Home too late to write about Derby.... yet.

Two Days

My car is packed.
In 16 hours, I will leave work and head for Kentucky.
In less than 24 hours, I will be cheering for Rachel Alexandra the Oaks with my Kentucky friends.
In less than 48 hours, I will be at Churchill Downs with my friends and hundreds of beautiful horses.

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

To get excited, I started -re reading my Derby posts from last year, here, here, here, here, and here. Which of course made me excited, then sad, then angry as I remembered Eight Belles and the aftermath. Regardless of who wins, or who you want to win, let's pray that all the horses return to the barn safely this week-end (and every day).

NOW! NOW! NOW!

You know what I think everyone who wants to return to school blocks out of their head? The nightmare that is scheduling classes. What a pain in the rear! Part of my issues are stemming from the fact that since I did not graduate from high school in this state, the school is convinced that my high school and first university I attended are lying about my AP scores. This must have been something that they cooked up while having lunch together, "Haha, won't it be funny to put fake AP scores on this girl's transcripts? If it says it on both, people will have to believe us, WA HA HA!!!!" So, I am having to order my scores from AP themselves (at $25 per score- thanks a lot!), because my new school won't take any word on the subject but theirs.
Luckily, my advisor was extremely cool, and is over-riding me into my chosen classes until the school gets my scores... because even though I have taken courses building off of Psych 101, when I go to register for upper-division classes, the computer sees that I don't yet have credit for Psych 101 and has a panic attack. I kid you not- red X's go up, shrieking noises are heard and the whole computer begins to shake. (I may or may not be causing two out of three of those symptoms....). And since she can only override specific sections, registration goes something like this:
My Psychology research lab opened up on a Wednesday! Frantic copying and e-mailing of course section ensues.
E-mail reply: You forgot to include your student number, waiver of ownership to first born child and the 3,000 digit secondary call number! When I get that, I'll override!
Hair pulling and looking up said numbers ensues. Waiver to ownership of firstborn child notarized.
Email reply All set, go ahead and register.
Log onto student account: ERROR!!! ERROR!!! This section is closed!
Shrieking noises and computer shaking commences.
Rinse and repeat!
I have now been doing this dance for ONE SOLID WEEK trying to register for summer and fall. In the meantime, I have also been studying for Clep Exams, since this school requires a couple gen eds that I had not been required to take before, and really don't want to take now. And I am cool with that- they want a full year of US history when I've only taken half so far? That's cool- I like history, and I took honors US history in high school- Clep exam, no sweat! Astronomy and Geology aren't good enough science classes? No sweat! I took honors Biology in high school, plus plenty of animal science classes- Clep exam, nooooo problem! But "pick another Humanities class because your entire Theatre minor, plus work experience in theatre outside of school can't count as a Theatre Appreciation class??????" COME ON! Too discouraged to fight the powers that be on that one, I say bring on the History of Western Civilization Clep exam (another honors class in high school). I know I sound like I am bitching just a wee bit (who, me?), but I actually am not terribly upset because it appears that I will be able to graduate within a year, 18 months at the most. I have already started researching grad school.... because I just like to keep adding the stress!
My biggest motivation for getting this all done, like NOW, is so that I will have nothing to stress over on Saturday. Saturday being the most special day of the year, the day that make all other days worth getting through. Yes, friends, this Saturday is the first Saturday in May- Derby Day! The day that I reserve the right to be a complete pain in the ass, to rouse my friends from their beds at 4:30am because GOD FORBID that I not get my spot on the rail, right in front of the huge TV screen, over looking the backside. The world will end if my view of barn chores is obstructed, or I am not close enough to the turf horses to feel their breath. And dang it, how would I be expected to keep myself from falling over in excitement if I didn't have the fence to cling to anyway? But, on the bright side, I always bring good snacks and am generally in such good spirits that I practically radiate sunshine, so every year I am forgiven for my neurotic MUST GET TO CHURCHILL DOWNS NOW! NOW! NOW! attitude and everyone has a good time.
This year, Derby is even more special because I will be getting to see friends who I love and have not seen in months due to my relocation. (Except those of you who will be out of town- that makes me sad, partially because I will miss seeing you, and mostly because it boggles my wee brain that anyone would travel anywhere other than Louisville, KY the first week-end in May!) Usually, I compare Derby to Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Years all rolled into one day.... this year, we'll throw Fourth of July into the mix. Here's to the best week-end... ever!

Shotgun updates

So I bet you can guess where I have been, rather than updating my blog. Let me tell you, my house is an absolute wreck at the moment, because when it comes to triaging chores, mowing the yard, weeding and painting the dog house out in the sun take first priority! Plus, I rationalize that I need to be taking the dogs swimming as much as possible, because by late summer these ponds will be all but sucked dry with drought.

Other than playing outside, these are my major updates:

Mr. Buddy Luck has gone to live outside, after careful consideration. The warm weather came, and he was again darting out the door. There came a point where I was no longer going to tackle him, and his frustration was causing some major territorial stress in my house. Every cat was pooping and peeing in front of the box, and there were major fights happening between everyone- Boo and Kody stopped sitting together, Tabitha was attacked at every turn and became too terrified to eat without me standing over her for protection, and Buddy just ran around hissing at everyone. Letting him outside was like flipping a switch- everything settled down! He's content, Boo and Kody are sharing their spots and Tabitha is eating again. Whew!

The precarious balance that is Luna's GI health shifted for the worst again, and we've gotten really diagnostically aggressive with her. Pancreatic tests came back normal (again), fecal cultures for everything were negative and her ACTH stim for Addison's/Cushings was normal. She had an opportunistic giardia infection (just like everyone else drinking well water), which we treated with no improvement in symptoms. Next up is endoscopy, but for now she is on probiotic, fish oil and enteric supplements and may wean off her hypoallergenic food and onto something either grain free or low-residue for east digestion. This has all been weighing very heavily on my mind because she really is the best dog ever to live, and it makes me sad that she has a problem that will potentially shorten her life. In the meantime, we keep playing and hiking and she will soon be starting her therapy dog training. I think her sweet nature will bring a lot to people in need!

Star continues to be a happy, peppermint eating horse... who is completely ignored by her farrier. Nice thing for a horse with bad feet, right? After no-showing for his last appointment with her, he left a message for me to call and reschedule, and all messages left have been unanswered. Currently shopping for a new farrier.
And of course, we are now three weeks away from Derby, and I have been immersed! There are a lot of exciting horses this year, and it's shaping up to be a great race. But after last year's controversy over Big Brown and his connections, I'm going to be rooting for General Quarters, a former $20,000 claimer owned and trained by a 75 year old former principal. No handicapping... no previous race analysis... this year, I am rooting for the story. It's time for the Derby to get back some of its' magic.

Curse the Clouds!

There was much gnashing of teeth in my house today when mother nature decided to block out my satallite signal, thus allowing me to only see ONE of the stakes races live today. Words can even begin to describe how completely bummed out I was to watch replays on a miniscule screen on NTRA.com- because this is shaping up to be an exciting year for three year olds.

I don't know if everyone is seeming so awesome because last year's road to the Derby was pretty mundane, or if we really do have precocious crop, but I plan to enjoy it either way.

To me, no one disappointed today, though I am sure that handicappers around the country will be ripping Old Fashioned a new one, saying the he is peaked and washed up because of his second place performance. To me (well, you know, what I could see on my three inch replay), it appeared to be a Touch Gold/Silver Charm situation- Old Fashioned just didn't see Win Willy coming way out there in the center of the track. Plus, he ran really damned fast over a slightly off track- shit happens. What cracked me up was the track announcer acting like he was done calling the race one Old Fashioned made the lead, and didn't know what to do when Win Willy started to close on him, "Win Willy's trying to close, but... uh, he's trying to close, but Old Fashioned has the lead, but uh...."

Three hours later....
Ok, so how this entry went was, hmmm, wonder if I can find that 1997 Belmont Stakes on youtube... yup, there it is... oh, that reminds me of... and then it was three hours later and I had watched a hell of a lot of horse racing and hadn't written one more word. And since I am pretty much ready to go to bed now... oops!
Suffice it to say that I was really excited about the races I saw today, and am looking forward to Derby/Oaks Day even more now! I wanted to post a video of Fresian Fire, Pioneerof the Nile and Rachael Alexandra, to share their awesomeness with everyone, but the Louisiana Derby and San Felipe Stakes are not up on youtube just yet.
So, for your enjoyment, is Rachael Alexandra:



I think what I love most about this is that she is running in slop, setting decent fractions.... with her ears flopped sideways, totally relaxed, and is doing it so easily that Calvin Borel eases her before the wire. Tell me that isn't a horse who loves to run! And how cool that we seem to be getting overrun with awesome fillies the past couple of years!

Coming back to life

This week-end has been a gift. Out of nowhere, spring burst out of the ground, out of the sky and has nestled me in it's warm embrace. Do I sound a little giddy? I swear, a piece of me dies right along with the flowers and bugs every single fall, only to be awakened at the first sign of spring. The nights are no longer scary and forbidding, with monsters lurking in every shadow just waiting to pounce upon and unsuspecting passerby. They are filled with the sounds of crickets and tree frogs singing their song of rebirth, welcoming the warm weather that will turn the world into a lush, green place once again. Mornings no longer bring the dread of having to step outside into a freezing, dead world, but the joy of stepping out into a world full of living things, ready to start the day with you. Shoots of grass poking their way out of fertile, sweet-smelling soil. Morning glory's opening their sweet faces, welcoming in the sun. The chirping of the blue birds as they set about creating their nest, anticipating little hatchlings that will soon be crying out for food.
At sunset, I stood out in the field grooming Star, breathing in her sweet horsey smell while the dogs lounged nearby. The cows moo'd softly to their calves as a soft breeze kicked up, swirling the loosened hair of her thick winter coat away with it...

Addiction vs Addiction

I have an addiction. I am completely addicted to this thing called spring. I simply can not be expected to confined to the house when the temperatures are in the seventies. It just can't happen. I rose out of bed at 8am this morning, went immediately outside and didn't come back in for 7 and a half hours. .

But, as you all know, I have another addiction. I may not have been writing about horse racing as much as usual, but it has never left my mind. So when this afternoon's Derby and Oaks preps, not to mention several other stakes races began, I had no choice but to come inside. I also had no choice but to throw open every window and shade so that I could continue to breath in the warm weather. I feel that my ability to compromise these two addictions proves that they are both very healthy addictions- which is good, as I could never, ever give either of them up! And don't worry, posts screaming the merits of The Pamplemousse, Stardom Bound, Old Fashioned, et all are forthcoming.

Just not right now... the computer plug won't reach my patch of sun on the floor.

$14,000,000

There she is- Broodmare of the Year, stakes winner, dual classic producer, multiple stakes producer and now a world record holder. Today, Better Than Honour sold for a whopping 14 million dollars, and if ever a mare deserved it, she was it.
I'll admit, I have looked forward to the sale with extreme excitement, just dying to see what such a mare would bring. And I will admit to watching almost the entire sale on HRTV just to see her go through the ring, and what price she would bring.
As someone who once dreamed of being a bloodstock agent, I am really proud of myself that I predicted the selling price. This morning, as I babbled excitedly about watching the sales later today, my grandfather asked me how much money I thought that she would bring. My response was $12-$14 million. Hey, now that is a pretty accurate estimation!
Here's to years of watching her beautiful offspring on the racetrack. They are truly something wonderful to behold.
Photo credit.

Letter to Mr. Jackson

Attn: Jess Jackson

Re: Curlin, $10,246,800 and counting.

Dear Mr. Jackson,

First of all, I would like to thank you for running Curlin this year, instead of shipping him off to the breeding shed after one or two nice races for an obscene amount of money. Many of your counterparts don't seem to realize that there really isn't a need to breed racehorses if they don't actually... race. Seriously, how long will the industry survive when people buy two million dollar yearlings, run them three times at God knows what cost, earn $500,000 and ship them off to the breeding shed? Regardless of the profits from stud fees, it seems like the losses are going to catch up eventually.

But I digress. Because I do have a reason for writing this.
What I would like, more than anything in the world, is to see Curlin resoundingly kick Big Brown's three year old ass in the Classic. Don't get me wrong; I like Big Brown. I'll go so far as to say that I love Big Brown- the way he runs, his joy and the beauty of it all takes my breath away. The world needs horses like that. But we need horses like Curlin more, and we need owners like you to be the rule, not the exception.

Big Brown had hardly started his career before he was sold to Three Chimney's for an obscene amount of money for an untested three year old with bad feet and a so-so pedigree. Nothing against Boundary, but how many stakes winners has he produced? And do we really want to breed more unsound horses? Yes, Big Brown has continued to justify the hype with two very courageous wins this summer. Wouldn't it be nice to see him as a four year old, a year stronger, a year's more experience, a year's more competitive? Because no matter how good Curlin was at three, it is nothing, nothing compared to what he has been at four. But we'll never know how good Big Brown could have been, and by this time next year he'll most likely be a faded memory, gone the way of Street Sense, Empire Maker, Point Given and tons of others who were retired before their time in the name of the almighty dollar.

Yes, I do see the irony at scoffing the almighty dollar to someone who's horse just won over ten million dollars and the glory of overtaking Cigars record. But I think that the glory comes first to you, since you could have probably syndicated Curlin for four times that at the end of last year, instead of buying our partnerships to keep him running another year. And glory really is what it's all about in racing, isn't it? Those who don't understand will say that we use the horses for our own glory, but that isn't it, is it? It's the whirl of colors from the jockey's silks, the shining of the horses coats, the competitive snorts and the pounding of hooves. It's the stretching out of necks and thrusting of noses, desperation to cross the line first. I saw some amazing horses race yesterday, finishing in tight quarters, photo finishes and a couple of blowouts; it struck me that they were all doing it on their own, without even the flick of a whip. It's glory for the horses too, winning like that. The win is is their glory, green grass and sweet feed is their reward. For the horse lover, bearing witness and passing down the legacy of the untouchable horse for years to come is the real reward.
Watching Curlin race has been an absolute treat, and I will remember him forever for his class, determination and beauty, not just the record. You know what I will remember about Big Brown? That his trainer was a big headed, no-class detriment to his horse. Instead of basking in the excitement of his wins, I got to immediately hear his commentary about how every other horse, trainer, owner and jockey in the world sucks. HIS horse is the only good horse, HIS training methods are the only good ones and the rest of the world can go to hell. Kind of overshadows the horse's accomplishment, doesn't it? And it makes for a tarnished, soured memory.

So please, race Curlin against Big Brown. Let him kick some serious butt, and with the whole world watching, accept the trophy with the class and grace that all of Curlin's immediate connections have always shown. Congratulate the other horses, and wake everyone up to what can happen when you allow your horse to mature to his full potential, leave the trash talking at home and genuinely appreciate your horse for what he is right now, and not how much his foals will sell for. Racing needs the image of a classy champion with deserving connections; what it doesn't need is a champion whose connections are shady at best. Please, let Curlin put them all in their place.

After all, he could always race in the Japan Cup next year, right? ;)

Sincerely,
Alykat

Olympic/Sporting Snippits

• Yes, I am still awake because I can not stop watching the Olympic swimming! See, my passion for racing does not end with horses, though they are number one. I get so excited watching runners, swimmers, rowing, cross country, steeplechase- basically any racing where people or animals are competing under their own steam. Car racing just doesn't have the same kind of excitement- the car is not sweating and straining, full of heart for the win! But people, horses- they try to win like their lives depend on it. I have to admit that the close finish in the men's relay with the Americans just barely getting up for the win was nearly as exciting as any photo finish!
• President Bush... my God! Can you act like you have an ounce of class? Please? Because you are really embarrassing us and making us look bed. You do not show up to the Olympics and openly criticize the host county. Please, shut your mouth, put a smile on your face and enjoy the competition. Save the politics for the appropriate time- this is about international competition, friendship and co-operation. Not your personal agenda of representing out country as a bunch of horse's asses! (Really, I try not to openly criticize a President, because that is kind of low class also. But seriously!)
• This has been an exciting two weeks in horse racing, with the performances of Indian Blessing, Spirit One, Mauralakana, Winchester and even Big Brown the past two week-ends. I want to write more about this, and I will! Just not right now. Oh! Except to say that if there is one person that showed less class than President Bush, it is Rick Dutrow. Seriously, who goes on national television and bad mouths another man's horse:
  "Curlin couldn't win the Derby, we could," Dutrow said. "Curlin couldn't win [the Haskell], we could. Curlin got beat [by] a filly. We haven't. Our horse is undefeated on the grass. Curlin isn't. I don't know why people think Curlin is such a good horse. We're way better than Curlin."
  I mean, great! Way to make the whole racing industry look low class. What does he expect the Curlin camps response to be? "Big Brown couldn't even finish the Belmont, Curlin came a close second after a grueling campaign in a photo finish to the greatest filly to run in 2007. And he still finished ahead of some of the best three year old colts of the year in his Belmont race. Curlin beat horses from the best crop of three year olds in recent memory all year, Big Brown had to struggle home in the Haskell against much lower rated horses." ????? Is that what Dicky was expecting? Sorry, Captain Arrogant- they have more class like that. They are running Curlin for the good of the sport, letting people see him running and not ducking any challenges. He's been exciting for racing, and will go down in people's memories as one of the greats! As for Big Brown- he is a great horse, a beautiful horse, an exciting horse... but guess what Dicky Dutrow? Your attitude is tainting his image. Stop being a greedy, arrogant, rude, crude, classless jerk and let the horse be as beloved at he should be. You are really giving this sport a negative image.

OK! That's the end of that particular rant!

Curlin Responds

Ah, steeds, steeds, what steeds! Has the whirlwind a home in your
manes? Is there a sensitive ear, alert as a flame, in your every
fiber? Hearing the familiar song from above, all in one accord you strain
your bronze chests and, hooves barely touching the ground, turn into straight
lines cleaving the air, and all inspired by God it rushes on!

~Nikolai V. Gogol, Dead Souls, 1842 (translation)

Before Big Brown disappointed in the Belmont, everyone called for the meeting of Curlin and Big Brown. In typical fashion, Rick Dutrow bragged on Big Brown while disparaging Curlin, stating that a meeting between the two horses would be "very bad" for Curlin. The Curlin camp was very classy about all of this, chalking the comments up to the excitement Dutrow had over Big Brown and the Triple Crown.

And then, on Saturday, Curlin himself responded:

He definitely isn't worried about meeting Big Brown.

While other members of that superior 2004 foal crop hang out in the breeding shed, forgotten until their first son's and daughters take to the track, Curlin races on. He's won five in a row, in two different countries. There's talk of him flying to Europe for big races this fall. He keeps taking on the best in the world and winning. This is what racing is all about. This is what makes it exciting. And this is what some in the industry need to remember. It can't be all about the breeding shed; that's not where the memories are made.

Thirty-One Years and Counting

We'll have to wait for our twelfth Triple Crown winner at least one more year. Immediately following the race, one of the ABC commentators suggested that the quest for the Triple Crown is just too hard, and horse racing officials should make some changes to make the goal more attainable. Shortening the races or spacing them out more; just something to make it easier.

Well, guess what? It's supposed to be hard. The Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes that make up the Triple Crown have been run 135, 133 and 140 times respectively. In that long history, only eleven horses have won all three. Their names are carved in history because they are so special, they have accomplished something that few others have. The challenge of the grueling Triple Crown is what makes the winners great. To change anything would be an insult to those that came before. Moreover, it would be an insult to the fans that put their heart and their hopes into one special horse every spring.

Big Brown walked into this race like a winner. While the horses behind him spun like tops at the crowd noise, Big Brown was calm and cool, head held high like he owned the track. At that moment, I felt all the confidence in him was justified. No one has ever looked like such a winner. Then came the slide at the start. The rank head tossing. Being bounced around behind horses. It appeared to me that the other jockey's tried to force him wide and burn him out; something I think Big Brown could have overcome, had he been on his game. And then, he was eased (eased, not pulled up, eased, NOT pulled up, my mind raced), because Kent Desormeaux knew that something was not right and did not want to push him to finish way back in the field.

I saw Big Brown ease, and appreciated the fact that the jockey was protecting his horse who had no hope of hitting the board. A few minutes after the race, I went to see how the announcement of Big Brown's defeat was being received. Honestly, I expected at least some intelligent people to comment how nice it was to see the jockey take care of his horse. Instead, I saw a whole slew of comments about how the horse people are so greedy, they had the horse eased because otherwise, he might die and they would lose the money on the stud fees. So.... horse people are greedy because they beat the horses to force them to win without care of injury pr death AND they are greedy because they don't want their horses to suffer injury or death??? OK people, pick one argument or the other- they don't work together.

What a disappointing, mixed up day. It remains to see how Big Brown comes out of the race. I just hope they let him run again this year. A horse like that deserves to go out a winner.

Belmont Day!

I had a bad feeling last night, when I saw that Casino Drive had a foot bruise, and sure enough, when I got home from work he'd been confirmed a scratch. DAMN IT!

Yes, I secretly would have rooted for Casino Drive right along with Big Brown. I liked him for many reasons, but mostly I would have loved to see a Kentucky horse come back from Japan and win a classic race like a horse should. No steroids. No Bute. All run.

Maybe that makes me cynical; in a lot of ways, I feel really sorry for Big Brown. His owners aren't exactly the Chapman's, the Jacksons or Penny Chenery. You rooted for them to win; they were classy people, loved their horses and deserved the honor of a Triple Crown. It's hard to root for an investment group led by a fraud as an owner. It's hard to root for an arrogant, rude, unscrupulous trainer. Because of this, a lot of people are rooting against Big Brown.

Much as I despise his connections and refuse to root for them (with the exception of his jockey, who would love to show his son a Triple Crown while he still can), I am rooting for Big Brown. While the people around him bathe in greed, arrogance and shady transactions, all Big Brown wants to do is run. And he wants to win more than anything in the world. I want the Triple Crown for him, the horse with more class than all his humans combined.

Go Baby Go!

Nashoba's Key, remembered.

You might remember my enthusiasm for a mare named Nashoba's Key, who I have mentioned in my blog before, at least twice actually. She was a California turf specialist who ran like she meant it. Her race record dazzled, her only out of the money finish was in the 2007 Breeder's Cup Filly and Mare Turf on a disgustingly wet track. I originally started rooting for her because her trainer was Carla Gaines, a female, and I always root for girls taking on the boys. I continued to root for Nashoba's Key because she was tough, high-spirited and mean. As I ranted in January, she should have been the champion turf female of 2007, instead of being robbed by a European horse who only raced once in America.

From what I remember, the reason she didn't start racing until age four was because of her temper. She required special handling to get her to focus her aggression towards running instead of towards people. And once she discovered running, she never looked back; Nashoba's Key was ranked top turf female in the country last year, and still tops that list today.

Since March, Nashoba's Key has been on a well-deserved vacation, and had just returned to training in the last week or so. She was getting ready to chase the 2008 championship, and I for one was certain that she would get it. Sadly, at 5:30 this morning Nashoba's Key became impatient waiting to go to the track for her morning gallop, threw a temper tantrum and kicked the wall of her pen, breaking her leg. The nature of the break, combined with the nature of this wild, high-spirited mare made it impossible to save her.

Part of loving animals and working with them is heartbreak. It's something that I have learned to deal with, especially working in a veterinary clinic. With horses, I sometimes think it is 10 times worse. These accident-prone creatures can go from perfectly sound and healthy to gravely injured with one bad step, one loose nail or one small hole in the pasture. As much as I love her, this mare was not high-profile enough to generate the national attention that Eight Belles and Barbaro did, but I would like to point out that she was not running or being whipped during her accident; she was just being a spirited, full of herself, hot-blooded thoroughbred mare. What a sad day for her owner, trainer, groom and fans. She was a beautiful mare, and I will not soon forget her.

Why couldn't you have taken the $5 bill?

Shocked, sad, heartbroken. Angry, upset, dismayed, disillusioned. Flabbergasted. Confused, hurt and more than PISSED OFF. Am I overreacting? I don't know! All I know is this:

When I left my car to take the puppy in the apartment before going to the store, my Big Brown button was hanging from my rear view mirror. When I returned to the car less than two minutes later, it was gone. I tore my car apart; the button is not there.

Either my button jumped out of the car and went for a walk, then burrowed deep into the car and cloaked itself in an invisibility cloak, or one of my neighbors stole it from my car. My Big Brown button! The button I wore at Churchill Downs while I watched him win the Derby! My souvenir of what could potentially be the first Triple Crown winner in my lifetime. A one dollar item that I wouldn't have traded for one thousand dollars, that I kept with me because it could put a little smile on my face. Every time I got into my car, I had that little reminder of a happy, exciting day, and my mood would brighten. Sure, that part may be a little crazy, but I really treasured that button. Why would someone take that from me? I guarantee that whatever joker took it to be funny or to sell it on e-bay will not get even one hundredth of joy that I got out of my ONE DOLLAR SOUVENIR.

I should be thankful that my Eight Belles button remained safe. I should be thankful that my car wasn't damaged or stolen. But for now, I am sulking. And depressed.

Stupid neighbors!

Poetry in Motion

I have been searching YouTube for the past couple of hours, trying to find a video that had the aeriel shot of Big Brown winning the Preakness Stakes. Finally, I found this:

Right at the 8:56 mark, Big Brown is shown making his winning move with minimal encouragement from his jockey. As beautiful as this race was, you can't appreciate the full extent of this move until you see it from above. He absolutely toyed with this field! Already, there are rumblings that Big Brown is just a good horse in a field of mediocre three year olds, making his brilliance overrated. The same was said of Seattle Slew when he won the Triple Crown in 1977. My opinion? Let's not over analyze every last detail, and just back in the glow of this beautiful horse. After all, we will only have him for another six months at most before he is shipped off to the breeding shed.

I had promised myself that I would devote no further attention to them, but I felt a fresh wave of irritation when I read that PETA had shown up to the Preakness as promised. Fortunately, they were not stupid enough to actually storm the field during the race; instead they protested outside of the gates, showing images of the broken down Eight Belles amidst their claims of animal cruelty. How cruel to this horse's memory, to show sensationalist photos of her death to draw attention to their group. Disgusting images shown for shock value really irritate me, and groups that thrive on those images have no credibility whatsoever. I wonder if they read her necropsy report, which showed no trace of illegal drugs, steroids, bone disease or other abuse. Oh, what am I thinking? Of course the protesters wouldn't have read that, because that would have meant actually getting their facts strait. Heaven forbid!

And seriously, that really is my last word on the PETA subject, as I have already paid them more attention than they deserve!

Let's turn our eyes back to him:

How sweet it is....

The $50,000,000 lure

I can't wait for the Preakness tomorrow, I've been planning my Saturday around it all week! In some ways, the Preakness is the most exciting of all the Triple Crown races. With the exception of a few years (Grindstone's injury in 1996 is the first to come to mind), you always enter this race with one specific horse to root for, and the outcome means that there will either be a Triple Crown hope three weeks later, or there won't be. It's an important day!

Tomorrow, of course I will be rooting hard for Big Brown to continue down the Triple Crown road, but it will be with mixed feelings. Big Brown is owned by an investment group looking to turn a quick profit, which means that they are already in the process of negotiating a stud deal in the neighborhood of 50 million dollars. No matter how exciting the rest of the year is, Big Brown will just go to the breeding shed at the end of it.

I know that horses are an investment for everyone involved with them, but what will there be to invest in when every horse makes two good starts and heads to the breeding shed? I thought that these horses were bred to race, not bred to....... breed. Would Cigar have won 16 consecutive races if he'd retired in 1995? Or would we have had the battle of the Triple Crown winners if Seattle Slew had been retired after his? Would thousands have mourned John Henry if he'd retired right after that first Arlington Million win? These are the horses that captured the imagination of the non-racing fans. Citation, Seabiscuit, Forego- would people have grown up and entered the horse business if they had not seen these horses and been inspired?

Sure, the lure of a stud deal is tantalizing. But at what cost to the sport?

Look at me, way up high!

Suddenly, here is Casino Drive flying down the stretch in the Peter Pan Stakes! Casino Drive, a half brother to Jazil and Rags to Riches is on his way to the Belmont Stakes, and did he ever stamp his ticket in style! His six length victory has made the Belmont, still a month a way, even more interesting than before.

If Casino Drive goes on to win the Belmont Stakes over Big Brown (and that might be a very big if!), he will be the third strait Belmont Stakes winner for his mother, Better Than Honour. Two winners was unheard of; three strait wins for her progeny would be about the biggest accomplishment for a broodmare... ever. I was lucky enough to get to know this mare and some of the other family members, so for me this is even more exciting than if she was just a faceless name in mentioned in the Daily Racing Form.

Triple Crown excitement with a brand new twist? I love this time of year!

One final thought

I know that I vehemently got my point across last night, but I read something on the Daily Racing Form last night that I felt was worth sharing. Someone reposted this from a comment made on PETA's website:

"I work in the racehorse industry. I am a groom. My job is to do everything I can to make the horses happy. I feed, water, clean, keep there stalls spotless, brush - and do everything they might need to be as happy as possible. This is a very tough job with long hours, I get up a 4:30 every morning and don't get to bed until 10 that night. 7 days a week. I sleep in a tack room no bigger than 7 by 7 feet.The wages are very low, 400 dollars a week. Many people would never do such a job, but I do it out of my love for animals. I'm not the only one, there are many hard working grooms dedicating there life to horse racing for low wages and hard working conditions. When you call it a dirty business only associated with wealthy owners you are insulting me and basically spitting in my face. The rage I feel toward your organization cannot be put into words. I would invite you do follow me around for one day to see the hard labor I do to make sure these horses are happy before you write such harsh words about the racing industry."

Yes, there are things wrong in the horse racing industry. I will tell anyone that steroid use and breeding for speed, not stamina absolutely need to be corrected; these are things that the industry is starting to address. But there are things right with the industry too- if not, people like the groom above would have found new jobs long ago.

I don't want to devote any more of my attention to PETA, because upsetting people is one of their goals and I refuse to play that game. However, there is a rumor circulating that during the Preakness Stakes, PETA members are considering storming the field as they race over the track. That goes beyond ignorance; it takes real stupidity not to realize that such an attack is a million times more dangerous to the horses and jockeys than to the protesters. Imagine the terror of those horses if they were to see people running at them on the track. They will spook, jump sideways and crash into each other. The chain reaction would likely take multiple horses down, killing or seriously injuring them or their jockeys. And to accomplish what? I guarantee that the jockeys will not bail off their horses to save themselves- they will put their own lives in danger to safely pull up and protect their horse. The only cruelty seen in that moment will be from the protesters who would put the horses and their riders at such a terrible risk. I'll never agree, but go ahead and protest all you want to- this is America, and it is our rite- but keep it peaceful, respectful and above all safe!

Fuming!

As I lay awake last night, I browsed the Internet and found some articles that made me so angry and frustrated that I could scream. Various journalists have written scathing reviews about horse racing, saying that it is an absolutely cruel act. We are informed in this article that Eight Belle's breakdown was mentioned in a one sentence footnote in the horse racing world (after all, racing fans are cold hearted jerks, right?), and was obviously of no importance. Perhaps this reporter should check the Daily Racing Form, The Thoroughbred Times and Bloodhorse Magazine- all of whom devoted more coverage to Eight Belles than they did to Big Brown. The same is true for my local newspaper. PETA, misguided as always, has thrown their two cents in, calling for the suspension of Eight Belle's jockey because he felt her legs break and then 'beat her mercilessly' to ensure a win, all for the greed of the second place prize money. PETA activists responded to this article with tales of horse woe- my personal favorite was the tale of the mare who's hooves FELL OFF, so the mean owner bolted her feet back to her legs and chained her on her side in a stall for months so that they foal she was carrying would survive and they could make lots of money off of it. WHAT??? COME ON!!

I mean, where do I even start here? Do any of these people bother to research their facts? Have they ever seen a horse before? First of all, it is not possible for a horse to survive for months on their side. Pneumonia and colic would set in within a day or two, not to mention the infection that would occur from her severed feet! The foal would be in distress from the amount of medications necessary to combat these things, and the mare would abort. All that nonsense aside, these mares are insured for thousands to millions of dollars, and the foals they are carrying can be insured once a 64 day pregnancy is confirmed. So greed would not fuel such an act. And, oh yeah- it is not possible!!!!

Secondly, I would love to see a member of PETA break two legs and continue to run down the stretch and then slow down for a further quarter mile before an sign of distress was noted. Can't be done right? Well, a horse can't do it either- even if they continued to try to run as their instinct tells them to do, the break would be obvious. Their attack on Gabriel Saez, Larry Jones and the other connections of Eight Belles is rubbing salt into open and painful wounds. Perhaps PETA and the other critics did not see the photos of her farrier weeping out on the Derby track, or got to hear her owner and jockey decline interviews because it was just too painful. The negative attention they are drawing to an already painful time for every horse racing fan does nothing but taint the memory of this beautiful athlete, Eight Belles.

I also need to point out that the $400, 000 dollar prize money would not have been worth pushing a filly of Eight Belles caliber to a break down. If she had raced through the end of the year, I am sure her earnings would have exceeded one million dollars. By Unbridled's Song, out of Away, a mare who's female family traces back to La Troienne, it is likely that Eight Belle's first foal would have brought much more than $400,000. Considering how many foals she could have produced, I somehow can not image someone giving up such a prospect for one measly second place prize money.

I encourage everyone to read this article in today's Herald-Leader, where Dr. Larry Bramlage (a very highly-respected veterinarian in his field) addresses the concerns of PETA, namely on the issue of whipping, and how it is used as a guiding tool. He states that if the horses were being "viciously" whipped as has been suggested, they would be bleeding and be covered in welts. Even an eight year old learning to ride a pony carries a riding crop- a tap on the side is a signal to the horse. I would like to add that anyone paying attention would note that the whip is used as a signaling device- often, the whip does not even touch the horse, the jockey is waving it in front of their eyes, a "let's go!" signal, if you will. When a horse is running toward the rail, one tap of the whip is enough to catch their attention, to remind him that they are headed in the wrong direction. I have seen many horses saved from injury because they were signaled to correct their course.

And to everyone who claims horses will not die if they are never pushed... well, firstly, she was not being 'pushed' at the time of her injury. Secondly, anyone who has ever worked with a horse will tell you that they will run full throttle through a fence, find every hole they can step in and kick any stall door hard enough to cause serious injury. They will colic during a thunderstorm, cut their side on the one loose fence board in a 20 acre pasture and kick each other right in the head. They are accident prone animals- anyone who loves them knows that freak accidents happen. And like a mother with her child, you protect your horse, you take every precaution but in the end you have to let them do what they love. And thoroughbreds love to compete-it is in their nature. As one intelligent person responded to PETA, after a racing career many of these horses go on to be well-loved pets, three day eventers and other types of competitors.

On a personal note, I have spent a lot of quality time with horses, and a lot of time who's people's lives depend on them. The veterinarian who works 16 hours days, only to be called out of bed two hours later to help a mare who has breached her foal. The trainers at the barn at 3:30am, never getting home before six or seven at night. The farm managers, who know ever horse on their farm and the generations that proceeded them. How dare you call these people cruel? These people who have a symbiotic relationship with the horse, at work hours before most people hit the snooze button for the first time, and still at work when most people are relaxing after dinner. They care for the horses, and the horses give them all they have in return. I challenge these PETA members, these "animal lovers" to talk to me about one time they have sat with a dying horse (or any animal), talking gently to her as she draws shuttering breaths, praying to God that the vet will arrive to end her pain. Wishing that you could turn away from such a site, but knowing that you can't because the love you feel for this animal tells you that you can't let her die alone, with no kind words, no soothing touch to calm her. Each of those experiences takes a piece of you, and you will never be the same, you will never forget that horse, you will smell her in the air and see her in the shadows, and in the end you are a better person for it. I have been in that very position, and I know most people who have worked on racetracks, farms and vet clinics have had the same experience. How dare you, how dare anyone call that cruel? On the flip side, when a horse accomplishes something so beautiful and amazing that you feel like you have glimpsed heaven and beyond, the joy and awe is unfathomable. And when the reporters compliment the training, the ride, the response is nearly always, "He is an amazing horse- he showed us the way, we're just along for the ride."

I am not telling everyone to be a racing fan- everyone is entitled to their own opinion of a sport. But to make a full scale attack on an entire industry based on zero knowledge or understanding, accusing them of being cold-hearted and evil, then going after heartbroken individuals...

Seems cruel, doesn't it?