LEXINGTON, Ky. - As of 4:45 p.m. Eastern on Monday, a $360,000 colt by recently deceased sire Unbridled was the top lot on opening day at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's October yearling sale in Lexington.
Trainer Niall O'Callaghan signed as agent for the colt, who is out of the stakes-winner Debit My Account. The colt is the first foal for his dam, a Classic Account mare who earned $448,642. Viking Stud (Rick Littrell), agent, consigned the chestnut colt.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Champion and successful young sire Unbridled, winner of the 1990 Kentucky Derby, was euthanized Thursday evening at 14 after a case of severe colic.
Unbridled had undergone two abdominal surgeries last month, and when he colicked on Thursday afternoon, attending veterinarians at the Hagyard Davidson McGee clinic in Lexington felt that the horse's symptoms were inoperable and terminal, according to Claiborne spokesperson Charles Koch.
After 30 years spent working at several of central Florida's biggest breeding farms, Jim Scott decided earlier this year that the time was right to go into business for himself.
Scott, 47, and his wife, Michaelyn, bought 212 acres of land in Ghent, N.Y., in the spring and named the property Liberty Stud Farm.
The Scotts already have five stallions at Liberty Stud Farm - All Gone, Badge, Brushed On, Mancini, and Sea Salute - and are working on getting more to fill their eight-stall stallion barn.
ELMONT, N.Y. - From 50 starters in the 17-year history of the Breeders' Cup, California breeders have produced only one winner: Tiznow in the 2000 Classic.
At least, they are on a winning streak.
Next Saturday, when the eight Breeders' Cup races are run at Belmont Park, three California-breds are expected to start. Queenie Belle will be a longshot in the $2 million Distaff, Officer will be favored in the $1 million Juvenile, and Tiznow will attempt to become the first repeat winner of the $4 million Classic.
During the first weekend of October, designated as Ocala Week by those in the Florida Thoroughbred industry, there was a feeling that something was missing in Ocala. That missing something turned out to be people. There should have been more people at the social functions, the meetings, and at the OBS fall mixed sales, Oct. 8-11.
True or false: The Maryland Million is an event for Maryland-breds. The answer is false.
The Maryland Million, an annual event that has become the state's the second-biggest day of racing behind the Preakness, is restricted to Maryland-sired runners. Both the stallion and the prospective runner must be nominated, but the runner's birthplace is irrelevant.
ELMONT, N.Y. - From 50 starters in the 17-year history of the Breeders' Cup, California breeders have produced only one winner: Tiznow in the 2000 Classic.
At least, they are on a winning streak.
Next Saturday, when the eight Breeders' Cup races are run at Belmont Park, three California-breds are expected to start. Queenie Belle will be a longshot in the $2 million Distaff, Officer will be favored in the $1 million Juvenile, and Tiznow will attempt to become the first repeat winner of the $4 million Classic.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Seattle Slew was a exceptional racer. A champion each year he raced, winner of the Triple Crown, and the best and soundest horse of his generation, Seattle Slew met every challenge and won 14 of his 17 starts.
Yet even the most brilliant racing records will tarnish without the added luster of descendants who carry on the line and renew the glories of sires and dams year after year. In this also, Seattle Slew has proven a splendid animal, and last weekend, the 27-year-old stallion was represented by his 100th stakes winner.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Jockey Club reported Thursday that the number of stallions and mares bred in North America during the 2001 breeding season has declined, a factor that could translate into thinner auction catalogs in 2003, especially at middle- and lower-market sales.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Graham Beck's Gainesway Farm in Lexington has pensioned prominent stallion Irish River, sire of North American champions Paradise Creek and Hatoof, at the age of 25.
Michael Hernon, Gainesway's director of sales, said that Irish River's retirement "is based purely on his declining fertility."
Irish River, a two-time French champion and son of Riverman, covered 40 mares in 2000 and got 19 live foals this year, according to statistics from The Jockey Club.