Crusader Sword, a Grade 1 winner for the late Paul Mellon's legendary Rokeby Stables, died due to the infirmities of old age May 10 at Old Friends at Cabin Creek: The Bobby Frankel Division near Greenfield Center, N.Y. The son of Damascus was 29.
California Chrome’s success has helped serve as a morale booster for the state’s breeding industry, which had been on a 51-year drought since Decidedly became the third California-bred to win the Kentucky Derby in 1962. He has also given the program its biggest equine celebrity since Horse of the Year Tiznow’s dominance in the early 2000s.
About the only significant accomplishment missing from both the racing and stud careers of A.P. Indy was a victory in the Kentucky Derby. Over the last two years, however, his sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons have filled that void quite nicely.
Perry Martin and co-owner-breeder Steve Coburn realized the dream of every small breeder, watching California Chrome develop from the winner of three stakes for California-breds last summer and winter to the leading 3-year-old in the nation. California Chrome has won 7 of 11 starts and earned $2,552,650. He will be a heavy favorite to win the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 17.
The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment noted in its May 8 Ag News report that a sizeable population of eastern tent caterpillars are mature, have dispersed from trees, and are on the move.
Multiple Group 1 winner Al Kazeem has returned to training after he was found to be subfertile in his first season at stud, Racing Post reports.
Grade 2-placed Heritage Hall has been retired from racing and will begin his stallion career at David Spears Racing in Hartshorne, Okla. The 8-year-old son of Unbridled’s Song will stand the 2015 breeding season for an advertised fee of $1,000. Because of his late start in the breeding shed this year, he will stand free to approved mares for the remainder of the 2014 season.
Al Bahathri, a cornerstone broodmare for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Shadwell operation, died at Derrinstown Stud in County Kildare, Ireland, Racing Post reports.
Applications for The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program’s 2014 non-competition awards are now available.
Jared Burdine has been named general manager of Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Lexington, Ky.
