The Darley International Student Program has selected its 2014-2016 class of trainees for its two-year Darley Flying Start scholarship.
The Flying Start program allows trainees to learn and experience management operations in various segments of the Thoroughbred industry at points around the world. The 2014-2016 class will commence their training at Kildangan Stud in Ireland on August 18, and will eventually spend time in England, Australia, Dubai, and the U.S.
E Dubai, runaway leader of Pennsylvania’s sire list in 2012 and second to the late Rockport Harbor in 2013, has kept up his momentum after moving to Maryland for the 2014 breeding season. The 16-year-old son of Mr. Prospector tops the state’s general sire list through May 4 with more than $1 million in progeny earnings, over $150,000 ahead of Maryland’s stalwart sire Not For Love. Both stallions stand at Northview Stallion Station’s Maryland division in Chesapeake City, for $5,000 and $15,000, respectively.
Any Given Saturday is in the midst of his best season at stud, as the 10-year-old son of Distorted Humor leads the Pennsylvania general sire list with nearly $2.15 million in progeny earnings through May 4. That number also places the Pin Oak Lane Farm stallion among the top 15 general sires in North America. Momentum was unfortunately stalled in early May when Any Given Saturday’s breakthrough star Hoppertunity was declared from the Kentucky Derby due to injury.
The victory of California Chrome at Churchill Downs two weeks ago was only the fourth by a California-bred in the history of the Kentucky Derby. No horse bred in the Mid-Atlantic region has won the Derby since Smarty Jones in 2004, but there is an obvious regional connection in California Chrome’s pedigree.
DRF Breeding staff writer Joe Nevills analyzes the Preakness Stakes field, in post position order, in the form of Haiku; a Japanese poem of 17 syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five.
Dynamic Impact
Illinois Derby
Yields highest last-race Beyer
Who saw that coming?
General a Rod
The late addition
Ran true to form at Churchill
Which is to say, “meh”
California Chrome
King of the Derby
Faces a less daunting task
It’s his race to lose
More Than Even was named the Oklahoma-bred horse of the year during a Friday awards banquet put on by the Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma. The event was held at the Hard Rock Hotel near Tulsa.
More Than Even was also honored as the 3-year-old filly of 2013 for a season in which she swept both of her division’s offerings at Remington Park, the Te Ata Stakes and the Useeit Stakes. Overall, she won five of 12 starts last year, for earnings of $157,928. More Than Even, a daughter of Stephen Got Even and the Dehere mare Sallybrooke, races for her breeder, Doyle Williams.
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.
Crusader Sword had resided at the Old Friends satellite facility since late summer 2010, after being pensioned from stud duties. He spent the last several years of his stud career at Foggy Bottom Farm in Geneseo, N.Y.
At its core, California Chrome’s Kentucky Derby victory is a “local boy makes good” story.
The chestnut colt was foaled and raised at Harris Farms in Coalinga, Calif., which is also the home of his sire, Lucky Pulpit. California Chrome never raced outside of his home state until the Kentucky Derby, and even his name furthers his status as a living billboard for the statebred program.
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.
Katherine Martin, 83, had seen enough of her hospital room in Iron Mountain, Mich., on May 1. She was being treated for the flu but, feeling better, was ready to leave.
With a better offer in Louisville, Ky., a few days later, she checked out of the hospital, despite pleading from nurses.
“They told her, ‘Mrs. Martin, you could die,’ ” recalled her son, Perry Martin.
“She said, ‘I know I could die, but not until I see my son’s horse in the Kentucky Derby. I’m ready, and I’m going.’ ”
