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Sean Clancy In July, Charlie LoPresti thought he had a mare who might make a jumper. Wise Dan’s trainer saw Sean Clancy, the only jump guy he knew, and asked him if he was interested. The next morning, Reeve McGaughey walked a big, rugged, presence-filled bay out of LoPresti’s Rice Road Barn at Keeneland. It was July 10.
Irv Naylor and Cyril Murphy topped their three-win day at Far HIlls when Ebanour rallied in the waning strides to nail Schoolhouse Woods in the New Jersey Hunt Cup. The timber stakes attracted a full field of 11 and Gus Dahl rated Ebanour last, well off the pace set by Naylor’s Tax Ruling before gradually working into the race from the outside.
Saturday. Far Hills Steeplechase. Finally writing about a big day for Riverdee and SWC Bloodstock. I should have banged it out from the top of the hill, the car ride home or at least Sunday morning when it was fresh and immediate. Ah well, as the great Rich Rosenbush told me many years ago, “Stop apologizing for writing – or not writing – and write.”
The road to steeplechasing can be straight and true for the players – Dad rode jumpers, son rides jumpers. But for the horses, the road to steeplechasing is usually a winding one, with ups and downs, u-turns and exit ramps and on ramps.
The Big One. The American Grand National. Worth $300,000, it’s the richest race of the year, and like every year, has attracted a stellar field. This year, it has an international flare with British import Hunt Ball and Irish import Eshtiaal invading to attempt to topple 2014 champion Demonstrative.
Welcome to steeplechasing. Three-year-olds take the next tepid step in their steeplechase careers. Three of the eight make their career debuts while the other five exit the first 3-year-old race of the year at Shawan Downs. Tie on, jocks.
By popular demand, or something like that anyway, the team will do Closer Looks at all seven races on the Far Hills card Saturday. They’re a good way to get acquainted with the horses, the races, the tasks at hand.
I don’t see enough horses. I don’t write enough. Two problems I need to correct. I simply make more money selling horses than I do writing about horses. Not that I like the former more than I like the latter, but it’s the simple truth of life at 45. Maybe it’ll change some day. But, for now, it’s reality.
Laird George pivoted left and walked out of the stall, “Come on Champ, let’s go.” Demonstrative stepped out of the stall, ambled next to George, reins dangling in the wind tunnel created by the center aisle barn at Whitewood Stable in The Plains, Va.
Sorry, it’s been a while. Took a break after Saratoga. A big, long, welcoming break.
You know it’s fall when you wind up in a field on a Saturday, watching horses run and jump. Shawan Downs put on a stellar show Saturday, hosting seven races over ground listed as “good.” The description might have been a stretch, but there was a cut in the ground and it made a big difference to the racing. Horses made divots. Yes, divots. One faller all day, and he jumped up and ran off. Fun day at the races.
