Notes from the Farm

Poll at the Paulick Report

2012-01-25T16:49:00.000-05:00

On the Paulick Report, there is currently a poll asking users who they would select to give a horse racing "State of the Union" address. As of 4:45 pm, this is the current tally.

This is both hilarious and honest at the same time. "Crazy guy sitting alone in grandstand" is currently third. Well, why not? Given all the other ideas thrown up on the wall, why shouldn't a guy who knows exactly who is going to win in third race at Aqueduct on a cold rainy day in the middle of the week tell us how to proceed forward in 2012? Because it sure ain't the CEO of the NTRA (he's too busy and sure as HELL ain't Frank Stronach. I personally voted for Kegasus.

2011 Eclipse Award for Top Stud

2012-01-17T13:27:00.003-05:00

The Eclipse Awards, the annual end of year honors for thoroughbred were handed out last in Beverly Hills. Congrats to Harve de Grace for winning horse of the year.  Other awards are handed for three year old colt of the year, junville filly of the year, etc. etc. But there was award that was not given out, and I am sure it was overlooked: Top Stud.

That awards goes to...wait for it...Congrats...no really, Congrats is the name of the horse (stallion page here). Congrats ~~breed~~ live covered 205 mares in 2011. If we assume he ~~breed~~ live covered a mare every day between February 15 to July 15 (the traditional dates for the thoroughbred breeding season), he got to meet a new lady everyday, plus an extra bonus one on fifty-one of those days. This of course, is assuming, that A) every mare only needed to breed once (highly unlikely) and B) the mares' owners allowed their mares to be bred in months other than March or April (also highly unlikely).    So it is possible that Congrats breed four mares a day at one point. I hate to be the owner of the third and/or fourth mare. All this service at $35, 000 for a live foal (for those doing the math at home, assume on the high end of an 80% conception rate and thats $5,740,000 for Congrats' syndicate).

Congrats had tough competition for this prestigious honor: Giant’s Causeway, 198; Bellamy Road, 192; Scat Daddy, 191; and Henrythenavigator, 189. Who are the marketing people for these horses? Because they are not getting paid enough.

It gets worse. This is from the Lords of the Jockey Club's own report on mares bred for 2011:

" The number of stallions covering 100 or more mares increased from 82 in 2010 to 84 in 2011. These stallions accounted for a greater percentage of the total mares reported bred this year — 30.6% of all mares bred in 2011 versus 26.8% of all mares bred in 2010 as reported at this time last year.
Further book size analysis shows a 2.5% increase in the number of mares bred to stallions with a book size of 100 or more in 2011 when compared to 2010 as reported at this time last year."

Did you get that? In 2011, 84 out of a possible 1,935 thoroughbred stallions are siring 31% of all foals in 2012.  This is our idea of diversifying the gene pool apparently. Anything with four legs and Jockey Club papers is a mare prospect. Diversifying the gene pool is by the way, according to the Lords of the Jockey Club, why mares and stallion ~~have to get busy~~ live cover in person.

Lasix! Lasix! Rah Rah rah! Lasix Pep Rally at Convention

2012-01-15T20:56:00.002-05:00

At a convention of the NHBA (the national horseman's associations), the pro-lasix people had a ~~little pep rally~~ panel discussion about the "myths" of lasix. From Bloodhorse.com:

"Dr. Steven Barker, chemist for the Louisiana State Racing Commission, sought to dispel what he called industry “myths” surrounding Salix. He said that contrary to some claims, Salix does not interfere with testing for other drugs when blood is tested; Salix isn’t performance-enhancing; Salix is effective in treating EIPH; and that it can’t be proven use of the drug is “denigrating” the Thoroughbred breed."

OK, you people keep bringing up the same old augments, I going to have keep refuting it and redirecting the argument until you get it right. Before going any further, it needs to be mentioned that the good doctor contradicted himself in a single breath. How can lasix not be "performance enhancing," but at the same time be effective at treating EIPH, which some horsemen think degrades the performance of the horse? Huh?

Baker went on to say "The science has to be taken with a grain of salt in some cases,” Barker said. “Some facts have been left by the wayside. Some say Lasix is denigrating the breed. What’s the science on that? Nothing. This myth is complete fiction, having not merit or scientific data to support it.”

Yah know, except for the tens of thousands of horses that race n Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, and Australia where lasix is illegal and always has been. There is NO scientific data. And the fact that horses before the 1970s were sounder in the pre-lasix days than they are in the current lasix days.

The fact of the matter is that lasix is being used a crutch/short cut. So we are degenerating the breed. We never needed the drug. We don't need the drug.

If that wasn't enough, another doctor sent a video tape of himself. Except this guy happens to be a human heart surgeon, not a horse doctor. According to Bloodhorse.com, "Dedomenico said heart beats in horses can go from 40 to 220 a minute during races, meaning their blood pressure increases rapidly. He said if that happened in humans, they most likely would stroke .He also said each time horses bleed in the lungs, they build up scar tissue. “More than 90% of horses bleed into their lungs,” he said. “It shouldn’t be acceptable.' "

Well, doctor, we are not talking about humans are we now? We are talking about Equus ferus caballus not homo sapien. Yes more than 90% of horses bleed...and it doesn't hurt them in 90% of the cases.

There is more lasix nonsense I read over the last few weeks, but no time to get into it now. (Did you know 95% of the Breeder's Cup Winners were on LASIX?!?!? Actual statement. *sigh*)

Ban lasix now.

New Year, Back to Training

2012-01-11T14:44:00.000-05:00

This is a self-portrait of my ugly face and Marq Your Bible at his rest facility near Berryville, VA. Marq Your Bible is now back at Diana McClure's training facility after a two month lay off and back in training.

Lots of things to get to in future posts, like the statement by the HBPA that since 93% of the Breeder's Cup winners were on Lasix, it must safe and effective.

Horse Slaughter Soon to be Legal-Sigh

2011-12-10T07:43:00.001-05:00

If you are a horsemen and have been following the news, you probably know by now that the United States Congress has literally put horses back on the menu. An appropriations bill would reinstate U.S.D.A. inspectors to meat packing plants that slaughter horses. I don't know exactly who got this put back in, but my guess is my buddy Virginia Congressman Bob Goodlatt, who is such a strong advocate for horse slaughter he probably had horse meat for Thanksgiving.

The true outrageous moment in this latest turn against horses is the reaction from animal rights groups. Their response has been a collective "ehhhh, whata yah gonna do...at least they are not going to Mexico." As correctly pointed out by Professor James Williams of Texas State University in the Atlantic Monthly, horses are now in the same group as stuffed duck and veal. That is, we know its bad, but once it passes our small guilty conscience, we feel fine and order it up. I do disagree slightly with Professor Williams one issue-many of us do care about horse slaughter, particularly in the racing industry. Kentucky Derby and Breeder's Cup winner Ferdinand's death in Japan still hangs heavy over us.

Of course, the horse racing industry is being blamed for this, not Congress. It is true, there are too many thoroughbreds. One PETA activist called for everyone to boycott racing to end horse slaughter. But that won't help, because thoroughbreds are not the ones generally being sent to slaughter. Its paints, pintos, quarter horses, and draft horses are the ones being sent to slaughter (Quarter horses are the number one breed, in terms of numbers, by a far margin.) Horses that were bred for no purpose than to sell for $1500 and thrown away by those very breeders realized they their horse is good for nothing.

I am personally in favor, and call for, the Jockey Club to slap a $25 "disposal fee" to every registration paper. The money would go horse rescue organizations. "But we already pay $200!" Yes you also pay $500 for the Breeder's Cup and $50 to $200 for state-bred incentive programs. $25 is a small fee to ensure that every thoroughbred receives a dignified end.

Horse slaughter should be banned. American horsemen are not in the meat business. If so, we would raise cattle.

Ban horse slaughter now.

Governor Bob McDonald Wants to Raise Your Taxes

2011-12-06T11:28:00.001-05:00

You heard right-If you live in the southern part of Hampton Roads, where I do, Governor Bob McDonald wants/is going to raise your taxes. You would call it a toll, I and many others call it what really is-a transportation tax (see Virginian-Pilot's "Second Midtown Tunnel Coming-As Well As Tolls"). Under the plan, the state would ~~sell off~~ lease the two tunnels that connect as part of a "public-private partnership" deal with foreign-own road companies. These for-profit companies would make the improvements and in turn get to charge you and me a small ~~convenience fee~~ toll for the next fifty years. This also how they plan to build the new U.S. 460.

To think this somehow only effects people in Portsmouth and Chesapeake is in error. Commuters in Hampton Roads are coming from upwards of fifty miles away (Heaven help you if you live in North Carolina, you get doubly screwed with the Route 168 tolls already in place). Somehow in Northern Virginia, they only have one toll road (the Dulles Toll Road/"Greenway"), yet they have several new construction projects. Hmmm...

I am not opposed to raising money to pay for road improvements. I am, however, opposed to raising revenue in a way that allows the Republican majority in the General Assembly and the Governor's Mansion, who I both voted for and have for many, many years, to say they didn't raise your taxes. They first tried to do it with a voter referendum and now they are going to just ram it down our throats with a proclamation. They kept saying "we won't raise your taxes." They also said under their breath "SUCKER."

New Lasix Study-Ignore that Man Behind the Curtain

2011-11-18T09:40:00.002-05:00

You have heard some horsemen and newspaper columnists doing a victory lap because a Michigan State University study concluded the lasix/salix/anti-bleeder drug of the day is safe to give to race horses.

So WHAT.

Whether or not lasix is safe to give to horses is not the question. Why don't we ask, while we are at it, if it is safe to give horses water cooled to 50 degrees or 55 degrees? Its pointless.

The question you should be asking is "Does a horse bleeding in the lungs affect the health or performance of the horse?" The answer, based on hundred of years of racing, is NO...NO IT DOES NOT.

But, guess what, PETA and USHS has entered the argument...*sigh* We don't need you people...go away...if anyone cares more for their animals, its horsemen. We don't need "advocacy" groups thank you very much.

Ban lasix now.

UPDATE
Don't believe me? The Daily Racing Forum has a wonderfully articulated argument against lasix.

Coat of Another Horse's Color

2011-11-14T15:11:00.001-05:00

There was a fascinating little story on NPR on Saturday about cave art in France depicting horses. Scientists wanted to know if the pictures were based on something real or something the cave man made up. The scientists used DNA from horse bones dated to the same time period to determine the horses' coat colors. Specifically they were looking for horses with a "polka-dotted"-pattern (appaloosa-like). Even though the bones were really, really old, scientists said yes, there were "polka-dotted" coated horses a long time ago.

Why do I bring this up? Because a few years ago, I had a rare buckskin colored thoroughbred. So rare, the Lords of the Jockey Club refused to registered her as a buckskin even though I had a DNA test from University of California-Davis' equine lab saying it was ("I don't have time for this" was the exact words I was told over the phone.) The old JC doesn't use DNA to determine coat color. They go by the tried and true "that looks about right" method via the use of submitted images (digital images were only accepted within the last 10 years).

The result is a vague color references on a horse's papers like "Dark Bay or Brown" and, my personal favorite "Grey or Roan." Now, the fact that the gene that creates the roan color in horses DOES NOT EXIST, thereby making it IMPOSSIBLE to have said roan, in thoroughbreds does not stop the JC from using such vague terms. Look at Smarty Jones for example. He is suppose to be "Dark Bay." When in reality, he is a chocolate colored brown (he's a lot shorter in person too...which BTW is fine...no need to have giants all the time at stud).

As it is, the thoroughbred is heading towards the way of the standardbreds where 95% of the horses are "dark bay." It makes for a really boring race to watch when all the horses look alike.

Buyers at Keeneland Have Responded to the Occupy Movement

2011-11-10T11:12:00.003-05:00

There have been some big fireworks at the 2011 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. The sale yesterday produced a record sale of $8,200,000 for the 3 year old (and probable Eclipse winner) filly ~~Delta Blue~~ Royal Delta. This sale comes on top of multiple million dollar sales for horses the day before. Driving these numbers are the complete dispersal of the stock of two big names in the business, namely the late and very great Virginia horseman Robert Evans.

Now that the fireworks are over, let us take a step back and think about this for a second. Someone just dumped over $8 million on a horse. There are only two reasons I think of why said person did this and neither one has anything to do with "good business sense":

A) Got caught up in the moment/pride-This happens in auctions...you don't want the other guy to get something you really, really want (the "other guy" in this case happens to be auto parts tycoon/track owner Frank Stronach).

B) You are sending a message to the Occupy movements around the country that you have heard their message and are going to respond to them with a big nose thumb by singing an $~~8.2 million~~ 8.5 million auction slip.

I have said it before and it bears repeating: it makes no logical business sense to spend that amount of money on a single horse. Too many things can happen and too many things can go wrong. Royal Delta who is not in foal as she just finished racing, at best, will only produce one foal a year. There is no guarantee she get in foal and no guarantee the foals will do anything.

Peanut gallery: But, ~~Delta Blue~~ Royal Delta won the Breeder's Cup Ladies Classic and will win an Eclipse award!

The mare Somethingroyal was considered too slow to race. She produced Secretariat and three other stakes horses. Seattle Slew's mom won only $40,000 at the track.

It would be far better, if you are truly trying to find a good race horse (or even good auction sale horses)down the line, to use that $~~8.2~~ 8.5 million to buy thirty good mares with proven produce records.

Breeders Cup Note

2011-11-07T16:32:00.000-05:00

So, the Breeders Cup was exciting! Yes? Unfortunately it settled nothing in the "Horse of the Year" department. My feeling is that they should give it Harve de Grace. This based on the fact that while she finished 4th, that was in front of every other possible contender for HOY (i.e. Flat Out, Uncle Mo, Stay Thirsty).

ESPN's coverage was good, except for one thing: the constant hype of/search for an "elite" horse. One learned about maybe three or four horses throughout the entire day. So of course, when a horse like Court Vision wins, its a "shocker" even though Court Vision was not a slouch horse. Every horse in the Classic had good credentials and had a right to be there.

What I did like is the number of camera angles. Some of you are annoyed at such coverage, but I like it. Horses run differently down the back stretch than they do in the home stretch. This is not readily apparent in the standard one camera view. In particular I noticed that many horses that wore blinkers tried to work around the blinkers by tilting their head sideways. As a result, they ran somewhat less than straight and still see whats around them (thus defeating the purpose of blinkers in the first place).

Anyway, on to Derby 2012.

Marq Your Bible Getting a Little Rest

2011-11-02T09:03:00.000-04:00

Like many NASA rocket launches, Marq Your Bible's first start has been delayed. The boy is growing like a weed. We have decided to give him sixty days off from training to let his skeleton catch up with the rest of his body. As you can see, he is enjoying his vacation at a Clark County farm near his trainer's. His new friend is a 23 year old retired race horse and three-day eventer. We will pick things back up in January.

Why You Shouldn't Give Your Horse a Shave in the Morning

2011-11-01T16:27:00.003-04:00

There is a practice among many horsemen to shave the whiskers off the horse's nose. The thinking being it gives the horse a "cleaner look." It is a silly practice as the horse needs the whiskers to graze with. However, if you need another reason, look at the picture above. That is finish line of the 2011 Melbourne Cup, which was run today. The winner, Dudane, literally won by a whisker.

This produced a very funny post by "the amazing sneijderman" on Deadspin:

Red Cadeaux (staring in mirror): Honey, do you think I should trim my nose hairs? They're all bristly and large in there.

Mrs. Red Cadeaux: *sigh* You know I don't care, do whatever you want. But hurry up! We're going to be late to dinner with my parents.

RC: Hmmm. I might as well do it, right? I mean, it'll make everything just more clean -- it'll be good for everyone.

MRC: Yeah yeah, sure. Now come on, and don't forget to bring that bottle of red from the cellar! You know, the one we got at the wedding.

RC Be right there! (under his breath, while trimming) Stupid parents, stupid dinner. On the night before the race, too. Can't catch a freaking break.
---------------
Oh and while we are here. The Melbourne Cup has 20 plus horses in the field and is over 2 miles in length on the turf....all WITHOUT LASIX. All the horses in the field came out fine.
Ban Lasix now.

Election Talk

2011-10-28T12:01:00.002-04:00

We have an election next week for our House of Delegates seat (64th district). The two men running for office are Bill Barlow (D and the incumbent) and Rick Morris. I have e-mailed both men asking for views on, what else, horse racing in Virginia. Sadly, neither person has responded back. We also have a three way race for sheriff of Southampton County. While it is nothing like the drama over in neighboring Isle of Wight County, it is still in interesting contest. Don't know who I am voting for. Of course, it would be easier if I actually knew something about the three men!

And They're Off Mockumentary Movie

2011-10-21T10:25:00.003-04:00

How did THIS fly under the radar? This looks hilarious! Sean Austin (Sam of Lord of the Rings Fame) stars along with several SNL cast members. Bob Baffert, Doug O'Neil, and several other horse racing personalities do cameos as well.

ESPN Films' Charismatic

2011-10-19T13:18:00.000-04:00

We watched a one hour documentary on Charismatic and last night on ESPN (watch it here, if you missed it). My review? *applause* It was quite good. See, ESPN, horse racing does make for compelling stories.

The film most focused on jockey Christ Antley, the talented but troubled jockey, who rode Charismatic through most of the Triple Crown season. The horse's trainer D. Wayne Lucas was not interviewed as he apparently refuses to publicly talk about the horse and the incident at the end of the Belmont Stakes. There are rumors that Lucas blames Antley for Charismatic getting hurt as Antely disobeyed instructions and rode the horse to fast early in the race.

If this is the case, then I hope Lucas made the comment in the heat of the moment. He, of all people, know that horses can get hurt anywhere, anyhow. We certainly discovered that with our horses.

Marq Your Bible-Moving Towards 1st Start

2011-10-07T19:42:00.006-04:00

Marq Your Bible is moving to the launch pad. The vet has cleared his knees as fully developed. He is going to go through two two-minute licks and then if all goes well...

Peanut Gallery-excuse me? lick? as in? the horse is going to take its tongue and slobber all over you for 120 seconds?

No...as in lick- "to move quickly or lightly" Used without subject, according to dictionary.com.

PG-Oh...carry on...

then, he gets a published work...

PG: Hi, it's us again...

What now...

PG: "published work?" as in he gets a book deal?

Well, not really. He gets timed over a certain distance and companies like Equibase record it for the bettors latter on, who may or may not use it to determine whether or not to bet on him. Usually one looks for a speed of 1 furlong every 12 seconds...

PG: Ummm....

*sigh* furlong... "a unit of distance, equal to 220 yards (201 meters) or ¹/ ₈ mile (0.2 km). Origin: before 900; Middle English; Old English furlang length of a furrow. See furrow, long^1"

Then he races.

PG: Awesome...

Thank you.

Prix-de-l'Arc-de-Triomphe and Picture Day!

2011-10-03T10:46:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, we took photos of our two show ponies-Bella Serhafina (top), an Anglo-Arabian, and her sister Myra, a half-Welsh Pony (bottom). Pretty girls aren't they? The two are inseperatiable out in the field or when we bring them in. If we breed one, the other one will have to be breed too.
So, you had the trifecta on the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (paid over $77,000 on a $1 bet) from yesterday right? Yeah, me neither. I have never bet on a European race, but it looks brutual. No show betting and fields over 14 horses.

Peanut Gallery-The heck with that! *gasp* Did you see that five fillies were in the race against the boys! Oh the humanity! Don't they know female thoroughbreds are deliecate little things??!? And *double gasp* its a 1 1/2 mile race....WITHOUT LASIX!!!! What are those bastard Europeans thinking?!?! Why do they torture those poor things??

Ummm...a filly won the race...a 3-year old no less....and yes, without lasix. She seems to be doing just fine.

Oh...never mind...carry on...

Jockey Club Gold Cup 2011

2011-09-30T16:23:00.003-04:00

Tomorrow is the 5th biggest day on the racing calender (In order Kentucky Derby, Breeder's Cup, Preakness, and Belmont) with the many Grade I races being run. In days of yore, this day was the de facto championship day before the Breeders Cup was created. I have two favorite Jockey Club Gold Cups: 1988 when Waquoit won it and 2004 when Funny Cide won it (shown above). In both cases, the horses that won had been previously discarded and not taken seriously. Both horses should gather Hall of Fame honors.

Uncle Mo (he has his own website!) is going to run in the Kelso, a one mile dirt race. No word if he is going to retired if he is loses to a resurgent Jackson Bend.

On a side note, I wonder if Northview Stallion Station has ever thought about co-sponsoring this race. Seems like many of their stallions that have stood there, (Waquoit, Love of Money, Domestic Dispute among others) have enter the JC Gold Cup.

Marq Your Bible Photos

2011-09-27T09:33:00.002-04:00

Here are the latest photos of Marq Your Bible (Marqutery-Red Devillette by Oh Say) at his trainer's, Diana McClure, far m in Berryville, Virginia. At the top, he is on the left standing in front of his training partner Dolly. He is pictured by himself in the bottom photo. As of right now, we are looking at the end of October for his first start. But, it is really up to him now is it not?

Three Chimneys Farm has Gone GANGSTA!!!!!

2011-09-23T09:05:00.002-04:00

While I congratulate The Big Brown syndicate and Three Chimneys on Big Brown's current success at the auction, is it really necessary to start acting like a bunch of drunk frat boys on a Saturday night? Somebody the other day posted a blog entry explaining why horse racing is better than football. One clear distinction is that our sport has refused to stoop to language and behavior levels that some football (and many basketball) players and commentators relish. I know ESPN's TV and Radio talking heads relish that kind of trash talk and it is one reason I believe that ESPN doesn't cover our sport more. I would rather maintain dignity than get publicity.

Stay classy Three Chimneys...

Breezing and Two Year Old In Training Sales

2011-09-19T14:27:00.006-04:00

PETA recently asked thoroughbred sales company to review the way they conduct their two year old in training sales after a filly broke down. PETA asked, neigh, DEMANDED changes (along with a demand of cruelty charges) such as, according to Bloodhorse.com:

eliminate the recording and publishing of times during undertack shows; mandate that undertack shows be postponed if there are unsafe track and weather conditions; ban whips, toe-grabs, and “other devices that force a horse to run at excessive speeds;” and crack down on the use of performance-enhancing and injury-making drugs

The horse in question that sparked PETA's ~~super duper PR hype squad~~ concerned staff into action was a horse who died in June at OBS due to a ruptured aorta. In other words, a heart attack. None of PETA's "recommendations" would have save the horse, just like none of PETA's "recommendations" would have saved Eight Belles or Barbaro. PETA is simply using the opportunity to show their members that "they care" and we thoroughbreds owners don't.

However, while I don't agree with PETA that two in year old training sales are cruel, I will say I am perplexed at the sales' purpose. Breezing a horse two furlongs and timing it tells you next to nothing about the horse. Thoroughbred races are as much about speed and they are the ability to maintain that speed over a distance (even if it is only six furlongs). The only thing a 2f breeze proves is that your horse is ready to run in the All-American Futury Trials against quarterhorses.

HBPA Says Lasix Now, Lasix Forever!

2011-09-15T13:26:00.005-04:00

I just read the montly message from the two heads of the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association in this month's Horsemen's Journal. The two men, Joe Santanna and Remi Bellocq, spoke out against the lasix ban and how they are working really, really, really hard (alledegly on behalf of members, of which I am one) to keep lasix in the sport. Read it here.

The basics of their argument is that lasix is need to combat a fancy sounding disorder called "Exercise Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage" (EIPH). In other words, bleeding in the lungs. It sounds gross and like a virus that came from the jungles of the Amazon, but it is really a natural function of any mammal (including humans). Let me quote you something from the American Association of Equine Practitioners about EIPH:

"University studies indicate a significant percentage of racehorses, as high as 85% in one study, experience EIPH to some degree at one time or another. There are no indications to suggest that the incidence of EIPH has increased in recent times as the incidence of epistaxis (bleeding from the nostrils) has remained essentially constant over the last century. Only the diagnostic capabilities have improved."

Lasix was introduced legally to racing world in the 1960s. In other words, horses were bleeding just as bad as they are today and were not being given any drugs. Horses were sounder, raced more, and over longer distance back in the day more than they do today. My overall point on this issue is this: I want the HBPA and anyone else who defends lasix to be honest about their position. You are NOT doing this for the benefit of the horses. You are digging in your heels because you have this false belief that it will help you win more races.

Ban Lasix now.

Rich People Apparently Get Turned Off by Artifical Insemination

2011-09-08T10:27:00.019-04:00

OK, people who get queeze easily or who are prone to snicker like a 3rd grader turn away...we are going to be talking about horse ~~sex~~ reproduction today.

Unlike the rest of the modern world, thoroughbreds worldwide must reproduce the old fashion way. The mare must be sent to the stallion where the two animals ~~make love like wild weasels in the breeding shed~~ live cover and 11 months later, out pops your next Derby winner. Every other horse registry (even the overly picky warmblood registries) allows modern science to reduce breeder's expenses through the magic of artificial insemination (as the mare never leaves the breeder's farm). But not the Lords of the Jockey Club or any other thoroughbred registry in the world.

Someone in Australia is seeking to break the system and sued the Sydney Turf Club, correctly claiming that requiring two horses to ~~have sex~~ live cover is dangerous (mares can and have kicked stallions and stallions have fallen off mares and broken their legs), expensive ($3000 to $4000 to get a mare in foal), and generally unconstitutional (illegal restraint of trade).

What is the counter argument to this legal reasoning? "The challenge of breeding a champion racehorse under that rule is what attracts the rich, famous and ordinary people to the sport," according to the STC's lawyer. Ok, I am lifting the snicker rule....snicker away. Because that is laughable. OK, back to being serious. People get into the business to watch their horse run, not the challenge of breeding. That's why people spend millions at auction so they don't have to be "challenged" by the art and science of ~~getting two horses to get it on~~ live cover.

Breeding is challenging enough and the live cover rule only makes it that much more challenging. Allowing AI would not change the basic laws of nature. It would still take an "X" and "Y" to make a foal. If anything, it would make breeding more affordable and give some much needed genetic diversity to the breed as it would open up the number of possible ~~one night stand boyfriends~~ stallions available to the mare.

UPDATE 9/9/11
The farm's Lone Equine Professional (i.e. my wife...see her blog!) has pointed out that stallion farms should be the first ones to demand the end of the live cover rule. Why? More mares can be bred via A.I. then live cover. As it stands right now, a stallion can ~~get it up~~ live cover about three mares a day. Under A.I., enough of the stallion's ~~seemen~~ collection can be used to breed three mares at the same time. Given that right now many stallion operations have gone to the insane lenghts of booking over 100 mares a season (and BRAGGING about it) to a popular stallion, under A.I. they could triple his book to over 300 mares. $$$$$$$

UPDATE 9/15/11
Uh huh---> "Live Foal Reports Down 13.5% from 2010"

If you drive an ATV in the middle of a hurricane...

2011-09-03T07:40:00.001-04:00

...you might be a redneck.

King's Bishop Stakes 2011

2011-08-31T12:14:00.004-04:00

"I don't think I'll ever experience a higher high or lower low in a 30-minute span." This choice quote comes from Mike Repole, owner of Uncle Mo. He is seriously thinking about retiring Uncle Mo. Did Uncle Mo break down or have to be put down? No, Uncle Mo came in second...in the King's Bishop (Grade I, 7F) WOW. If all us in the racing business could have suffered as bad as Mr. Repole has right now. I mean, it is nothing like what we (or several other owners) went through when Prepare the Way was rolling at the top of the Secretariat Turf Course at Colonial Down en route to a possible first win, only to shatter her sesmoid (she is doing very well, BTW, a year later).

Speaking of the King's Bishop, every year around this time I watch the race to see if anyone can best Darby Creek Road's Saratoga track record of 1:20.4 for 7 furlongs. For the 33rd year, his record is safe as the winner finished a full second off the mark.

I follow this for three reasons. A) Darby Creek Road is Mayo Lane's broodmare sire, B) Darby Creek Road was a very very good race horse. He, like Sham and many others, just happened to be born at the wrong time. Among other things he finished third and fourth to Affirmed and Alydar in three different races; C) In this era of fast track conditions and steroids, a lot of speed records have fallen. Some have not and I am starting to feel they never will (most famous of course is Secretariat's Kentucky Derby mark).

So like the '72 Miami Dolphins, I raise my champagne glass and toast another successful defense by Darby Creek Road.

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Notes from the Farm

Poll at the Paulick Report

PR Poll

Who would you select to deliver a horse racing State of the Union address?

2011 Eclipse Award for Top Stud

Lasix! Lasix! Rah Rah rah! Lasix Pep Rally at Convention

New Year, Back to Training

Horse Slaughter Soon to be Legal-*Sigh*

Governor Bob McDonald Wants to Raise Your Taxes

New Lasix Study-Ignore that Man Behind the Curtain

Coat of Another Horse's Color

Buyers at Keeneland Have Responded to the Occupy Movement

Breeders Cup Note

Marq Your Bible Getting a Little Rest

Why You Shouldn't Give Your Horse a Shave in the Morning

Election Talk

And They're Off Mockumentary Movie

ESPN Films' Charismatic

Marq Your Bible-Moving Towards 1st Start

Prix-de-l'Arc-de-Triomphe and Picture Day!

Jockey Club Gold Cup 2011

Marq Your Bible Photos

Three Chimneys Farm has Gone GANGSTA!!!!!

Breezing and Two Year Old In Training Sales

HBPA Says Lasix Now, Lasix Forever!

Rich People Apparently Get Turned Off by Artifical Insemination

If you drive an ATV in the middle of a hurricane...

King's Bishop Stakes 2011

Horse Slaughter Soon to be Legal-Sigh