Tiznow expected to race next year

Michael Cooper, the controlling owner of Tiznow, the 2000 Horse of the Year, said it was likely Tiznow would remain in training next year at age 5.

"As long as he's sound, he'll run," Cooper said Tuesday morning, after Tiznow completed a routine gallop in preparation for Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic. "He's lightly raced, and it's a bad time to try to stand a horse from a financial standpoint."

Saturday's race will be only the 15th career start for 4-year-old Tiznow, who has raced just five times so far this year. He had a six-month break from racing this year because of a sore back.

Tiznow is by Cee's Tizzy, out of the Seattle Song mare Cee's Song, a pedigree that is not wildly fashionable in these uncertain economic times. Cooper put out a few feelers regarding standing Tiznow at stud, but did not get any substantive financial offers.

He said Tiznow's popularity in his home state of California is also a factor in the decision. "There's no question he's dearly loved," Cooper said.