My Soapbox for Equestrian Writings
What a great race pitting the great Beholder against unbeaten 3-year old Songbird. They take it right down to the wire! Try not to look at the caption before you watch the race. Just know that Beholder’s jockey, Gary Stevens, called it a “street fight.” “It was fun to be part of a battle,” Stevens […]
Read MoreThere’s been a lot of discussion since the Belmont about the use of a “rabbit” to set the early speed in a race. Of course, it’s nothing new. The video above shows the great Damascus with — and without — his rabbit, who was named Hedevar in his races against Dr. Fager; a horse that […]
Read MoreI always get a kick out of this event. It seems particularly appropriate to watch as a way to get ready for tomorrow’s Preakness!
Read MoreEvery year since 1625 the ancient town of Siena, Italy, has turned its main Piazza into a race course and it’s famous Palio race (named after the Italian word that means “banner” which is the prize given to the winning Contrada of the race). A thick layer of dirt is laid over the cobblestones and […]
Read MoreWho says draft horses can’t run? Check out this race — and it’s exciting finish — of Shire horses in England. Certainly the thundering of the hooves coming down to the finish line must have been impressive in person as these horses stood between 17.3 and 18.2 hands and weighed about a ton. Read more: […]
Read MoreGreat article yesterday on the New York Times Racing Blog about Philotimo, an OTTB who was rescued from a neglect situation. Glad to see the good news stories featured — a soft landing for the gelding and responsible former racing owners who stepped up to the plate and helped fund his rehab. Of course, there’s […]
Read MoreOne of the great puzzles about Sheldon has been his reluctance to go forward. I’ve restarted a few OTTBs and one thing they always had was a well established “go” button. Given his long and successful racing career, I knew that Sheldon had to have one too. I suspect that something must have happened to […]
Read MoreHorse racing’s Triple Crown — awarded to the horse that wins the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes — hasn’t been achieved since Affirmed won it in 1979. When he won it, he was the third horse to do so in the 1970s, making it seem almost easy. Certainly, with Secretariat winning the Belmont by […]
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