Breaking News! 2007 Eclipse Awards Announced!

On January 4th, the nominations for this year's Eclipse Awards were announced by the presenting organizations. The Eclipse Awards are named after the 18th century racehorse and foundation sire who was undefeated in 18 starts and left a breeding legacy of 344 race winners, including 3 Epsom Derby winners. This year, the Eclipse Awards, which honor the horses, owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys of the thoroughbred racing industry and also gives special awards honoring great contributions will be held on Monday, January 21st at the Beverly Hills Wilshire Four Seasons in Beverly Hills, California.

Here are a taste of a few of the nominees for special categories:
1) 2 year-old male: Kodiak Kowboy, Pyro, War Pass
2) 2 year-old filly: Country Star, Indian Blessing, Proud Spellb
3) 3 year-old male: Curlin, Hard Spun, Street Sense
4) 3 year-old filly: Octave, Panty Raid, Rags to Riches

They do not release the nominations for Horse of the Year until the event itself!

This year, the Kentucky Horse Park is receiving a special Eclipse Award for their outstanding contributions to the racing industry. John Nicholson, executive director of the KHP, said, "We are exhilarated to be honored with the special Eclipse Award. This is the culmination of enormous efforts by many people over the past three decades who played a central role in the celebration of that special bond between man and the horse."

The Kentucky Horse Park opened in 1978 and served as the home of John Henry, that many award-winning, 2X Horse of the Year winning racehorse who lived their for 23 years before just passing away in late 2007 at the grand old age of 32. The leading officer for the Eclipse Awards cited the relationship between JH and the KHP when he announced why they deserved this special prestigious recognition: "John Henry's indomitable will and spirit symbolized the love and dedication that the Kentucky Horse Park has given to the thoroughbored industry over the years. On behalf of the presenting organizations of the Eclipse Awards, we are proud to bestow this most deserving honor to the men and women of the Kentucky Horse Park."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eclipse_Award_for_Horse_of_the_Year
or
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eclipse_Award

Breaking News! A Waterlogged Breeder's Cup!

These photos are from Getty Photos who took some tremendous photos of this year's Breeder's Cup! They had a great two-day lineup of races, and a $5 million purse for the Breeder's Classic, which had Street Sense, Curlin, Hard Spun, George Washington, and Lawyer Ron, among others. Curlin won by 4 1/2 lengths in a completely wet, sloppy track. He raced strong, sound, true, and fast. He raced with ease.

This is the horse who makes me sort of sad because he has fighting parents. One set of his parents are from the famous Kendall-Jackson winery, another set of parents are literally in jail, awaiting sentencing for not paying their clients after the Phen-fen fiasco, and another set of parents are fighting with the first about his future. They are at odds about whether he should continue racing or whether he should head to the breeding shed! Whatever his next days unfold, I hope he has health and happiness and glory and joy and lots and lots of petting and praise and comfort.

Breaking News! Breeders' Classic Lineup Set!

This year's Breeders' Cup races will run over the course of two days and will involve 11 races, over 141 of the very best horses, $23 million in prize money, and chances to compete for the coveted Eclipse Horse of the Year Award!

They say that this year's Classic Cup is the deepest, best, most competitive ever. The eight horses registered include the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winners, the best older horse in the country, a European champion, the Kentucky Derby runner-up, and two improved 3-year-olds who might be the current best in the country!

In the picture, you see the undefeated Indian Blessing who will run in the start race of Day 2, the Juvenile Fillies. The horses you can expect to see that fabulous weekend include Curlin, Street Sense, Nobiz Like Shobiz, Cry and Catch Me, War Pass, Nashoba's Key, Dylan Thomas (winner of this year's Arc de Triomphe), Hard Spun (Derby runner up), Lawyer Ron (best older horse), Any Given Saturday, George Washington, and Awesome Gem. They expect 45,000 people to attend the October 27th card of races! The Belmont winner, Rags, won't be able to attend because of her hairline fracture. Hopefully, she has been healing well over these past weeks.
http://www.breederscup.com/

Rags to Riches enters Belmont Stakes!

Violet's cousin, Rags to Riches, will run in the Belmont Stakes this Saturday! She'll be one of 22 fillies who has tried to win over its more than 100 years. The last filly to win was 105 years ago -- only two fillies have ever won, Ruthless in the very first and then Tanya a few years later! So, there will be 7 horses running, with Curlin and Hard Spun the favorites. Violet and Rags share the same great-grandpa, Blushing Groom. And Rags has Secretariat and A.P. Indy. A.P. Indy is the first stud to successfully produce a baby from the Eclipse Horse of the Year Azeri who just had her first filly this spring and who is now bred to Storm Cat! Anyway, Violet and I will be rooting for her gal cousin!

Violet's cousin, Curlin, wins 2007 Preakness Stakes!

This past Saturday was the Preakness Stakes held at Pimlico. And what an exciting day! Street Sense was strong the entire race, as was Hard Spun, but in the last strides, the very last stride in fact, Curlin won by a whisker of a nose. Curlin has had 5 starts, 4 wins, and a third in his career. His trainer flew him home to Kentucky on Sunday and said of him, "He definitely knows he ran." Curlin was a bit tuckered out after winning. Street Sense's trainer said, "These 3 horses ran their guts out the last 2 races." He doesn't think that Street Sense will go to the Belmont now, but reflected on the loss by saying, "Winning isn't everything in this game. You don't want anybody to get beat, but there's got to be a winner." Violet is related to Curlin multiple ways, including the following: Case Ace, Nasrullah, Count Fleet, Nearctic, Blue Larkspur, Princequillo, Turn-To, Discovery, Whisk Broom, Sir Gallahad, and Bull Dog. On Preakness day, Michael Matz' horse won the Barbaro Stakes, a race which was originally the Sir Barton Stakes, but renamed to honor Barbaro. Michael Matz was Barbaro's trainer, and the Jackson's handed him the award, so it was a bittersweet moment. The day was marred though, immediately after that race, by a horse who broke his ankle, punctured his flesh, and had to be euthanized in The Dixie Stakes. Mending Fences perished that day, much like Barbaro from last year.

Street Sense wins 133rd Kentucky Derby!

Street Sense won this year's Kentucky Derby with Hard Spun, and Curlin, placing and showing. He broke 19th out of 20th and ran from behind for most of the race. His jockey, Calvin Borel, rode him tight on the rail until the final turn when four horses drifted off the rail and gave a window. Street Sense, covered in mud from the front runners, exploded through the opening, and swung fast and hard past the second and first horse. He just put tracks between him and the still strong, still fast-moving Hard Spun. He was a sight to behold and the master of the track that day! I am very happy for the Cajun jockey who won his first Derby on Street Sense. He was thrilled that he'd come that far from his Cajun bush track days! My girls are related to Street Sense in multiple ways, including the following: Nearctic, Nearco, Discovery, Whisk Broom, Teddy, Man 'O War, Sweep, Nasrullah, Count Fleet, Sir Gallahad, Blue Larkspur, Sun Princess, Hyperion, Princequillo, Wild Risk, Traffic Court, Bull Lea, War Glory, Eight Thirty, Gay Crusader, Case Ace, Rock Sand, and Hasty Road.