Here is the amazing fabulous Afleet Alex giving some love to his jockey, Jeremy Rose, and hoping for some treats in return. Afleet Alex was the Champion 3-year-old Horse of the Year in 2005 and won many important races, including the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. Many thought he should have won the Kentucky Derby too, but two speedballs were entered, secretly hoping to be spoilers by setting a blistering pace.Anyway, his Preakness Stakes is legendary. He was entering the backstretch when Scrappy T turned wide and clipped Alex hard, causing him to stumble, splay spreadeagled, almost drag his nose in the dirt, but still manage to pull himself up and save his jockey who was thrown over his neck and dash into the lead to win by several lengths. This was a supernatural, instinctive move that only a champion could do. It is part of history now. You can see that race at the Youtube link below.
Alex was found to have a hairline fracture in his left front pastern after the Belmont, after a rest, he came back and was putting in speedy workouts, but his trainer decided to retire him. He was later discovered to have some dying tissue in his bones probably as a result of the tremendous forces he exerted on his legs to save himself from a top speed spill in the Preakness.
He is a good boy. He contributes faithfully to a charity called Alex's Lemonade Stand, which was started by a young girl who lived from 1996-2004 and was raising money for juvenile cancer. Part of his race earnings went to that charity and after his Preakness win, his stable Cash is King, his trainer, his jockey, and Liz Scott, Alex's mom, were interviewed about the fabulous Alexes and to promote the charity. What a very good boy.
He is now retired in stud luxury at Gainesway Farm where he charges $40,000 for his dates. He is very fertile as evidenced by the fact that he successfully covered 97% of the mares who visited him for 2007! You go, boy!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=op78_8CYZ0Y
or
http://www.afleetalex.com/index.html
or
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afleet_Alex
or
http://www.gainesway.com/stallions/listOfStallions/afleetalex/default.asp