2006 Kentucky Derby

Barbaro, The Horse Who Captivated a Nation

Barbaro was born on April 29, 2003. He had a difficult birth, as his mother, La Ville Rogue, was an average-sized Thoroughbred mare, and he was very large. Two men each tugged on one foreleg; after that, he was fine. His mother accepted him as her own.

The colt was bay. His sire was Dynaformer, who was linked to the great Smarty Jones. He was very mild-mannered, and loved being rubbed and having attention.

In 2005, the colt was given to trainer Michael Matz. Matz had before been a very successful show-horse trainer, and then had recently switched to training Thoroughbreds. He had won many awards and over one million.

The colt was ridden by Edgar S. Prado, whose hometown was Lima, Peru. His father was a trainer, and two of his eight brothers were also jockeys.

Late in 2005, on October 4, the colt was raced in a Maiden race over one mile on turf. He easily won it. Then he was raced in the Laurel Futurity on November 19. Again he was first.

The colt did not appear again until January 1st, when he turned three (in horseracing, every Thoroughbred has his or her birthday on January 1st, not their original birthdate). He won this race, too.

On February 4, 2006, Barbaro was raced in the Holy Bull Stakes, which was on dirt. The track was sloppy, but Barbaro proved that he could run on anything, and won. It also convinced Matz that he ran better on dirt than turf. So on April 1st, 2006, Barbaro was raced in the Florida Derby, a pretty major race. It would prepare him for the Kentucky Derby.

Barbaro won this race, beating Sharp Humor after battling with him nose-to-nose for awhile. So Barbaro was taken to the Derby, where he was the second favorite at 6-1. He was undefeated, and went off in a field of twenty.

The took off, and Barbaro stumbled coming out of the gate. Despite the mishap, Barbaro went on to win the Derby by six lengths, the biggest margin since Assault won the Derby in 1946. Everyone thought for sure that this extraordinary horse would sweep the Triple Crown.

But it wasn't to be.

In the Preakness Stakes two weeks later, the starters took a lot of time loading the horses. Barbaro was excited, and in his excitement, he burst from the gate. The reloaded him, and away they went!

They were coming on the first turn when suddenly Barbaro began to pull up! Everyone stared in disbelief as the favorite stopped and limped around, favoring his right hind leg. The equine ambulance drove up and loaded the injured horse.

Barbaro was good about it. He obeyed what they wanted him to do. When he got to the hospital, they operated on him.

Barbaro woke up to find his leg doing great. Everyone had high hopes. During his time recuperating, Barbaro was sent over 20,000 get well cards! He was doing great, and his leg was healing up very nicely. He even went outdoors and grazed for a little.

Then, suddenly, Barbaro developed laminitis in his left hind leg. Laminitis is a serious disease of the hoof, often ending in the horse's death. Barbaro was treated for it, but the hoof disease just got worse and worse.

After talking it over with Barbaro's owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, they finally decided to put Barbaro out of his pain and misery. On January 29, 2007, three months before his (actual) fourth birthday, Barbaro was euthanized.

Update on Missy

I decided to write an update on Missy, my horse. I will be doing this regularly now. Yesterday, I was trying to back her, and she would not back up. Mrs. Piquignot got on her with spurs, and now she is finally backing on command. She just had a little attitude at first that nobody had corrected.

Missy is doing fine. She is nice to ride; and she continually wants to go faster, faster, faster. I can barely keep her at a walk for long before she wants to trot! She also hates having her feet picked out, and I consider it a privilege when I successfully lift one up and pick it out.

Man O' War vs. Sir Barton

Man O' War, The Greatest Racehorse in all of History

Man O' War was a chestnut colt out of Mahubah and sired by Fair Play. He was very tall at birth. He was was owned by August Belmont Jr. (whom the Belmont Stakes racetrack was named after) before he was sold as a yearling to Samuel Riddle for $5,000.

The big colt was trained by Louis Feustel and ridden by Johnny Loftus. On June 6, 1919, Man O' War raced for the first time--winning by six lengths.

In those days, there was no such thing as a starting gate. Instead, horses were lined up in front of a rope, and when it was quickly lowered, they took off. One day, in the Sanford Memorial Stakes, which Man O' War was entered in, the big colt was having a fit. He rushed forward from the starting line, and his jockey had to bring him around. The assistant starter was holding him with his hind facing the track, intending to keep him there until the last minute, but when the race started, the big colt was facing backwards. He whirled around, behind the field. He managed to get up to second place, losing against a horse named Upset. This was considered one of the greatest losses in history, and was the only time the colt ever won anything but first.

Man O' War's jockey was out of racing in 1920, because of license reasons, so Clarence Kummer was up in his place. The colt was not raced in the Kentucky Derby because his owner, Samuel Riddle, did not like the western races, although he changed his mind about War Admiral, Man O' War's colt. The big horse was raced in the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes, however, in which he won. (The Preakness Stakes is located in Maryland, and the Belmont Stakes in New York). The colt ran in 20 races, winning 19, and placing (second place) 1. Then, the horse was invited to a match race against the recent and first Triple Crown winner--Sir Barton. The horses would race in Ontario, Canada, because Sir Barton was a canadian horse.

The day of the match race arrived. The horses left the line, and the horses stayed pretty close to each other until the last quarter mile, when Man O' War pulled away from Sir Barton and won easily by seven lengths.

Man O' War was retired after that, and stood at stud at Faraway Farm. More than one million people visited him. He sired champions, such as the 1937 Triple Crown winner War Admiral, American Flag, who won the Belmont and Crusader, who also won the Belmont, and he was the grandsire of a great horse: Seabiscuit. He sired Hard Tack, who sired Seabiscuit. Any horse descended from Man O' War normally turns out to be great.

Man O' War died of a heart attack November 1, 1947. He started in 21 races and won twenty, set some track and world records, and in the Blood Horse Magazine ranking of the top 100 U.S. racehorses, he was first. Man O' War was definitely the greatest Thoroughbred that ever lived.

Seattle Slew - The 1977 Belmont Stakes

Seattle Slew, The Horse That "Wasn't Worth it"

Seattle Slew was born on February 15, 1974. He was the "ugly duckling" of Bold Reasoning and My Charmer. Bold Reasoning was the grandson of Bold Ruler, who sired the mighty Secretariat, and My Charmer descended from Myrtle Charm, the champion filly of 1948.

Seattle's head was too large for his body, and his legs seemed way too long. So, he was taken to an auction, where many onlookers thought of him as "just another yearling."

Karen and Mickey Taylor were among the bidders. They had been horse-owners for two years, and now they wanted to try their hand at the large world of horseracing. A veterinarian, Dr. Jim Hill, teamed up with the Taylors. He strongly suggested bidding for the "Bold Reasoning colt." The Taylors did exactly that, and got the colt for $17,500 dollars. They took him to their home in Seattle, Washington. Karen wanted a snappy name for him, and she wanted one that reflected on the dual ownership of the Taylors and Dr. Hill. Seattle was, of course, where the Taylors lived, and slew was the name of the swampy areas where Dr. Hill had grown up. Thus, the colt was named, "Seattle Slew."

The colt was sent to a farm in Maryland, where Paula Turner broke in "the Slew," as he was affectionately called. Then he was sent to Bill Turner in New York for training on the Belmont racetrack.

Soon, when the colt was two, he was entered in his first race on September 20, 1976. The Slew won by five lengths, even though he broke from the gate last in a field of ten. A trainer sidled up to Turner and offered $300,000 for the dark bay colt. It was turned down.

Turner wasted no time in entering the colt in his second race on October 5. He won it easily by three and one half lengths. The colt was then entered in the Champagne Stakes, his last race of the year, and he won it by nine and three quarters lengths.

On March 20, 1977, the colt won another race by nine lengths. Then he won his fifth race by four lengths, and his sixth race by three and a quarter lengths. He was clearly ready for the upcoming Kentucky Derby, which had the Taylors very excited.

The day of the Kentucky Derby arrived, and the Slew didn't seem to be himself. He hated the large crowd of over 124,000 all screaming. He was the 1-2 favorite, however.

The gates opened, and the Slew swerved right out of the gate. He was last behind a wall of straining horses. His jockey, Jean Cruguet, edged him up through openings in the wall, and soon he was competing with the leader, For the Moment. He broke into the lead, and lead the horses down the backstretch and into the homestretch. Now Run Dusty Run was trying to compete for first, but Seattle Slew left him behind and raced under the finish pole with a commanding one and three fourth length win.

Two weeks later, in the Preakness, only two horses from the Kentucky Derby dared to try again at the Slew: Run Dusty Run, who came in second, and Sir Sir, who came in twelfth. But Cormorant seemed to be the only major challenger. However, he was never headed in the entire race, and he won by one and one half lengths.

With high hopes of becoming the tenth Triple Crown Winner and the first undefeated horse to sweep the Triple Crown, the Slew was entered in the Belmont Stakes.

The track was muddy, and the pace was very slow. The Slew dominated the race, and won it by four lengths, with Run Dusty Run running in second. Close to the finish line, Cruguet stood in his stirrups and waved to the crowd. Turner got scared that he would fall before the race was over, but he did not.

After becoming the tenth Triple Crown winner and first undefeated horse to win the Triple Crown, Turner wanted to rest the Slew. But the Taylors insisted, and two weeks later, the horse was raced. He finished fourth.

The Slew raced in other races, losing about three, and winning more, including a race in which Affirmed, a recent Triple Crown winner was entered. He beat the young horse.

Seattle Slew was finally retired and stood at stud at Three Chimneys Farm in Lexington. He bred with about seventy mares a year, and some of his foals became champions. At the age of twenty-eight, he was taken to a farm to rest until he died.

The day that he died, the Taylors' black lab went into the horse's stall and licked his nose; then the horse lay down and went to sleep, never to rise again.

So was the story of the champion "ugly duckling."

Preakness 2004

Smarty Jones, The Hope of 2004

Smarty Jones was a colt born in 2001. His sire was Elusive Quality, who held the world record for a mile on turf. His dam was I'll Get Along, and in his breeding were horses such as the mighty Man o' War, Northern Dancer, and Foolish Pleasure. He was also closely related to Barbaro, the courageous horse of 2006.

Smarty Jones was born on Someday Farm in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The wife of his owner was called Milly "Smarty Jones," and that is where the colt's name came from.

In 2003, Smarty Jones began training with John Servis after his first trainer and his family were murdered. The trainer was schooling the horse in the starting gate, and suddenly Smarty reared up and severely hit his head on the top. He fell down, blood streaming from his nostrils. Servis thought he was dead, but when he was rushed to the equine hospital, it revealed that he was alive and had fractured his skull. Smarty Jones was out of the hospital in three weeks, and after a month of recuperating on the small farm, he was back to training.

Soon, the colt was entered in a race, with Stewart Elliot riding him. He won by 7 3/4 lengths. Two weeks later, the horse swept the Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes by an astonishing 15 lengths. The colt entered four more races, winning all of them, and also convincing his owner and trainer that they had an extraordinary horse on their hands. They entered him in the 2004 Kentucky Derby.

Smarty Jones was not the favorite in the race, despite having never lost a race in six starts. He won the race anyway, by 2 3/4 lengths.

They entered him into the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown. He swept that up, too, by a record 11 1/2 lengths.

So, the horse was entered into the Belmont Stakes. Everyone hoped he would become the twelfth winner of the Triple Crown.

In the race, two jockeys were trying to actually get Smarty beaten, which was very rude in horseracing, even though it was not against the rules, since Triple Crown winners were so rare. They were Jerry Bailey who rode Eddington and Alex Solis, riding Rock Hard Ten.

A horse named Birdstone beat Smarty Jones, who came in second. The owner of this horse cried afterwards, saying that she was hoping her horse would come in second, not first. Later chronic bruising to the knees retired the champion.

Smarty Jones stands at stud today Three Chimneys Farm in Midway Kentucky. He retired on August 2, 2004.

2005 Preakness - Afleet Alex

Afleet Alex, A Horse with Courage

Afleet Alex was a very courageous bay colt. Nobody ever thought that he could do what he did, and he definetely earned his place in history.

The colt was born to a mare that didn't produce milk. The breeder's 9-year-old daughter bottle-fed him until he was selected by trainer Tim Ritchey for Cash is King Stable. Tim Ritchey's partner had a son named Alex, and the owners of the colt had two children, Alexandria and Alexandra. Afleet's sire's name was Northern Afleet, so the colt was named, "Afleet Alex."

In 2005, the bay colt was entered into the Kentucky Derby after winning the Arkansas Derby. Traffic stopped him from getting to far, and he finished third.

In the Preakness Stakes, Afleet showed everyone who watched him that he was more than just "a colt with luck."

Afleet Alex tore after the leader. Suddenly, a horse named Scrappy T veered into his path, and the champion stumbled, almost unseating his rider. Afleet wouldn't allow first place to slip out of his path so easily, and he got back up. With the help of his jockey, Jeremy Rose, the colt coasted to a four 3/4 length win.

Three weeks later, Afleet slammed down the homestretch to win the 2005 Belmont Stakes.

Due to foot injury, the colt was retired, but not before he had earned his place in history. He had won eight times out of all the twelve starts he had, and his earnings were $2,765,800.

To learn more about this incredible horse, visit http://www.afleetalex.com/

Seabiscuit vs. War Admiral - 1938 Match Race

Seabiscuit, The Horse of the Great Depression

Seabiscuit was a racehorse who was famous for his speed and will to win, and who had some little friends that helped him through his troubles.

During the Great Depression, a man named Charles Howard teamed up with a great trainer, Tom Smith. As they were watching some horses working on the track that were up for sale, Tom Smith spotted the horse that would later bring them lots of money: Seabiscuit.

Tom Smith brought to Howard's attention the colt, and after some convincing that this horse would be great, they bought him and took him to their stable.

The horse was wild. He was too wild to try and race; Smith knew he would have to be calmed down first. So, Seabiscuit was given three friends: Smith's cow-pony, Pumpkin, a dog named Pocatell, and a little monkey named Jojo. The racehorse calmed down and began winning races. A jockey named Red Pollard rode him.

During the same time that Seabiscuit was racing and winning, a horse named War Admiral, owned by Samuel Riddle, was racing and winning, too. He was actually a half-brother of Seabiscuit, because his father was Man o' War, and Seabiscuit's grandfather was Man o' War. He won the Triple Crown, which only eleven horses have won in over a hundred years of its history. It is an amazing defeat that only certain horses are able to accomplish; the horse must be fast, have lots of stamina, and able to take on any horse, at any time, to win this race, plus the fact that the jockey must be very smart. Lots of people thought that War Admiral was the best, but there were also a few who said, "No, Seabiscuit's the best."

Newsmen were trying to get the two together in a match race, but Riddle wouldn't do it. He kept coming up with excuses.

During the time that Riddle refused, Seabiscuit was raced in the Santa Anita Handicap twice, and he lost. If he had won, he would've won a whopping $100,000, which was more than one could ask for in those days. Most other races, Seabiscuit won, and people became afraid of him. Most of them withdrawed their horses from a race when he entered, although some were stubborn enough to try for it.

Finally, a match race between the two great horses was organized. But it was soon canceled because neither horse was fit to run.

Then, in 1938, Seabiscuit and War Admiral met. They were racing at Pimlico, the track the Preakness Stakes is held on. In that time period, there were few starting gates, and in most races, horses were started at a line. War Admiral was only able to really run if he was walked up to the line and started at a walk. This is how he would start, and so that they would have a better chance at the colt, Seabiscuit started at a walk, also.

Seabiscuit was number two, War Admiral number one.

They started, with Seabiscuit in the lead. He ran at an average one length lead for awhile, then War Admiral edged up on him, and they were head to head until the end of the backstretch, where Seabiscuit began edging away. They charged down the homestretch, with Seabiscuit lengthening his lead every stride he took. They crossed under the wire, with Seabiscuit the winner by four lengths.

Two years later, Seabiscuit entered the Santa Anita Handicap for the third time, and won. He was retired after that, and soon, he died.

It was a good story, wasn't it?

Hello and Welcome!!

This is my very first time with a blog. I will try to keep it up-to-date.

In this blog, my main focus will be horses, especially racehorses and horses that have friends.

Keep coming!!!!