LAS VEGAS - Dirt or turf? Years ago, horses were strictly bred for either dirt or grass, but after 30 years of crossing American-bred racemares with stallions who had an abundance of turf influences, nearly every Thoroughbred today has some grass in its pedigree.
Hurricane Frances killed nine people and left downed trees, mangled houses, and flooding as she crossed Florida. But as of Tuesday morning, the state's Thoroughbred breeding center of Ocala had no major injuries or loss of life.
A school maintenance worker in Marion County, where Ocala is located, died Monday, falling off a ladder after inspecting a school's roof for damage.
Marion County had more than 96,000 customers without power on Tuesday, and major farms were doing without electricity and, in many cases, phone service.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The long influence of William G. Clark Sr. was obvious Thursday at the late horseman's graveside funeral. More than 150 mourners crowded the narrow lanes of Lexington Cemetery, including, it seemed, most of the town of Midway, Ky., where Clark had lived for about 50 years.
"There's no one left in Midway today but the fire chief," one attendee said, looking around the crowd that had come to pay its respects and tell stories about Clark, who died Aug. 30 of complications from diabetes.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Last weekend's racing results had a distinct Overbrook flavor, which was accompanied by more than a hint of catnip. The nip of the Cat was felt twice in Grade 1 stakes, as daughters of Overbrook's star stallion Storm Cat won at the country's two most prestigious resort meetings: Champion juvenile Storm Flag Flying defeated champion Azeri in the Personal Ensign on Friday at Saratoga, and Sweet Catomine, a maiden entering the race, won the Del Mar Debutante on Saturday.
DEL MAR, Calif. - The California-bred Moscow Burning, third against males in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap last weekend, might be supplemented to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Lone Star Park on Oct. 30, trainer Jim Cassidy said on Friday.
Cassidy has proposed making the $90,000 supplemental nomination to the partnership that owns the 4-year-old filly, who has won 3 of 8 starts and $457,600 this year.
Northview Stallion Station's newest addition has settled in at the farm in Chesapeake City, Md., and if his new career is anything like his previous one, the 2005 breeding season can't arrive soon enough.
Great Notion, a stakes-winning son of the nation's current leading sire, Elusive Quality, is a stallion "who offers breeders lots of speed with a pedigree to back him up," says Richard Golden, one of the Northview owners. Now 4, Great Notion retired earlier this year after winning or placing in 7 of 12 starts and earning $194,608.
The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association estimates that 10,000 yearlings in central Florida will soon begin preparation for the 2-year-old sales or the races. Few will be broken and schooled using the method known as long reining.
The long-rein method of basic training schools the young, raw Thoroughbred to become totally responsive to the commands of the trainer.
Some of the best Canadian-bred runners in 2004, including Prince of Wales and Breeders' Stakes winner A Bit O'Gold, are graduates of Ontario's annual sale of Canadian-bred yearlings. There are 529 chances to find a potential star at this year's auction, which starts Tuesday.
"We came within a half a length of selling a Triple Crown winner," said Glenn Sikura, president of the Ontario division of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society, referring to A Bit O'Gold's loss in the Queen's Pate.
Fasig-Tipton's Texas yearling sale, expanded to two days this year, eked out a gain in average price despite the addition of about 100 horses to the catalog this year. The two-day sale, which ran Monday and Tuesday at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Tex., ended with increases across the board.
The auction's top price was the $130,000 that Jimmy Davis, agent, paid for a Tejano Run colt in the Gabriel Thoroughbreds consignment. The colt is a son of stakes-placed To Geaux, by Zuppardo's Prince, and is a half-brother to 2004 stakes-winner Crawfish King and to winner Geaux Gabriel.
LAS VEGAS - Calder has always been a haven for 2-year-old racing, and it now has its own unique racing day - a day devoted strictly to juveniles. Calder will present 13 races, including the Affirmed division of the Florida Stallion Stakes for colts and the Susan's Girl division of the series for fillies.