My Soapbox for Equestrian Writings
I don’t follow harness racing, but even I have heard of Bulldog Hanover, considered to be the fastest harness horse in history. He recently topped off his career with another record-breaking win in the $345,000 TVG Series Open Pace championship on November 26th, improving on the previous track record by two-fifths of a second. The […]
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A buffalo that races horses? It sounds like something from the old West, but Harvey Wallbanger, the racing buffalo is a relatively recent phenomenon. In 1980, a small herd of buffalo, owned by Collin “TC” Thorstenson, was attacked by poachers, leaving a bison calf orphaned. TC, who worked on the Milwaukee Railroad, bottle-fed the calf […]
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Hold onto your hats! These zebras live up to their reputation of being difficult rides. The biggest challenge is getting at least ONE of them to cross the finish line! Want to see more exotic racing? Visit Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota. In the meantime, I’ll leave the zebra racing to the professionals.
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Right now I have a special interest in studying equestrians recovering from broken bones. How long before they rode again? How injured were they? Did it make them more cautious. For example, champion UK jockey Ruby Walsh fractured his tibia at Punchestown in November, but he set his sights on the Cheltenham Festival, which starts […]
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Okay, it wouldn’t be much of a competition if I tried to run 22 miles, even if both of my legs worked, but in this annual competition in Wales, more than 630 runners and 60 horses compete (the initial race, in 1980 had 4 horses and 29 runners). This yearly competition in Wales attracts more […]
Read MoreWow, does this look like fun! Love that it’s a non-Thoroughbred race. These are Irish hunt horses out for a good gallop. This was the first time this race has been held. Rumor has it that next year they might even hold it over fences.
Read MoreThis annual event always brings a smile to my face. I can only imagine how much the ground shakes as these magnificent horses gallop by! This year’s race was won by Midge, ridden by with Noel Fehily.
Read MoreAmerican Pharoah led wire to wire in the Breeders Cup Classic, crossing the wire 6 and a half lengths in front of Effinex and making it look easy (again). It was a definitive win that should quiet his detractors. Unfortunately, it was also his last race — he now retiring to stud. It’s actually pretty […]
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