Fri, 11/22/2002 - 00:00

Stallions dispersed at Wycombe House

Wycombe House Stud, which used to be the property of the late Phil and Georgianna Hofmann, has become a private nursery and all of its stallions have been relocated, according to a spokesperson for the farm.

Owner Sean Kelly is currently in Spain and unavailable for comment.

Worldly Manner, the Riverman stallion with first yearlings in 2003, has been shipped to California. Intidab, by Phone Trick, another with first yearlings in 2003, has moved to Gallagher's Stud in New York.

Fri, 11/22/2002 - 00:00

Crystal M.'s lone foal Castling making momma proud

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Ideally, the broodmare Crystal M. would have provided owner Bill Currin with several foals after she was acquired in the 1990's.

But fate did not work out that way. Crystal M. had one foal, Castling, and never got back into foal.

"I bred her back to Pirate's Bounty, but she did not get into foal," Currin said. "Then she was pensioned. She died a couple of years ago."

Fri, 11/22/2002 - 00:00

Reflecting on '02, many a star lit up Western scene

The best performers in Canadian racing in 2002 will be honored at the Sovereign Awards on Dec. 7 in downtown Toronto, and while most of the trophies will be awarded to Ontario-based horses, there were plenty of outstanding runners in the western provinces this year.

Paul and Maryl Shatzko's homebred Shacane is a leading contender for Canada's top 3-year-old colt or gelding in a division that failed to yield a standout runner in Ontario this year.

Fri, 11/22/2002 - 00:00

D'wildcat finally fulfills his promise

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Neither wind, nor rain, nor a cold splash of mud in the face could keep D'wildcat from adding a Grade 1 success to his resume last weekend. Victory in last Saturday's Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash at Laurel Park put a premium mark of success into the past performances of D'wildcat, and that simple addition is immensely important to the stud value of the son of Forest Wildcat.

Grade 1 stakes signify competition at the highest level, and their value as indications of quality is not lost on the stallion managers and breeders across the country.

Fri, 11/22/2002 - 00:00

Pedigree buff's advice pays off big time for Perozzi

Ron Perozzi is not afraid to take chances. His view on life is "if you don't live on the edge, you are taking up too much room."

Perozzi and his longtime trainer, Lupe Preciado, took a chance and shipped their Philadelphia Park-based 3-year-old filly Caught in the Rain to Churchill Downs for the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere Stakes on Nov. 16.

Wed, 11/20/2002 - 00:00

Rubiano, champion, dead

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Rubiano, 1992's champion sprinter and the sire of millionaire Burning Roma, died Tuesday at Lane's End Farm in Versailles, Ky., after developing complications from laminitis. The stallion was 15.

A statement issued by the farm said Rubiano was euthanized.

Wed, 11/20/2002 - 00:00

Pure Prize retired to Vinery

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Grade 2 winner Pure Prize has retired from racing and will join the stallion roster at Vinery in Lexington, Ky.

Pure Prize will stand for $7,500 and will be partially syndicated.

Pure Prize, a 4-year-old Storm Cat colt, is out of 1994's champion 3-year-old filly Heavenly Prize (Seeking the Gold). He is a Phipps Stable homebred.

Tue, 11/19/2002 - 00:00

Prestons dispersing their stock

Art and Stephanie Preston, who operate Lone Oak Ranch in Marquez, Texas, plan to disperse all of their breeding stock during the Fasig-Tipton Texas mixed sale at Lone Star Park near Dallas on Dec. 15. Art Preston and his brothers Jack and J.R. have campaigned such horses as Da Hoss, Victory Gallop, and Groovy.

A total of 303 horses have been cataloged for the one-day sale, which will also feature the 21-horse dispersal of owner, breeder, and trainer B.L. Littleton.

The Prestons are offering 104 horses, including 59 broodmares.

Tue, 11/19/2002 - 00:00

Wolf Power dead at age 24

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Wolf Power, former South African horse of the year and Gainesway stallion, died Friday in his stall of a ruptured aorta, Gainesway announced Monday. He was 24.

Wolf Power spent his racing career in his native South Africa, where he was a champion juvenile in 1980, champion older horse in 1983 and 1984, and Horse of the Year in 1984.

Wolf Power retired in 1984 as South Africa's all-time leading money earner with $650,370. He traveled to the United States to begin his stud career in 1985 at The Alchemy in Versailles, Ky.

Tue, 11/19/2002 - 00:00

Fly So Free pensioned from stud

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Fly So Free, 1990's juvenile champion and the sire of Grade 1 winner Captain Steve, has been pensioned from stud duty at Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Ky., because of a heart problem, the farm announced Tuesday.

The 14-year-old son Fly So Free "developed a heart condition that could be aggravated by continued breeding activity," Robert Clay, owner of Three Chimneys, said in a statement.