My view of the Juvenile Turf post parade at this year’s stellar BC… thankful!

Since it’s been awhile, I thought I’d take a moment to enumerate some of the things I’m thankful for this year… plus it was really fun to watch replays for the past couple of hours!

In no specific order:

1. Knowing that, should they stay sound, Blind Luck, Paddy o’Prado, Sidney’s Candy, and Gio Ponti will all be coming back next year.

2. The first crop of some of the excellent 2004 crop is right around the corner!

3. Getting to see videos like this and this (thanks E!)

4. On the rare occasion when I get my shut-in self out to the track, getting to see, meet and hang out with a bunch of great people (far too many to list, basically, if I saw you at the track this year, you’re on the list and if I missed you at the track this year, I hope to be thankful to have seen you next year).

5. Adding a few new tracks to my collection of visited tracks, here’s to adding a few more next year.

5. All the contributors, readers and supporters of Hello Race Fans! and Raceday 360, all of the publishers in Hello Race Fans Ad Network and the advertisers who chose our Ad Network to publicize their products or events. Many, MANY thanks to all of you!

6. Having seen races such as these, some with my own eyes!

Kentucky Oaks

Ogden Phipps

United Nations Handicap

Prioress

Debutante Stakes

Test Stakes

Alfred G Vanderbilt Handicap

La Jolla Handicap

Del Mar Debutante

Norfolk Stakes

Breeders’ Cup Mile

Breeders’ Cup Classic

Here’s hoping that we all have much to thankful for again next year!

Posted by dana on Nov 25 2010    
Filed Under: Giving Thanks, 2010, Zenyatta, Breeders' Cup, Fans

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Slew’s Tizzy and Joel Rosario winning the 2008 Native Diver (Charles Pravata)

My beloved Slew’s Tizzy returns to racing today in the Cornhusker at Prairie Meadows! It sort of feels like when your pet runs away from home and comes back several months after you’ve already resigned yourself to their absence.

The last we saw of Slew’s Tizzy he was in the Doug O’Neill barn where he had won the Native Diver in December of 2008 (pictured above) after a string of decent efforts (minus the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile). He had vastly improved with O’Neill, and while enjoyable as a fan, it was also always a bit of concern given that O’Neill is no stranger to drug violations. He ended up on Dan Illman’s disabled list with a stall injury and now has magically landed in the barn of Calder trainer Terrance Oliver.

I don’t know anything about Oliver, other than his win percentage is a dismal .06, his first time with team percentage is an equally dismal .09, his +180 days percentage is a respectable .17 and his dirt percentage is .09. Dirt isn’t Slew’s Tizzy’s preferred surface either, unless it’s muddy.

He’s still racing for Joseph LaCombe, who is also his breeder, so at the very least he hasn’t been dumped somewhere unsavory. He’s also reunited with Robby Albarado, which I take to be a very good sign. Let’s just say I’m cautiously optimistic and glad to know where he is… and of course rooting for him!

Update: He started off a bit slow, got into a good position and then faded about half way through the race. I’ll keep an eye out to see if he turns up on the work tab again. I hope they put him back on synthetics!

Posted by dana on Jun 26 2010    
Filed Under: :), 2010, Charles Pravata, Robby Albarado, Slew's Tizzy, Racing

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Quality Road holds off Musket Man in the 2010 Met Mile (Jason Moran)

In an unusual and welcome turn of events, we’re having a year that’s not dominated by the 3-year-olds. Shy of Blind Luck, Evening Jewel and Lookin’ at Lucky you’d be hard pressed to find a consensus of fans jazzed about the youngins (sidebar: I’m still interested in Tapitsfly, Bickersons and Maximus Ruler). Too bad all the purse money is still showered on the 3-year-olds.

This is the first time since I’ve started paying attention (mid-2006) where the real interest, both with fans and the media, is with older horses. Zenyatta, Rachel Alexandra, Quality Road, Blame, Rail Trip, General Quarters, Life at Ten, St. Trinians, Goldikova, Gio Ponti, Musket Man, Warrior’s Reward and Bribon are currently running and in good form (and health!). I Want Revenge, Mine That Bird and Careless Jewel look likely to get back to business in the near future. And Arson Squad, Bullsbay, Macho Again and Munnings could all get back to form at any moment.

That’s a helluva lot of nice horses and I feel like I’m missing a few! While I’m not entirely sure how it happened, I hope this trend of nice older horses staying in training is not a fluke.

Posted by dana on Jun 14 2010    
Filed Under: I Want Revenge, General Quarters, Mine That Bird, 2010, Rachel Alexandra, Quality Road, Let Horses Race, :), Zenyatta, Jason Moran, Racing

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It’s out! Bloodhorse reported today that the documentary of John Henry, the “Steel Driving Racehorse“, is now available on DVD. This trailer has been out for awhile so it’s nice to see the project finally come to fruition. I already bought my copy, and am looking forward it!

We’ve been lucky these past few years that talented filmmakers such as the Hennegan Brothers and John Corey have been able to independently produce films on racing, particularly when the Secretariat film looks to have taken many a liberty. I don’t think one can really complain about that when one considers the trade off. I found the trailer completely emotionally manipulative, and I’m a crabby old shut-in! I can only imagine how well it will work on it’s intended audience, particularly given that there were reports of cheering in the audience during every race. I mean, that’s Disney’s specialty, right? Good for us that they chose racing to work their (scary!) manipulative magic!

Let’s hope that some of those film goers will take it upon themselves to search out more of racing’s great stories, because racing is full of great stories. And let’s hope that some other independent film projects, such as Boys Club (or Freak, it’s changed names a couple of times) about Julie Krone and Jock, the Movie about the first generation of female jockeys, see the light of day.

Posted by dana on May 19 2010    
Filed Under: 2010, John Henry, Legend, Film

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(Manitoba Museum of Finds Art)

Just a quick poll to let you all know I haven’t ended up a kill pen or shipped to Japan. Looking at recent headlines, I wonder which is more likely, Santa Anita going back to dirt or Rachel vs. Zenyatta?

Discuss…

Thanks for all who participated in the Most Fan Friendly Change of 2009 poll. BC saddle cloth went wire to wire but almost got nipped by Free Historical Charts while Track Signals in HD turned in a respectable performance. Let’s hope 2010 follows suite in the fan friendly changes dept!

Posted by dana on Jan 20 2010    
Filed Under: Rachel Alexandra, 2010, Zenyatta, Poll, Santa Anita, Racing

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