Leroy Neiman -- Queen at Ascot!

So, the Queen visited our beautiful country this spring and attended the Kentucky Derby to see Street Sense win with Calvin Borel on board! I thought you might enjoy a painting of her by Leroy Neiman -- here she is attending the Ascot! Several of Violet's and Hailee's relatives won at Ascot!

Invasor Retires in June after Injury

On June 23rd, reports announced that Invasor retired after a fracture of his sesamoid bone in his pastern, an injury spot from earlier. He had hurt himself in a final workout at Belmont Park, preparing for the Suburban Handicap. His general manager said, "He's done everything we've ever asked of him. This is a huge disappointment for all of us as well as for the racing world." He won 11 of 12 starts, including winning 6 Grade 1 races in his last 6 starts. His only loss was to Discreet Cat who he turned around and beat in the 2007 $6 million Dubai World Cup. His wins in 2006 earned him the awards of Champion Older Male and Eclipse Horse of the Year! He retires in honor with $7.8 million in earnings and will stand at stud at his home at Shadwell Farm in Lexington, beginning in 2008 -- after a Summer, Fall, and Winter of "being horsey!"

Just as a reminder, Violet and Invasor share Blushing Groom on their sire side. Blushing Groom is Invasor's grand-sire, to his sire Candy Stripes, and for Violet, Blushing Groom sired Runaway Groom who sired Groomstick! You can read more about him at the following links:

http://www.horse-races.net/library/invasor-tribute.htm

or

http://www.shadwellfarm.com/

or

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WVGscpQ5534

or

http://youtube.com/watch?v=nLrkVvT9El8

or

http://youtube.com/watch?v=xvzZJzgk1d4

Violet, Pensive and my Grandpa Sanchez!

So, at the end of June, I was visiting family in Rhinelander, and Grandma and Grandpa Sanchez were there. It was nice to talk with Grandpa, play cards with him, and just catch up. He showed me pictures of Uncle Rick's new Japanese Water Dog, and, of course, I showed him pictures of my new thoroughbred! Grandpa and I were looking at photos of my big red girl and he was praising her beauty.

When suddenly, out of the blue, he told me a story about when he was in the service in 1944. He said that he and a friend got time off from base and they drove up to Churchill Downs to the Kentucky Derby! He had never seen a thoroughbred before, nor ever a horse race. And he talked about how exciting it was to see Pensive win that year. How beautiful the horses were and how regal Pensive was. I was floored! Grandpa saw one of Violet's and Hailee's relatives win the Kentucky Derby!! He saw one of Violet's Kentucky Derby relatives when my dad was still a little infant. I too want to go to the Kentucky Derby one day!

Anyway, Pensive was a gorgeaus red chestnut who won the Kentucky Derby by 4 1/2 lengths and then won the Preakness easily, but lost the Belmont by less than half a length. Some blame his jockey who didn't encourage an end burst of speed! Either way, Pensive was just like his sire, Hyperion, who won two legs of the English Triple Crown. Pensive was owned by Calumet Farms, purchased during the son's time in charge, the son who dispersed the trotters to purchase more flat horses. When Pensive retired, he was part of an interesting little hat trick -- his first crop produced Ponder, the 1949 Kentucky Derby winner, and Ponder retired to produce in his first crop Needles, also a Kentucky Derby winner! You can read more about Pensive, the horse my grandpa met, at the following links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pensive
or
http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Hyperion.html#Pensive
or
http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2006/derby_history/derby_charts/years/1944.html

Two Lea and My Girls!

Here's a picture of Two Lea's victory cooler that she won in the 1952 Ramona Handicap. Two Lea was a Calumet filly who ultimately earned the #77 spot on the list of the top race horses of the 20th century. During her career, she raced hard with short stretches between races, and she competed while struggling with ringbone and soreness. She was sometimes raced 3X in a single month, like the time she raced for a third time in one month against Kentucky Derby winner Ponder and was beat by him only at the end. This match was in the Santa Maturity. Despite her ringbone, she earned a career record of 26: 15, 6, 3. In her third year, she shared championship honors with Wistful and later in her career earned Champion older mare as well as was inducted into the National Museum and Racing Hall of Fame in 1982. She once raced in the Santa Anita Handicap with Citation and Ponder, but all three were beaten by Noor. Later in her career, she was on extended break due to ringbone and when she returned to the track, she showed visible scarring and knots from her firing procedures. In her final season, she raced 11 times and won 6, with 5 of those wins occurring in stakes races. In fact, she won 2 of her last 3 starts. And in one very splashy race, Calumet Farms took 1-2-3 in the Vanity Handicap with Two Lea, Wistful and Jennie Lee! When she retired, she proved to be a truly amazing broodmare as well. She produced Tom Fool, who won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and came in 2nd in the Belmont. She also produced Hall of Fame horse, Tim Tam, and through a cross with Nasrullah, produced stakes winners Pied d'Or and On-and-On. She died in 1973 at the wise age of 27! My girls are closely related to Two Lea.. Her father is Bull Lea and she also has Sweep, Chicle, Friar Rock, Spearmint, and Ballot as some of their shared relatives! You can read more about this great champion and fighting mare at the following links:
http://www.racingmuseum.org/hall/horse.asp?ID=157
or
http://www.racehorseherbal.com/Memorabilia/Cooler/cooler.html

Horse Sense! My Quiet Red Girl!

"I love the horse from hoof to head from head to hoof and tail to mane I love the horse as I have said from head to hoof and back again." James Whitcomb Riley.


This past week, ending July 15th, was a strange one! They are expanding the stable at Breezy Acres and all the horses were fine with it -- mellow, though interested. But I had the setback in lessons! I had three riding lessons and each one I was nervous and goosey, anticipating Violet to be shy! But no, she was rock solid!! On Saturday, there was a dump bin by one door to the ring, and the beams for the new barn at the other door along with blowing plastic and new things to look at! And Violet took it all in stride. Tomorrow I have another lesson and it's a new week. I am going to put this small bump in the road behind me and just focus on riding my lovely red girl and enjoying her spirit and energy! Note on July 28th, 2007 -- since this blog entry, Violet and I have had some terrific lessons and lots of bouncy, working on impulsion kind of fun. So, this previous entry was just a small bump in the road!

Jane Marie captures me and my girl!

At the end of June, my cousin, Jane, came to visit for the day. She had just returned from an amazing trip in Europe! She came to town to help me with Arcangelo who had hurt himself. We spent the day lunching at the Tea Tree Asian Bistro, taking photos of Violet, walking around town, eating ice cream, and talking about our world travels! It was such a nice treat! Here's one of the photos from that day! Violet is cutting up for the camera!!!

Ocala, Florida -- Horse Capitol of the World!!

Ocala, Florida, a town in Marion County is the central location for horse farms! There are over 1,200 horse farms in this small area with over 600 thoroughbred farms. The land in the area is similar to Kentucky Blue Grass! Ocala is also on the Western leg of the Dixie Highway. It has become famous because it is producing world class competitors, including 1956' Kentucky Derby winner, Needles, and the 1978 triple crown winner, Affirmed. The U.S. Department of Agriculture calls Ocala the "Horse Capitol of the World!" Violet's daddy, Groomstick, lived there right before he was sent to New Mexico, and it's the region where my darling Violet was bred and born! In fact, Violet's papers came through the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company! Ocala has many of the best horses on earth! And it has some of the best world class equestrian facilities on earth. You can read more about Violet's home at the following links:

http://www.ocalaequestriancomplex.com/

or

http://www.flhorsepark.com/

or

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocala,_Florida

or

http://brickcity.com/ocala_horse_industry.php

or

http://funandsun.com/1tocf/amusf/horsetail.html

or

http://www.horsesdaily.com/news/eventing/2006/ocalaht2/index.html

Violet cools off!

Here's a photo Joe took of Violet, after she came in from her big snorting gazelle show in the outdoor ring. She was breathing heavy, and sweating, and very gorgeaus, but still as sweet as a bunny or doe. I think she was imagining herself winning the Belmont, like her cousin, Rags. Here she is getting her cooling bath. She is wondering where her blanket of Black-eyed Susans is. What a lovely thoroughbred!

Leroy Neiman's second Secretariat!

Here's another colorful fabulous painting of Secretariat at his royal prime, in the midst of winning his Triple Crown! LeRoy Neiman is a truly artful sportsman!

Violet's Cute Mug!

Joe captured my sweet girl's disposition in this photo. You can see that she's related to royalty, but has the sweetness of Eight Thirty and Pocahontas in her! Joe complimented her eyes and said that he wish he could have captured her sparkle better. But I think this picture captures her sweetness just perfectly!

Affectionately and my girls!!!

Affectionately was born in 1960 at Dr. Charles Hagyard's Lexington Farm. She was trained by Hall of Famer Hirsch Jacobs who said, she was "the best horse I've ever trained." Which was no faint praise since he trained Stymie and Hail to Reason. She was a 3x champion on the racetrack and a stupendous, if short-lived broodmare. She won 9 of 10 races in her 2 year old season. And in her 5th year, won the Vagrancy, Toboggan, and Top Flight Handicaps. Her 7 furlong victory in the Vagrancy was called the high point of the racing season, according to the New York Racing Secretary! In that race, she carried 137 lbs., 17 to 28 lbs more than any of her competitors. She ended her racing career with 52 starts: 28 wins, 8 places, and 6 shows for total earnings of $546,659. For her major wins, 18 of which were stakes races, and 9 were added-money races, she was nicknamed "The Queen of Queens." She was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1989. She also was voted the #81 race horse of the 20th century as reported by The Blood Horse's Thoroughbred Champions, the book used for this blog entry! In 1966, she was bred to Hail to Reason, and produced Personality, her first foal. This first foal won the Preakness Stakes and earned Horse of the Year, an honor shared with Fort Marcy. Affectionately died at 19. So, she is related to my girls in a number of very close ways. They share War Admiral, Hyperion, Black Toney, La Troienne. Black Toney and La Troienne have Big Hurry a dam crossed with War Admiral to produce Affectionately's mom, Searching. My girls, Violet and Hailee, have a Black Toney/La Troienne cross to produce Bimelech -- the horse who almost won the Triple Crown!!! So, you can see that my girls are closely related to Affecionately! You can read more about this beautiful filly and see pictures of her at the following links:

http://www.pedigreequery.com/affectionately

or

http://www.racingmuseum.org/hall/horse.asp?ID=2

Horse Sense: Changing it Up!

Today is the 4th of July as I write this blog. I just got back from a riding lesson with Violet and Stephanie, and found a set of photos of Hailee from Barbie in my email. Such a wonderful day!!! My Kentucky girl looks so mature and happy! And my Ohio girl was a great ride today. Stephanie worked on getting me to grip with my entire legs, and we worked at 2-point. And she said that I needed to "change it up," so I rode with a double twisted wire snaffle. It was a different experience because Violet was much more settled with her head, so I got to feel what her big bouncy hunter trot and collection felt like. It was lots of fun. Now I'm off to see my nieces! Parelli's view of horses' talents: running; jumping; bucking; herding; playing; and pulling!

Violet is a Gazelle!

On the day Joe came to our stable, he wanted to see Violet moving around. So, we put her in the outdoor ring and I popped the whip from a distance. Well, she took that as permission to take off and she ran a few beautiful thoroughbred laps just for the beautiful fun of it. She was snorting and blowing just like the big racing girl she is!!! I was stunned. Here's a shot that Joe managed to catch of my fleet young thing!!!

The Da Vinci Horse in Grand Rapids, MI!

Okay, so at the Frederik Meijer's Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan, you can see one of only 2 examples of the "Horse that Never Was." 500 years ago, Da Vinci had been commissioned to make a 24 foot horse. His clay molds were destroyed in a war before his horse could be brought to life. But now, 500 years later, you can see two examples of his dream -- in Milan, Italy and, get this, Grand Rapids, Michigan!!!! Also at the Frederik Meijer's Gardens, you can see some beautiful examples of the driftwood horses!! You can read more about Da Vinci's horse and the Meijer's gardens at the following links:

http://www.janeek.com/horse.htm

or

http://www.jamescoxgallery.com/leonardo.shtml

or http://www.meijergardens.org/gardens_experience/sculpturepark_gallery.php?tag=sculpturepark&title=Sculpture%20Park

or

http://epublishingcorp.com/articlesraichel/Art-News/LeonardoHorse.htm

Violet cavorts in pasture!

Joe captured my girl in a moment of relaxation and idle movement. Here she is stretching her neck like a gorgeaus young thing. You can see her hotblooded heritage and her little bit of Godolphin Arabian, Darley Arabian, and Byerly Turk! Such a beautiful girl!!!

Leroy Neiman and his Secretariat Series!

I thought you might like another painting by Leroy Neiman -- that crazy, dramatic, eccentric artist and raconteur!!! Here's a painting from his series of Secretariat!

Breaking News! Fat and Happy Hailee!!

Today has been a banner day! This morning at work, I was meeting with a nice person and we started talking about our mutual love for horses. His father-in-law owns a race farm in Bowling Green, Kentucky and he shared how he used to help care for the thoroughbreds when he was a boy. His dad-in-law's winning horse during his boyhood was one related to Gallant Fox and Omaha! Then, as if that weren't enough, Barbie sent photos of my beautiful girl out and about with her friends. Here she is with some of her herdmates, and here's another photo where she has a big fat glow about her! She is bodacious, let's face it! A beautiful happy girl!

My beautiful Summer Violet!

A few weekends ago, my friend, Joe Jacoby, came out to Breezy Acres to meet Violet and take some photos. He is a criminologist, but a talented amateur photographer as well. He specializes in nature photography and has taken some extraordinary wildlife photos, but had never taken photos of horses before. My Violet could not have been more red and gorgeaus that day! She looked like what she was -- a daughter of Princequillo, Nasrullah, and Pensive. She showed off her beautiful red chestnut nature! And can you believe the photo -- this is among the first photos that Joe has ever taken of a thoroughbred -- and he captured her "Violetness" to steal from Owen Wilson in You, Me and Dupree. Thank you for such a lovely morning that day, Joe!!! Violet and I are grateful for the photos!

Better than Honour and my girls!

Better than Honour is related to Violet and Hailee, and, of course, is the mom of the 2006 Belmont Stakes winner, Jazil, and the 2007 Belmont Stakes winner, Rags to Riches!. Right now, she is an 11 year-old mare who has foaled five children out of Mineshaft, Seeking the Gold, A.P. Indy, and Storm Cat. Jazil's sire is Seeking the Gold, and Rags' sire is A.P. Indy. Better than Honour was purchased as a yearly at a July 1997 sale. Her trainer, John Kimmel said, "She was a gorgeaus filly by Deputy Minister out of a Kentucky Oaks winner (Blush with Pride). She was the most expensive yearling filly to sell. At that time, they had the summer and fall sale. The fall usually was a little less quality than the select Keeneland horses. She was the best of what was there. She was a beautiful horse physically with tremendous pedigree. She turned out to be a good racehorse." She had an 8-race career and won the Demoiselles Stakes! Her grandpa on her dam's side is Violet's great-grandpa, Blushing Groom!

Horse Sense: Rub your horse with your heart!

Today's posting is from Wednesday, June 13th. I submitted a NIH R21 grant application and then went to the stable for a riding lesson with Stephanie. Violet had been out with her friends on a beautiful summer day, so she was sweet and kind and happy to see me. I groomed her and then we had our lesson! I need to learn more patience with her. She works hard and with generosity! The Natural Horsemanship gentleman, Pat Parelli, says "Flog your horse with kindness." I don't always do that, though I want to! Anyway, we worked on softening her both ways and getting her to drop her poll. And we worked on some very basic dressage patterns. Just so much fun to work on being a team with her! She is lovely, happy, and sweet. We finished our hard-working ride and then I groomed her and she had her dinner. She was happy to go into her stall and was polite and kind. And she was super glad to have her oats and hay!!! Pat Parelli says, "Rub your horse with your heart. Put your heart in your hand!"

Flying Fox and my girls!

My girls are related to Flying Fox, born in 1896. His race record was 11:9-2-0 for $203.200. He won the English Triple Crown, but only raced 2 seasons because he was sort of mean. He was sold and retired in France where he had a great stud career, but died young at the age of 15! He is related to my girls several ways. But here's a cool line for Violet: Flying Fox, Ajax, Teddy, Bull Dog! And here's a cool line for Hailee: Flying Fox, Ajax, Teddy, and Sir Gallahad!. You can read more about this Triple Crown winner at the following links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Fox_(horse)

or

http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Orme.htm

Hill 'n Dale

This story is amazing. In April 2006, Tom invited Carla and myself to go on a "shed run" while we were visiting during Kentucky Rolex. We got up very early in the morning and Tom picked us up at our hotel in Paris, Kentucky with his trailer filled with a thoroughbred mare ready to visit Stormy Atlantic at Hill 'n Dale. When we arrived at this lovely green, quiet, early morning place, we were invited to sit in an elegant viewers' booth to watch the process, the very important date! Hill 'n Dale is a full facility farm in the heart of horse country Kentucky. And the year we visited, they reported was there best ever. They earned 4th overall at the September Yearling sales, and then 3rd overall at the November Breeding Stock sales at Keeneland. A highlight in 2006 was the selling of a $4.6 million yearling colt by Vindication which is a record for a freshman sire. Some fantastic stallions stand stud there, including Grand Reward who is out of Stormy Atlantic and Serena's Song (the 1995 Eclipse Award winner for 3 year-old filly of the year and earner of over $3.2 million track dollars). Besides the fabulous stallions they manage, they have some fantastic broodmare residents, including Better than Honour (Rags to Riches and Jazil's mom), Dance Smartly, and Quendom (mom to Invasor, 2006 Eclipse Award Horse of the Year), among a few. Hill 'n Dale is also the final resting place of Seattle Slew, 1977 Triple Crown winner, and A.P. Indy's sire! In the photo, you see Jazil winning the 2006 Belmont Stakes, and making his mom, Better than Honour, proud, and leading the way for his little sister, Rags! You can read more about this truly lovely, amazing, spectactular facility at their home link:

http://www.hillndalefarms.com/

Gallant Fox and my Girls!

Here's a photo of Gallant Fox, the second Triple Crown winner in history (1930) when he was a baby. He is standing with his mom, Marguerite. His dad is Violet and Hailee's own Sir Gallahad! He raced17 times for a final record of 11, 3, 2. He was owned by William Woodward and under his care won the Wood Memorial by 4 lengths over a field of classic hopefuls, beat 14 other horses to win the Kentucky Derby, won the Arlington Classic, and won the Saratoga Cup. He lost the Travers Stakes to a 100-1 shot, Jim Dandy, the same track where Man 'O War lost to Upset. Gallant Fox and Man 'o War's losses at Saratoga were part of the reason why that track is called "The Graveyard of Champions!" He ended his race career as a top money-earner, a 3 year-old Champion of the Year! He retired where he was born, at Claiborne Farms, where in his very first foal crop, he produced Omaha the next Triple Crown winner. He is blessed as the only Triple Crown winner to sire another Triple Crown winner!!! When he passed, they buried him next to his mom and dad (my girls' relatives). Gallant Fox was voted #28 of the Top 100 Racehorses of the 20th century and was inducted into the National Museum and Racing Hall of Fame in 1957. You can learn more about him at the following links, including seeing some really great film footage of his wins at the Youtube site! They are hilarious because they talk about his "gregarious" style of racing. He liked to be in the pack or come up from behind. Though he could beat horses by lengths, he just generally liked running along with his pals!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvXXNoyIYRQ&NR=1
or

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallant_Fox

or

http://www.racingmuseum.org/hall/horse.asp?ID=77

or

http://www.spiletta.com/UTHOF/gallantfox.html

or

http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/SirGallahad.html#GallantFox

Leroy Neiman -- Girl Jockey!

Leroy Neiman is a great American artist with almost journalistic quality and a flair for dramatic color. He is a sociologist too -- he paints the life of leisure, life of sports, and life across all social strata! He was the official artist at 5 Olympiads! In his work, he cares about "spirit," "space," and "feel." His webpage says, "Horse races hold a special fascination for him, because, 'you find the full range of social strata in one scene. And I'm there myself. I'll place a few bets, have a few drinks. It's a total experience, a constant drama.'" Here's one of his works, 'Girl Jockey!' He is a well-honored artist who in his own words likes to be "outrageous!" He gave a major gift to Columbia University to open up his namesake Center for Print Studies. You can read more about him at his official webpage:
http://www.leroyneiman.com/core.htm

Hailee and Her Foundation Heritage!!!

Hailee's registration papers arrived on Thursday, June 14th, 2007. Here they are in the photo! They list her as being 84.4% Foundation Horse!!! She would be even more, if they counted Three Bars, the thoroughbred who appears multiple times in her heritage and who is pivotal to the American Quarter Horse! Even with that discount, 84.4% is amazing! Hailee is a little slice of history. I am very fortunate to have her as part of my family tree. Namaste!
http://www.foundationhorses.com/

Dahlia and my girls!

My girls are related to the super-achiever, Dahlia! Dahlia was born in 1970 and her dad was originally Nelson Bunker Hunt and then later Paul Allenson. She is a macho, but elegant and girly girl, produced from Vaguely Noble's first crop. She won major group or Grade I races in 5 countries and was the first filly to earn more than $1 million!!! Her original trainer said that she "did everything just beautifully. She raced in France, Ireland, England, the United States, and Canada! She won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes two years running, a major achievement and the sole time a filly did so! She won the Benson & Hedges twice. And she beat 9 classics winning colts! During her career, she was known for explosively powerful, blasting bursts of speed, and could handle rough treatment and come from long distances behind to win. Her final record was 46: 15-3-7, with $1.5 million. She ran from age 2 through 6!! She travelled over 30,000 miles for work during her lifetime. Finally, she settled down to spend her last days at the Diamond A Farm by Versailles, Kentucky! She passed in 2001. She earned 7 championships, including 2 Horse of the Years in England. She was the U.S. Champion Turf Horse of 1974, and she has the Dahlia Handicap named after her at Hollywood Park Racetrack AND the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse. In 1981, she was inducted into the National Museum and Racing Hall of Fame, and was votd #50 of the top 100 racehorses of the 20th century. When she retired, she foaled 13 children, including 6 stakes winners, and 4 Grade 1 winners -- a HUGE achievement. Some of her baby daddys included Bold Forbes, What a Pleasure, and Northern Dancer!! She had a girl friend, a dear friend as a pasturemate, Estrapade. They shared the same dad, and they shared the same tragedy of having a baby weaned from them early and passed to a nurse mare because they couldn't produce enough milk. They bonded! My girls, Violet and Hailee are related to Dahlia multiple ways, including through Hyperion, Gainsborough, Sir Gallahad, Gay Crusader, and Nearco. In fact, Dahlia is also related to Gallant Fox through her Sir Gallahad connection! Lucky girl!! You can read more about this elegant, well-travelled, girly super-girl at the following links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dahlia_(horse)

or

http://www.racingmuseum.org/hall/horse.asp?ID=53

or

http://www.reines-de-course.com/estrapade.htm

or

http://www.racinginfo.uk.com/horses/dahlia.htm

Horse Sense: Violet in Training!

My sister and I travelled with Emma and Clara to visit my mom and dad on June 23rd through July 2nd. Violet was in training with Stephanie while I was gone. She said that Violet was a quiet, good girl who was a pleasure to ride. She relaxed into her bit and gave her face. She moved out in a floating, but controlled fashion. She responded very well to her aids. Stephanie rode her in a slow twist wire snaffle. I am writing this on July 3rd, and I rode Violet tonight out in the outdoor ring. She was lively and fun and joyful. She responded to the bit, but carried her head high. We had some excitement when she saw fresh sheet metal laying in the grass for the new stable addition they are planning, but we ended our ride well and in control and big loose figure 8s!!! I look forward to starting lessons again tomorrow. I get to see Stephanie ride for a bit and then try Violet with a new bridle and bit!! From Parelli, "There are only 2 kinds of people in the world: horse people and the other kind!"

Fabulous Saratoga Race Track

Saratoga Race Track was opened in Saratoga Springs, New York on August 3, 1863. It is the oldest sporting event in the United States. In fact, Saratoga holds the Travers Stakes, continuosly running since 1864, the oldest horse race in the U.S.! You will remember the Travers Stakes because that's the one where Violet's relative, Jaipur, beat Ridan in one of the Top 100 moments in racing history!! Saratoga has a 6 week meet and holds many races, some of the most important being the Woodward, Travers, and Whitney! Saratoga is nicknamed "The Spa" and "Graveyard of Favorites." It earned the latter nickname because some pretty famous horses lost there. Man o' War lost his only race against Upset, Secretariat lost his only race to Onion, and Gallant Fox lost his only race to Jim Dandy. Tough to be a favorite and a champion at Saratoga!!! Anyway, here's a photo of Saratoga, and then here's a 2005 photo of Angel Cordero, always a Saratoga favorite, riding Afleet Alex, Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner, at an end-of-career party for Alex. If you want to read more about this historically significant race track, check out the following links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saratoga_Race_Course

or

http://www.nyra.com/index_saratoga.html

or

http://www.nyfolklore.org/pubs/voic29-1-2/saratoga.html

Violet's Blenheim II

So, you know that my girl, Violet, is related to Nasrullah several different ways. So, let me tell you about Nasrullah's damsire, Blenheim. He won the Epsom Derby in 1930, and sired the 1936 Epsom Derby, Mahmoud. He was sold to the U.S. and joined a syndicate of Claiborne Farm, Calumet Farm, Greentree Farm, and Stoner Creek Farm. In his very first crop, he produced Whirlaway, a Triple Crown Winner (and, obviously, Violet's indirect relation!). Whirlaway is pictured in the photo! He died in 1958 and is buried at Claiborne Farms! You can read more about this sexy, productive stallion at the following links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blenheim_II

or

http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Blenheim.html

or

http://www.barbaralivingston.com/gallery/jamessames/blenheim?full=0

Pegasus at Rockefeller Center

When I was in New York this spring, the very first evening, I took a walk and saw this beautiful Pegasus on Rockefeller Center! You know the one, as Gershwin wrote, "They laughed at Rockefeller's Center. Now they're fighting to get in!" -- They laughed at Whitney and his Cotton Gin!

Man o' War's funeral

Man 'o War loved his groom, Mr. Will Harbut. And in 1947, Mr. Harbut passed. Less than a month later, Man 'o War passed, dying of heartsickness for his lifelong friend. More than 2,000 people attended his funeral. And he was laid in state for several days, so people could come see their champion and perhaps pat him. Mr. Samuel Riddle commissioned a statue of him and that statue stands over his grave at the entrance of the Kentucky Horse Park. I think that is so fitting -- the Kentucky Horse Park has Man 'o War, son of Fair Play and Mahubah by Rock Sand. He had 379 children in his life, and some are buried with him at the park. You can read more about this champion and his passing at the following links. Also, at the first link, you can hear a radio broadcast of his funeral, posted by Claiborne Farm!

http://www.claibornefarm.com/media/manowar-funeral.shtml

or

http://pets.webshots.com/album/90368468QeeTZw

or

http://www.galenfrysinger.com/horse_park_man_o_war.htm

or

http://www.kyhorsepark.com/museum/history.php?chapter=102

or

http://www.geocities.com/spooner2a/mow.html

or

http://www.tbheritage.com/TurfHallmarks/Graves/cem/GraveMattersKHP.html

The Fabulous Beldame and my girls!!

August Belmont bred Beldame at his farm near Lexington, Kentucky. He leased her to a friend of his, Newton Bennington, because he was very busy building Belmont Park and the New York City Subway system. Also, he was irritated with Beldame's trainer who refused to take Belmont's worries about a skin condition she suffered seriously. I can relate! Poor Belmont worried that she had shingles and the trainer couldn't care less! Anyway, under Bennington at age 3, she was magnificent (as reported in the Blood Horse Top 100 Race Horses of the 20th Century publication). In 14 starts, she only lost twice to much older boys, and she was winning at short and long distances. She was a macho machine!!! But she did love a little snack or two -- every day she liked to nosh on corn cobs!! In 1904, she spanked very famous boys in the Saratoga Cup, and in that year, she even beat Broomstick in another race. She was all about the business of beating the boys! And she was only the third filly to win over $100,000. She was so white hot in her third year that she was severely weighted and handicapped in her fourth year. Belmont and Bennington thought that was not fair to their super girl, so they let her retire early in triumphant style! She was the Eclipse Horse of the Year winner in 1904, voted #98 of the top 100 race horses of the 20th century, and was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1956 . She also has the Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park as an honor!! My girls are related to her through Bend Or, Touchstone, Pocahontas, Macaroni, and Stockwell. You can read more about this high-powered, trouble-making, boy-spanking girl at the following links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beldame
or
http://www.racingmuseum.org/hall/horse.asp?ID=27
or
http://www.spiletta.com/UTHOF/beldame.html