Archive for the ‘Bits’ Category

May 30, 2007 – “A man trying to sell a blind horse always praises his feet.” – German Proverb

May 30, 2007 – English-born Mike Figgis, who directed “Leaving Las Vegas,” was reportedly held for over five hours at Los Angeles International airport after he told immigration officers “I’m here to shoot a pilot.” In television speak, the first episode of a potential show is called a pilot. However, the agents, apparently not in-the-know […]

May 28, 2007 – Breeding does matter. Especially when you don’t have much on which to base your handicapping. I bet on two winners by million dollar earner Jenna’s Beach Boy at the Woodford County Fair races at The Red Mile.

May 29, 2007 – Mom’s Command has made it to the Hall of Fame. Bred and owned by Peter Fuller and trained by Edward Allard, she was the champion three-year-old filly of 1985. Jockey Abby Fuller, the owner’s daughter and Mom’s Command were a potent team, winning several Grade 1 races and capturing the hearts […]

May 28, 2007 – The Tin Man. Wow! Nine-years-old and still winning Grade 1 races with aplomb. He is the Julio Franco of horse racing. Kudos to Richard Mandella for keeping the old boy going great guns. (Guess that’s why he is in the Hall of Fame.) His horses have careers…not just meets.

May 28, 2007 – Anybody notice that since the Arlington Park contract with TVG is going away soon that the Chicago track gets about as much coverage as River Downs?

May 25, 2007 – Daily Racing Form reported today that Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas has been retained by Marylou Whitney and her husband John Hendrickson. It would be grand to see Wayne return the Marylou Whitney Stable to national prominence.

May 20, 2007 – Nice to see David Flores get his 3000th win. Several of those were horses I saddled – a tribute to his riding ability. My favorite was the day he rode Michael House’s Slip With Me to victory in the E.B. Johnston Stakes at Fairplex. He became the first jockey to win […]

May 19, 2007 – Carl Nafzger, trainer of Street Sense, after the Preakness: “My horse ran great. I got outran. That’s horse racing. If you can’t enjoy watching a $5,000 claimer give you 110 percent, you shouldn’t be in the horse business.”

May 18, 2007 – “Charmin and Sheets” by Bill Nack appears on bloodhorse.com. It’s a true story about horses needing fitness to win the Derby and the fallacy of “time between races” being the key to successful Thoroughbred management.