Looking Forward to 2012

While perhaps not the best way to remember 2011, one of my most poignant memories will be of 9-year-old gelding Secrets Untold, a gallant one-time G3 runner-up who, making his 77th career start today in the listed Lyndhurst Handicap at Doomben, went down after clipping heels shortly after the start. Lying immobile on the turf, the dreaded green screen came out—but then, unbelievably, the old boy jumped to his feet! An unlikely miracle it seemed, but, alas, his condition (a broken shoulder) was such that he had to be euthanized on track in full view of the grandstand. Moments like this break your heart. Sadness replaced by elation, only to be smacked down by anguish. Thus is the emotional fate of any horse racing fan, and too many times in 2011 I felt the tumultuous ups-and-downs of our sport.

However, in the spirit of optimism rather than negativity and regret, here are some of the things I’m most looking forward to in 2012:

1. Undefeated superstar Black Caviar’s return to the track, with a campaign geared towards taking on the world. Without a doubt, her 16-for-16 streak—not to mention the way in which she dominated her competition—made this Bel Esprit mare the most exciting racehorse in the world last year, bar none. After anticipated starts in the G1 CF Orr (February 11) and G1 Futurity (February 25) both at Caulfield, Black Caviar will be aimed for Royal Ascot in June.
2. The continuing internationalization of horse racing and breeding, particularly the welcome influx of German strength and stamina. In 2011, the most apple-pie of American races, the G1 Kentucky Derby, was won by Animal Kingdom—a colt by Brazilian-bred Leroidesanimaux out of the German-bred mare Dalicia. He wasn’t alone in demonstrating quality race horses result from good German breeding. Graham Motion-trained German-bred Sanagas won the G1 Hollywood Turf Cup, while French-born (but entirely German-bred) Stacelita captured the G1 Beverly D and G1 Flower Bowl. And what about 3-year-old German filly Danedream—dominating winner of the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe—not to mention 4-year-old German-bred Be Fabulous, winner of the G1 Prix Royal-Oak (French St. Leger) over 15.5 furlongs? A little stout German blood may do wonders for American dirt breeding.
3. Celebrating the blue-collar horses who prove, day-after-day, that horse racing is ultimately about the joy of running. With so many “quality” horses lightly-raced these days, what a pleasure it is to enjoy the gallant warriors who continue to race with such enthusiasm. Rapid Redux, Awesome Gem, Ravalo, Star Guitar, The Tatling, Mustard, Catlaunch, Joey P, Russell Road—I’ll watch these horses any day of the week, and I do.
4. Yet another crop of promising 3-year-olds on the Derby trail. Admittedly, I can’t help myself—I love the Derby prep races. Once again this year, along with my fellow contributors at Hello Race Fans!, we’ll be picking apart key races for our Derby Prep Alert—sign up now!

 Here’s hoping 2012 is prosperous and healthy for each one of you. Happy New Year!

Year of the Blue-Collar Horse

A post-Breeders’ Cup malaise combined with the arrival of colder weather and the end-of-semester crunch has left me uninspired. Can you say “burnout”? I’m sure I’m not alone in admitting this and yet the sport feels compelled to shove more and more racing at us. With the saturation point already reached, I suspect other fans may feel as I do: if you take a break from it, it’s easier and easier to just forget about the sport altogether.

Over the past month, I’ve watched only a handful of races (including Rapid Redux’s 21st straight winning effort)—and I don’t think I’ve missed much. Each time I looked at the Paulick Report or another industry publication all I read was negativity. Federal legislation signed that could allow horse slaughter plants to reopen in the United States. John Veitch “grossly negligent” in Life At Ten incident. One of Rapid Redux’s Charles Town races being investigated for impropriety. Jockeys injured. Promising contenders injured and out of action. Breakdowns galore. Enough! Let’s hope 2012 is a damn sight better than 2011.

Still, reflecting back, one of the most interesting developments over the past 12 months is the rise of the blue-collar horse, led by Rapid Redux. Oh, the narrow-minded have vocally proclaimed there’s no way he is worthy of an Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year, but, honestly, has there been another horse more consistent or successful at what they do this year than the Pleasantly Perfect gelding? In a year in which no horse—male or female—dominated graded stakes events over any surface or distance, why not make a statement and give the award to a horse that was not only masterfully handled in terms of race placement, but also just flat out ran, giving his best effort each and every time? Watch his races—this isn’t your typical plodder. No matter what distance, at what track, over what surface condition, and with whatever jockey aboard—Rapid Redux did what thoroughbreds are bred to do: he ran, and loved doing so!

He’s not the only claimer or former claimer to capture the imaginations of owners or potential owners everywhere. How about:

Mission Approved: Claimed in June 2010 for $35,000, this 7-year-old stepped up to finish a mere neck back to Gio Ponti in the G1 Man o’War a month later; he began this year with a victory in the G1 Manhattan. Since being claimed, he’s earned $425,000 for the Chatterpauls.

Calibrachoa: Dropped into the claiming ranks last November by owner/breeder Nelson Bunker Hunt and trainer Steve Asmussen, this 5-year-old son of Southern Image was claimed by Mike Repole and trainer Todd Pletcher for $40,000. Over the past year, he’s made $334,500 including three G3 wins and two third-place finishes in G1 events—the Vanderbilt and Cigar Mile.

Juanita: Stakes-placed as a juvenile, owner/breeder Padua Stables dropped this 3-year-old Mineshaft filly down into claiming company in Florida this past winter, where she was claimed for $25,000 in March. For her new connections she made $181,517, including a win in the G2 Indiana Oaks over G2 Fair Grounds Oaks victress Daisy Devine and G1 Frizette winner AZ Warrior.

Jimanator: Claimed in June for $25,000, this 5-year-old Broken Vow gelding has earned $123,720 for his new owners, including a victory in the G3 Fred W. Hooper Handicap at Calder.

I’m sure there are others—feel free to chime in. It’s not just former claimers stepping up in class that made news this year. How about some love for those blue-collar workhorses that just keep plugging away, like 12-year-old West Seattle Boy who won four of his 12 starts this year, including his 105th career start? Or 10-year-old Ohio legend Catlaunch who won five of eight starts, topping $1 million in 91 career races?

In an age in which far too many horses are retired prematurely and barely race, as a fan it’s hard not to love a warrior like Australian G2-placed Mustard, a 14-year-old gelding who recently made his 126th lifetime start, or 14-year-old English-raced The Tatling, a multiple G1-runnerup who capped his career recently with an improbable win in his 176th career race. In case you missed it:

If you didn’t shed a tear at that storybook finish, you haven’t a heart. These are the horses we should be talking about, not the injury-plagued flash-in-the-pan industry insiders too often focus on.

While Havre de Grace may indeed win the Eclipse for Horse of the Year—and rightly so given her performances against Blind Luck and against males in the Woodward—2011 will not be remembered in the U.S. as the “Year of the Chick”—instead, long live the Year of the Blue-Collar Horse! Happy holidays, folks!