Kentucky 2007: Claiborne's Eddington!

So, on the morning Barbie, Gummy and I visited Claiborne, we were in a group of nice ladies -- one lady who married into a Paris, Kentucky family and who had seen Secretariat at Claiborne Farms as a child and who was now bringing a friend for the tour, and two other ladies from Great Britain. We delighted in the lady's story about how territorial and powerful Secretariat was and we enjoyed the Breeding Shed.

Then our tour guide brought us to the Stallion Barn and showed us such important stalls! Bold Ruler and Round Table were born the same day and then as they stood at stud, they shared the same barn. We saw Secretariat's stall which Eddington now calls home. And then our tour guide brought out Eddington himself!! He strolled out all sweet and kind and beautiful and then when he was stood outside, it was like he had hit his mark on a stage. He got all puffy and posey and macho and sexy. He just preened like a peacock, looking all alert and powerful and vigilant. He was Stud Macho!!! You can see it in these photos! No wonder his 2007 breeding fee was $20,000! He is on his dad's Top 10 Runners by Lifetime earnings list in 9th place right behind Grindstone and Unbridled's Song.

So, Eddington was born on March 25, 2001 and his career record is 17: 6-3-6. He earned $1,216,760 on the track, and in 2004 took first in the Calder Derby, 2nd in the Pegasus Handicap, and 3rd in the Wood Memorial, Travers Stakes, Preakness Stakes, and Gotham Stakes. In 2005, he earned 1st in the Pimlico Special and Gulfstream Handicap, and 3rd in the Donn Handicap and Oaklawn Handicap. He was retired on 6/29/05 to stud duty at Claiborne after a soft tissue injury.

He has a dubious achievement as well -- his jockey, Jerry Bailey, is under a cloud. He rode Eddington at a furious pace in the Belmont Stakes and it is unclear whether he was purposefully trying to "use up" Eddington in order to rattle Smarty Jones and spoil his chance for the Triple Crown. We'll never know, but certainly Smarty Jones just blazed in that race, trying to beat the early speed of Eddington and Rock Hard Ten.

And talk about small world among thoroughbreds!! When he ran in the Belmont Stakes, he was beaten by Birdstone who won and whose grandpa is Unbridled!

Anyway, Eddington's dad is Unbridled and so he is related to Mr. Prospector, Buckpasser, and Dr. Fager. Through his mom, Fashion Star, he is related to Danzig and Secretariat. He even has, get this, a Blue Nola filly in his family tree! And, yes, of course, he is related to my girls, through many connections, but here are a few: Wild Risk, Wild Violet, Wood Violet, Count Fleet, Better Self, Bimelech, Princequillo, Nasrullah, Case Ace and Turn-To.

He is a beautiful stallion. I feel blessed to have seen him stand with pride and power.

Mending Fences euthanized at Pimlico

This Saturday at Pimlico, in the race after the Barbaro Stakes, the Dixie Stakes, a 5 year old stallion, born April 17, 2002, twisted his ankle, dislocated it, and as he came down, his bones came through his flesh. He had to be euthanized. Mending Fences was the son of Forestry (Storm Cat) and Mended Heart. He had 26 starts in his life, and had won 5 of his last 7 races. His lifetime earnings were $231,400. He was his own sire's top race earner this 2007. His mom and dad, Linette and Rob Miller of Palm Beach, were very proud of him. Linette said, "It has become quite the family affair. We are becoming known in this community as the group of screaming women in the crowd, cheering for our horses." Her husband said, "Mending Fences has really come into his own this year. If he has a good year the rest of this year, ultimately he will be a stallion." Mending Fences never earned that privilege, fatally injuring himself in a turf race. He's related to Violet through one of my favorite lines: Wild Risk, Wild Violet, Wood Violet. They also share a little Traffic Court, as well as the usual suspects through Mending Fences' Secretariat line.

My Sweet Violet's sweet eyes!

Here is my grubby Violet on the first day of spring. She's taking a peek outside from the indoor riding ring at Breezy Acres. She looked so muddy that day! But even today, 3/22/07, she's looking more lovely and red and soft and glossy. I spent a lovely afternoon trimming her bridal path, mane, and fetlocks, and just curry brushing her loose hairs and mud. I can't wait until she's summer glossy! I gave her a hug tonight while she was having her dinner. She gave me a happy look with that ever-sweet eye! What a honey! So, here's something cool that I've found exploring her pedigree. On her Runaway Bride/Wild Risk side, she has relatives named Wild Violet and Wood Violet. And on her Classic Music/Jacola side, she has relatives named Violet Melrose and Violet!! I didn't know this when she and I chose her family pet name. She must have sent me mental images of her four Violet's!!