General News Archives 2005
 Afleet Alex © Amelia Baldree 2005 |
Afleet
Alex Injured
by Amelia Baldree Afleet Alex, third in this year's Kentucky Derby and winner of the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, has been injured and is expected to miss his planned next two starts. The bay son of Northern Afleet was pointing for the Haskell Invitational and Travers Stakes, which he will now miss to recuperate from a hairline condylar fracture in his left-front leg, at the bottom of the cannon bone. The injury was discovered last Tuesday as Afleet Alex was cooling out. Surgery was performed the following day by inserting a single screw. Trainer Tim Ritchey plans to ship Afleet Alex with a small string of horses to Saratoga this coming weekend. |
"I really don't want to leave him alone at Belmont. I want him to be here with me so I can monitor his progress every day." Ritchey told press. His connections are still planning on a fall racing season including the Breeder's Cup Classic.
 The White Fox at River Downs © Amelia Baldree 2005 |
Popular
"White Fox" Breaks Maiden The White Fox, a three-year-old rare white Thoroughbred, broke his maiden today at River Downs in Cincinnati, Ohio. The son of Pioneering and another popular white racemare Patchen Beauty was ridden by Perry Outzs. The White Fox set the pace to win the 5 1/2 furlongs by a head in 1:05.60. Going off as the favorite, he paid $5.20 to win, $3.80 to place, and $2.60 to show. Owned and bred by Patchen Wilkes Farm, LLC, The White Fox is trained by William Connelly. Patchen Beauty is the dam of some other horses too. |
 Nick Zito © Emily Hufford 2005 |
Nick
Zito Chosen For Hall of Fame After a frustrating spring that saw five Kentucky Derby starters and three Preakness starters, none of which hit the board, trainer Nick Zito had the thrill of a lifetime when it was announced he would be inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame this year. The 57-year-old trainer has won two Kentucky Derbies (1991 and 1994), the Preakness Stakes (1996), and the Belmont Stakes (2004). He's also won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and Kentucky Oaks, and has trained two champions. However, that pales in comparison to the numbers of races and stakes races he has won. He has been training horses since 1972. Lonesome Glory, a beloved steeplechase horse, was the only equine inducted into the Hall of Fame this year. The horse, now deceased, won 19 races in his career. Sidney Watters Jr. and Thomas Walsh, both involved with steeplechasing, were also inducted. |
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Turf Angels.com Celebrates
Its One Year Anniversary March 11 marks the one year anniversary of Turf Angels.com, a website started by Emily Hufford, Amelia Baldree, and Amanda Saunders. The three founders have flown or driven all over the country in the last year to cover race events such as the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Hollywood Gold Cup, Indiana Derby, and the DeFrancis Dash. There are close to 50 registered Turf Angels members and the staff has grown to include fifteen people, many both writers and photographers. The website was featured in the Blood-Horse's October 30th issue. This year the website's "look" will be completely redone and even more contests with prizes will be offered. Stay tuned for another great year of racing with the Turf Angels! |
 Fusaichi Samurai Breaks His Maiden © Patty Yount 2004 |
Fusaichi
Samurai Out The three-year-old colt is owned by Fasao Sekiguchi. |
Russell Baze Breaks Shoemaker's Record
By Emily Hufford
Jockey Russell Baze accomplished a great racing feat on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields when he broke the 8,833 victory mark held by Bill Shoemaker. The only other rider to break that record was Laffit Pincay, Jr, who retired with 9,530. Baze, who rides almost exclusively on the Northern California circuit, won 3 races on Saturday's card. Baze is forty-six-years-old and a member of the Racing Hall of Fame.
Name Change for Silverbulletday's Colt
By Amelia Baldree
Silverbulletday's first foal now has a new name. Formerly named Duckornodinner, the 3-year-old son of A.P. Indy and Silverbulletday is now named Tice. The change is effective as of January 18, 2005. Tice was foaled on January 30, 2002. Silverbulletday currently has a 2-year-old filly by Storm Cat. Tice posted a workout this morning at Santa Anita Park going four furlongs in :47.2 handily, the second fastest work of the day.
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Commendable to
South Korea 2000 Belmont Stakes winner Commendable has been sold to South Korean Racing Association. The now 8-year-old stallion entered stud in 2001 at Mill Ridge Farm for Robert and Beverly Lewis. His first foals were 2-year-olds in 2004; he had 7 winners, one of them is Seungyu Sinhwa who has won twice in Korea. He ranked 46th on the freshman sire list by progeny earnings for 2004. He is scheduled to ship January 27, 2005. Commendable is by Gone West out of the In Reality mare Bought Twice. He was trained during his racing career by D. Wayne Lukas. |
 Twin Spires at Churchill Downs © Emily Hufford 2004 |
Kentucky Derby
Purse Increased to $2 Million The reaction among many horsemen and fans was, "Finally!" when it was announced that the purse for the Kentucky Derby, the most prestigious horse race in America, has been raised to $2 million by Churchill Downs. The only other $2 million race for three-year-olds is the UAE Derby in Dubai. The Breeders' Cup Turf and Distaff both have purses of $2 million as well. |
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Exploit to South
Korea Exploit, who was moving this year from Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky to Cloverleaf Farm in Florida, has been sold to South Korea, where he will enter stud in 2005. The nine-year-old son of Storm Cat out of the mare My Turbulent Miss had been standing at Taylor Made since his retirement in early 1999. He won five of six starts in a brief but brilliant racing career. Exploit would have stood in Florida for $10,000. He was trained during his racing career by Bob Baffert and owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis. Exploit is the sire of Courageous Act, among other stakes winners. He is a half brother to Breeders' Cup Turf winner Prized. During his career, Exploit won five of six races and made $396,254 in earnings. |
Buckram Oak Buys
Dynever Newly-turned five-year-old Dynever has been purchased by Buckram Oak Farm. He was previously owned by Peter Karches. Dynever was third in the 2003 Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park. He is a son of Dynaformer out of the Zilzal mare Flamboyance. Flamboyance is also the dam of a two-year-old filly name Fleuron and a yearling colt by Swain. Dynever is expected to make his 2005 debut in the Hal's Hope at Gulfstream Park next Saturday. |
 Dynever © Emily Hufford 2004 |
Nomination Donation for Red Cross work
in Indian Ocean
Used With Permission
To assist in the alleviation of the suffering and humanitarian crisis
faced by the survivors of the tidal waves that affected 10 countries surrounding
the Indian Ocean this week, the Coolmore stallion owners are donating
a nomination to every one of their Flat and National Hunt stallions, including
Sadler's Wells in Ireland, Fusaichi Pegasus
in the USA and Encosta de Lago in Australia. The total
fund will be given to the International Red Cross to assist its work with
those devastated communities.
From Friday 31 December 2004, Ashford Stud in Kentucky and Coolmore Stud in Ireland will accept bids for nominations to each of their stallions while Coolmore Australia will do so for its one permanent resident Encosta de Lago (who stands at a fee of Aus$132,000 (inc. gst). Bidding will close at 5:00 pm local time on Tuesday 11th January 2005. The highest bids and the names of the bidders for each stallion will be published daily in the TDN and the final charitable purchasers will be released to all major racing and breeding publications.
In order to respond to the urgent needs of the Red Cross and their international partners, payment will be required immediately. These nominations will therefore be on a no guarantee basis but will include a right of return.
A spokesman for Coolmore said "Everybody has been so affected by this unprecedented humanitarian disaster that Coolmore, its stallion owners and staff wanted to do something to help, also to provide a way in which breeders internationally can contribute to the excellent work of the Red Cross. Offering a nomination to every stallion across the board allows the widest participation."
Bidders should call the following lines, being manned by Coolmore staff over the New Year holiday period and until Tuesday 11th January:
Coolmore, Ireland Contact Christy Grassick,
David O'Loughlin +353 52 31298
Coolmore, America Contact Aisling Duignan, Dermot Ryan +1 859 873 7088
Coolmore, Australia Contact Michael Kirwan +61 411 171069; Peter O'Brien
+61 411 852 149 or Coolmore Stud +61 265 764200
Alternatively please contact Richard Henry
+353 86 257 6487
or Barry Weisbord at Thoroughbred Daily News +1 732 747 8060
