Thoroughbred Racing 2022

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Secretariat died on this day in 1989. I still remember it like yesterday. He was only 19 years old and suffering with laminitis. Oh what might have been. He would still have had at least 4 or 5 more years at stud. My boy Tinners Way was born in 1990, the last son born to Secretariat. And Secretariat stamped him with his likeness and a bit of his racing ability. sniff.

 

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Did you all see this? French jockey, Christophe Soumillon, got just a 2 month suspension after throwing a shoulder and causing another rider to fall during a race. The YouTube vid shows both head on and side views of the incident. The side view is what shows a blatant attempt at cheating. The head on view shows Ryan hitting the ground. Man, he could have had a horrible injury but fortunately he was ok.
The 2 month suspension is during the light part of the racing season…no punishment at all.
2 Months is Not Enough

 

[Vagabond]

Did you all see this? French jockey, Christophe Soumillon, got just a 2 month suspension after throwing a shoulder and causing another rider to fall during a race.

This follows closely on the heels of a similar incident during the Ecuador Derby in which the jockey on the eventual second-place finisher pushed another jockey off his mount. The offending jockey has been banned for life.

In happier news, take a look at the stretch run of the Prix du Cadran, France's leading race for stayers. If you don't have the patience to watch the entire race, start the video at 3:24. It's an incredible performance, especially given that the winner, Kyprios, lost a shoe as he veered out, as you can see if you look carefully.

 

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This follows closely on the heels of a similar incident during the Ecuador Derby in which the jockey on the eventual second-place finisher pushed another jockey off his mount. The offending jockey has been banned for life.

This is exactly what CS did…pushed him off his mount. I think he should be banned for life. I do know he’s been let go by the Aga Khan as their contracted jockey due to this incident.

 

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Albertus Maximus died at Old Friends. I heard he broke his leg, paddock accident. Poor guy. I think I saw him once at Old Friends. He didn't get to enjoy a long retirement, sadly. Sigh.

Breeders' Cup Champion Albertus Maximus Dead | Old Friend EquineOld Friend Equine

GEORGETOWN, KY – OCT. 8, 2022 – Breeders’ Cup Champion Albertus Maximus has died. Recently pensioned to Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement from Shadwell’s Nashwan Stud, the 18-year-old stallion suffered a paddock accident that proved fatal, though a full …

oldfriendsequine.org

 

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Well, not a current racer but he teaches current racers. Lava Man, aka Coach, who will escort Hot Rod Charlie to the starting gate at the Breeders’ Cup, is being retired from his second career as a track pony. He’ll go to Old Friends after the Breeders’ Cup.He’ll be in quarantine for a couple weeks but I should get to see him in his pen, but just not feed him, when I’m there.

 

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Breeders Cup is this coming Friday/Saturday!
I have micro share in Going to Vegas who will for the 2nd year in a row will try the Filly and Mare Turf!

Looking forward to the Classic…holy cow…the runners are amazing!
Cyberknife
Epicenter
Flightline
Happy Saver
Hot Rod Charlie
Life Is Good
Olympiad
Rich Strike
Taiba

Flightline the clear “super horse” this year, but there are some stellar runners against him.

Pre-Entrant List

 

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Yeah, Flightline has been amazing but on the other hand, he’s been so lightly raced it’s hard to judge. Does he ever have a bad day? In one of his races he was slow to leave the gate and made it up. He doesn’t have to be on the lead the whole way, but he likes to.

I sort of hope we either see a blowout by Flightline (who’s looked super in his workouts lately) or a three-way fight to the wire between Flightline, Rich Strike, and Hot Rod Charlie. But probably more realistically it will come down to Flightline and Life Is Good. We’ll see!

 

[Vagabond]

Flightline!

He could have won by twenty lengths or more if Flavien Prat had wanted him to do so.

 

[Sarah]

Flightline was something else. That was incredible. Especially considering the opening fractions with Life Is Good!

 

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Epicenter to have surgery to repair right lateral condylar fracture sustained in the Classic.
Epicenter

My horse, Going to Vegas had a poor showing. Got out of te gate well but was behind horses throughout. She does her best running if she gets the lead. Oh well, she’s off to the sales and will be retiring to be a mom! Thanks for the thrills, Vegas!

Flightline was sublime.

 

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Flightline Officially Retired to Lanes End

 

[Sarah]

Flightline Officially Retired to Lanes End

Not surprising (I can't imagine the insurance to race him next year), but I'd love to have seen him race again.

 

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I was there and it was amazing. I’ll post some pics of Flightline in the paddock on my Facebook page when I get a chance. I missed a chance to see him eating some of his flowers from the garland this morning, sleeping in to fight a sinus infection. Oh well!

Lanes End is pretty good about having fans in, and they don’t shuttle their stallions as far as I know, so that’s good. I know the groom who took care of AP Indy and he is super. They’re all great. Flightline will be well taken care of.

I am disappointed he is not racing in the Pegasus. But, as one of his connections said, “Who is going to run against him?” I agree, if the real Flightline would show up to any race these days, it’s game over.

 

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I’m sad that Rich Strike lost again today, and didn’t look competitive at all. I’m worried this is another case of mismanagement like we saw with Mine That Bird. I like Richie so much it makes me very sad and also worried for him.

 

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Cody’s Wish won the 2022 Secretariat Vox Populi award! I voted for him. It’s quite the list of winners that he joins. The very first winner was Zenyatta.

“Vox Populi” Award - Secretariat.com

“Horse racing already has established avenues to award outstanding accomplishments, and we certainly should honor superior performance. But achievement can be measured in many ways, and fans occasionally feel a disconnect when the horses who most impacted the public are not recognized through...

www.secretariat.com

 

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Jason Servis pleads guilty to doping horses https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/09/us/horse-racing-trainer-jason-servis-guilty-plea-spt-intl/index.html