Giving Horses a Home

Horses are bred to race, bred to breed more, and that we do. It has been a bit of a topic on the blog here with horseplayers. We tend to care about what happens to the horses we bet on; it is quite emblematic of the game. It was with particular horror when everyone found out that Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand was sent to slaughter in 2002.

We aren't seemingly able to give much good news on this front, but recently we got some. Alysheba, Ferdinand's rival in a couple memorable battles, has been sent back to the US as a gift to the racing fan. he will be spending his days in Kentucky at the horse park, in a stall that was reserved for John Henry.

"His Royal Highness King Abdullah realized how much Alysheba means to American racing fans and we are grateful for this magnanimous gift of one of his favorite horses to our country," said John Nicholson, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Park. "We are grateful as well for the great care His Majesty has provided for Alysheba."

Alysheba's comfort on the overseas journey was of prime concern to King Abdullah, who arranged for the Derby winner's two-month pre-export quarantine to be spent in the luxury of the Nad al Sheba Quarantine Center in Dubai.

"Shipping a 24-year-old horse is not without risk, so we had to take every precaution to ensure that the process was stress free," said Frank McGovern, manager of King Abdullah's stables. "We are very thankful to the Nad al Sheba Quarantine team for the care and attention they gave Alysheba during his stay there."

Sometimes stories have a good ending, and this is a good one. People out there really care for these horses and we have come a long way the past while in giving them a home. Harness racing has also stepped up to the plate as it was approved recently that a fraction of purses in Ontario will go to retirement homes.

Below is the Breeders Cup Classic in which both these horses raced each other, and raced their heart out. One of these great horses who gave everything for their owners, trainers, and fans made it to live a long and happy life. One did not. The one that did not however, just might save some of his brothers.



Ferdinand is pictured above in Japan, before he was sent to slaughter.

Joe Kennedy and Horse Racing; And the Poll!

In 1929, so the story goes, the markets were flying high. Every stock touched would roll. At a hotel in Manhattan Joseph Kennedy heard from a bell boy a few stock tips. This resonated with Joe and made him realize that when bell boys are giving him stock tips it is time to get out of the market. He divested heavily.

In early 1929 Joe was worth $4M. In 1935 he was worth $180M.

Fact or Americana fiction? Who knows, but it does make a good story.

Similarly we have the case of Doug. Doug is a horseplayer, a six figure one and a member of the Bris Horseplayer Hall of Fame. He is also a horse owner. He has been for a long time and he loves the game of racing.

Here is his full bio:

Hajck's first introduction to the races was on October 28th, 1974 when he watched a 16 year old kid boot home his first win ever aboard Oregon Warrior in the 6th race from just outside the fence at Yakima Meadows. That kid's name was Russell Baze.

In 1976, Hajck attended college in Santa Barbara and later moved to Los Angeles where he managed nightclubs while honing his handicapping chops at Santa Anita, Hollywood Park, Del Mar, Pomona, and Agua Caliente. Opportunity joined technology in 1989 when he moved to Lancaster, CA, just two blocks from the Satellite Wagering Facility featuring simulcasts from across the country.

In 2003, Hajck was named to the Brisnet Handicapper's Hall of Fame where just some of the tickets he has cashed are documented.

In 2007 he attended his first Kentucky Derby and savored the flavor of racing in the Bluegrass, and at the same time was hired as a Fan Educator at Emerald Downs in Seattle, WA where he was a 25% partner in Four Star Stables.

He continues work on his novel, SINGLING DEEP, a mystery/fiction suspense thriller with a racing backdrop set in the Pacific Northwest.

But on October 25th, he left the game forever.

And he is telling his story on the Horseplayer Association website.

Just like when Joe Kennedy heard the masses overbuying stocks was a signal of impending doom, when we see passionate people like Doug leaving the game it is a terrible sign. Horse racing is in your blood and it is thicker than water. It is one tough game to give up. Racing should pay very close attention to what people like this have to say.

You can read Doug's first piece here. I will let people know when other parts of the series are posted.

The Poll

Big news. This week the fella that was voting for Mister Big changed his vote..... to Dewey.

Dewey increases his lead in the Hambo poll.

Herb is burning the midnight oil on his weekly poll. How far will Mister Big fall off his 8th place finish, if any? Will Nebupanazzer jump this week, being the best 2YO in racing? How about Enough Talk, will he move up off another stakes win?

His work is starting and he will have his weekly poll up tomorrow to answer all these questions.

Sunday Notes

The Horseplayer's Association's President Jeff Platt has written an open letter to horseman and tracks regarding all the fighting going on right now in the US.

This is exactly the kind of mess the industry doesn't need at a time when the last thing the industry needs is any kind of mess at all.

Everyone involved in this mess - EVERY board member of the TOC, THG, TVG, YouBet, TwinSpires, and everyone on every board at EVERY track in North America: ALL OF YOU should be hanging your heads in shame over this.

YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR BIGGEST ASSET: THE CUSTOMER.

HANA has mentioned that they do not have enough Canadian clients and they want more. Sign up here if you want to. It is for a good cause and it's free.

Tomorrow's standardbred Hambletonian Poll should be interesting: Shadow Play won again, and Mister Big came 8th, probably because of sickness. He did not look good at all. I wonder if the one voter that ranks Mister Big first each week will change his vote?

Darryl Kaplan in his monthly take on racing shouts a similar mantra. I was going to comment on this, but frankly, the piece speaks for itself. If you only read one thing about racing this month, make it this.

Nice to see Churchill Downs go to high def on their broadcasts. Racing in high def is pretty awesome.