Horse Racing News 7-9-06

[two gun sid]

From The Bloodhorse:
Lava Man Noses Way Into History Books

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=34326


English Channel Handles United Nations Foes

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=34322


Junior Eclipses Rivals at Sandown

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=34321


Ankle Fracture Knocks Brass Hat Out of Action

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=34314


From Thoroughbred Times:
Asmussen to begin six-month suspension Monday

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/todaysnews/newsview.asp?recno=64904&subsec=1

[aaronbees]

1. Barbaro update .... critical few days ahead

Barbaro's definitely hit a rough patch in his recovery. Saturday he had a plate and screws replaced and the pastern seems to be of concern, on top of cast changes this week. Keep him in your good thoughts and prayers O8) :grouphug:

Here's an update from a Fair Hill trainer (with the latest New Bolton press release): http://www.timwoolleyracing.com/news/2006/07/barbaro_updates_2.php.


On Lava Man ... haven't seen the race but from what I've heard it showed his grit. I would love it if he comes out of Cali and beats up on the East Coasters this year ... we'll see.

[Justpat]

2. Barbaro had additonal cast replaced again.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=34343


http://www.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=34344



How is Mickey doing?

[two gun sid]

3. We finished 3rd at Lake Odessa after spotting the competition...

15 lengths. We got beat by 2 1/2.

We put him in a qualifier at Hazel Park last friday and finished 2nd. I think we are going to Hastings next. Try to step up the difficulty. Mick's perfectly happy loafing.

How are you guy's doing?

OB, do you know much about EPM and recovery from the disease?

[Justpat]

5. I sent you a message about the EPM

[two gun sid]

6. Thank-you.

[aaronbees]

4. Great article on Cigar....

that mentions his "magic button." It's about his glorious run 10 years ago.

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=498141&category=SPORTS&BCCode=&newsdate=7/9/2006&TextPage=1

Still the people's choice
10 years ago, Cigar's magical run transcended racing

By TIM WILKIN, Staff writer
First published: Sunday, July 9, 2006

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Former jockey Jerry Bailey called the white spot on the horse's neck the "magic button."

He was talking about Cigar, a thoroughbred machine who made everyone a racing fan with a magical winning streak in the mid 1990s.

"Not too many people know about this," Bailey said, reliving his time astride the great horse. "He had a bright, white spot beneath his mane. I called it the magic button, and I don't know where it came from. He had a certain amount of magic in him and God-given talent that lasted far more than any other horse I have ever been around."

Thursday marks the 10-year anniversary of Cigar's 16th consecutive victory, tying Citation (1948-50) for the longest streak ever in North American thoroughbred racing. Less than a month later, on Aug. 10, Cigar's bid for history went up in smoke with a second-place finish to unheralded Dare And Go in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar.

** rest at the link **

[two gun sid]

7. Nice article...

To be honest, I was not one of Cigar's fans. I kept saying, "Oh, he not that good, he's gonna get beat."

That horse beat everybody they ran against him and he gave me a beating at the window. He was one of the great ones and I was completely wrong about him.

Oh, and Bailey is turning into one of the best commentators on the sport I have ever seen or heard.

[Justpat]

8. I agree.

I think Jerry educates the public about racing instead of just sitting there shooting the breeze
and acting cute like some of those guys. He's really good.

He was always most the intelligent rider in the room and now he is the most intelligent commentator
on racing shows.

[aaronbees]

9. I wasn't in the game then....

I sort of dropped out of horse race following in the '90s ... guess I got hearbroken a couple too many times and just got other interests sparked, so I missed out on the Cigar hoopla. From what I've read, he sounds like quite a character, and you can't argue with 16 straight. Guess I'm pretty partial to horses that come on in year four and beyond; youthful speed just doesn't impress me much anymore.

In my book, he and John Henry are the two best since your fave, the Bid. What do you think?

[two gun sid]

10. I missed most of John Henry's career...

while I was implementing Ronnie Reagan's crazy foriegn policies. What I did see of him makes me think he is the greatest living racehorse.

Other than John, I loved Sonny Hine's Skip Away and I think Risen Star was underrated. I'm kinda goofy about horses though. I can get excited about 4000 claimers at Mountaineer. Every racehorse impresses me. Shit, I have a picture of Riva Ridge on my living room wall.

Oh, and a picture of John Henry in my office.

[two gun sid]

11. Barbaro condition grave

From DRF:
Barbaro, the Kentucky Derby winner who fractured his right hind leg in the Preakness Stakes on May 20, has developed the serious hoof illness laminitis in his left rear leg, and his chances of survival have "significantly diminished," Dr. Dean Richardson, the chief of surgery at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center, said at a press conference Thursday morning.

Asked about Barbaro's chances of survival, Richardson said, "Poor."

"It's very guarded at this point," he said. "But it isn't unheard of" that Barbaro could survive, though the process is now far more complicated and lengthy. "It's a long-shot. I'm not going to sugar-coat it," Richardson said.

Richardson said that Barbaro's owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, have made it clear "their only concern is his comfort."

http://www.drf.com/news/article/76394.html

Truly sad news for Barbaro and his connections. Sometimes, horses seem to be such fragile creatures. Beautiful, magestic and brave but fragile.

[Justpat]

12. severe laminitis

http://www.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=34393


Well, this really is terrible news.


Good description of laminitis here:

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/todaysnews/newsview.asp?recno=65041&subsec=1

[aaronbees]

14. It's heartbreaking....

There are some pics up on Yahoo's horse racing page; he still looks alert to me, though a little more weathered and thin (as he did on Preakness day). His courage is just amazing.

I've been pretty tearful about this all day, but trust the Jacksons to do right by Barbaro.

Ultimately, he'll be the one who makes the decision, I think.

Laminitis is just about the worst thing he could develop, it seems to me. It'll take a miracle now, but think of all he's achieved that also seemed miraculous and unlikely.

[Awsi Dooger]

13. Yeah, I just saw that on another site

Something about 80% removed from his hind leg. One person close to the situation said it would take a miracle. Another said a decisision could come within 24 hourts. Such awful news I don't even want to read any more about it.

[aaronbees]

15. Barbaro's "white spot"....

Very interesting .... I was looking at some pictures Barbara Livingston put up of Barbaro, and there's one of an unusual white spot on his left hind ankle, reportedly a symbol of speed and good luck, a la the Godolphin Arabian.

Check it out here: http://www.barbaralivingston.com/gallery/album161/Whitespot.

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16. Independent firm to inspect Arlington racing surface

From Thoroughbred Times:
The Illinois Racing Board at its July 11 meeting decided to hire an independent consultant to inspect the racing strip at Arlington Park to determine if it has contributed to 21 catastrophic breakdowns since the meeting began May 5.

Arlington hired Joe King, a national authority on track surfaces, to inspect the track on June 26. He pronounced it "firm, consistent, and uniform throughout."

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/todaysnews/newsview.asp?recno=65032&subsec=1

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17. Independent Inspection Shows Arlington Surface Safe

From The Bloodhorse:
A two-day examination of the dirt surface at Arlington Park revealed nothing that would lead officials to believe the track is unsafe.

Because of the 17 breakdowns thus far at the meet, the Illinois Racing Board authorized the hiring of Charles E. Coon & Sons, an independent copmpany that designs, constructs, and maintains racing and training tracks for Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds.

In a July 15 letter addressed to IRB executive director Marc Laino, Gregory Coon confirmed he had conducted a two-day inspection of the track surface that included measurement of the depth of the cushion and evaluation of the stability and firmness of the pad. The analysis was performed under both wet and dry track conditions and at various positions on the track.

Coon found that the surface was "remarkably consistent and uniform." He observed no aspect of the track that he would consider unsafe, and remarked positively upon the knowledge and abilities of the Arlington track superintendent. The results confirm the analysis previously performed by an outside expert obtained by Arlington Park

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=34468

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18. Human Error

From The Bloodhorse:
By Christine Janks
Who is the advocate for the horses? Recently, a rash of breakdowns at Arlington Park has prompted media attention. Interestingly, the Chicago Tribune, which does not even publish entries or results on racing at Chicago-area tracks, seemed to lead the pack with the most coverage on the subject.

Undeservedly, the track surface has drawn most of the blame, even though the jockeys, exercise riders, and a great many prominent trainers have all said it was fine. Other "experts" were called in and also pronounced it excellent, which it is.

The "problem" then became a mystery. Or is it? I offered my own thoughts and suggestions in a commentary published in the Chicago Sun-Times, a newspaper that does publish racing information. Following are some excerpts from that commentary:

There is no mystery to me why we are having all these breakdowns. Even one is horrific, but when I see breakdowns occurring on almost a daily basis, I feel that finally the time is right to point the finger back where it belongs. Trainers are responsible for the health of these horses, and along with the owners choose when and where to race them.

http://opinions.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=34352