Mucho Macho Man: God's Horse

Capturing the hearts of racing fans and anyone tuned into the Kentucky Derby (GI), Mucho Macho Man was easily the Cinderella story of the 2011 Run for the Roses. The tall, lanky bay colt captivated fans with not only his story of being born seemingly dead before suddenly getting up and running, but with the story of his trainer, Kathy Ritvo, overcoming a degenerative heart disease that led her to have a heart transplant in 2008. He was easily the fan favorite and though he didn’t win, he ran a very respectable third behind Animal Kingdom in the Derby prior to becoming one of just three horses to compete in each Triple Crown race of 2011.

Mucho Macho Man
Photo by Julie June Stewart

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Dream Team Racing Stable’s Mucho Macho Man did not return to the work tab until two months after the Belmont Stakes (GI), making his first start after the grueling Triple Crown in an allowance optional claiming, which he won by nearly six lengths. He began 2012 with an easy win in the Florida Sunshine Millions Classic Stakes and has since garnered two more wins from three additional starts, including a recent spectacular victory in the Suburban Handicap (GII) at Belmont Park. But these four races of 2012 are only stepping stones for the rest of the season for Dean and Patti Reeves’ Mucho Macho Man.

“Going forward, we expect him to run at least one race at Saratoga (not sure which one yet), and then hopefully the Breeders’ Cup,” Patti said. “We have found that the best way to know when he’s ready is for Kathy to let him tell her when he’s ready . . . and he does! We are looking forward to the second half of 2012 being as good as or better than the first. He just seems to be getting better all the time.”

Mucho Macho Man has proven to be a blessing for Dean and Patti Reeves, taking them along on an unforgettable journey. In sixteen starts, Mucho Macho Man has contested in eleven graded stakes races – three of which have been classics and three of which have resulted in victories.

“Dean says that the people who are in this business are not there for the money – they do it for the love of the horses,” Patti said. “Truly, it must be . . . they work long, hard hours, and it’s rare that you get a chance to be in the classic races the way that Macho has.”

Mucho Macho Man has proven to be among the very best horses currently racing in the United States. Throughout 2012, he has established himself as quite the athlete and is considered by many to be one of the top older males in the country. As for Mucho Macho Man, he is exactly that – an athlete.

“As far as being around him, he’s a very serious horse,” Patti said. “He really doesn’t like too many strangers around his stall at the barn.  He knows what his job is, and he is a true athlete.  He is all business.”

Dean and Patti are aware of the rises and falls of fortune in horse racing industry, but like the devoted owners they are, they embark on the journey anyways. It is clear that the horses come first for them and that is certainly part of the reason it is so easy for fans to fall in love with Mucho Macho Man and his team.

“Every time we race, we pray over the horses beforehand . . . not for them to win, but just for them to all be safe and for them to ‘run with endurance the race marked out for them.’” Patti said. “There are so many ups and downs in this business . . . the thrill of the win; the disappointment of a defeat . . . but it all starts over again the next day when the horses go out to the track again at 5 a.m.”

Mucho Macho Man continuously garners fans as a result of his captivating story and classy connections. With over 5,000 Facebook “likes” and more than 800 Twitter followers, Mucho Macho Man is among the most popular American racehorses currently competing.

“I think the best thing about having Mucho Macho Man has been the friendships that this one horse has created,” Patti said. “So many of his fans have become our friends over time, and they all take such an interest in him and truly love him like their own. We feel really blessed to have been able to own a horse like this.  My husband says all the time that this is God’s horse, because he never could have picked out a horse like that on his own.”

Recent Remarkable Broodmares

With their majestic stature, large stud fees, often impressive racing records, fans’ occasional ability to visit them, and their immense amount of offspring, stallions generally garner the most attention of Thoroughbred breeding stock. The highest quality, most productive sires typically produce well over one hundred foals annually and therefore, they are much more well-known than Thoroughbred broodmares.

Photo by Terri Cage

However, the mares are extremely significant as well. More often than not, top racehorses have impressive dam lines. Yet, it is not as common for a mare to produce more than one successful horse as it is for a stallion. For this reason, any broodmare that is capable of producing more than one productive racehorse is held in high regards.

Racing fans frequently enjoy watching siblings to their favorite racehorses contest before the grandstand, powering down the stretch like their famous sibling had done. However, it is frequent that these siblings to superstars are often much less talented than their more accomplished brother or sister. The offspring of La Ville Rouge, the dam of Barbaro, come to mind. Though she is a very successful broodmare, she has never produced another foal anywhere near as brilliant as Barbaro. Recent broodmares who have had solely one superstar include Sherriff’s Deputy (the dam of Curlin), Here I Go (the dam of Summerly), and Belle’s Good Cide (the dam of Funny Cide).

It is broodmares that produce more than one outstanding foal that are held in the highest regard. Those that produce several graded stakes winners become known as “blue hens,” a term used for mares that produce several successful racehorses. Often, these mares become influential in the dam lines of Thoroughbreds and if they remain very effective, they could become a Reine De Course (Queen of the Turf) mare, which is a broodmare who becomes very famous, influential, and important in the pedigrees of Thoroughbreds. Such mares include the greats La Troienne, Alcibiades, and Somethingroyal. We have seen many magnificent broodmares as of late and I have chosen nine of them to feature.

Baby Zip: Following a racing career that saw her win a stakes race and a total of over $60,000, Baby Zip retired to life as a broodmare. Her third foal was the first one who made an impact. City Zip, a son of Carson City, won several graded stakes races throughout his career and also placed in several, including three grade ones. Two years after delivering City Zip, Baby Zip produced her fifth foal, which would grow into Ghostzapper. After a three-year-old campaign in which he was a successful grade one-winning sprinter, the horse put together a Horse of the Year campaign, capping it off with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI). He came back the next year to win the Metropolitan Handicap (GI). Both horses have gone on to be successful sires and Ghostzapper was recently elected to the Hall of Fame. Baby Zip is also the dam of the graded stakes-winning City Wolf.

City Zip
Photo by Terri Cage

Indications that Baby Zip would be a good broodmare are present in her pedigree. Her sire, Relaunch, is the damsire of such horses as the champion Forever Together, as well as the grade one victors Ad Valorem, House Party, Negligee, Passing Shot, Pure as Gold, Starrer, and Stellar Jayne. In addition, her dam is the multiple stakes-winning and grade one-placed daughter of the Reine De Course mare Sailaway, who also produced the stakes-winning Cutter Sam. She also descends from female family twenty-three, which has yielded the dams of the champions Affirmed, Big Drama, Dance Smartly, and Mine That Bird.

For her obvious success as a broodmare, Baby Zip was voted Broodmare of the Year in 2005. As a dam of a champion and two other graded stakes winners, Baby Zip is clearly a very prosperous broodmare. The fact that she has sired two successful sires suggests that she could be considered a Reine De Course mare before long, as she could have great impact on many Thoroughbreds’ pedigrees.

Better Than Honour: Already considered a Reine De Course mare, Better Than Honor was a successful horse before she even headed to the breeding shed. At the races, she won the Demoiselle Stakes (GII) via disqualification, ironically defeating La Ville Rouge. She then ran second in both the Comely Stakes (GII) and the Acorn Stakes (GI) prior to finishing third in the Mother Goose Stakes (GI) to end her career.

Her first foal was a daughter of Storm Cat named Teeming, who won the final three starts of her career. Then her third foal, Jazil, came along. The son of Seeking the Gold ran second in the Wood Memorial Stakes (GI) prior to finishing fourth in the prestigious Kentucky Derby (GI). Five weeks after his good performance in the Run for the Roses, Jazil took the renowned third leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes (GI). The same year Jazil took home the carnations after winning New York’s biggest race, a filly that would become Better Than Honour’s best foal debuted. Her name was Rags to Riches. The next year, the daughter of A.P. Indy won four grade ones, including the Kentucky Oaks (GI) and the Belmont Stakes (GI). With Rags to Riches’ win in the Test of the Champion, Better Than Honour became the only mare to produce two Belmont winners. Impressively, a year later, she had a top contender for the Belmont in Casino Drive after the Japan-based son of Mineshaft won the Peter Pan Stakes (GII). However, a foot bruise kept him out of the Belmont. The colt went on to become a stakes winner and group one-placed runner in Japan. Better Than Honour’s next foal, Man of Iron, went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Marathon. In 2008, Better Than Honour brought the highest price ever for a broodmare, when she sold for $14 million at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale.

As a daughter of Deputy Minister, Better Than Honour is a granddaughter of the very successful sire, sire of sires, and broodmare sire, Vice Regent. Deputy Minister was a tremendous broodmare sire as well, being the damsire of the champions Curlin and Halfbridled, the multiple group one-winning Kane Hekili, the Belmont Stakes-winning Sarava, and the grade one-winning Bob and John. Better Than Honour also hails from a very strong dam line, being a daughter of the Kentucky Oaks (GI)-winning dam of two other group stakes winners. The third dam of Better Than Honour is Best in Show, a Reine De Course mare and the 1982 Broodmare of the Year. As a descendant of female family eight, Better Than Honour is a member of a prolific female family that has produced the dams of the great horses Bold Ruler, Nijinsky II, Ruffian, and Whirlaway.

As 2007 Broodmare of the Year and a mare that is already listed as a Reine De Course mare, Better Than Honour is already considered to be one of the greatest Thoroughbred producers of all-time. Should her foals become at least fairly productive, she could certainly leave a lasting impact on Thoroughbred bloodlines.

Dear Birdie: Her racing career saw her go to post twenty times, once placing in a black-type race. She had a decent career on the track, but Dear Birdie was far more successful on the breeding farm. For several years, however, she appeared to be a flop in the breeding shed. Her first black-type horse was her seventh foal, Mountain Bird, who finished second in a grade two at Keeneland in his only stakes performance. Dear Birdie experienced a breakthrough with her next foal – a filly by Cape Town that would grow up to be the multiple grade one-winning champion Bird Town, who captured the Kentucky Oaks (GI). Dear Birdie was on a roll; her following foal was Birdstone, the multiple grade one winner who spoiled the beloved Smarty Jones’  bid for the Triple Crown. She has since produced the stakes-placed So Long Birdie.

Dear Birdie is sired by Storm Bird – the stallion famous for producing the great sire Storm Cat. Storm Bird was not only a top sire and sire of sires, but also a productive damsire. The son of Northern Dancer was the broodmare sire of the grade one winners Commentator, Court Vision, Medicean, Sand Springs, and Stay Thirsty. Dear Birdie’s own broodmare sire, the champion Silent Screen, was also the damsire of such horses as the grade one-winning horses Peter Davies and Secret Hello, the graded stakes-winning runners Yourmissinthepoint, and the multiple black-type-winning and graded stakes-placed Slide Show. The dam of Dear Birdie was the multiple graded stakes-winning Hush Dear, which makes Dear Birdie a direct descendant of three Reine De Course mares.

Honored as 2004 Broodmare of the Year, Dear Birdie has already been dubbed a Reine De Course mare. This is logical, considering she is the dam of the sire of both a Kentucky Derby (GI) winner and a Belmont Stakes (GI) victor. Dear Birdie has clearly left a large impact on the Thoroughbred racing world and should her offspring continue to be productive, her presence in a horse’s pedigree could be very beneficial.

Lisa Danielle: Though not very successful on the track, Lisa Danielle has been very lucrative as a broodmare. Lisa Danielle was productive immediately; her first foal, Our Royal Dancer, was a stakes winner. She later produced the multiple graded stakes-winning and grade one-placed Successful Dan and the brilliant grade one-winning victor of many graded stakes races, Wise Dan. Within less than two weeks of each other, both Successful Dan and Wise Dan scored in graded stakes races in Kentucky while setting new track records.

By the South African Horse of the Year Wolf Power, Lisa Danielle provides her offspring with the same damsire as the multiple grade one-winning Milwaukee Brew. Interestingly, Lisa Danielle’s broodmare sire is the great Secretariat, who was not only tremendous as a racehorse, but also as a damsire. Big Red is also the broodmare sire of such horses as the great Thoroughbreds A.P. Indy, Chief’s Crown, Gone West, and Storm Cat. Lisa Danielle also has power in her dam line, as her fourth dam is the Reine De Course mare Vali, who not only produced the tremendous racehorse and sire Val De Loir, but also the dam of the graded stakes-winning Savannah Dancer. Lisa Danielle also features two crosses of the excellent broodmare sire Princequillo in her pedigree. Princequillo is not only the damsire of Secretariat, but also the champions Key to the Mint and Mill Reef. The son of Prince Rose was the leading North American broodmare sire an incredible eight times.

Though Lisa Danielle has not produced multiple grade one winners yet, she could certainly be on her way to that feat, as both Wise Dan and Successful Dan are making big impressions at the track currently. Lisa Danielle’s breeding certainly implied that she’d be a successful producer and she has certainly lived up to those expectations.

Mining My Own: A result of the mating between the grade one-winning Smart Strike and the stakes-placed Vice Regent mare Aspenelle, Mining My Own never made it to the races. Rather, she visited Birdstone in 2005 at Gainesway Farm. Approximately eleven months later, the chestnut mare delivered a bay colt. He grew up into a small gelding named Mine That Bird and as a juvenile, he won two ungraded stakes and a graded stakes at Woodbine, earning divisional honors in Canada. Two months into the next year, Mining My Own foaled her third colt – a chestnut by Even the Score. It was just three months later that Mine That Bird became the second longest shot ever to win the Kentucky Derby (GI) before finishing in the money in both the Preakness Stakes (GI) and Belmont Stakes (GI). Though Mine That Bird never won again after his victory in the Run for the Roses, the colt that was foaled just months before he won the Derby would continue to add to Mining My Own's value. The colt by Even the Score was named Dullahan and in his first career victory, he won the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (GI). Six months later, he won the Blue Grass Stakes (GI) prior to finishing third in the Kentucky Derby (GI). Mining My Own is also the dam of Brother Bird, an earner of over $155,000 who once finished third in the Star of Cozzene Stakes, defeating the grade one-winning Jackson Bend.

Dullahan
Photo by Terri Cage

Mining My Own’s pedigree certainly supports her as far as being a successful broodmare goes. Her sire, Smart Strike, is the damsire of such horses as the champion and Queen’s Plate Stakes (10F)-winning Inglorious, the Hollywood Gold Cup (GI, 10F)-winning First Dude, and the group two-winning Strong Return. The sire of her dam, Aspenelle, was the Canadian Hall of Famer Vice Regent, who has sired the dams of the Canadian Horse of the Year Benburb, the champion juvenile Boston Harbor, the Dubai World Cup (GI)-winning Captain Steve, the Canadian champion three-year-old Cryptocloser, the champion older horse Victory Gallop, the Canadian champion three-year-old filly Eye of the Sphynx, and the grade one-winning Jambalaya.

Mining My Own, however, does not come from the strongest of dam lines, though hers is not one to sneeze at. The mare has already exceeded expectations in her success as a broodmare is certainly a broodmare anyone would be lucky to have in their broodmare band.

Oatsee: On the track, Oatsee raced twenty-one times, retiring with earnings of $106,945. Her first foal was Grand Portege, an earner of over $100,000 who contested in two black-type races. Her first “big horse” was Baghdaria, who won a trifecta of grade threes. Then came Lady Joanne, who was a graded stakes winner as a juvenile that went on to win a pair of graded stakes as a sophomore, including the ten-furlong Alabama Stakes (GI). Oatsee continued her success with Afleeting Lady, a graded stakes-placed daughter of Afleet Alex. Oatsee’s best offspring yet is Shackleford, a colt who has earned over $2 million with victories in the prestigious Preakness Stakes (GI) and Metropolitan Handicap (GI). She is also the dam of the stakes-placed Stephanoatsee.

Shackleford
Photo by Terri Cage

The sire of Oatsee, Unbridled, was not only a terrific sire and sire of sires, but he is also proven as a broodmare sire, being the damsire of the grade one winners Dream Rush and Tapit, as well as the graded stakes-winning runners Apart, Denis of Cork, and No Inflation. Oatsee is inbred 4 X 4 to In Reality, who yielded a spectacular one hundred fifty stakes winners as a broodmare sire. She also has two crosses of the great mare Aspidistra in her pedigree. Aspidistra, a Reine De Course dam, was the dam of the Hall of Famers Dr. Fager and Ta Wee, the graded stakes-winning Chinatowner, the stakes-winning A. Deck, and the graded stakes-placed Highbinder. From her fourth through eighth dams, Oatsee traces back to five Reine De Course mares. Most notable is Tamerett, who produced the champion Known Fact, the multiple grade one-winning Tentam, the grade two-winning Terete, the stakes-winning Tamtent, and the dams of the grade one winners Gone West and Tappiano.

As a result of her outstanding success as a producer, Oatsee was voted 2011 Broodmare of the Year. All along, her bloodlines have insinuated that she would become a lucrative producer, as the roster of names found in her pedigree have pushed her in the right direction for becoming a tremendous broodmare. Should her offspring be even half as effective at producing as her, Oatsee could have an enduring impression on Thoroughbred bloodlines.

Set Them Free: Owned by Jerry and Ann Moss, Set Them Free conquered four black-type races in California, acquiring earnings of $173,275 before retiring to life as a broodmare. Her first foal to race, which was the third foal she had produced, only raced four times, but captured a maiden special weight and first-level allowance in southern California by a combined 8 lengths. Set Them Free became a black-type producer with her next foal, Sea Jewel, as the filly placed in a graded stakes as a two-year-old prior to doing the same as a three-year-old. Her following foal was the one that marked her as an outstanding broodmare: Giacomo. The son of Holy Bull was grade one-placed as a juvenile and as a three-year-old, won the esteemed Kentucky Derby (GI). He added another graded stakes victory to his credit as a four-year-old and by the end of his career, Giacomo had placed in five graded stakes and retired with earnings of over $2.5 million. Set Them Free’s next foal was, at best, a first-level allowance winner, but it was her foal after that one that endorsed the mare as an incredible producer. That foal was Tiago, who won two grade ones as a three-year-old and also finished third in the Belmont Stakes (GI). He was a graded stakes winner as an older horse and placed in seven graded stakes races throughout his career, obtaining more than $2.3 million dollars in earnings.

Stop the Music, Set Them Free’s sire, has certainly played a role in her success as a broodmare. The son of the influential Hail to Reason is also the broodmare sire of the Canadian champion Kimchi, the grade one-winning Timely Warning, and the multiple graded stakes-winning Bursting Forth. In addition, Set Them Free shares her second dam, Barbarossa, with the champion Baiser Vole, as well as the multiple group stakes-winning horses Squill and Tenue de Soiree.

Set Them Free was never honored with a Broodmare of the Year award, but she is certainly one of the best broodmares we have seen lately. It is not common at all for a mare to produce two winners of over $2 million, but yet the Moss’ mare accomplished just that. 

Sweet Life: A homebred for Marty and Pam Wygod, Sweet Life was rather successful at the races, competing in southern California her entire career to capture a stakes victory and finish in the money in a pair of graded stakes, including the Beverly Hills Handicap (GI). She retired with earnings of $223,486 and was sent to Storm Cat, the powerhouse sire that she visited numerous times.

The result of her first mating was Sweet Catomine, who won three graded stakes as a juvenile – including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) – to be named Champion Two-Year-Old Filly. As a three-year-old, Sweet Catomine – also a homebred for the Wygods – added two more graded stakes wins to her credit, including a triumph in the Santa Anita Oaks (GI). Sweet Life’s next two foals never amounted to much, but then again, they weren’t by the sire she crossed with best – the great Storm Cat. The next time she visited the famous stallion resulted in Life Is Sweet, a filly that would go on to capture four graded stakes victories – including the Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (GI) and the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (GI). Her following foal, Calimonco, was also by Storm Cat. The colt – who is still currently racing – was quite a late bloomer, not winning his first stakes race until he was five years old. Since that win, Calimonco has placed in a pair of grade threes and won another ungraded stakes contest.

Sired by Kris S, it is easily understandable why Sweet Life is such a productive broodmare. Kris S is also the broodmare sire of the grade one winners Balance, Kris Kin, Ladies Din, Student Council, and Zenyatta. As a son of Roberto, Kris S was sired by the broodmare sire of such graded stakes winners as Amerique, Icy Groom, Fair Judgment, Muntej, Risk Seeker, and Snit. Furthermore, Kris S was out of a Princequillo mare. Princequillo is one of the greatest broodmare sires of all-time, having been the leading North American damsire a remarkable eight times while siring the dams of such horses as Key to the Mint, Mill Reef, and Secretariat. Sweet Life descends from a line of Harbor View Farm – the same farm that produced the Triple Crown-winning champion Affirmed and the great mare Flawlessly – mares, being a daughter of the multiple black-type-placed Symbolically. Her dam produced not only the talented Sweet Life, but also the graded stakes-winning Pirate’s Revenge, the black-type winners Caribbean Pirate and Echo of Yesterday, the graded stakes-placed Strive, and the black-type-placed Magic Fantasy.

Sweet Life, as a producer of two Eclipse Award champions, was named 2009 Broodmare of the Year. As the dam of top females, Sweet Life could certainly have an influential presence in the dam lines of future racehorses. The Wygods’ beloved mares – Sweet Life and her champion daughters – will live out their days at the renowned Lane’s End Farm, bringing to the world possible future champions. After all, it’s in the family.

Vertigineux: She had a short career at the track, winning two of seven races and running fourth in an ungraded stakes at Delaware Park. Vertigineux quickly became a useful broodmare, when her first foal, Where’s Bailey, became a black-type winner in the South. But she really made impressions when her second foal, Balance, had a terrific two-year-old campaign in southern California, winning a stakes race while placing in not only a non-graded stakes, but also the Hollywood Starlet Stakes (GI). Balance furthered Vertigineux’s value when she later triumphed in the Las Virgenes Stakes (GI), the Santa Anita Oaks (GI), the La Canada Stakes (GII), and the Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (GI). Shortly after Balance’s career ended came the debut of not only Vertigineux’s best offspring, but one of the best racehorses the world has ever seen: Zenyatta. The great mare went nineteen-for-twenty, winning thirteen grade ones, including the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (GI) and the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI), the latter in which she became the only female racehorse to ever win the race. Zenyatta not only captured four Eclipse Award titles – including Horse of the Year – but she also captured the hearts of thousands of racing fans and retired as one of the greatest horses to ever grace the racetrack. Vertigineux has also produced Souper Spectacular, an earner of over $100,000 who has twice finished fourth in grade three events.

Zenyatta
Photo by Terri Cage

Like Sweet Life, Vertigineux had the support of Kris S as her sire when she entered her career as a broodmare, as the son of the influential Roberto has recently proven to be among the best broodmare sires. Vertigineux herself is out of a successful broodmare, being a daughter of the dam of the multiple stakes-winning and group stakes-placed Restrained and the group stakes-placed On the Staff. Her damsire, the Argentinian Horse of the Year Forli, was also the broodmare sire of such horses as the champions Nureyev, Precisionist, and Swale. As a member of female family four, Vertigineux is among an elite group that descends from the Layton Barb mare. Other descendants of this female family include the dams of the Triple Crown winners Assault and Gallant Fox, as well as the champions Afleet Alex, Bowl of Flowers, Hail to Reason, Real Quiet, and Sunny’s Halo.

Vertigineux was recently named not only 2008 Broodmare of the Year, but also a Reine De Course mare, and rightfully so. She provided the world with one of the greatest racehorses it has ever seen, as well as one of the most brilliant fillies southern California has seen in recent years.

It is the broodmares that I admire most in the Thoroughbred breeding industry. They do not receive anywhere near the amount of attention that the stallions do, but it is also much more difficult for them to become successful. Nonetheless, broodmares are incredibly important in the breeding of Thoroughbred racehorses.


*Of course these are not the only recent remarkable broodmares - others include Chipeta Springs, Prospectors Delite, and Toussaud. Perhaps I will feature them, as well as some others, eventually.


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The Tragedy of Swale

Claiborne Farm
Photo by Terri Cage

My eyes took in the rolling hills, the black wooden fences, and the quaint barns ahead of me. I could almost feel the history surrounding me. These were the grounds on which the great Secretariat had spent his last days, the land on which his noble sire Bold Ruler had created his dynasty, the place where so many champions had been bred, born, and raised. It was the historic Claiborne Farm – among the most renowned Thoroughbred farms in the industry.

Just a short distance away from the stallion barns is a small area overwhelming with history. One step into the area walled by hedges and you will read the names of some of the greatest Thoroughbreds to ever live on rugged stone headstones. Of course, Secretariat’s gravestone is the most popular one in the cemetery, but across the small sidewalk is a similar gravestone displaying the name of a horse that the world tragically only got to enjoy for a short moment in time: Swale.

The first time I visited Claiborne Farm, I had no idea who Swale was. But the fact that the years under his name only spanned from 1981-1984 instilled me with sorrow – not only for the fact that the horse had only lived for three years, but also that I did not know who this star-crossed champion was. When I visited the celebrated farm three years later, I paid my visit to Swale’s grave, for I had learned the colt’s heartbreaking tale.

The story of Swale begins with his dam, Tuerta. A mare who descended from a long line of great mares, Tuerta was a direct descendant of the great mare Chelandry, the foundation mare of family 1n. The daughter of the Argentinian Horse of the Year Forli and the track record-equaling Continue was born with just one eye, thus being dubbed with a name that meant “one-eyed” in Spanish. Despite her impairment, Tuerta became a very successful racehorse, capturing three stakes victories – two of which were graded – before retiring with earnings of $125,912. A Claiborne homebred, Tuerta visited several different stallions, foaling the multiple graded stakes-placed Illuminate and the multiple stakes-placed Sight within her first four foals.

But it was her fifth foal that made the greatest impact. Sent to the Triple Crown-winning Seattle Slew in April of 1980, Tuerta foaled a nearly-black colt sired by the great Slew, who was the only undefeated horse to ever capture the Triple Crown. A horse who had a particular affinity for sleeping, one day he appeared to have disappeared from his paddock. Fortunately, he was not gone. Rather, he was sound asleep in a low spot in the land – a swale. And thus, a champion was named.

Swale made his racing debut for legendary trainer Woody Stephens in July of his juvenile career at Belmont Park, setting a blistering pace before finishing a good second. He broke his maiden next out two weeks later at the same expansive track by 1 ¼ lengths before shipping to the prestigious Saratoga Racecourse for the Saratoga Special (GII), a race that had seen many greats win early on in their careers, including Colin, Native Dancer, Nearctic, Regret, and Whirlaway. In the Saratoga Special, the dark colt faced a muddy track but handled it well, capturing the grade two by ¾ of a length over Shuttle Jet, the colt who had defeated Swale in his debut.

But in the Hopeful Stakes (GI) twenty days later, Swale finished third behind Capitol South, beaten 4 ¼ lengths. Swale made three more starts as a two-year-old, all of which were victories. Following a pair of tough photo finishes that resulted in wins in the Futurity Stakes (GI) at Belmont and the Breeders’ Futurity (GII) at Keeneland, Swale went to post in the Young America Stakes (GI) at the Meadowlands, in which Swale faced a large field of fifteen other rivals. Like his previous two races, Swale found himself locked in a duel throughout the race, but despite the fatigue from the battle he had fought within the race, Swale rallied from mid-pack, digging in deep in spite of his exhaustion to cross the wire in a thrilling photo finish with Disastrous Night. Moments later, the photo revealed that Swale had triumphed by a nose – his third consecutive tight photo finish victory.

Despite his four graded stakes victories, three of which were grade ones, Swale lost the Eclipse Award for Champion Two-Year-Old Male to stablemate Devil’s Bag, who had won one less grade one that Swale. But Swale had displayed true brilliance during his juvenile campaign and one significant characteristic in particular; Swale had shown a great amount of heart.

Swale made his three-year-old debut in early March of 1984 in the Hutcheson Handicap (GIII) at Gulfstream Park, galloping his way to an effortless 8-length victory. It appeared Claiborne Farm had a serious Kentucky Derby (GI) contender on their hands, and not just a horse that could bring them to the Run for the Roses, but a horse that could gallop their yellow silks across the finish line at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday of May in front.

Ten days later, Swale suffered a defeat in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (GII), winding up 1 ½ lengths behind Darn That Alarm and Counterfeit Money. But he rebounded in the Florida Derby (GI) at the end of March, defeating the grade one-winning Dr. Carter by ¾ of a length.

Swale’s final prep for the Derby came in the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, in which the almost-black colt was surprisingly annihilated by He is a Great Deal, who captured the race by a stunning 8 lengths over a sloppy track. Nonetheless, Swale continued on to Churchill Downs for the world’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby.

Sent off as the second choice, Swale found a good position in third as the field raced around the clubhouse turn, travelling wide. Down the backstretch, he settled in second behind the eventual champion filly Althea, pressuring her as the daughter of Alydar completed the initial half-mile in 47 2/5 seconds. As the track began to arc, turning into the final curve, Swale stuck his black head in front, opening up on the twenty-horse field midway through the turn. He never looked back after taking the lead, holding a substantial advantage on the others as he led the talented Thoroughbreds into the homestretch beneath the Twin Spires. Swale – quite reminiscent of his sire down the stretch – won with overwhelming ease, capturing the Kentucky Derby by an effortless 3 ¼ lengths.

With his win, Swale had given Claiborne Farm and Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr. their first victories in the Kentucky Derby, and Woody Stephens his second. But they were forced to push the Derby behind them, as the pursuit of the Triple Crown was upon them.

But it was not meant to be. In the Preakness Stakes (GI), Swale raced over a very hard track that he never seemed to relish. Despite a perfect position throughout the race, Swale began to falter due to the difficult track and finished a disappointing seventh – his first out-of-the-money finish – behind Gate Dancer. Though he finished near the back of the pack, he was only beaten by 7 lengths.

Swale proceeded to Belmont for the grueling twelve-furlong Belmont Stakes (GI), the race in which his sire had claimed the Triple Crown. This time, no Triple Crown was on the line – only the confirmation of Swale’s greatness. A win in the race that had been labeled the “Test of the Champion” would prove that Swale was the best of his generation, and among the greatest of any Claiborne homebred in history.

A fairly large field of eleven sophomore Thoroughbreds gathered in the sweltering heat for the mile and one-half contest on June 9, 1984. As the young horses stood serenely in the starting gate, the crowd at Belmont Park was completely unaware that they would soon witness one of the greatest performances a Belmont victor ever executed.

Swale broke sharply from the sixth gate, going straight to the lead as Pincay guided him closer to the rail as the field galloped into the wide, sweeping clubhouse turn at Belmont. Leading the ten others by a half-length around the initial curve, Swale relaxed beautifully, completing the first of six quarter-miles in 24 4/5 seconds. A gorgeous dark athlete in yellow silks, Swale lengthened his advantage on the field to about a length midway down the backstretch. The pace remained moderate as the Claiborne homebred entered the final turn, beginning to open up on the field as Pincay started urging the Derby winner. The others were attempting rallies, but Swale was gradually turning the race into a one-horse contest. Gate Dancer and Play On loomed on the near-black colt’s outside as the final turn reached its end, but as the curve phased into the straightaway, Swale accelerated, propelling himself forward as Pincay mildly urged the colt.

Swale didn’t need much asking. The race was his. The others attempted to chase after him, but Swale readily galloped towards the wire, striding away to an effortless 4-length victory in what was, at the time, the fourth-fastest final clocking of the Belmont: 2:27.20. Swale had completed the race 2.40 seconds faster than his sire despite the suffocating heat. As his almost-black flame flashed under the finish line, Swale sanctioned his greatness, broadened his farm’s and fans' love for him, and stamped himself as the champion of his division, though that honor would not be awarded for months. Most of all, Swale had further demonstrated his tremendous will to win.

Fans eagerly awaited Swale’s next start, enthusiastic about seeing the tremendous horse compete again, though his next start was not expected to come until the fall. He remained in training after the Belmont, and within just a few days after his victory in the great race, the colt returned to light, routine gallops in the morning. One of those gallops came on the morning of June 17, 1984 – just eight days after his Belmont triumph.

Following the gallop, Swale returned to Woody Stephens’ barn, still on routine. Like all other racehorses, Swale was cooled off and given a bath. Everything was normal. Then, out of the blue, the normally laid-back colt reared and fell to the ground. 

The fight for his life was a short one – the brilliant colt was dead in moments. The horse that had made Claiborne Farm’s dreams come true was gone. America’s beloved racehorse was to never race again, to never produce offspring, to never breathe another breath. Swale was gone forever.

The necropsy disclosed that despite the fact that he appeared to have died from cardiac arrest, Swale’s cause of death was unknown. His organs were just fine. After several studies, the reason why the great horse had died was still a mystery. But eventually, it was discovered that Swale had died because of a heart abnormality. Nothing could have been done to save him. It had just taken seconds to tear the beloved champion away from the world – seconds that never could have been prevented.

His life was short – much too short. But during the small amount of time that the world was able to enjoy Swale, he provided the racing world with joy, awing fans with his brilliance. Swale’s story is truly a tragedy – a champion that left us too soon, that never was able to give us a dynasty like his great sire, that was buried at Claiborne Farm at the tender age of three. The story of Swale is one that reminds us of the amazing highs and lows of the sport of horse racing, but it is also one that awakens the soul, that reminds you how much we should appreciate our athletes. I was not alive during the short amount of time Swale was, but I will forever remember him, just as the rest of the racing world will. Swale will never be forgotten.

Photo by Terri Cage

Dover Heights: Love at First Sight

Standing along the rail of the saddling paddock as the fourth race approached at Lone Star Park on May 12, 2012, I focused my attention on the horses strolling into the paddock for the approaching allowance race. I was completely unaware of the fact that the horse that would impress me most would not be one of the entrants, but rather one of the schooling horses. As I watched the horses file into the ring, my eyes took in a breathtaking gray colt. It was love at first sight.

Dover Heights
Photo by Mary Cage

With his neck arched, the charcoal-colored Thoroughbred pranced into the saddling paddock beneath the cloudy sky, immediately drawing my attention to him. My eyes were glued to him as he marched around the paddock with magnificence, outshining every other horse in the paddock. A well-balanced athlete, the gray Thoroughbred possessed a long, beautiful neck that tied in well to his robust shoulder. He was a stunning individual.

Fortunately, alongside my mom and my best friend as I stood watching the beautiful colt were Dallas and Donna Keen. Donna knew the trainer of the horse – Cash Asmussen, brother of champion trainer Steve Asmussen who was the champion apprentice jockey of 1979 – and contacted him so that I could know the horse’s name. Once she informed me that his name was Dover Heights, his name – which he shares with a beautiful coastal suburb in Sydney, Australia – was etched in my mind.

With the knowledge that Dover Heights would make his first start the following week, I researched his pedigree. Much to my surprise, the colt had the same birthday, April 18, as my beloved Miss Fifty. It was as if I was meant to fall in love with the colt.

Though an official Kentucky-bred, Dover Heights was bred and owned by La Bahia Stud, Inc., a Texas-based breeding farm that produced the only two Texas-bred early 2012 Triple Crown nominations. Sired by The Cliff’s Edge and out of a daughter of Fastness, Fast Goat, Dover Heights is an outcross, as he has no inbreeding in his first five generations. This is believed by many to produce sounder horses and has been effective in producing such grade one winners as Alphabet Soup, Giacomo, and Lite the Fuse.

The Cliff’s Edge, a son of champion sprinter Gulch, was a multiple graded stakes-winning juvenile who won the Blue Grass Stakes (GI) and placed second in the Travers Stakes (GI) as a three-year-old. Since entering stud in 2005, The Cliff’s Edge has sired the graded stakes-winning Our Edge, the stakes-winning Cliffy’s Future, and Dave’s Revenge – an earner of over $245,000 who ran fourth in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI).

Fast Goat, the dam of Dover Heights, though a Kentucky-bred mare, descends from primarily Irish and English bloodlines. Her sire is the multiple grade one-winning Irish-bred Fastness, a son of the champion miler Rousillon. The dam of Fast Goat is the stakes-winning Irish-bred mare Capracotta, who ran in twelve stakes races out of the seventeen starts she made. To date, Fast Goat has produced the stakes-placed gelding Fast Track.

Notably, Dover Heights’ fifth dam is the group three-winning Caprera, who produced the group one-winning Romildo, the group three-winning Pevero, and the stakes-winning Starina. Being a direct descendant of Caprera certainly bodes well for Dover Heights, as other direct descendants of the lucrative mare include the group one-winning Albisola, the group two-winning Arbatax, and the group three-winning Stagelight.

Dover Heights
Photo by Mary Cage

Dover Heights was slated to make his debut on May 19, 2012 – Preakness Day – at Lone Star Park in a one-mile maiden special weight over the main track for three, four, and five-year-olds. However, he lost his jockey and ran off prior to the race and was a late scratch.

Rather, his first start came eight days later, on May 27. Present at the track, I watched as Dover Heights warmed up in front of the crowd under the hot sun, fluidly trotting before the grandstand, his coat a more rosy-gray than charcoal under the bright sun rather than a cloudy sky. He loaded easily into the starting gate for the six and one-half-furlong maiden special weight prior to breaking a bit poorly. Dismissed at odds of 8-1, the impressive-looking gray colt found a position mid-pack along the rail under Tony McNeil, settling several lengths off the leader. The pace-setter, Lac Seul’s Dream, began opening up on the field, instilling me with worry that Dover Heights would not be able to win the race.

Lac Seul’s Dream had a five-length advantage on the field as the Thoroughbreds galloped around the far turn, but Dover Heights began making his move, angling to the outside. However, as the horses turned for home, Lac Seul’s Dream appeared home-free, leaving the other six horses behind. But the five-year-old began to falter as the others began to rally, most notably Dover Heights. My excitement surged as the stunning gray colt I had fallen in love with two weeks earlier accelerated, cutting into Lac Seul’s Dream’s lead. With elation, I watched as Dover Heights crossed the wire a neck in front of the closing Konko Jones.

Dover Heights winning his debut
Photo by Terri Cage

Standing along the rail, I watched with bright eyes as the rosy gray colt jogged up to the winner’s circle to greet his connections. A roar arose from the crowd as the striking colt sauntered into the winner’s enclosure, holding his attractive head up high as cameras clicked. I couldn’t help but grin as the triumphant colt marched back to the barns, ready for the rest of his racing career.

Dover Heights further showed me how exhilarating it is to follow a horse from the beginning of its career, most notably before the horse even makes its debut. So go out there and fall in love with a horse like Miss Fifty, Hy Lime Time, or Dover Heights and relish the excitement of following that Thoroughbred throughout its career. I hope that Dover Heights’ debut was only the beginning of a thrilling journey.

Dover Heights
Photo by Terri Cage

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The Legacy of A.P. Indy

As stallions such as Candy Ride, Curlin, Quality Road, and Shakespeare march toward the breeding shed at Lane’s End Farm this year, a certain stallion will not visit the breeding shed. Instead, he will leave behind a legacy for his offspring to carry on, the same legacy that he has carried on through his Triple Crown-winning sire and grandsire.

A.P. Indy is the result of breeding the best to the best. His sire is the great Seattle Slew, winner of the 1977 Triple Crown and one of the greatest sires to ever live. His dam – a daughter of Secretariat, the 1973 Triple Crown winner and arguably the greatest horse to ever look through a bridle – is Weekend Surprise, a multiple graded stakes winner. The year A.P. Indy was born, Weekend Surprise’s first foal – Summer Squall – went undefeated, ending his two-year-old season with a win in the Hopeful Stakes (GI). He would go on to win the Preakness Stakes (GI).

Photo: Terri Cage

When A.P. Indy went to auction as a yearling, high hopes were pinned to him. Not only was he royally bred, but he had beautiful conformation. Lane’s End Farm sold the colt to Japanese entrepreneur Tomonori Tsurumaki for $2.9 million at the 1990 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Tsurumaki named the colt after his automobile racing circuit in Japan, Autopolis, and Indianapolis.

Instead of the colt going to Japan like many expected, he stayed in America and was sent to trainer Neil Drysdale in southern California. A.P. Indy made his first start in August of 1991 at Del Mar, finishing a disappointing fourth.

The disappointing finish was not due to a lack of talent, but rather soreness. It was discovered that A.P. Indy was a ridgling, meaning he had an undescended testicle, which was causing him pain. In order for the colt to run better, it needed to be removed. Normally, a horse in this situation would just be gelded. But with his worth and royal bloodlines, his connections didn’t want to geld him, which would prevent him from reproducing.

Instead, only the undescended testicle was to be removed. The procedure of removing just one testicle while allowing the horse to still be able to reproduce had only been attempted once and the threat of infection or inflammation also loomed.

Fortunately, the procedure worked and a dynasty was saved.

A.P. Indy returned to the track, living up to expectations. By the end of his juvenile career, he had won three races – one of which was the Hollywood Futurity (GI) – and had earned $357,255. He entered his three-year-old campaign with dreams of the Kentucky Derby (GI) in the minds of his connections.

After wins in the San Rafael Stakes (GII) and Santa Anita Derby (GI), A.P. Indy was a leading Derby contender. However, he was withdrawn from the Run for the Roses due to a quarter crack the morning of the race. He skipped the Preakness Stakes (GI) as well, opting for the Peter Pan Stakes (GII) at Belmont Park eight days later instead.

It was a wise decision. The son of A.P. Indy drew off to win by five and one-half lengths, running his winning streak to six in a row. Thirteen days later, he would finally be able to contend in a Triple Crown race: the Belmont Stakes (GI). Sent off as the heavy favorite, A.P. Indy showed his toughness in the mile and one-half race, prevailing by three-quarters of a length in what is currently the third-fastest time for the Belmont: 2:26.13.

A.P. Indy did not start again for over three months. He made his return to the races in the Molson Export Million Stakes (GII) at Woodbine, finishing an uninspiring fifth in a seven-horse field. He continued on towards the Breeders’ Cup, making his final prep in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI). After a terrible stumble at the start, A.P. Indy got up to finish third behind the grade one-winning Pleasant Tap and the Kentucky Derby-winning Strike the Gold.

Following the Jockey Club Gold Cup, the Neil Drysdale trainee made his way to Gulfstream Park in Florida for the ninth Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI), which would be the final start of A.P. Indy’s career. After the championship race, A.P. Indy would go to Lane’s End Farm in Kentucky to stand at stud.

Under Eddie Delahoussaye, A.P. Indy impressively drew away from the talented field to win by two lengths in a notable final clocking of 2:00.20 for ten furlongs. Every single horse that finished behind him in the championship race was a grade or group one winner. His accomplishments in 1992 garnered him the prestigious title of Horse of the Year. Nine years later, he would be inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

When A.P. Indy arrived at Lane’s End in preparation for his first breeding season, a large question loomed as a result of the surgery that had been performed when he was a two-year-old: Was he fertile?

Photo: Terri Cage

Once that question was answered with a yes, A.P. Indy had many expectations to live up to. He was the son of a successful sire and Triple Crown winner in Seattle Slew and a grandson of possibly the greatest racehorse to ever live in Secretariat. In addition, his dam, a graded stakes winner, had already produced two classic champions and a graded stakes-placed horse from her first three foals.

In his first crop, A.P. Indy sired thirteen stakes winners. One of the horses from his first crop did not start as a two-year-old, but went on to become what many consider to be the first “big horse” sired by A.P. Indy. That horse was Pulpit, who won the Fountain of Youth Stakes (GII) and Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GII).

Since entering stud in 1993, A.P. Indy has sired twenty-six grade one winners, including Bernardini, Flashing, Mineshaft, Little Belle, Music Note, and Rags to Riches. He is also a sire of sires, having produced several successful sires such as Bernardini, Congrats, Malibu Moon, Mineshaft, Pulpit, and Stephen Got Even.

In April of 2011, A.P. Indy was pensioned from stallion duty, as he was unable to get any of the mares he was bred to last year in foal. There are still offspring of A.P. Indy on the track and some that have not yet raced, but there will never be another A.P. Indy foal born. It is unfortunate to see an end to this great horse’s stud career, but his sons and daughters will continue to expand the dynasty, which has become one of the most royal families in the industry.

I will always greatly admire A.P. Indy and not just for his incredible racing and breeding careers, but also for the presence he has. I have been fortunate enough to be in his presence twice and each time, it was nearly impossible to tear my eyes away from him. While visiting him at Lane’s End, I could tell that the stallion knew he was the king of the farm. Despite being in his twenties when I visited him, A.P. Indy radiated with confidence and class. I have seen many brilliant horses in person, having attended the Breeders’ Cup twice and having visited several of the renowned farms in central Kentucky, and I can honestly say I feel as if A.P. Indy is truly one of the greatest of all of them. He has ‘the look of eagles’ and seems to know just how important he is. Seeing him in person and touching his coat brought light to my eyes and I will forever be thankful that I was able to meet the great A.P. Indy.

Photo: Terri Cage

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King of Speed: A Champion in the Eyes of Many

It’s not often that you come across a horse that ran 111 times, earning $590,948 over a career that spanned from age two to age eleven. Yet, if you were to meet King of Speed, you would come across a horse that did just that.

King of Speed winning at Lone Star Park in 2010
Photo: Terri Cage

The chestnut son of the multiple graded stakes-winning Senor Speedy ran at ten different tracks in six different states. He went through three different trainers, winning twenty-seven races and placing in three black-type races, earning over $100,000 in three of his ten racing seasons.

King of Speed ran for William Bradley – his owner, breeder, and trainer – for the majority of his career, but was claimed by Bret Calhoun in October of his eight-year-old year and raced for that trainer in 34 of his last 35 starts.

His last race came on December 8, 2010 at Remington Park, in which he finished last in a field of eight. His owner, Carl Moore, then turned the gelding out at his farm. After about a year of being turned out at Moore’s farm, King came to Remember Me Rescue, a non-profit foundation founded by Dallas and Donna Keen that retrains and rehomes racehorses.

Lilly Armstrong – the farm manager at Remember Me – used to work for Bret Calhoun and was around King of Speed while the gelding was in that barn.

“This horse was the barn pet at Calhoun’s,” Lilly said. “Every time he won a race, the jockey agents would buy doughnuts for the barn and King probably ate most of them. He was always in the stall closest to the office. Everybody loved him. He was almost like a pony horse. He was so easy to handle and always laid-back, but when you took him to the paddock, he was all business.”

Lilly and King
Photo: Terri Cage

When it was decided that King would come to Remember Me, Lilly contacted me, telling me how excited she was to see him again. The horse had always been a champion in her eyes and to be reunited with him left her absolutely elated.

“He retired sound with absolutely no soundness issues,” Lilly said. “He is a warrior. He has charisma; you are drawn to him.”

I saw King of Speed race at Lone Star Park in 2010. Last night, when I looked in the program from Lone Star’s race card on April 10, 2010, I found King’s name in the program. When I looked at the bottom of the page, I saw where I had written down my picks for the race. Listed were a few numbers, but my top pick, which was circled, was number 9. Number 9 was King of Speed. The chestnut gelding won the race.

Just days before Christmas, I visited Remember Me Rescue with my mother. I met King of Speed and fed the cute chestnut several carrots while Lilly groomed him. King, who has a build similar to that of a Quarter Horse, was practically sticking his nose in the bag in order to obtain the carrots.

Donna Keen soon arrived and pulled the gelding out of the barn. It was time to desensitize King to odd objects. We began with the stairs outside of the round pen. Tentatively, the chestnut followed Donna up the steps. Though cautious, he was willing to do what Donna asked.

King doesn't care about the tarp draped over his neck.
Photo: Terri Cage

We then moved on to a tarp. Donna gradually introduced King to the object and instead of being spooked by the strange item, the gelding seemed bored. Eventually, we had him walking under and over the tarp as if it wasn’t even there. After playing around with pool noodles, cavaletti, a lariat, and a feed bag on a stick, we realized King didn’t mind whatever we introduced to him.

“He’s bombproof,” Donna said. “He’s just so smart. I think he’s bored with us.”

And so King was saddled. Donna rode the gelding around in the round pen and after warming up, she began swinging a lariat over his head, then a pool noodle attached to the rope, and finally, a tarp. Yet again, King didn’t care.

Then came my turn to ride King. Since he had had a long afternoon, I just walked the gelding, though even that included obstacles. I rode him over the objects he had been desensitized to: pool noodles, a lariat, and the tarp. He walked right over them like it was no big deal.

Though it was just a short, easygoing ride, riding King was incredible. If you had told me last April 10^th at Lone Star Park that I would ride the horse that won the eighth race, I wouldn’t have believed you. Knowing I had ridden a horse that I had admired on the track was out of this world.

Since adopting my first Thoroughbred in February and spending much time at Remember Me, I have come to realize that Thoroughbreds are incredibly smart. They absolutely blow my mind with their intelligence. King of Speed is the perfect example of a Thoroughbred’s impressive intellect.

And knowing that King has received the retirement he deserves is an incredible thing. His connections cared about him enough to find him a great retirement and Remember Me Rescue gave the gelding the opportunity to do so. Not enough racehorses get this opportunity, but those that go through Remember Me do.

King, being the special horse he is, has plenty of options. Unlike most horses that go through Remember Me, the gelding will get extra retraining time. Perhaps he will become a mounted police horse, a professional trail riding horse, or maybe he will forever stay at Remember Me with Donna and Lilly. The possibilities are endless.

“The horse is smart, loves attention, loves to work, and will make a great performance horse, no matter what the discipline,” Lilly said. “There are some things that just put you in awe and for me, this horse does that. I don’t know if it’s because he is just a reminder of that part of my life or if it’s just him. To me, he is a hero and what every horse should be like.”


*Update 2/19/2012: King has been adopted by his breeder, Buff Bradley, and will head home to Kentucky!


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Meeting Blind Luck

If you’ve never been to Taylor Made Farm, you cannot possibly understand the beauty of the farm. I can attempt to describe it, but I will not be able to do the splendor of Taylor Made justice. Set in the beautiful rolling hills outside of Nicholasville, Kentucky, Taylor Made captures the essence of a Thoroughbred farm. As you drive through the many roads that wind through the farm, you can see many elegant broodmares and foals that hopefully have bright futures ahead of them. While you’re there, you might as well schedule a tour so you can drop by the stallion complex to say hello to the likes of Unbridled’s Song, Eskendereya, and others.

Taylor Made is known for its tremendous sales agency. If you look through the catalog of an important sale, such as a Keeneland sale, you will find many top class horses consigned by Taylor Made. At the recent Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, one of the biggest names Taylor Made consigned was Eclipse champion and six-time grade one winner, Blind Luck. The filly was bought for $2.5 million by Mark Dedomenico, who had owned 50% of her during her racing career, and will be bred next year.

Blind Luck will likely find herself in the Hall of Fame someday, but she is so much more than a champion to me. She is one of my absolute favorites of my lifetime. In fact, she probably sits third behind Zenyatta and Smarty Jones. Blind Luck has brought me along on a thrilling ride and I will never forget supporting her throughout her career.

The filly captured my attention when she won the Oak Leaf Stakes (GI) as a two-year-old. With that win, the chestnut daughter of Pollard’s Vision became my favorite two-year-old of 2009. I’ve kept close tabs on her ever since.

Blind Luck in the 2010 Breeders' Cup
Ladies' Classic
Photo: Terri Cage

While others supported horses such as Devil May Care and Havre de Grace over Blind Luck, I stuck on Blind Luck’s side. I looked forward to all of her races and was absolutely thrilled when she won the Kentucky Oaks (GI). I watched all of her races, but the only race of hers I saw in person was her second place finish in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (GI). I was devastated when she finished a weak last in the Lady’s Secret Stakes (GI) and continued to follow her closely, hoping to hear news about how she was doing. When it was announced that she would sell at Keeneland in November, I was worried that the wrong person would buy her, but at the same time I was thrilled to know I would get to meet her.

On the second full day of my trip to Kentucky for the Breeders’ Cup this year, I dropped by Keeneland to meet Blind Luck. As mentioned earlier, I’d seen her race in person in the 2010 Ladies’ Classic. Yet, that was the only time I’d seen her in person. I was dying to meet her. I just wanted to touch my fingers to her soft chestnut coat and tell her how much I love her. Now was my chance.

I’d looked through the catalog already and had specific horses I wouldn’t mind seeing, ones who had been spectacular on the racetrack or had very impressive pedigrees. However, most of those horses were forgotten when we arrived at Keeneland. There was just one thing on my mind: Blind Luck.

My mother and I strolled through the immaculate barns, arriving at the Taylor Made barn Blind Luck was stabled in. We walked through the barn, reading the signs on each stall that indicated the horse’s hip number and name if it had one. We’d walked through nearly the entire barn and I still had not spotted Blind Luck. I searched frantically for 210A (her hip number), but I was having no luck finding it. My mom told me to calm down, reminding me that there were still a few stalls left on the shedrow. Sure enough, at the very last stall, I spotted the sign that read 210A. Inside the dark stall, I saw a flash of mahogany, my chestnut blur. Those of you who have read my blog know that my nickname for Blind Luck is the “Chestnut Blur.”

I could no longer breathe. I was standing outside of her stall, looking at her. As I grasped the mesh of her stall door, she sniffed my fingers, her small, velvety nose touching my hand. I was touching Blind Luck. Well, actually, she was touching me.

My mom stood to the side, watching me with the filly I loved so much. Repeatedly, I whispered to my mom that I couldn’t breathe. I wasn’t exaggerating; Blind Luck was making me hyperventilate.

“I love you, Blind Luck,” I murmured breathlessly to the chestnut filly.

Her handler soon brought her out of her stall and I gazed at the filly as her lanky frame graced my vision. Her long legs supported her beautifully-built frame and though she needed to put on more weight, she was a striking specimen. She lifted up her refined head, stretching out her perfect neck as she pricked her ears and gazed around at the other horses. I was left breathless by her beauty. Yes, I was starstruck by a horse.

Blind Luck
Photo by Mary Cage

Meeting Blind Luck was an experience I’ll never forget. Every time I go back and watch her exciting races, I can look back and remember when my fingers brushed her smooth coat. When I see pictures of her standing in the winner’s circle, I can recall her standing before me, her exquisite face gazing around the Keeneland backside.

I’d like to thank Taylor Made for that wonderful day, as meeting Blind Luck wasn’t the only experience that involved Taylor Made that day. Other experiences included revisiting Eskendereya, Pepper’s Pride, and Hotlantic (Beautiful Bluegrass: Day Two). Taylor Made will always be dear to my heart. And of course, Blind Luck, I love you.

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