News

From the December edition of Steeplechase Times.

Jack Fisher gazed and appraised Three Hundred and Popplestone after his duo finished second and third in the maiden at the Colonial Cup. Two maidens, blowing hard, checks earned, going home. “I can’t believe they let the winner up the inside,” Fisher said, half to himself, half to his jockeys. Then Fisher turned toward owners Andre Brewster and Sheila Williams.

From the December edition of Steeplechase Times.

Racehorses, especially steeplechase horses, place owners at the intersection of good news and bad news. Every owner waits for the collision. For every good call, there is a bad call. Actually, it’s more like a 1-5 ratio. No owner is immune. The more horses you own, the more collisions.

From the December edition of Steeplechase Times.

Matt McCarron handed the saddle towel to the clerk of scales, slid two pounds of lead from his leather pad, and stepped on the scale for the final time. McCarron had just won the Colonial Cup with a last-to-first sweep from Jacqueline Ohrstrom’s Demonstrative.

From the December edition of Steeplechase Times.

Janet Elliot and Richard Valentine stood outside Shadwell’s hospitality room in Park Paddocks, Left Yard at Tattersalls, October 2010, in Newmarket, England. A thousand horses on their minds, Timeform Guidebooks dog-eared, scribbled on, digested and dissected, tucked under their arms. Elliot had just finished a cup of tea (with milk, water must be boiling). Valentine, coffee. Shadwell’s Johnny Peter-Hoblyn choreographed the show, showing horses while his wife, Isabel directed Hyphen Bloodstock’s tour. Elliot and Valentine had another list, another assignment, ready to go. Then Elliot dropped her tea cup.

From the December edition of Steeplechase Times.

Bernie Dalton turned and pointed to a bay filly in a corner paddock in Camden, S.C. “There’s the champ,” he said. Then he pointed to another bay filly in another paddock. “And there’s the linebacker,” Dalton said. The champ, Cat Feathers, and the linebacker, Lillehammer, never looked up.

From the December edition of Steeplechase Times.

They can come from anywhere. Hall of Famer Burley Cocks cultivated a championship season from Flying Cottage in 1962. Jonathan Sheppard produced one with Haffaday in 1967. James Hruska designed a title run with Valley Hart in 1960. Grover Stephens won one with Gillian in 1956.

I don’t endorse candidates, but if you’re a voter make sure you go to the poll. Every year, many Eclipse voters abstain from the jump category – using the excuse that they don’t know enough to make an educated decision. Well, get educated. Read up, study some video, look at the past performances and make a decision. Or read this. And if you aren’t a voter, read anyway and understand the work that goes into the process.

From the December edition of Steeplechase Times.

The last fence of the Colonial Cup. For 42 years, it’s provided the moment; champions crowned, titles won, careers made, win and it’s forever. There are bigger purses, there aren’t bigger races. If timing is everything, the Colonial Cup is everything.

From the December edition of Steeplechase Times.

Brian Crowley laughed at the question.

“What will I miss?” he repeated, and took a long breath. “. . . the money?  To be fair, I’ve had a good relationship with the lads in the weighing room. They’re a good bunch of people. And just the excitement of going out there and riding racehorses. The whole aspect of it, being involved in the schooling and the training, the racing, the lads, all of it.”