughbred Bloggers Alliance for helping me get started and gain an audience.

This isn't the end of the turf writing for me, though. Far from it. I will be able to commit more energy to the Midwest Paddock Report where I am fortunate enough to work with the love of my life, equine photog extraordinaire Heather Frisbie (the future Mrs. Grevelis, in case you hadn't heard), on a labor of love that we're working hard to transform into something more.

I've also teamed with my longtime best friend, Chris Palladino, on Fat Guys' Rants, a collection of our rantings on just about anything. That will be followed sometime after the first of the year with a companion podcast that will be available on iTunes. There probably won't be a lot of racing on there, but I'll work it in when I can!

I hope you'll join me over at the Midwest Paddock Report and Fat Guys Rants. I'll still be on Twitter at @tlgrevelis as well as @mwpaddockreport and @FatRantsTed and the Report also has its own Facebook page.

A lot has happened over the past eight years and I appreciate you all sharing it with me. Enjoy the "best of" over the next few weeks and I'll see you at the races!

Ellie's Village

2015-10-13T19:27:00.002-05:00

Sometimes it does indeed take a village.

Though I’ve been lax here with the launch of Midwest Paddock Report and running our groups and the Canterbury Racing Club, those of you that tuned in regularly know that Elusive Edition (Ellie) did not pan out the way we had hoped.

Her 2 year old season was a scratch due to sore shins. Russ Rhone had her during the off season and worked on those shins all winter long and she never had a shin issue again.

Heading into her 3-year old season we decided to send her south to get her ready early and avoid the bad weather. The Lexington area had some of the worst weather in generations and then she ended up bowing a tendon and being retired. So much for the best laid plans.

We had no place to really take her to make her well without it costing a small fortune. She needed a lot of stall rest and attention and we do not have our own farm.

Enter Heather Haagenson and Scott and Angie Rake.

Heather, our Good Samaritan, thought Ellie would be a good project. We checked with her employer, Rake Farms, who said that if Heather could handle it, Ellie could move in.

Ellie shipped to MN in May to Rake Farm where she was examined by Dr. John King. John took a great deal of time examining and explaining to a very curious Heather (Frisbie) and I all about what we were seeing on the ultrasound, how bowed tendons occur, how they heal and what her prognosis was (good to excellent, though not as a racer).

Heather Haagenson then took over Ellie’s care: hand walking her twice a day and reporting back to us her progress, her friendship with pig Frankel and keeping detailed notes of her progress for Dr. King. Lindsey, who handles Rake Farm stable on weekends, did the weekend duties.

As the summer progressed, Ellie improved and after about 100 days we had John re-examine her. She could expand her horizons and, once again, the good doctor was very patient with our questions and providing easy to understand explanations and Heather carried out his orders perfectly.

As the racing season at Canterbury drew to a close (and the Rakes picked up their well-deserved TOBA breeding award in Lexington – gratuitous, but we’re proud of them!), it was time for Ellie to move on. Racers were coming home - as were the formidable new babies – so she recently moved back to where her career began: Russ Rhone’s farm on the Shakopee/Chaska line near Canterbury Park.

She’s there, turned out for the first time in a long time, only because of the efforts of Heather, Lindsey, Scott and Angie. The care and love she received in the beautiful and nurturing environment of the Rakes’ farm from the people and pig alike all gave her the time and attention she needed to heal.

Hopefully she will provide someone with years of enjoyment as a riding horse. She could be very successful in dressage, flat classes and as a trail horse. She has a good mind, moves beautifully, and has great ground manners and a wonderful personality.

That’s the task now: to find her a person will love her and a job she will love. While not “free to good home”, her asking price will be small – enough to mean something to her new owner(s). I never, ever want to find out that she’s ended up in a kill pen somewhere. Her racing career has been snakebit but she came through it all with her disposition and love for humans intact because, in my opinion, she’s destined for a happy life doing something else. She certainly deserves that.

If not for Ellie's Village, I don't know if she would have properly recovered and for that I could never fully express my thanks.

Zero Tolerance Punishing Doing the Right Thing

2015-07-23T13:00:00.000-05:00

(This piece is also published in our on-line publication, Midwest Paddock Report, as an editorial)

Legendary Minneapolis Star-Tribune sports writer Patrick Reusse penned a column today detailing the possible suspension of Canterbury Hall of Fame trainer Mac Robertson by the state stewards and the Minnesota Racing Commission for a positive drug test.

Before I get rolling I want to make a few things clear. Mac Robertson and I are not friends. We’re really not even acquaintances. In the three years that I covered Canterbury for the Daily Racing Form, I would say that I maybe spoke to him twice – he’s not fond of publicity and I’m pretty sure he’s not fond of reporters either.

Robertson has also never trained for us.

Basically what I’m saying is that we’ve never had any kind of relationship that would make me a ‘Robertson apologist’ of any kind.

The horse, Purest Form, tested positive for 74 picograms of Methamphetamine. This is 74 TRILLIONTH of a gram. Given that two former employees were later proven to be meth users and the minuteness of the drug in the horse’s system, logic would dictate that one of these two people were in contact with the horse, or its feed, at some point, generating the horse’s exposure.

Logic, however, is never a factor in ‘zero tolerance’ policies.

So much of society is a “gotcha” culture. Goals have changed from level playing fields and one set of rules for all, to how can we catch someone doing anything and then crow about how tough we are on the alleged rulebreakers. We can pat ourselves on the back and talk about how the industry is “doing the right thing”. It really matters very little what is right or true, only that someone can take credit for ridding the sport of these miscreants.

These days no one wants to know the truth. It’s only he accusation that matters - and gets noticed. The “gotcha”. Doing the right thing does not. Exoneration does not. The truth does not.

Except the truth DOES matter. An explanation should matter. Robertson took this minute positive very seriously. He subjected his staff to a random drug test to try and determine the cause of the contamination. He took action when meth users were found in his employ. Given the level in the horse and fact that two people around the horse were meth users, it is a certainty that environmental contamination is to blame. The system worked, right? Trainer with a sterling reputation finds that something went sideways. He then does the right thing and helps to police the sport he loves, protecting horses, riders and employees along the way.

Zero tolerance though, baby. Get the chemists out of the sport.

A suspension is coming. A similar situation last year with lesser known trainer Luis Canchari garnered him a 90-day suspension and a $2,000 fine when his horse, Smart Masterpiece, was also found with trace amounts of meth in its system after a race. The precedent has been set. I don’t see where the Stewards have any wiggle room.

The Minnesota Racing Commission does though. This suspension will certainly make its way before them and they will have the opportunity to inject common sense into the process and look at the big picture to determine what happened, why and the negligible effect it had on the horse and the race. Let’s not punish a trainer for learning the truth and doing the right thing in an instance where there was no competitive advantage gained.

It is possible to be tough on drug cheats as well as do the right thing.

Belmont Day for HELLO RACE FANS!

2015-06-05T14:57:00.000-05:00

We head into Belmont Day with another chance at a Triple Crown and, if you believe all the racing scribes, the best chance in nearly four decades to get one. While I do think AP is the best horse in the race, he certainly isn’t the best value. I think you either take a stand against him or you pass the race and root for history.

For Hello Race Fans, the best new racing fan education site on the web, a group of us made some picks for the Grade I races on the card so I’m going to go into a little detail here on my selections.

OGDEN PHIPPS

UNTAPABLE the unbeatable, right? Well, nearly, but not entirely. She’s been off since her easy victory in the Apple Blossom and has been training nice and regularly. She’ll be zero value on the board and an improving WEDDING TOAST could be the one to go get her if she keeps on improving.

WEDDING TOAST

ACORN

I got beat by the undefeated PROMISE ME SILVER in the Eight Belles on Derby weekend and it’s hard to not be impressed by SHOOK Ups runner up finish in the Oaks and Curalina’s cruising victory in a Churchill $75,000 optional, but I’m loving CONDO COMMANDO cutting back from a route to a mile. Her speed may very well be the key and I think that she can cut back better than PROMISE ME SILVER can stretch out.

CONDO COMMANDO

JUST A GAME

This is a nice betting race and I could make a case for several in here. I went back and forth between BALL DANCING and COFFEE CLIQUE and decided to go with COFFEE CLIQUE. Should the other win I wouldn’t be surprised.

COFFEE CLIQUE

METROPOLITAN

Easily the best race of the day, all due respect to the Triple Crown try. In a race where you have TONALIST, WICKED STRONG, BAYERN, PANTS ON FIRE, HONOR CODE and KOBE’S BACK – most of the best older horses in training – you really can’t do better. I’m not a big BAYERN fan and he was a disaster in his odds on seasonal debut but he’s been training well and if his occasional clunker was out of the way in the Churchill Downs, he could bounce back nicely. He likes the front and he has speed on his inside and that could make things tough on him on the front end. If TONALIST doesn’t bounce after his sparkling debut, he should get the right trip behind the early pace.

TONALIST

MANHATTAN

Some really nice turf routers in here for this one and one former Derby trailer trying grass for the first time. GENERAL A ROD doesn’t appear to have a turf pedigree and appears to have a tough trip laid out for him in his turf debut. To the inside you have TWILIGHT ECLIPSE, the West Pointer that broke through with his first Grade 1 victory last out in the Man O War, and the tough and steady FINNEGAN’S WAKE. The steadiest of all in here is BIG BLUE KITTEN. The Ramsey homebred knows how to win and is always in with a chance. His seasonal debut was stellar in taking the Ft Marcy and he should be flying at the end…if he can get there in time.

BIG BLUE KITTEN

BELMONT

Unless you want to toss the favorite and look for a boxcar payoff, this is not a particularly good betting race. By all indications and measures, AMERICAN PHAROAH is coming into the race perfectly. He’s the best horse in a small field and if he can navigate the distance, we should have a Triple Crown winner. In my opinion, this is a watch but don’t wager race since I’m not willing to toss the fave. I don’t know if any of the real long shots tend to figure at all and, if you’re tempted to try and beat him, the best options appear to be FROSTED, MUBTAAHIJ and MATERIALITY.

AMERICAN PHAROAH

Preakness Thoughts

2015-05-16T13:36:00.002-05:00

We head into Preakness Day like we always do - with only one horse with the ability to bring home a Triple Crown. Some of the usual suspects come with the Derby King to take another crack at him and they join up with a few that have been waiting in the wings for Black-Eyed Susans rather than roses.

Sometimes the Derby King succeeds and goes on to New York with America in tow, waiting to see if the drought is broken and the country's thirst for a Triple Crown winner is quenched. It hasn't been for 37 years.

Maybe this year will be different; maybe it won’t, but for any chance of it happening at all American Pharaoh has to win in Baltimore. I’m not sure how he can fail.

Admittedly I got too cute in the Derby. Around our house most conversations Heather and I had handicapping the Derby ended up with “maybe American Pharaoh is just the best horse?” He was and I was wrong. I had him in the mix but in the big field, anything can happen, two-minute world of the Derby it was worth going for the price. In Baltimore it’s all about the win.

I know it’s trendy to look at Firing Line improving or Diving Rod coming in for the Jacksons in their return to the Preakness, but with his owner and the likes of D. Wayne Lukas saying that the horse won in Louisville despite not being at his best and a field half the size he had to contend with in the Derby, I’m going with American Pharaoh, odds be damned.

(Follow this and other picks from a myriad of horse racing folks on the Preakness Day stakes at Hello Race Fans.)

Mr Lexis Goes Postward in Our First Run at Arlington

2015-05-03T12:00:00.000-05:00

Mr. Lexis, the horse we manage for CAC Racing LLC, heads postward this afternoon versus eight foes and while he was installed as the tepid 3-1 morning line favorite, this race did not come up easy. Here’s a look at the field:

1 MR LEXIS (BRINSON/EMIGH)

2 Five Green Stars (Block/Esquivel) – State bred allowance winner had a real tough time against open company at the Fairgrounds. While he’s back home and dropping into claiming company, he may need to face lower.

3 Top Gato (Mason/Felix) – He ran a very professional race last out over the Oaklawn Park dirt track in his first race off the claim for the new connections. This is a pretty good step up but he has 2 wins in only 5 lifetime starts.

4 Love you Mon (Williamson/Geroux) – Emigh came off of this one to ride us but Geroux is no slouch. He’s won a few times here at Arlington, albeit at lower levels. He did show speed before fading 1^st off the layoff and could be in line to step up a bit here.

5 Kitten’s Song (Haran/Murrilo) – Well bred colt won at this level before on this track, though over a yielding strip. Firing first off the layoff is tough.

6 Armature (Rousell/Gudiel) – I actually like this one’s chances. He hasn’t run too badly recently and the score at the Fairgrounds two back was nice. Our saving grace may be that he doesn’t seem to like the Arlington track, though those races were all in maidens before he had a chance to figure things out.

7 Poker Player (Catalano/Hill) – Won the Grade 3 Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland and ran in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf that same year. Now he is a couple of seasons removed from that but as recently as December 27 he was still thought highly enough to run in a stake. He didn’t fare well in a Turfway optional claimer so now he heads into straight claimers to try and get a win out of him. Either he is the class of the field or completely washed up.

8 Brim (Rodriguez/Homeister Jr.) – You can probably draw a line through that last dirt debacle – this one clearly belongs on the turf. Last competitive race was a win at the Fairgrounds in a $15,000 conditioned claimer.

9 Badger Bay (Williamson/Perez) – This one is entered for the main track only and with the weather the next two days predicted to be sunny and dry, don’t expect to see him.

So we’re looking at a probable field of 8 and I have two concerns: a complete lack of any pace in the race and I don’t know what to make of Poker Player.

On pace, maybe Top Gato or Kitten’s Song could cut the fractions but if you look back at our boy’s races 3 and 4 back, he was mighty close to the lead. A good break and the inside post and we could find ourselves on the lead and hope that Emigh can ration his speed. With a field full of closers if he can crawl the fractions without frustrating the horse we could be looking good.

As for Poker Player, my guess is that he’s done. As a colt, I would think if he doesn’t win here and turn things around he may be retired. He is a graded stakes winner from Harlan’s Holiday out of a mare by Preakness and Gotham winner Red Bullet. He may try stud duty before they totally collapse the value on him by running in low level claiming races. Then again this kind of company may be just what he needs but his BrisNet speed figures say that while he may belong in here, he doesn’t tower over.

Good luck everyone!!

Kentucky Derby Day Preview; Oaks Day Recap

2015-05-02T07:35:00.000-05:00

My Oaks day started off frustrating, peaked and then was downhill from there. The best thing I can say about it is that I didn't get shut out. In the Edgewater (QUALITY ROCKS) and the La Troienne (SHEER DRAMA) I finished 2nd. In a thrilling Alysheba, if it wasn't for a Herculean effort by PROTONICO to fight back after being headed in deep stretch to win, I would have had my 3rd place finish in a row.

I took stabs with longer shots in the Turf Sprint (CHANNEL MARKER) and the Eight Belles (EKATI'S PHAETON) and finished off the board in both.

In the Oaks, I'M A CHATTERBOX left herself too much to do and, though she closed adroitly, it was too little, too late and she finished 3rd, behind the impressive LOVELY MARIA and long shot SHOOK UP.

The final stat line: 6 races - 1 win, 2 places, 1 third for my top choices.

DERBY DAY

This may be the hardest Derby I’ve ever analyzed. Judging from my highly publicized track record (1 for ever) you’d think they were ALL unbearably hard, but this one was brutal. I’ll admit, right now as I type this up at lunch at an Italian restaurant in Mauston, WI I STILL have no idea who my final Derby selection will be. Before that, though, I CAN go ahead and give the thumbnails for my Hello Race Fans selections on the undercard. By the time you read the Derby pick, I would have returned home and taken my stab!

PAT DAY MILE

COMPETITIVE EDGE is the big favorite in this one and while I really like him in here, it’s hard to like him at 6/5. Especially since he doesn’t seem to tower over this field of 8. The Pletcher trainee is undefeated and really hasn’t done anything wrong, but is liable to get hooked early by the likes of HILBILLY ROYALTY and GIMME DA LUTE. The race seems to set up very nicely for LORD NELSON and I look for him to take it late.

AMERICAN TURF

A large field with no clear favorite so I’m going with one that hasn’t disappointed anyone yet: GRANNY’S KITTEN. This Ramsey homebred had a very professional debut at two and now makes his 3-year old debut here. His work pattern is solid and Maker is a fair 17% off a layoff. Admittedly he’ll be a price but I felt this was a race to take a stab.

The scratch of GRANNY'S KITTEN made me re-evaluate the race and I landed upon NUN THE LESS. Sure, it's a step up but this isn't exactly the Derby group going here and he's a Minnesota owned horse. He should track well and if the race sets up right he could be right there at the end.

HUMANA DISTAFF

The shortest priced favorite of the day should be JUDY THE BEAUTY in here and I’m not going to try and get cute and beat her. She stands over this field and should win it with ease.

DISTAFF TURF MILE

A nice, big, betable field in here. There are several to make a case for, but I went with SANDIVA. She never seemed to get untracked in the US after her arrival until she won at 9/2 in a Gulfstream overnight stake. She then stepped up in the Grade 3 Suwanee River and won again. She just got nipped at the end of the Grade 2 Honey Fox last out by Lady Lara. While she may prefer a little longer, a second straight shot at a flat mile should be more to her liking and I’m hoping she turns the tables on her rival.

THE CHURCHILL DOWNS

BAYERN or PRIVATE ZONE. PRIVATE ZONE or BAYERN. Which way to go?? How about PANTS ON FIRE? The two top choices as well as C. ZEE and BREWING should all want a piece of what’s going on up front in the 7 furlong sprint. PANTS ON FIRE should be perfectly positioned to take advantage of the pace scenario, sitting right behind the leaders and building off of his 2015 debut win in the Sir Shakleton. With the two favorites behind him, we should get a nice price as well.

TURF CLASSIC

We have a girl against the boys in the Turf Classic with STEPHANIE’S KITTEN tangling with FINNEGAN’S WAKE among others in here. The problem for both of them is lack of pace. No one is really going to want to go in this group…except for CHOCOLATE RIDE. Joe Talamo has already proven that he can rate CHOCOLATE RIDE and he has 2 gate to wire wins in his last two races – both graded stakes going a mile and an eighth. This is a tall order but if no one goes out to challenge, Talamo will control the pace again and we’ll win with double digit odds.

KENTUCKY DERBY

This was one hell of an exercise. I started by eliminating those, in my view, that really didn’t stand a chance to win the race. I was able to clear half the field but then again, that left half the field. I read articles, watched replays and listened to the radio and what I learned is that with this Derby group I can be easily swayed. Every ‘expert’ with an opinion could sway me.

Here is why AMERICAN PHAROAH can’t lose. Okay, I buy that.

Here is why his stablemate DORTMUND will win. Okay, I’m in.

No horse that hasn’t run as a 2-year old has won the Derby since Columbus crossed the ocean. BUT…here is why MATERIALITY can break that streak. Sounds good!

And on…and on…and on.

It seems as if we have a subset in the race of closely matched, very good horses with differing running styles and that, for the most part, prepped in different locations coming together for the first time to try something that none of them have yet: a mile and a quarter race with 150,000 people screaming at them every inch of the way.
The reality probably is that by the time Saratoga and Del Mar are finished up we’ll have a much better indication of what this crop is like. Will there be a super horse? Is this the best group of 3-year olds since [insert favorite crop year here]? Have a few separated themselves from the rest? Do we have a rivalry like AFFIRMED and ALYDAR? All these questions will be answered then. Now we need to pick the Derby and start answering the questions.

My choice is FROSTED.

He was a solid and promising 2-year old, finishing 2^nd in the Grade 2 Remsen before heading to the bench but then couldn’t get untracked as a 3. His Holy Bull effort was decent by he was soundly defeated by UPSTART. In the Fountain of Youth he looked very strong until he faded back to 4^th in the lane. He was sent off to undergo a throat procedure which was designed to help his breathing from an occasional displacement of the soft palate. If I get any deeper, I’m lost…net/net: he was breathing better under the stress of exercise.

His first race with the new and improved breathing system was a strong closing win in the Wood Memorial to win by two while posting his best lifetime Beyer Speed Figure (103). Reunited with Joel Rosario for the Derby, Frosted should be able to get decent position while breaking from the 15 spot and shouldn’t have too much work to do when the real running starts. He should be able to get the mile and a quarter, giving trainer Kiaran McLaughlin his first Derby win in his 5^th start.

Kentucky Oaks Day Preview

2015-05-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

Each year the folks at Hello Race Fans provide their readers with industry veterans' selections for the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and some of the supporting stakes on each day’s undercard. They will post the consolidated picks in a spreadsheet on their site on Friday and Saturday. I am honored and pleased to be part of the field again this year. While my picks will be there for all to see, there isn’t room to expound on why I chose what I did ,so, as in year’s past, I’ll thumbnail that out a bit here.

EDGEWOOD STAKES

My choice in here is on the inside, QUALITY ROCKS. She won the Grade 3 Florida Oaks last out and did so turning the table on CONSUMER CREDIT who then went on to win the Memories of Silver Stakes at Aqueduct on April 23. While SUNSET GLOW is favored and the pace will be light – which she should like with her front-running style, she’s faltered moving past 7 furlongs while QUALITY ROCKS has been able to take a graded stakes field at the distance here of a mile and 1/16.

LA TROIENNE

I struggled a bit here between MY MISS SOPHIA and SHEER DRAMA. The deciding factor for me has been MY MISS SOPHIA’s lackluster second half of her 3-year old season after fighting hard and being soundly beaten by UNTAPABLE in last year’s Kentucky Oaks. She’s been training very well but going up against SHEER DRAMA may be too tough a task for her seasonal bow. SHEER DRAMA has improved with each start this season culminating in a dominating performance in the Grade 2 Royal Delta at Gulfstream.

ALYSHEBA

PROTONICO came back after injury with a completely masterful performance in the Grade 3 Ben Ali at Keeneland. He had a nice maintenance work in between and while Castellano got off to stay on slightly favored HONOR CODE, I don’t think the latter is going to have a strong pace to close into. In fact, the pace should be controlled by PROTONICO – and these two certainly seem to stand over this field.

TWIN SPIRES TURF SPRINT

Though the last race was chalky, I’m going long shot in this field. After a long break following a $62,500 claim last year, CHANNEL MARKER debuted poorly in a mile, flashing some speed before fading, he ran a great second in the 5 ½ furlong Grade 3 Shakertown on tax day. HEATAI, JASIZZLE, GOOD DEED and SOMETHING EXTRA should all be flashing speed. I don’t see Torres having CHANNEL MARKER as far back as he did in the Shakertown and he should be flying at the end. If the early pace is quick enough, I hope to cash at a price.

EIGHT BELLS

The Eight Bells features the undefeated 3-year old filly, PROMISE ME SILVER. You can’t say that she’s done anything wrong. The only negative she really has against her is that she’s never run in a graded stake. Make no mistake, there is most definitely a step up when you move into the rarified air of a graded stake and she’s making that step today. For that reason I went with EKATI’S PHAETON. Yeah, her last was an absolute clunker, but she had speed for half the race when being asked to go a mile and a sixteenth. This gal was NOT made to go that long. She’s back to a sprint now and her speed should be controlling and if she can’t get on top, she has proven she can rate and win as well. At a 6-1 morning line she’s providing great value as well.

KENTUCKY OAKS

Many have written about how deep the quality runs in this year’s 3-year old male crop competing for the roses in Saturday’s Derby, but the Oaks field is no slouch either. CONDO COMMANDO, LOVELY MARIA, I’M A CHATTERBOX, STELLAR WIND and BIRDATTHEWIRE are all in with a chance. Should any of these cross the finish line first I would not be surprised.

The morning line favorite, STELLAR WIND, seems to have the perfect style for the Oaks. She has the ability to stalk and her big move after a troubled start to dominate the Santa Anita Oaks was very impressive. I went elsewhere.

My whittling down process got me to BIRDATTHEWIRE and I’M A CHATTERBOX. BIRDATTHEWIRE has had nothing but trouble in her 2015 campaign and yet still has won 2 of the three Grade 2’s she’s run in, just missing by a neck in the Davona Dale in her other start. This type of adversity should serve her well in here.

I’M A CHATTERBOX has been splendid in her preps down on the Bayou. She swept the preps at Fairgrounds and did it gate to wire, from far off the pace and pressing a bit before taking command. Florent Geroux is going to be able to react to whatever scenario gets thrown at him as the race unfolds and have confidence that his mount can get it done.

In a very competitive field, I feel that I’M A CHATTERBOX is the best horse – and my choice – but I will be using BIRDATTHEWIRE with her in the exacta.

Bad Bows and Good Bows

2015-04-17T17:00:00.000-05:00

BOWED TENDON AND BOW OUT

We had it all planned out: Ellie would head south and not miss any training this spring; she had grown up and, more importantly, she seemed to have matured between her 3 and 4 year old years; we now knew she would be a router and not a sprinter so we could get her ready accordingly. Yup we had it all planned out.

Then we get “the call”. Well, not THE call, but a crappy one none-the-less. Her trainer had come in that morning and felt some heat just below her knee. She was a bit tender but not enough to take a bad step. Still, it bore watching so we waited and the first few days it seemed like maybe she just slept on herself wrong. Then the heat and soreness were back and an ultrasound was done.

She bowed a tendon.

A human way to think of it is tendonitis or a tendon tear. However you look at it, though, it is NOT good for a racehorse. The prescription? Ninety days of stall rest and then a slow resumption of activity in after taking another picture to make sure that the damage is healed.

As a Minnesota bred who probably can’t compete in open company outside of the state you might as well have told us her career was over. Which it now is.

There is no way that we could have her back for this season and that meant another full year on the bench and it wasn’t fair to her partners to put them through that. Who knows what would happen to this poor, snakebit mare next!? She had a tough season at 2 with shins, she didn’t do well at 3 and now, with her 4-year old season closed, it’s time to find her a new job. We’ll get her rehabbed and then we will see what the future has in store for her. It’s part of our responsibility as owners and one that we take seriously.

TAKE A BOW FOR YOUR DEBUT

Mr. Lexis was purchased privately out of California a few weeks ago and shipped to trainer Clay Brinson at Hawthorne Race Course. Mr. Lexis is a lightly raced 4-year old gelding out of the Valid Appeal mare Tracy V and sired by Badge of Silver. He was bred by former Governor Brereton Jones in KY and sold for $45,000 at Keeneland.

He went and raced in Peru where he missed by a neck in a Grade 1 as a maiden but did finally break his maiden in South America and followed that up with an allowance win before shipping to the US to work under trainer Peter Miller.

After 10 starts at Santa Anita and Del Mar without a win against allowance and mid-level claimers, we picked him up and sent him east where he looks to make his first start Saturday in a conditioned allowance over the turf at Hawthorne. He was installed as the tepid 7/2 morning line favorite so we should get a pretty good handle on what this group has on its hands.

When one door closes, another opens. The door has closed on Ellie but now opens for Mr Lexis. The racing cycle rolls on.

Chugging Along

2015-03-03T17:00:00.000-06:00

Ellie checking out the sites at Turfway Park.

March is trying to make it's lion-like entrance in Minnesota but it's first attempt appears to have fizzled out. Thankfully.

Around the region, thoroughbreds are trying to get ready for the 2015 Canterbury season while, nearby, others are already into their 2015 racing season (Midwest Paddock Report story on Hawthorne ). We're definitely not quite there yet.

We have learned that Elusive Edition (Ellie) is working well and has definitely increased her lung capacity since starting up her training at Turfway Park under the tutelage of trainer Michelle Allen. Michelle has sent us videos of Ellie working and it appears as if she really has the desire to run.

Last year was a year of immaturity and growth for her. In 2014, Ellie was very ADD - especially when heading over to the racetrack. She likes to take everything in and process. We always figured that she was very bright which was echoed by her groom last season and confirmed by Michelle in Kentucky. While I'm glad we have a smart horse who has the ability to learn, sometimes I think I'd be okay with just a dumb jock that can run!

So far I have resisted asking the obvious question: is she going to make a racehorse this season? I wanted a good 30-days under her belt before I went that route. Rounding into shape is no time to try and make that kind of determination. Additionally, while getting ready for her debut season last year, everyone around her felt that while she might not be something special, she should be able to at least break her maiden and win a bit if placed right. As we know, she didn't so morning observations can only tell you so much. We'll wait and hope to get down there to see for ourselves how she's looking at some point and go from there.

Heather beautifully captures George as a yearling in a rare quiet moment!

The little guy, George (Tabby Dacat - Eastwood Dacat/Tabby Lane/Even the Score) is doing well. He whacked his head a few weeks back and cut himself pretty good. He needed stiches so there was an unplanned vet bill, but what can you do? Yearlings get themselves in trouble. You just have to hope that it's never too bad and they learn from whatever mischief they get into. He's a big boy and appears to be a bit alpha-ish, which is good to me. I want a bit of an edge to him. I want him walking on to that racetrack with the type of confidence that says "I own this place!"

We march on (pun intended) and continue to get Ellie ready; get the Canterbury Racing Club some horses; get the alumni group launched; and look for just a few more partners to round out this year's claiming group. There is a lot going on and while time seems to be on our side, May 15 will be here before you know it.

Midwest Paddock Report

2015-02-21T13:43:00.000-06:00

I had teased a few posts back about a new venture we were working on and now we're ready to unveil it.

The Midwest Paddock Report is a combined effort of my photographer better half, Heather Frisbie, and I to bring a spotlight on racing here in the Heartland. I can't guarantee a lot of things in life, but one thing I can guarantee is that we will have growing pains. As painstaking as it was for two non-techies to build this site, I can absolutely guarantee that once we get rolling we're going to find all kinds of things we wished we would have done differently.

Ideally we would launch with comprehensive coverage of the entire Midwest from Ohio to the Dakotas and down to Oklahoma. Ideally. However since we are a two-person operation working on a limited (read: "no") budget, we are starting with a still ambitious, but much more doable, agenda of covering Minnesota and Iowa.

While our focus in owning and breeding has been in Thoroughbreds, we are going to try and include our Standardbred cousins as well. I don't know if that's going work but we'll see. My roots in harness racing go back to college and trips to now defunct Lewiston Raceway in Maine which was my first continuous exposure to live horse racing (after an amazing Preakness experience in 1985) with college classmate and lifelong friend Paul Mooney. I really enjoyed harness racing, have owned small pieces of pacers in the past and have included Scarborough, Dover and Pocono Downs, the Meadowlands and Pompano Park in my travels over the decades. Admittedly the popularity isn't the same as Thoroughbreds and if the interest isn't there we will pare back to "the Flats", but we're going to give it a go. Where we have dual meets going we will also cover the major stories in regional Quarter Horse racing with the same caveat.

We have a section that we call "Around the Region" where we will preview and recap stakes races around the Midwest and performances that should be highlighted. We're hoping to rely on readers to pass along story ideas and horses to watch to help us bring those stories to the people.

Speaking of people, we will be spotlighting folks in racing from time to time in our "In the Paddock" section. We'll take movers, shakers and all around interesting people and ask them 5 questions. A quick look at what they do and how they affect the game.

We'll also touch base on the bigger picture in our "National Scene" section. Admittedly I'm not altogether sure how we're going to do that and it's really not going to be our focus, but it's important to give some regional perspective to the Triple Crown Trail and the Breeders' Cup.

Currently we're relatively advertising free with the exception of a couple of spots for Google AdSense, but that will change - mostly as I get adept at creating advertising and working with the widgets to be able to place the ads where I want to so they look good and deliver value without detracting from the site. While we may be a labor of love right now, we don't intend on it being that way forever so feel free to inquire since this will get some priority in our development queue.

We're going to be looking to inject personality into our coverage. We'd like to be a place where you come for your Midwest racing news as if you'd be sitting down with coffee with your neighbor and discussing the last night's race. We'd like to entertain as well as inform and generate discussion.

Before I wrap, I'd like to thank family and friends that have reviewed and critiqued the birth process. You've all be indispensable. Truly indispensable was Frank Vespe, founder of the wonderful Mid-Atlantic on-line magazine, The Racing Biz, who provided us with advice and continues to be an inspiration.

We invite you take a look and let us know what you think. While you're there, follow the Midwest Paddock Report on Twitter and you'll soon be able to "like" our Facebook page as well. We look forward to hearing from you!

Gearing Up

2015-02-12T18:00:00.000-06:00

As we get under the 100 day mark until live racing returns to Canterbury Park, horses are getting ready all over the country. There are potential Canterbury runners in training from Louisiana to Minnesota and Kentucky to Arizona and many places in between. Currently we have one horse in training and a yearling spending some time growing up. As I told you about earlier, we sold Tabby Lane and while we retain the designation of 'breeder' to her Doneraile Court foal-to-be, she's off our books with the exception of the stud fee due when the foal stands and nurses. Last post I mentioned that you can't do it all and we decided to focus on racing. I'd love to be the independently wealthy type to race and breed, but I'm not so we roll the dice with Ellie and George and whoever else comes down the road.

Tabby Dacat

Young George (Tabby Dacat, officially) is pictured below. He is a large roan (well, getting there) colt by Eastwood Dacat. He appears to be relatively correct and is growing nicely, albeit a bit quickly. We're very excited about our own homebred Minnesota bred.

Tabby Dacat (Eastwood Dacat-Tabby Lane-Even the Score) - We call him George

George and friend...

George will be part of a partnership group when he heads into training late this year, though it's entirely possible that we would put together a group for him earlier since demand seems to be relatively high even though folks know that nothing exciting is going to happen for about a year until he starts training in earnest.

Elusive Edition

Ellie (Elusive Edition) had a very difficult first year. We ran her four times and she was a complete disaster in her first three. Her first race could be considered a throw out - she failed to exit the gate in a timely manner and trailed the entire race. Though she did beat a single horse in that maiden effort. That initial effort was at 6 furlongs, much like her next two where she again finished 2nd to last.

Elusive Edition (Late Edition-Mystical Elusion-Menifee) checking out the new surroundings at Turfway

To say that I was depressed over this would be an understatement. After hurting her shins as a 2-year old and not racing, that first race was a long time coming. Her efforts leading up to the season in training were good and we had high hopes heading into her 3-year old season. This was clearly not the start we envisioned.

Her final start of the season was going a mile and 70 yards. It was a desperation-ish move based on some sound reasoning. Her jockey, Dean Butler, had mentioned to us that she just couldn't keep up at 6 furlongs and that, maybe, if we sent her longer he could relax her more and that might give her a chance in the race.

She didn't finish second to last in the maiden claiming effort (7th of 10), she did chase the winner around in 2nd place into the lane before she faded. She most likely wasn't ready to go long and that last effort gave us - well most of us - some hope that with preparation geared to a router instead of a sprinter she may have a chance.

So with that she is back in training with Michelle Allen at Turfway Park. We sent her away because the winters here have been very hard and really cut into training. While she's going to be on a short leash this season - more second to last place finishes and we'll find her a new job - we do want to make sure that she has every opportunity to succeed.

New Group(s)

As I mentioned above, we'll be looking at getting George into a group at some point but right now we also are about halfway to 60% full for a new claiming private purchase group to launch this season. We're keeping this group to 10 members so hopefully we fill in the next month and start shopping.

The Canterbury Racing Club is filling up nicely this season and while it looks like we won't be as big as this past record breaking season (204 members) we will end up well over 100 members. We may have set the bar a bit high last season with six wins and twelve in the money finishes in 15 starts but it does give us something to shoot at!

We also started a group specifically for Canterbury Racing Club alumni. There was quite a bit of pent up demand to get the Club to do more: carry over horses from year to year, maybe get a better quality horse and run in higher level races; but the Club was never designed for that. It was developed as an educational opportunity for people who want to learn about racing without having to worry about paying the bills to do so.

Out of this the CAC Racing was born. The CAC standing for Canterbury Alumni Club. Where the Canterbury Club is a not for profit endeavor, CAC Racing will be for profit - at least we are going to try. The Racing Club is only a $250 buy in and our regular partnerships are a $2000 buy in. The CAC Racing group falls in between. There is a $1000 buy in and the group was capped at 50. As I mentioned, the only requirement is that member had to have once been a member of the Canterbury Racing Club. I look at it like an intermediate step on the ownership ladder.

Months and Months...

2015-02-10T18:00:00.000-06:00

There was no year end wrap up. No look ahead to 2015. There have been no posts for months and months, actually, and I have no excuse except that I was simply fried. Toasted. Roasted. Burnt out.

I spent most of 2014 watching Ellie run up the track, watching Bobo lose interest in racing (and finding her a forever home), running the Canterbury Racing Club and keeping up with that blog, launching the 1st Canterbury Club alumni group, writing for the Daily Racing Form, getting laid off from the "real" job, finding another "real job" and then getting up to speed with the new "real job" (and ALL the stress that accompanies all that!), trying to make a contribution to the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association's Board of Directors, writing some handicapping articles for an Australian web site and creating a new presence on the web that will be unveiled in a week or so.

Something had to eventually give and it ended up being this blog. I feel badly about that. Not because so many folks are wondering when my next explosion of blistering insights will hit the web, but because this is the most personal and intimate look at anything I do in racing. And that was the premise when I first started it - share my insights and experiences. I have a great deal of fun interacting with readers and it's been fun sharing. Am I back to contributing regularly in this space? I hope that the answer is "yes". The large lesson learned over the last year or so is that you can't do everything. To that end I've worked on streamlining life a bit.

While the Canterbury Racing Club and my own partnerships will go on, I've made some changes:

- My term on the MTA expired this past year and I declined to run for re-election. I loved being on the board and I may run again someday, but I simply could not give it the commitment I felt it needed so I stepped aside and let others step in who can be more dedicated and productive;

- The DRF jettisoned several freelancers and will be trying to cover most racetracks with staffers in central locations. This is probably fine for stakes previews and recaps but for developing stories there is no substitute for being there. I'm afraid that the tracks affected by this change will suffer in terms of media coverage. Those fun stories that you come across every summer may never be told. It makes me wonder about the fiscal health of the Form as well. I know what we all get paid for a story and THAT shouldn't break anyone's bank. However it does free up quite a bit of my time this summer to pursue some other interests that I'll talk about a not-much-later date;

- My work Down Under is on hiatus for now and while it was fun and profitable, it also took up quite a bit of time;

- The new "real job" as a Regional Gaming Sales Manager for Incredible Technologies has settled after the first six months as I move from learning a new company and it's ways to getting into a routine of customer visits and travel schedules.

Racing has been streamlined as well, but I'll get into that in a future post - a not too distant future post!

Getting life in some kind of relative order is a challenge and while some decisions are hard (leaving the MTA Board) and some get made for you (the DRF moving away from freelancers), it was important to make them to sharpen my focus and resources in order to get the best possible outcome.

Club is On A Roll; Ellie Abscesses

2014-12-06T12:30:00.000-06:00

What a month! The ups and downs of this business are crazy and, frequently, happen at the same time.

The Canterbury Racing Club, which is managed by GRS, is on quite the streak. Maryjean got to the Hawthorne and ripped off three consecutive wins before being claimed away from us in her last race. Between her second and third win, Terice picked up a win of her own. Both horses were well prepared by Clay Brinson and ridden superbly by Emmanuel Esquivel.

The girls have been on fire and Terice goes at it again later this afternoon at Hawthorne. If she can win she will extend the Club winning streak to five in a row and notch her own second consecutive win.

The girls have helped the Club achieve several milestones this season: most wins in a season (5 and counting...I hope); first allowance effort (Maryjean, finished 3rd); and most consecutive wins (4 and counting). It's been a lot of fun and I think the Club members have had a great time with it.

At the same time, our 3YO Minnesota bred filly, Elusive Edition, came up lame one day during her turnout. It was heartbreaking. She was way off on the front end and, because she has such an expression-full face, she just looked miserable.

Initially her feet looked good and we put front shoes on her which seemed to help some along with a short course of bute. Once she was off the bute, however, she went totally sideways again and we hauled her up to Clearly Lake for Doctor Kathy Ott to take at her.

Step one was to use the hoof tester and see what she had going on in the feet. As she moved around Ellie's right front hoof Dr. Ott exclaimed, "Whoa...look at that puss!!" She had inadvertently squeezed and abscess with the off tester and drained it. You could almost hear Ellie sigh audibly! Her demeanor changed and she was obviously experiencing relief already.

To be on the safe side we went ahead and took x-rays and they revealed the abscess as well as a moderately low hoof angle in both feet - not unusual in Thoroughbreds. The ankle shots also showed no wear and tear on her joints at all. They actually looked great so there was some good news!

After days of cleaning, soaking and wrapping after a long day of work, Heather had Ellie in good shape (hey, I held her...). Each day she was feeling better and better, playing and bucking and generally enjoying the outdoors. The abscess cleared and dried up and her farrier has put special pads on under the hoof to give her some additional protection and compensate for her low hoof angle. She still has nearly two months before she heads south to get ready for the season and it looks like she'll be healed up nicely and ready to get back to work when the time comes.

Ellie's hoof wrapped for treatment. The blue wraps were just for transportation protection.

Her interim trainers, Roy Bland and Michelle Allen who will get her ready in Oklahoma for the Canterbury season, were wonderful in providing experience-based information, advice and checking in on her to see how she was responding to treatment. And hats off to the staff at Cleary Lake who were excellent with our girl, the folks over at Turn Crest where she is turned out and her farrier, Steve.

Heather deserves special mention. She did virtually all the hard work in getting her back to health, spending nearly a week completely exhausted with an achy back to get the hoof treatments done. That doesn't happen and Ellie doesn't get better.

I have no idea how her hoof angle impacted her racing ability at all but even if it did a little bit, discovering it and fixing it is going to help. We learned that she has to go long and that sprinting is not her gig, so that should help as well. Maybe putting together all the little pieces will get her on the right road to success on the track?

Farewell, Ms. Lane

2014-11-28T13:18:00.001-06:00

Tabby and I right after her retirement in 2012

Tabby has officially left us. We certainly wish her new owner the best of luck, especially with her foal to be since we will be the breeders' of record. I hope she has a long and prosperous life full of love. There is little doubt that we will keep an eye on her going forward. She was a special horse for us and will continue to be so.

Of the many things I learn about this game, the most recent lesson is: unless you're independently wealthy, you cannot do everything. I enjoy racing. Raising babies is fun and watching George grow and develop into a Minnesota Derby winner will be a hoot - okay, just a winner would be great - but to keep a broodmare and then 2 foals was just going to be too expensive. Now we can focus on raising George and claiming horses to race. And lesson #2 could come into play there, too.

If you recall, lesson #1 is never fall in love with a horse. Lesson #2 is: take the money when you can get it - it may not come around again. Someone shows up and takes a shine to our weanling/yearling and offers us money we can't refuse...we won't.

In any case, Tabby provided us 6 of her 10 lifetime wins but her sweet demeanor will missed more than anything. She took everything in stride and, as you can see above, she loved her people nearly as much as we loved her. We're fortunate that she's staying right where she is in terms of boarding and foaling out, so we'll be able to see her from time to time, but the dynamic has necessarily changed.

Now we'll focus on developing George, getting Ellie ready for a much better season 2, getting Canterbury Racing Club 2015 going and one, perhaps two, more claiming groups. No matter how far we get in this game, though, Tabby will always be the one that stole my heart.

Good luck, girl. Love you always.

Racing Put on the Defensive - Again

2014-11-02T09:12:00.001-06:00

I’d love to just recap my picks yesterday (not bad but not great), throw in Maryjean’s win Friday night (just great!) and add in the wonderful hospitality of just about everyone at Hawthorne Race Course where we spent the Breeders’ Cup on Saturday.

I’m no Chromie, but California Chrome ran big. Main Sequence and Untapable were tremendous. The upsets and payoffs throughout the BC were amazing!

However, the cloud hanging over the Classic unfortunately needs some discussion.

Fortunately for me (we have a 7 hour plus drive ahead of us to western Iowa today!), Bill Finley summarized very well the reasoning why Bayern should have come down. You can read that here. I do disagree with his assessment of the Horse of the Year voting, but otherwise I’m right there with him.

I would add a couple of points of my own to the discussion as well:

There are those who argue that the race was long and there was time to make up the setback at the start and the others just couldn’t do it. I would come back with not only Finley’s argument that the entire complexion of the race changed but would also add then that you’ve opened up the start of a horse race to all kinds of antics.

Picture this conversation in some paddock in the future: “Our main competition is on your inside. When you break, dive in hard – don’t topple him or anything, just knock him off stride. The race is a mile and a sixteenth so the stews won’t bother you and we get clear sailing from there on out.”

Is that just “race riding”? Or is it setting a very dangerous precedent for horse and rider? Is that just “playing the game”? Is it cheating? Rubbin’ may be racing in NASCAR, but it’s not in horse racing. Jostling happens but taking out your rivals…that needed to be called. Bayern probably just got away from Garcia, but that doesn't make it okay either. And I would ask those defending it, just exactly where is the dividing line between where it matters and where it doesn’t? A mile? Five furlongs? Just Quarter Horse racing so Thoroughbred racing should be an anything goes slugfest?

I’ve watched the head on too many times now and there are two things I DON’T see that everyone defending the non-decision says happened: I did not see where Garcia tried to correct immediately and I certainly didn’t see where an alleged “slow break” by Shared Belief cost him. In watching the replay, Beyern never took a straight step. He angled left right away. How Mike Smith was supposed to be at fault for not getting him out of the gate is simply contradictory to the video evidence.

Additionally, the stewards can NOT wait 90+ minutes to issue a statement. You made the call now explain it to everyone right away. On the video monitors. Clearly and concisely. Go all John Madden and use a telestrator to illustrate your points. Don’t run away and then leave it some PR guy to spin the decision for you. You should be able to explain that decision right away. Folks may not agree with you but it certainly alleviates any allegations of fraud, favoritism or collusion.

Which leads me to my final point. Several folks who are casual fans at best connected with me after the race and wanted to know if that was REALLY legal in horse racing. Can you really just take out part of the field and then pocket $2.75 million dollars? I didn’t really know how to respond. It’s legal because the judges there said it was.

“What was their reasoning?”

“No idea. They don’t have to tell us.”

“Really? That doesn’t seem right.”

On our biggest stage we can’t help but shoot ourselves in the foot. It simply never, ever fails. We follow up a 2013 BC Classic that was for the ages with this debacle. The game keeps making itself harder and harder to defend. Yesterday for the first time after 30 years as a fan, nearly a decade as an owner and going on four years as a turf writer, I was embarrassed to be part of the industry. Nobody really won that race yesterday and, in some ways, we all lost.