Counting down the top 10 Bloodhorse.com stories for 2008. Number 1. Da' Tara Springs Upset; Big Brown Eased
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Black Emblem, a daughter of Eclipse Award winner and dual classic winner War Emblem, scored the biggest win of her career when she won the Shuka Sho (Jpn-I) Oct. 19 at Kyoto for owner Kunio Tahara.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Moved to a tranquil area away from other stallions and shielded from most visitors, temperamental champion and dual classic winner War Emblem now spends his days in a quiet grassy paddock over looking fields containing grazing mares and foals.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Preliminary analysis by the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau suggests nothing appears amiss with wagering on the June 7 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) won by longshot Da' Tara.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Champion and Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner War Emblem is responding well to therapy for a breeding behavior dysfunction, according to experts at the University of Pennsylvania.
Friday, June 06, 2008
PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
The travails of War Emblem's stud career in Japan have been fairly well documented. Less realized, however, is that the results from his few representative runners have been extremely good, and that in 2008 he is already sire of three 3-year-old black type winners. Friday, March 28, 2008
The Louisiana-based stallion Easyfromthegitgo will be added to Millennium Farms' fledgling Millennium Rewards Program, it was announced Feb. 22.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Hope continues to spring in abundance, if perhaps not eternally, at the Shadai Stallion Station in Japan that War Emblem will overcome his mysterious disdain for breeding.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Champion War Emblem, who has experienced breeding difficulties at stud in Japan, was represented by his first stakes winner when Shonan Alba pulled away in the stretch to win the Feb. 11 Kyodo News Service Hai at Tokyo.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
The Kentucky-based Old Friends Thoroughbred retirement facility and Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., are joining to present "Old Friends Day" Jan. 20 at the West Coast racetrack.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
After final approval from the Illinois Racing Board Dec. 13, Hawthorne Race Course announced the 2008 stakes schedule for its spring and fall meets.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
After five frustrating years of trying to coax dual American classic winner War Emblem into performing regular breeding duties, Shadai Stallion Station officials may be reaching the limit of their patience with the horse they purchased for about $17 million as a stallion prospect.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
War Emblem, champion 3-year-old male of 2002 after winning the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I), was represented by his first winner Nov. 26.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
War Emblem's problems in the breeding shed have gotten worse. There will be no foals sired by the 7-year-old champion son of Our Emblem born in 2007.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
This may color your decision-making in regard to the Kentucky Derby (gr. I).
Friday, April 28, 2006
If it is true that history repeats itself, the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) presented by Yum! Brands has plenty of historical trends to follow. However, the fact that it has a varied history makes it hard to pick exactly which trend to follow.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Champion Personal Ensign delivered a colt by Forest Wildcat April 2 at Claiborne Farm near Paris, Ky. The chestnut colt was bred by the Phipps Stable and is Personal Ensign's 11th foal.
Monday, April 03, 2006
Our Emblem, sire of Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner War Emblem, has been sold to Goncalo and Regina Borges Torrealba's TNT Stud in Centro-Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He previously stood at Taylor Made Farm near Nicholasville, Ky., and has shuttled to TNT Stud since 2004. The 15-year-old son of Mr. Prospector will remain in Brazil, according to Taylor Made Farm.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Unbridled's Song, a prominent sire for years, will stand in 2006 for $150,000, up from his $125,000 fee in 2005, at the Taylor family's Taylor Made Farm near Nicholasville, Ky.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Charles Nuckols Jr., an icon of the Thoroughbred industry, died Sept. 2 at his home near Midway, Ky. Nuckols, 83, had been fighting a variety of ailments the past several years, and died of complications from congestive heart failure.
Friday, September 02, 2005
By Ray Paulick - The strange case of War Emblem, the 2002 Eclipse Award-winning 3-year-old now at stud in Japan, keeps getting stranger.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
All horses foaled in the Northern Hemisphere have the universal birth date of Jan. 1 as their official age of racing, but not all of this year's Kentucky Derby (gr. I) contenders are actually 3-year-olds as of yet. Who's the oldest? Who's the youngest? Whose birth date is actually Derby day, May 7?
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Taylor Made Farm and WinStar Farm have agreed to lease Our Emblem to Goncalo Borgs Torrealba's TNT Stud in Centro-Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the upcoming season.
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
As trainer John Servis points Smarty Jones toward his Visa Triple Crown quest in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), here's a glance back on the workout schedules for the Derby/Preakness winners, starting with the most recent ones, since 1969. That year seemed a good time to start because it marked the first year that a Derby/Preakness winner went into the Belmont unbeaten.
Friday, May 21, 2004
Prince Faisal bin Salman issued a statement April 30 that said he wants to clear the name of his late brother, Prince Ahmed bin Salman, who in a book was tied to al-Qaeda and said to have knowledge of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.
Friday, April 30, 2004
War Emblem, who experienced difficulties breeding mares at the Yoshida family's Shadai Stallion Station in Japan in 2003 during his first season at stud, has covered nearly 50 mares at the farm this year.
Tuesday, April 06, 2004
Russell Reineman, 86, a titan in both the steel and Thoroughbred industries, died at his home March 23 of natural causes.
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
The $500,000 Illinois Derby (gr. II) on April 3 highlights stakes schedule during the National Jockey Club at Hawthorne 2004 meet.
Friday, December 12, 2003
Juddmonte Farms' Toussaud, the 14-year-old daughter of El Gran Senor who produced Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker, was honored as Broodmare of the Year by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association earlier this year.
Saturday, June 07, 2003
Kentucky Derby winner War Emblem, who experienced difficulties at the Yoshida family's Shadai Stallion Station during his first season at stud this year, has been transferred to the insurance companies.
Tuesday, June 03, 2003
Team Valor Stable's Colita, a 3-year-old son of Grindstone, won Wednesday's seventh race at Belmont Park and in doing so, earned a trip to the June 7 Belmont Stakes (gr. I).
Wednesday, May 21, 2003
Last year Bob Baffert had a shot at the Triple Crown with War Emblem. This year he might not even start at horse in the June 7 Belmont Stakes, but he'll be watching.
Wednesday, May 21, 2003
My Sweet Heart, a 3-year-old half-sister to 2002 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner War Emblem, won the first start of her career Friday at Arlington Park when she captured the final event on the twilight racing program by a half-length.
Saturday, May 17, 2003
Jockey Victor Espinoza, who won his first Kentucky Derby on longshot War Emblem last year, will spend the first Saturday in May at Hollywood Park.
Sunday, April 27, 2003
War Emblem, North America's champion 3-year-old male of 2002 who was sold to Japan's Shadai Stallion Station for nearly $18 million in September, is having difficulties covering mares in his first year at stud and his owners are negotiating a settlement with an insurance company.
Tuesday, March 25, 2003
With all the debating about Azeri's Horse of the Year credentials, it turned out to be a landslide. The daughter of Jade Hunter did not defeat males during her 2002 campaign, but she certainly dominated them in the voting for racing's highest honor.
Monday, January 27, 2003
Nearly nine months after the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) that triggered the situation, the case of the $1 million bonus payable to the owners of War Emblem has finally been settled.
Friday, January 24, 2003
Trainer Bob Baffert, who wasn't named as a finalist for a 2002 Eclipse Award in spite of an outstanding year, said he's dismayed at the way the awards are handed out. The three-time Eclipse winner (1997-99) as top conditioner in the nation also said he feels the voting process is flawed.
Saturday, January 04, 2003
Voting is underway at the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Web site, www.ntra.com, for the fourth annual "NTRA Moment of the Year."
Monday, December 09, 2002
Five months before the Pick Six Scandal began dominating headlines, the Illinois Derby-Kentucky Derby bonus controversy was making news. A hearing to determine just who will collect the cool $1 million payout should be set soon after the New Year.
Wednesday, November 20, 2002
The last two races "were disastrous" he agrees, but trainer Bob Baffert says he wouldn't trade War Emblem's year for Azeri's.
Friday, November 01, 2002
Phil "P.G." Johnson had a perfect way to spend his 77th birthday. He decided to buy himself a $40,000 present. No luxury car, no cruise around the world; in fact, nothing at all. This was a gift for himself and his family, paid for with nearly 60 years of blood and sweat, compliments of a horse named Volponi.
Tuesday, October 29, 2002
Six of the eight winners on the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships card at Arlington Park Oct. 26 are expected to race in 2003, if all goes according to plans. Three winners--Orientate, Domedriver, and Starine--could run again this year.
Monday, October 28, 2002
Links to Breeders' Cup-related articles in daily newspapers.
Friday, October 25, 2002
It was a study in contrast Thursday morning, as the top California invaders War Emblem and Came Home went to the track for the first time. Both arrived at Arlington in good order Wednesday morning for their showdown in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Thursday, October 24, 2002
There are five horses from this year's Kentucky Derby (gr. I) set to run Saturday in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I). That is the most ever, the previous high being three, most recently in 1999.
Thursday, October 24, 2002
Oddsmaker Mike Battaglia said he believes any one of three or four different horses could be favored for the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic Oct. 26 at Arlington Park. Battaglia made War Emblem the 3-1 favorite in the 12-horse field.
Thursday, October 24, 2002
Co-owner John Toffan firmly believes Came Home deserves to be Horse of the Year if he wins on Saturday.
Wednesday, October 23, 2002
A total of 92 horses were entered Wednesday for the 19th Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships. After weeks of speculation and rumors, European superstar Rock of Gibraltar was entered in the Mile, where he was installed as the even-money favorite by Arlington Park oddsmaker Mike Battaglia.
Wednesday, October 23, 2002
For Bobby Springer, Tuesday was just another cold, windy fall morning at Arlington Park, as he returned from the track on his pony, bundled up in his heavy down jacket. But that will soon change. On Wednesday, his old friend, War Emblem, is expected take up residence two barns away from his home of a year ago.
Wednesday, October 23, 2002
