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Sean Clancy British trainer George Baker circles two dates on his calendar every year. The Iroquois Steeplechase in May and the Cheltenham Festival in March. Training from the Manton Estate, Baker sent out Belgian Bill to win the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot last year. TIHR caught up with Baker for the first installment of Cheltenham’s 10 Questions.
Monday Morning. Snow. Again. The long, arduous winter careens on, tenacious, unforgiving. Dictina’s Boy, Royal Bonsai, Three Steps Ahead and Border Agent love it; they gallop, buck, roll, dance in the snow. Loose horses always look fast, puffs of air billow from their nostrils, snow erupts with each hoof fall – call Budweiser and offer new … Read more
Quote of the Day: “That’s right, buddy.” Trainer Wesley Ward, who runs Royal Ascot winner No Nay Never at Gulfstream Saturday, when told he can dress more casually. Watch No Nay Never win the Norfolk Stakes. Name of the Day: L. A. Freeway. In Gulfstream’s fifth, the 3-year-old colt is by Run Away And Hide … Read more
“Don’t read them.” That’s my advice to those who complain about the critics. The critics are out there, they’ll always be out there. Whether you own a horse or wrote a book or run a restaurant or coach a team, the critics will swipe at you. The Internet has honed the knife – sharp and … Read more
Henry R. C. Elser died February 6. Known for his omnipresent cigar, wry wit and passion for Thoroughbred racing, the longtime owner and breeder of flat and steeplechase horses, Elser was 90.
Monday night, sitting on the couch, toiling with an article that wouldn’t end, the Olympics playing in the background, a long day winding down, when my friend Mark Hennig sent me an email. I cried for two girls. Madison Holleran, a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania, committed suicide, jumping from a roof in Philadelphia … Read more
One from the archives, thought it might put us in the mood, as Cheltenham looms, a month and a day…. Nicky Henderson peered through his binoculars, clutching them like he had caught two rats by their necks. Then he lowered them and checked the infield big screen. Then he picked up his binoculars, watched. Again, … Read more
Countdown to Cheltenham…32 days to go. My wife answers her phone early this morning, she’s talking about Cheltenham plans before she’s poured her coffee. “Well, he runs on Tuesday, Sean’s going to go early, he likes to get a good run at it. I think I’ll come over Sunday, stay for a few days…” I … Read more
“Dad, pretend you’re an astronaut and you’re being chased by a comet.” Working from home. I actually tell the person on the phone, “Hold on, a comet is chasing me.” Miles sick and Annie studying, missed skiing Friday, watched racing Saturday, Super Bowl (or whatever you want to call it) Sunday, now it’s beginning to … Read more
