Barbaro Updates: 1014
Posted June 29, 2011updates are now here.
Update 6251: I am making some changes regarding how the book is sold on Amazon. The outcome of the changes, for now, means I need to sell my stock of the book at Amazon, which I have now discounted to $22.99. Hope this will help those who have waited, or perhaps those who are planning to buy more copies as gifts, or to donate to libraries etc.
Update 6250: Looking for feedback on this “flyer”, which is designed to broaden the appeal of the book, while also pushing holidays sales: Barbaro book flyer.
Update 6249: I apologise for the sporadic nature of these updates!
Here is a new excerpt from the book, where I discuss the horse slaughter issue: from the chapter: My Own Journey.
Update 6248: A couple of things I forgot to acknowledge last weekend, great wins by Lentenor and Goldikova.
Now back on the road, Saratoga for a couple of days, and then Indiana!!
Update 6247: The second half of the three yr old season gets under way this weekend with the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga and the Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park serving as key races for the Travers Stakes late in the Saratoga meet.
TwinSpires.com Weekend Stakes: Where To Watch
Update 6246: Frankel was incredible today, enjoy the performance: Frankel vs Canford Cliffs * Sussex Stakes 2011.
Update 6245: Wednesday we have a race to savor at Goodwood (U.K.) with 3yo Frankel, who is undefeated and considered the best horse in the world, taking on Canford Cliffs who most recently defeated the great Goldikova. It is a short field, but has the potential to be a great contest: FRANKEL CAN SEE OFF CLIFFS.
Update 6244: This week’s ABR Facebook Group update: Rewilding, Nathaniel, Workforce, Pool Play, First Dude, book signings, Kindle version.
This facebook group e-mails a general update once per week on Tuesdays. You will not receive any other e-mails from this group.
There’s no getting around it, this last week was a sad week for horse racing. Rewilding, who had been spectacular less than a month ago at Royal Ascot, lost his life after taking a bad step in the King George on his return to Ascot. Any fan of racing felt the loss of this star. We love our sport, we hate these moments as we love our horses. The race was won by the 3yo Nathaniel, Workforce was runner up, and he may also have sustained an injury. Here is the report, but I would not watch the replay: http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2011/07/23/nathaniel-wins-king-george-rewilding-fatally-injured.aspx
The Del Mar and Saratoga are now underway. Nothing too noteworthy in terms of the racing thus far, although attendance has been encouraging.
The older horse division lost two more stars state-side last week. Pool Play is out of action indefinitely. He had just won his biggest race of his career, winning the Stephen Foster (G1). First Dude is retired. He won his first Grade 1 race in the Hollywood Gold Cup, and was being touted as one of the leaders of the older-horse division. There is no doubt this division is weak, as it has been for the last few years (bar the distaff side), but this current division is as weak as it gets.
On the book front an interview was published last week where I discussed the development of Alex Brown Racing, and the writing of the book. Hopefully there are some useful insights for those interested in social media. This is part 1 of that interview: http://bloombergmarketing.blogs.com/bloomberg_marketing/2011/07/about-alex-brown-i-am-a-horseman-who-is-also-an-internet-marketing-geek-i-have-ridden-horses-all-my-life-and-i-have-bee.html Recently I have been planning more book signings, getting ready for Saratoga and other events, and I will be at the Haskell this weekend with the book. I am also in the planning stages to release a Kindle version of the book. It will be interesting to see how that goes, but it should be available within the next month!
cheers, alex
Update 6243: A couple of Grade 1 races this weekend stateside, including the Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga: Twinspires.com Weekend Stakes: Where To Watch.
The race with the most quality this weekend is the King George at Ascot. Last year’s Epsom Derby and Arc winner Workforce takes on a small field of real quality: WORKFORCE READY TO SHINE.
Update 6242: This week’s ABR Facebook update: Blind Luck, Havre de Grace, Life at Ten, Delaware Park, Virginia Derby, Breeders’ Cup & Lasix, Del Mar, Saratoga, Book signings
This facebook group e-mails a general update once per week on Tuesdays. You will not receive any other e-mails from this group. Apologies for this being a day late, something was up with the group message system yesterday.
The highlight of racing last weekend was clearly the duel between Blind Luck and Havre de Grace in the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap. These two mares had met on a number of occasions before, and there was a lot of anticipation ahead of this clash. Many times we are let down at a time we expect the most, this time we were not. It was a short field of five, which also included the somewhat controversial Life at Ten.
Life at Ten led the field quite comfortably, but was overtaken by Havre de Grace as if she was tied to a post. Just at that time Blind Luck started to gather momentum from the back of the field. Truly the stretch run between these two mares exceeded any expectations anyone could have had for the race. Blind Luck just got up in the end, by a nose. It is a race you can watch over and over, and truly enjoy: http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2011/07/16/blind-luck-wins-delaware-handicap.aspx
Congratulations to Delaware Park for hosting what has to be the race of the year so far, in the United States. It was a Grade 2 race that had the class of a Grade 1 race, at a time when we are used to seeing Grade 1 races with Grade 3 runners. Lets also hope these two mares keep meeting; they bring some excitement to our sport!
I attended the Virginia Derby over the weekend at Colonial Downs, with a book signing. It was a fun evening, and the Derby turned out to be a pretty competitive race in what is a wide-open 3yo division at this point of the year: http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2011/07/16/air-support-wins-virginia-derby.aspx
The best news of the week, last week, was the news that Breeders’ Cup intends to ban race-day medication by 2013: http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2011/07/14/breeders-cup-phase-out-race-day-medications-by-2013.aspx If we are serious about moving away from race-day medications, we needed some organization to make the first move. Credit to Breeders’ Cup for doing so. Honestly though, I think that while lasix is a problem, a larger problem is the use of bute and cortisoid steriods in the joints. But we shall see if that ever gets discussed seriously.
Keeping things short this week, as I am a day late. Del Mar and Saratoga are ready to open, so the summer seasons are now in full swing! I am planning a number of book signings during the Saratoga meet. I am also planning a fall schedule which currently includes heading out to California, the Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park and a couple of events in Indiana: http://alexbrownracing.com/wiki/index.php/Book_signings All fun!
cheers, alex..
Update 6241: Racing seasons end this weekend at Hollywood Park and Belmont Park, Saratoga and Del Mar begin their boutique meets next week. Hollywood Park hosts the only Grade 1 stake this weekend, the American Oaks, but the best race of the day is the Delaware Handicap. It is a short field, but Havre de Grace and Blind Luck continue their rivalry, and are joined by Life at Ten.
I will be at Colonial Downs, doing a book signing. It is their biggest day of the year, the Virginia Derby and the Virginia Oaks: Twinspires.com Weekend Stakes: Where To Watch.
Hopefully a fun day of racing, and selling the book!
Update 6240: This week’s ABR Facebook Group message: Cape Blanco, Lasix, Gio Ponti, Hayley Turner, Dream Ahead, Chantal Sutherland, Dudes, Rosie Napravnik, Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue.
This facebook group e-mails a general update once per week on Tuesdays. You will not receive any other e-mails from this group.
The highlight of racing week, last week, was the win in the Man o’ War Stakes by European invader Cape Blanco. Close to the pace throughout the mile and 3/8ths Turf event he drew away by a little over a couple of lengths over U.S. star Gio Ponti. Gio Ponti was looking to win this race for the third year running and get back into the winner’s circle, but it was not to be: http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2011/07/09/cape-blanco-wins-man-o-war.aspx
Cape Blanco was a nice 3yo in Europe (Group 1 winner) who seemed to have lost his way a little this year. After reading the above article, the first thing that crossed my mind, which was not noted in the article, is whether Cape Blanco ran on lasix in the Man o’ War, something he cannot do in Europe. Sure enough he did. His next potential start might well be the Arlington Million, another race in which he will be able to use the race-day bleeder medication. This is interesting in light of the current debate in our industry about the use of race-day medication. Clearly Cape Blanco’s team is pretty happy we do allow the use of lasix over here!
Cape Blanco was ridden by Jamie Spencer, a star rider in Europe has had a few less enterprising experiences over here in the past. His commitment to ride in the Man o’ War over the weekend helped provide the opportunity for female phenom jockey Hayley Turner to ride a Group 1 winner in Europe under Dream Ahead in the July Cup: http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2011/07/09/dream-ahead-wins-july-cup.aspx Hayley is only the second female jockey to ride a Group 1 winner in Britain.
Over on the west coast another female phenom jockey, the gorgeous Chantal Sutherland who is also featured in my book, almost won a Grade 1 on Game on Dude in the Hollywood Gold Cup. She was second, beaten a whisker, by First Dude: http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2011/07/09/first-dude-wins-hollywood-gold-cup.aspx What this race illustrated, more than anything, is there really is no standout on the west coast right now.
There was plenty of other graded stakes action in the U.S. over the weekend. I spent time at Delaware Park on Saturday (two graded stakes and the Barbaro Stakes) signing books. It was a great afternoon! Unfortunately for jockey Rosie Napravnik, she had been injured earlier in the week and will be out for a while. If she was healthy, she would have had a banner day!
On Sunday I went up to upstate New York to a showing event that showcased Off Track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) to benefit Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue: http://www.akindalehorserescue.org/ It was a fantastic afternoon, and I even helped out a little: http://twitpic.com/5o8s8j
That’s it for last week! cheers, alex
Update 6239: A couple of top class older horses are in competition today. With good performances they could make strides for voting in the (wide open) older horse division this year. Gio Ponti will attempt to win the Man o’ War at Belmont Park for the third year in a row. It won’t be easy but he will likely be the favorite. On the other coast Twirling Candy looks to bolster his credentials in the Hollywood Gold Cup. Much closer to home we have a nice stakes schedule at Delaware Park this afternoon, which includes the Barbaro Stakes. I will be on hand, with my book! It is also a big day at Calder, with their “Summit of Speed” program: Twinspires.com Weekend Stakes: Where To Watch.
The big race, this weekend, in the U.K. is the July Cup at Newmarket. Another sprint with a deep field as is more typical of the top sprint races in Europe. Australia’s Star Witness is one of the very noteworthy runners: DREAMING OF CUP SUCCESS.
I have a busy weekend with the book. I will be at Delaware Park at afternoon on Saturday. On Sunday I will be in upstate New York (Berne) at a showing event that celebrates OTTBs: Shadowbrook Farms Equine Facility.
Update 6238: Here is the Alex Brown Racing Facebook Tuesday update: So You Think, Workforce, Courageous Cat, Uncle Mo, Timeform Rankings, Book.
And copied here:
This facebook group e-mails a general update once per week on Tuesdays. You will not receive any other e-mails from this group.
The highlight of the last week was clearly the match-up between Australian super star So You Think, and Epsom Derby and Arc winner Workforce, in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown (U.K.) So You Think had recently tasted defeat at Royal Ascot, so it was important for him to get back on track. It was a short field of only five runners, one of which was in the race to ensure a good pace for Workforce. The pacemaker did his job superbly, Workforce took up the running three furlongs from home, and it looked for a while like he was going to get home comfortably. So You Think appeared to struggle a little between the quarter pole and eighth pole, but then found another gear. Wow, what a finish, So You Think collared his rival and won by half a length. Here is the report, which also links to a “must see” video of the race: http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2011/07/02/so-you-think-wins-eclipse.aspx
It is hard to follow that performance, with the performances we had state-side this weekend in the various graded stakes. The one horse who did win, who I do believe can compete with some of the best around the world, is Courageous Cat. He won the Shoemaker Mile at Hollywood Park: http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2011/07/02/courageous-cat-charges-to-shoemaker-mile-win.aspx Of course if he does go to the Breeders’ Cup, he may have to face Goldikova and Canford Cliffs, it will be interesting.
A quick survey of the top 3yos in North America and the reality of our racing can be a little grim; half of the top money earners are on the shelf for one reason or another. Last year’s champion 2yo, Uncle Mo, who has been out of action since scratching from the Kentucky Derby, is scheduled to return to Pletcher’s barn at Saratoga. Hopefully his return will provide us some added interest. Looking at the global rankings of horses around the world, U.S. based horses seem to be getting overlooked. Certainly the rankings are created by a non-U.S. based organization, but it makes poor reading for fans of U.S. racing: http://www.timeform.com/display_articles.asp?page=Global_Rankings.asp
On the book front, the book received a nice review in the July issue of the Horsemen’s Yankee Pedlar: http://twitter.com/#!/AlexBrownRacing/status/87195562885120000 I am now planning a west coast book signing trip for early October, and I am looking forward to Saturday at Delaware Park. I will be there, signing books for Barbaro Stakes day, it is also Oaks day so should be a great afternoon of racing at Delaware Park. If you have read the book, and would be interested in providing a review, I would really appreciate it: “>http://www.amazon.com/Greatness-Goodness-Barbaro-his-Legacy/dp/0983213909/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie;=UTF8&qid;=1309438435&sr;=1-1
cheers, alex
Update 6237: Today’s Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park did not disappoint. It was a terrific clash between two superstars, the Australian transplant So You Think and the Epsom Derby and Arc winner Workforce. Workforce had a pacemaker in the race, who did his job. Workforce took up the running with 3 furlongs left to run and it looked for a while like So You Think lacked that extra gear to take on his foe. However inside the last furlong he found that gear and wore down Workforce for a 3/4 length victory. This is a race worth seeing, over and over again. Here is the report: SO YOU THINK WINS ECLIPSE THRILLER and enjoy the video of the race!
Update 6236: I have resurrected the Alex Brown Racing facebook group. Here is the message I sent out today to the group: ABR Group is back, Book Update.
July 4th weekend brings a slew of graded stakes to follow: Twinspires.com Weekend Stakes: Where To Watch. Of all the horses running this weekend, stateside, the one that intrigues me the most is Courageous Cat. On pure talent alone, I think he is a potential superstar. The most popular horse running this weekend may be General Quarters, in the Firecracker at Churchill Downs.
The standout race of the weekend however looks to be the five runner Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park in the U.K. It features the Australian superhorse So You Think against the brilliant Workforce, who won last year’s Epsom Derby and Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe. Short field but super exciting!
Update 6235: Thoroughbred Times has released a list of “Unsung Heroes” of our sport. I am very flattered to be included thanks to the nomination of the Jacksons, and of course all the work done by everyone on this site: THOROUGHBRED TIMES unveils inaugural ‘Unsung Heroes’ class.
Update 6234: Updates will start to appear in some random fashion from now going forward. One thing I did want to highlight was this video that Knowledge @ Wharton just published, that was recorded just before I left for the beginning of my book signing “tour”: Author Alex Brown talks about his book ‘Greatness and Goodness: Barbaro and His Legacy.’ Frankly, it’s a huge deal for me to have the support of Wharton!
Lately I have been riding a few horses at Fair Hill, which helps supplement my book selling income. About 2,100 copies of the book have been sold. I am now in a bit of a lull period, before I ramp up for later in the summer. I am planning events at Delaware Park, Saratoga, Monmouth, Woodbine and various other locations to help market the book.
Posted by Alex at 2:27 PM | Comments (1168)