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Sean Clancy You need the win. You always need the win. Every horse, every race, you need the win. Whether it’s for the owner, the trainer, the jockey or the job, when you participate in Thoroughbred racing, you need the win. It’s your team, your decisions, the wins can be culmination, reclamation, affirmation or salvation – sometimes all four.
My dad’s first big horse Owhata Chief, winning the Samuel K. Martin in 1979. We called it Essex, it was a good meet, but far from the best meet. That would change.
Nothing like a Saturday. All the stars come out for British Champions Day. There’s the rematch between Time And Motion and Catch A Glimpse at Keeneland. The return of Theory at Belmont Park. Of course, Far Hills is streaming live, too. Here’s your Saturday Special for October 15. As always presented by our friends at Pin Oak Stud.
And the finale. Still going strong? The New Jersey Hunt Cup caps off the banner day of racing at Far Hills. With a stakes at Middleburg last week and another one at Great Meadow next week, the timber horses are stretched thin, only six wind up here.
The Appleton at Far Hills has carried many conditions over the years and this year’s version brings together horses rated from 140 to 110. An eclectic group, some with eyes squarely on the $50,000 prize while others are providing days out for their connections.
The Foxbrook Champion Hurdle at Far Hills has questions. Will Hardrock Eleven jump straight? Can Castle Hill handle the jump from maidens? Can All That Rules stretch them out? Will Swansea Mile improve in his second start here? Can you draw a line through Ice It’s effort at Belmont Park.
Well, here we go. Light the match. The biggest day on the American steeplechase scene. One Lucky Lady and Get Ready Set Goes clash in the Peapack, the openenr on the stellar seven-race card.
Sean McDermott had to make a decision at Shawan Downs in September. The veteran jockey chose Two’s Company among three timber horses entered by Jack Fisher. It was the right decision as the Irish-bred won the $25,000 timber feature.
Two weeks later at the Virginia Fall Races Oct. 8, McDermott had it easy in the National Sporting Library Museum Cup, returning on Two’s Company, the only runner from Fisher’s deep barn in the $40,000 stakes.
A quiet, rain-soaked Saturday morning. Quiet house. Horses slogging through the soft turf outside the front window and outside the back window.
Where’s Hurricane Matthew? Where’s the family? Where’s Trump and Hillary? Ah, who cares…sit back and enjoy Saturday gems from Newmarket, Keeneland, Belmont Park, Charles Town…everywhere. Here’s your Saturday Special presented as always by our friends at Pin Oak Stud.
