Storm Cat Colt Sells for $2.8 Million
A Storm Cat colt, hip 204, commanded the highest price so far, $2.8 million, at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale.
Headlines for Tuesday, August 11, 2009
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Sharp Victor Euthanized
Pensioned stallion Sharp Victor was euthanized Aug. 10 because of complications from the infirmities of old age.
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Baffert Reflects on His Road to the HOF
With both his parents by his side, Bob Baffert, the sixth winningest trainer of all time by money won, will be inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame at Saratoga Aug. 14. A three-time champion trainer, Baffert, who has three Kentucky Derby (gr. I) wins, four Preakness (gr. I) victories, and seven Breeders' Cup titles under his belt, enthusiastically reflected on his experiences in the industry during a National Thoroughbred Racing Association teleconference Aug. 11.
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Gulfstream Trying to Attract Rachel, Others
Gulfstream Park has waved the nomination fees for grade I winners Mine That Bird, Rachel Alexandra, Summer Bird, and Quality Road to next year's Donn Handicap.
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HealthWatch: Headshaking
There are times when a horse can't stop shaking or tossing its head to a seemingly inapparent sensation; such incessant behavior is known as headshaking.
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Pair of Veterans Seek Another Sword Dancer
With two previous winners of the Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap (gr. IT) slated to contest this year's running at Saratoga Aug. 15, it's safe to say the day will not be lacking in excitement.
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Purse Hike Among Louisiana Derby Changes
Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots has raised the purse of the grade II Louisiana Derby to $750,000, increased the distance to 1 1/8 miles and moved the 3-year-old fixture to March 27, five weeks prior to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
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HOF Stakes: Straight Story in the Right Spot?
After trainer Alan Goldberg watched the results of the Secretariat (gr. IT) for 3-year-olds at Arlington Park last weekend, he knew he'd made the right decision to skip the race in Chicago with Richard Santulli's Straight Story.
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Sanan Appointed to NTRA Board
Thoroughbred owner-breeder Satish Sanan was appointed to the National Thoroughbred Racing Association board to represent Breeders' Cup. Ltd., effective as of the next NTRA board of directors meeting in September in Florence, Ky.
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NTRA Alliance Designates Fundraising Dates
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced Aug. 11 that Sept. 5-7 have been designated as national fundraising days for the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance. The Alliance, formed last October with the goal of establishing national uniform standards in the areas of safety and integrity, includes 55 racetracks in North America and every major national horsemen's organization.
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Stroll Back at Claiborne
Grade I winner Stroll is back at the Hancock family's Claiborne Farm near Paris, Ky., after standing the last two breeding seasons at Azienda Agricola Mediterraneo in Italy under a lease arrangement.
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Inside Track: Smarty's No. 1 Fan
Despite losing to Birdstone in heartbreaking fashion in the Belmont, Smarty Jones touched Madison Scott's heart. And from that point on she became "Smarty's No. 1 Fan," an unofficial title that became official July 6 when Three Chimneys Farm and Smarty's owner, Pat Chapman, arranged for the 15-year-old Scott to spend a week with her favorite horse.
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Zenyatta-Rachel Alexandra Match Race Proposed
James McIngvale, a Houston horse owner known for his high profile promotions on behalf of his Gallery Furniture stores, is proposing a $2-million match race between Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra.
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'Rachel' Breezes at Spa; Next Start Unknown
Preakness-winning filly Rachel Alexandra put in her first work at Saratoga Race Course the morning of Aug. 11 in preparation for her as-yet-to-be-determined next start, covering a half-mile in :50.72 under exercise rider Dominic Terry.
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Colored Saddle Cloths for Breeders' Cup
The Breeders' Cup will use the standard colored saddle towel system for horses competing in the 2009 World Championships races at Santa Anita Park.
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Turfway Calendar Intact, But Changes Loom
A reduction in stakes purses for its upcoming meet will allow Turfway Park to maintain overnight purses and racing days, but track officials are thinking ahead to 2010, when that probably won't be the case.
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Saratoga sale average and median price up
The average and the median price the first day at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale was up from last year's comparable session.
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F-T Saratoga Sale: Day 1 Recap
Blood-Horse correspondent Karen Johnson recaps day one of the the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling sale. Presented by OCD Pellets.
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Mo Momentum: Sheikh Boosts Saratoga Sale
Boosted by the Sheikh Mohammed stimulus package, the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale got off to a sizzling start Aug. 10 in New York at a time when the struggling economy is causing prices to fall at other Thoroughbred auctions. The gross revenue for the 76 horses that sold was $25,470,000, which was a whopping 40.3% increase from the opening session a year ago. The average price grew 10.7% to $335,132, and the median price increased 6.4% to $250,000.
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Cribbing Not a Learned Behavior, Researchers Say
<P>Despite many horse owners' belief to the contrary, researchers concluded in a new study that cribbing does not appear to be a learned disorder. However, genetic predisposition appears to be a factor, especially among Thoroughbreds. <P>Julia D. Albright, MA, DVM, and her colleagues at Cornell University surveyed horse owners about cribbing. Although 4...
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Six Simple Tips for Buying Good Hay
<P>As bales of hay roll in from the fields on the back of farmers' wagons, it's again time to start staking your claim so that your hayloft remains full over the coming winter months. Here are some tips to help you select hay for your horses. <P>1. Remember that quality forage should be the backbone of your horse's diet (a minimum of 2/3 of their nutrit...
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Horses' Sleep 'Stay Apparatus' Can Cause Limb to Lock
<P>It might be nice to doze off while waiting in the checkout line at the grocery store, but unlike horses, humans cannot sleep standing up. Having evolved to flee in an instant, horses are equipped with a "stay apparatus" that allows them to remain upright for long periods of time. But this mechanism isn't foolproof and sometimes it causes more harm than...
