Racing Ponies

Russell Baze, one of horse racings best of all time finds himself two wins away from the all time record. Here is a great article from the Times noting that incredible feat.

Here's the news from Keeneland and good news it is. Keeneland auction is an indicator of what is coming in the next racing season and here it is.

he Keeneland November Breeding Stock sale in Kentucky almost matched its 1999 record as international purchasers took advantage of favorable exchange rates.

During the sale, 3,147 horses changed hands for a total of $313.84 million, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported. The sale was strongest in the middle range with the average price of $99,728, down slightly from last year.

But there were some strong individual sales. Breeder Aaron Jones spent $6.1 million for Half Ours, sired by Unbridled's Song, setting a record for a horse in training. Jones bought out his partner in the colt.

Geoffrey Russell, Keeneland's director of sales, said in addition to the exchange rate efforts to publicize Kentucky-bred horses around the world have paid off.

"This is where the world comes to shop, and we should all feel blessed that they all want to come to Central Kentucky to buy our horses," Russell said.

Not only the greatest purse in racing but the greatest day is racing was held last week at the famous Churchill Downs. The Classic was truly that with a surprise winner.

Golden Gate, where Goodwill Ambassador won his first and only race, gets a new track surface. While controversial this surface is going to be installed in all the major California tracks within the next few years in hopes of reducing leg injuries. Lets hope this does in-fact get the desired result.

Goodwill Ambassador is officially retired. Sad but true. After a few months to recover from the tendon injury Goodwill will be sold to a private party and retrained as a riding horse. That is going to be one fast riding horse. It will take some time for him to calm down and get used to a slower pace but he will be fine and will make some young rider very happy. God speed.

What is horse racing after all if not a game? Contests of strength and endurance are one of this civilizations longest traditions. I am no expert on the origin of games only to say that they have been around from the moment two people or perhaps animals first met and fought over food. Although aberative games and their victories certainly give one a feeling of satisfaction.

Games and their quality depend upon the tone level of the individuals playing them. The highter to tone the better the game.

Here is the latest on GoodwillAmbassador. It seems to me that he needs a touch assist.

It is about 9:40am PST and I just received a call from Dr. Shields regarding GOODWILLAMBASSADOR's tendon. Unfortunately he does have a new lesion in his tendon. It is one small hole below the previously damaged area.

If there is a bright side to this news it is the fact the original damaged area is fine. If he had reinjured the same area I would say it was not worth moving on with him. The fact that it is a new area and if treated with more stem cells and it holds then we may still have a racehorse.

Dr. Shields believes we still have some stem cells in the Stem Cell Bank and I would suggest we give him one more chance. I am sure you know, as gelding he has very little if any value. As a racehorse it is unlimited.

I have already made arrangements to van him to Dr. Shields facility Winner's Circle Farm in Bradbury, CA to perform the stem cell injection as soon as we can.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please do not hesitate to call me.