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.’ ”
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.
The report advised farm managers to keep pregnant mares away from areas where the caterpillars have been spotted to avoid foaling complications.
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.
The 6-year-old son of Dubawi stood at Queen Elizabeth II’s Royal Studs in Sandringham, England for an advertised fee of $30,527 (18,000 British Pounds). He was the subject of an insurance claim after he failed to meet fertility requirements. Racing Post reports that he got around 25 mares in foal this year.
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.
“Al Bahathri lived out her final years in retirement at Derrinstown and, until recently, had remained healthy despite her advancing years,” Stephen Collins, manager of Derrinstown Stud, told Racing Post. “However, recently she passed away peacefully."
Applications for The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program’s 2014 non-competition awards are now available.
The program offers two awards in the non-competition category. The Thoroughbred of the Year Award recognizes a Thoroughbred that has excelled in a non-competitive career, such as equine-assisted therapy or police work. A $5,000 grant will be awarded to the non-profit organization associated with the horse or to a horse-related charity chosen by The Jockey Club.
Jared Burdine has been named general manager of Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Lexington, Ky.
Burdine is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a degree in accounting. He joined Hill ‘n’ Dale as an intern in 2004 and last served as the farm’s assistant controller before taking his current position.
Grade 3 winner and sire Chelokee died May 2, per the University of Arizona Equine Science Program Facebook page. The son of Cherokee Run was 10.
Chelokee was bred in Kentucky by Gulf Coast Farms Bloodstock, and was purchased by owner Centennial Farms for $290,000 at the 2005 Keeneland September yearling sale. He is out of the Grade 2-placed Silver Ghost mare Dixie Ghost, who is also the dam of Grade 2 winner and Louisiana-based sire Salute the Sarge and stakes winner Mymich.
Zenyatta, the 2010 Horse of the Year, will not be bred in 2014, according to a news release on the horse’s official website.
The 10-year-old Street Cry mare has produced three foals, most recently giving birth to a War Front filly on April 20. She foaled Cozmic One, a Bernardini colt, in 2012 and the Tapit colt Ziconic in 2013.
Owned by Jerry and Ann Moss, Zenyatta has resided at Lane’s End in Versailles, Ky. for her entire broodmare career.
Much has been written about California Chrome’s pedigree over the past three months, ever since the 3-year-old son of Golden State stallion Lucky Pulpit drew raves with a 5 1/2-length victory in the California Cup Derby on Jan. 25 at Santa Anita. The scrutiny only intensified afterward, as California Chrome in succession took the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes and the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in dominant fashion to head into the Kentucky Derby as the clear favorite.
