Miss Temple City to miss Keeneland
Trainer Graham Motion said that stable star Miss Temple City will not run at Keeneland thanks to a minor injury and some missed training time at Palm Meadows in Florida last month.
Joe Clancy
Irish War Cry looks to wake up Derby chances
If losing his status as a major player on the Kentucky Derby trail bothers Irish War Cry, he’s not showing it. Tuesday morning about 9:30, he was asleep standing up with his head pointed southwest – at the back wall – and in a bit of sunshine trying to work its way into the stall. A few hours later, he was sprawled out – facing east this time – on his right side.
New York, New York
They’re crowning the New York-bred champions of 2016 Monday night in Saratoga Springs. The night showcases some signature performances by Thoroughbreds foaled in the Empire State – including Mind Your Biscuits, Haveyougoneaway, Willow U and a slew of others.
Rick Abbott’s Horse Who Changed Everything
Bloodstock agent, sales consignor and breeder Rick Abbott gives credit to broodmare Christmas Strike for changing everything. She produced nearly $1 million worth of horses to sell at auction – helping fuel Charlton, the sales consignment business Abbott owned with his wife Dixie. The Abbotts retired last year, and expected to enjoy at least a few more years of Christmas Strike and her foals. She died this month at 19.
Dixon Stroud’s Horse Who Changed Everything
An amateur steeplechase rider, polo player, owner and race meet director, Dixon Stroud has worn more than his share of hats in the horse industry. He won the 1984 Maryland Hunt Cup aboard Bewley’s Hill, a horse Stroud trained for his wife Lisa. But, Stroud’s Horse Who Changed Everything is a polo pony who came to Pennsylvania by way of Montana. His name was Snort.
Throwback Thursday: Good Night Shirt Part II
Good Night Shirt, Part 2. Last week’s Throwback Thursday reviewed the new Hall of Famer’s early steeplechase days – from 2005 maiden win to 2007 championship. As good as that climb was, Good Night Shirt’s 2008 campaign rivaled that of any steeplechase champion in history.
Throwback Thursday: Good Night Shirt’s climb to the top
Time flies. Or something like that anyway. Wednesday, two-time champion Good Night Shirt and trainer Tom Voss were announced as steeplechase inductees into Thoroughbred Racing’s Hall of Fame. We covered both extensively in Steeplechase Times, The Saratoga Special and thisishorseracing.com
Good Night Shirt, Voss reach Hall of Fame
Good Night Shirt, the Eclipse Award winner for champion steeplechase horse in 2007 and 2008, and the late Tom Voss, a five-time National Steeplechase Association leader in wins and a three-time leader in earnings, have been elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame by the Museum’s Steeplechase Review Committee.
O Dionysus gets two-turn test in Private Terms
Everybody knows the 3-year-old preps in Florida: Holy Bull, Fountain of Youth, Florida Derby; in Louisiana: LeComte, Risen Star, Louisiana Derby; in Arkansas: Southwest, Rebel, Arkansas Derby; in California: Robert Lewis, San Felipe, Santa Anita Derby; and in New York: Withers, Gotham, Wood Memorial.
But how are you with the Maryland path to the Triple Crown races?
Throwback Thursday: Mullinses storm Kentucky
Willie Mullins won four races at the Cheltenham Festival Thursday, which might be a career to some people rather than simply a day. But win four Mullins did. The Irish trainer sent out Yorkhill, Un De Sceaux, Nichols Canyon and Let’s Dance to victories, erasing a winless two days to start the world’s biggest steeplechase meet.
It certainly wasn’t the first time a Mullins did something improbable in racing, and won’t be the last.
