Horse racing and other things equine

Spent most of the weekend watching the Breeders Cup. Part of it was carried on NBC sports network channel. The Classic was carried on NBC it's self. Great races ..American Pharoah won the classic by six going away. The farm where he will be sent is about twenty minutes from Keeneland. Okay, twenty if I'm driving, it will be longer for him since he will be in van with police escort. This was a great series of races with the best of the best. Keeneland is an incredible track.

It was fantastic. I watched the Classic later since I was driving when it was on. American Pharaoh gives me hope for Thoroughbred breeding. He has (if I remember right) three of the essential lines in his background, unlike so many of the linebred horses out there. Let's hope he sees mares of many, many backgrounds.

I hope so too. If you ever go to Kentucky make it a point to go to Keeneland.

I will. I know someone who works a lot of horse shows at Kentucky Horse Park. It might be a summer vacation for me to go visit her there.

I've never been to the horse park. Next time I'm there I should go. I found out that the racing manager fired the trainer of Runhappy. The trainer was fired because she refused to send the horse to the track. It was reported that Runhappy had heat and filling in his ankle. The owner by all accounts is a jerk and this is the first good horse he's had. From what I've read he changes trainers more often than I change my socks.

Poor horse. There should be a way to fine those owners or take away their horses. Maybe just take away their racing licenses. I should look at Jockey Club rules. Maybe there IS a way, and the trainers just haven't followed up? (So difficult to deal with horrible people.)

I know. I don't think there is anything the Jockey Club can do. The track vet on the other hand can do a lot.

They could if they were really interested in the welfare of the horses. You have to hope some are.

I hope so too, there are too many young horses that 'break down' on the track.

There's an interesting article in this month's online Equus magazine. http://equusmagazine.com/article/championship-care-29800

The print copy has a great article on American Pharoah and breeding.

Very interesting thank you for sharing it. If you have a chance put it up on FB, I'd like to share it with some racing people I know.

On your timeline.

Thank you.

The Derby was fun and Nyquist is a nice horse. As for a Triple Crown, well my money's not on it. The second horse has an incredible closing kick and some of the rest are not to be sneezed at. I've been following some of these horse since their two year old seasons. Thankful that despite an incident in the Woodford Mile all had safe trips.

I agree. It was a good race, but I just don't feel the Triple Crown magic this year. I didn't think it was a super exciting race. All worked exactly as expected. I'm always glad when all are sound and well at the finish.

It was a good race.....if it had been a bit longer I think Nyquist wouldn't have won it so easily.

I agree, Exaggator was showing a good late turn of foot.

Will make Belmont interesting.

I read a story about 2 horses who died at Pimlico on Preakness day. They weren't Preakness contenders, but their deaths are sad. One broke her leg on the track and was euthanized, and the other won his race and had a heart attack 10 minutes later.

And... Nyqvist won't be running in the Belmont because he has a fever and an elevated white blood cell count. I'm glad they decided not to run an ill horse.

It was sad about those two horses. One of them belong to the owners of Barbaro. Homeboykris the horse that collapsed they are having necropsied.

How sad for those two who died.....I heard about that one belonging to the same folks who had Barbaro.

Any news On Nyquist? Is he better now? I am glad they didn't make him run when he was feeling puny.

Haven't heard anything. I guess that means that either he still has a high white cell count or things are fine. There would definitely be stories if things were worse. :\

He has shipped back to California with plans to prep for either Saratoga or the major fall races.

So they're giving him plenty of time to get better and back in shape for running. Good...shows they care more about him than about making money from him.

Nyquist has retired to Lane's End if I'm not mistaken. The Breeders Cup was this weekend and while there were some really great races, on the whole it didn't leave me with warm fuzzy feelings. I think it may have to do with California tracks.