My Soapbox for Equestrian Writings
One of the fun parts of getting a thoroughbred off the track is that sometimes they have quite famous lineage, but just got the slow genes rather than the fast. It’s a thrill to ride a horse who’s father raced as a favorite in the 1991 Kentucky Derby (he came in 5th) and won some […]
Read MorePlease read this inspiring story about Lorita Lindeman, a trainer known at the track as the Angel of Suffolk Downs. It appeared in the Boston Globe on September 7th. Lindemann has been a force to be reckoned with when it comes from saving thoroughbreds from the Killer. She was one of the leaders in the […]
Read MoreAs racing begins to wind down for the season at Suffolk Downs, the number of horses that will need non-racing careers is beginning to rise. Given the uncertainty facing the economy, there will be more horses than ever who need a soft landing. If you are looking for a “prospect” or just a horse to […]
Read MoreWe’ve all seen the listings or read the stories about horses that gave their heart and soul to the racing industry, won hundreds of thousands of dollars, and are now racing in the the lowest level claiming races with uncertain futures. Well, thanks to some crusaders in the racing industry some of these horses are […]
Read MoreWhen I lived in Cleveland, I used a (well known) vet with a lot of race horse experience for PPEs. I watched while he vetted a horse that ran until he was 10 and had absolutely clean legs. He was clean as a whistle. This vet commented that horses that can stay that sound on […]
Read MoreOn June 27th, Suffolk Downs announced a zero-tolerance policy against selling horses for slaughter by holding trainers responsible for their horses. Trainers who are found to have shipped horses to slaughter will have their stalls revoked and will be denied stall space in the future. The track management should be commended for taking this stand […]
Read MoreThe mystery surrounding Phar Lap’s death in 1932 in Menlo Park, Calif., has finally been solved: scientists have confirmed that the horse died of arsenic poisoning. Researchers Dr. Ivan Kempson of the University of South Australia and Dermot Henry, manager of Natural Science Collections at Museum Victoria, took six hairs from Phar Lap’s mane and […]
Read MoreThe breakdown of Eight Belles in the Kentucky Derby this year and Barbaro in the Preakness last year started a lot of discussion about whether modern thoroughbreds are now bred for speed at an early age rather than durability. The bloodhorse published a Stallion Durability List that ranks stallions by the number of foals, the number […]
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