HAPPY DEL MAR 2011 EVERYONE!
Today is the beginning of the WEST COAST SUMMER RACING SEASON at Del Mar. It is a race track that is also known by the phrase….”Where the turf meets the surf”.
When you are sitting in the grandstand watching the races, the Pacific Ocean is directly to your left. The ocean breezes are always surrounding you…and the environment is breathtaking. You literally get to see the waves roll into the shore and later watch the sunset while you are enjoying each race!
I remember Del Mar very well. I won the Clement Hirsch G1 there on 3 different occasions. They use the TRAKKUS system to monitor how fast the horses are moving while running…and they noted that I was closing in the 2009 Hirsch at over 40 miles per hour. NOT BAD…if I say so myself!
Dress is totally California Casual. Nice Walking Shorts, T-shirts and sandals are A-OK for most parts of the track. You do need to dress ‘up’ a bit if going to the Club House or Turf Club….but it is still summer casual and very relaxed.
MY TEAM tells Me the restaurants are fabulous down there. One can drive down to San Diego and eat on the water or stay in and around Del Mar and enjoy the local restaurants. I’ll share some of those with you as the season goes on.
Overall, it is a wonderful change in scenery and pace for all of my friends.
I truly hope that you get the opportunity to go RACING AT DEL MAR!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Donna
Hello Z,
I have not posted for awhile but that does not mean I have not been thinking of you and all the Dumplings.
I just watched Mr Commons win the Oceanside and I am so impressed with him. After the race he looked so proud and arched his neck like he was saying I AM THE BEST.
Way to go Mikey too.
Hope you are coping with the heat.
Sending lots of love!!!!!!!!!!
Donna
PS
Congratulations to John and Dottie too!!!!!!!!
Barbara Wood
@Jacalyn–prayers for your recovery and hugs.
@Charlotte Farmer–you go girl!! We are so proud of you!
@Kari Bussell–welcome back! So glad you’re ok!
Sharon Call
@Babara Grimaldi. I can’t imagine being there and hearing the bone crack. How heart rending that would be. Just watching the video is enough to make me cry and cry. Honestly, I won’t watch it anymore. It hurts too much. I did “like” her page because I’ve never forgotten her and what a great filly she was and could have been. I share your feelings about that match race. It just wasn’t necessary but I can’t help wondering if the same thing would have happened on her next regular race. At any rate, Ruffian will always be remembered as a great race filly. I wish she could have lived a long life and had lots of babies to pass on her wonderful qualities.
Sharon Call
@Kari Bussell. So glad you’re back – we missed you!
Yvonne and Maurice
Hi Zenyatta. We want to congratulate Mr. Commons – he was awesome!! We will be seeing Del Mar for the first time to see the Pacific Classic – we can’t wait. Love you big girl. Stay comfy, eat well for two and have loads of fun with BBFs.
Sharon Call
@Marilu V. Thank you. Suki,owner and hospital just struck me the same way. Never give up. This mare has a will to live and I’m so glad the owner and hosital recognized that. Now Suki passes that message on to others. Inspiring!
Barbara Grimaldi
LAURA J: I certainly will post that page on Zenny’s next message…guess I just cannot forget that day and that beautiful filly.
SHARON CALL: thank you for sharing those feelings.
I wonder if we ever could have a “convention” or annual meeting in the middle of the country so all of us can meet and greet each other. With 86,000+ strong, would it be that difficult? We’d get publicity and have displays of Zenny’s favorite charities. Some of you have been here much longer than I have–you’d know best if this is a viable idea or not.
Have a great day, all!!! We’ve had 100+ degrees temperature here in NJ for almost a week–hope it’s cooler in Kentucky for our one and only and all her pals!!!!
Barbara Wood
@Barbara Grimaldi–I’ve thought the same thing about a convention a zillion times. You are right–it would need to be in the middle of the country. Only problem with that that I can see is that the ones who would be the best planners are on the coasts. Maybe there is someone out there in Mid-America who is good at that.
@Sharon Call–I’m still thinking about Line of Thunder. It’s been my experience that horse people generally fall close to one of 2 categories: those who think of horses in the light of “What can you do for me?” rather than “How can I care for you while we accomplish something?” (whatever–maybe just being a pal) . The first would be typified by the owner(s?) of Line of Thunder who, as soon as LOT was no longer “useful”(they couldn’t get any more foals out of her), they have no use for her. The second group woould be typified by the Mosses and Team Z, whose every though is “What is best for the horse?” The first is underneath it all driven by greed, and the second is compelled by love. No doubt in my mind which group all of us fall into!
Barbara Wood
“thought”–sorry for the typo. That I never took typing is my only excuse.
Lisa g
I have been on Ruffian’s FB since she only had 27 Friends, found it from a FB Friend in Australia, she has been trying to pass on the news. It is difficult for me when I go to Her site, I miss and love her so. I posted on my FB as well about Ruffian’s FB, I hoped it helped and others passed it on.
Sharon Call
@Barbara Grimaldi and Barbara Wood. Wow, that’s a lot of planning. I’ve done large meeting planning for several companies I’ve worked for in the past. 1. You would have to find a hotel with enough meeting rooms that could be used singly or portable walls taken out to make 1 big one. The best bet on that is a hotel that would also provide blocks of rooms for the travelers. If you can guarantee enough rooms, they will provide the meeting room free of charge and help with setting up, visual aids, tables, chairs, etc. Would the hotel give any kind of cost break to the attendees for breakfast and lunch.
2. Time of year that would be good for everyone and the weather not impassable.
3. Would you have speakers? If so, who and when would they be available and what would they need to speak, i.e., just a podium and microphone or would they need an overhead projector and screen. If rescue groups or charities want to participate, their set-ups would need to be coordinated and whatever they would need would need to be coordinated with the hotel sales office.
4. Would any coffee, water, soft drinks be provided for breaks during the day. This usually costs extra.
5. Would you want a check-in table to greet the attendees and maybe give them a badge or self-stick label with their name on it. This, of course, is optional.
That’s just what I can think of off the top of my head.
Zenyen
@Sharon Call,
In regards to Ruffian and would she have eventually suffered a catastrophic injury match race or regular race, its an impossible question to answer. Ruffian was bred for brilliance but she was also bred on brittle, soft bones. Her sire was a structural disaster in terms of soundness and her dam was not much better. Ruffian had already suffered a fracture in her bones, the likely-hood that she would again was high and so she was genetically behind the eight-ball. Then there is the format itself of a match-race. A race with multiple horses, multiple variables, allows for horses to get ‘breathers’ while running, so while it looks to the crowd like they’re ‘racing’ from the gate to the wire, there are points in the race where the horse is getting a breather. However a match-race is head to head as fast as you can for however long the race lasts. So rather than holding that sort of intensity for the last couple of furlongs down the stretch, horses can quickly wind up going full out the whole distance, which is a strain. I know this is a Zenyatta website and saying the name Rachel Alexandra is almost verboten but that is what makes her Woodward so bittersweet. She ran that race nearly at match-race intensity, with multiple, good colts pressuring her from start to finish and yet she won. She was never given a breather, she had to run flat out full bore from gate to wire, just as Ruffian would have had to against Foolish Pleasure. And yes, I think it destroyed her enjoyment of racing but that’s a different subject.
Also there is a LOT of discussion about how Ruffian broke from the gate, which the injuries to ArchArchArch and Animal Kingdom makes a person think. Ruffian broke awkwardly and as we saw in the Kentucky Derby this year, an awkward break from the gate can have a profound physical impact. It’s possible she cracked her ankle at the break, just as ArchArchArch did and then when she kept running and running at full speed, the ankle shattered.
So would Ruffian have broken down, match race or no match race, you can argue it both ways. Personally I am of the opinion that there is a good reason the Reviewer blood line has not flourished in pedigrees going forward. Had Ruffian survived and been bred, you would have had those soft, brittle bones going into the next generation instead of soundness.
Terry Crow
@Judy Berube-You could be right. I do go to Petco on occasion. @Diana S-Your check has been received. However, I cannot make out the signature. Is your name really Mary Poppins? @Trina Nagele-That product is about the only one that I do not receive information about. It may be my first name, which confuses some advertisers.@Charlotte Farmer-The Bing Crosby recording used to be played before the first race and after the last one. I cannot believe that the track has eliminated that fabulous piece of history. As for Glenn Ford, my favorite film of his has always been The Fastest Gun Alive. Broderick Crawford was a hoot in that movie. I would also like to add that my admiration for what you are doing has no bounds. I will post the daily joke later. I have an appointment this morning and I will wait for the new thread.
Terry Crow
OK, just a small groaner before I get back. What do you call that famous pair which steals horses? Bonnie and Clydesdale.
Joanna
@Zenyen, great information! I loved Ruffian and saw her final race on TV. Nonetheless, the incident broke my heart and I quit watching racing for the most part for MANY years, just getting back into being a fan when Rachel A caught my eye. I caught wind of Zenyatta, so started watching her too. But the whole match race thing just gives me the creeps. I accidentally caught a replay of the BC race where Gofor Wand broke down and it brought back those horrid memories (even tho it wasn’t a match race per se). I just thank god for the safety of our two super girls, Blind Luck and Grace as they recently ran so spectacularly. I also want to thank you for reminding so many about the ‘survival of the fittest’ aspect of all life. Passing on poor qualities is the bane of all responsible breeders…preserving the good ones and weeding out the bad takes a long time and much research and diligence.
Barbara Wood
@Sharon Call–you bring up some great points. I had thought of some of those but not all. It would be great to schedule a weekend, and people could stay longer if they want to. It would be wonderful to have Dottie come to speak (or any of Team Z). Your idea about rescues having booths is super. I hope there is someone lurking out there who reads the posts that could make it happen. I would just love to put faces to all the anmes, knowing that it would not be possible for everyone to come.
@Zenyen–thanks for the great information.
@judy berube–thanks for the Mr. Commons video. I don’t get HRTV or TVG.
@Terry Crow–having a girl’s name hasn’t stopped Viagra ads from coming to me–lol!
mary bobolis
Congratulations to your John for his big win with Mr.Commons last night in the Oceanside with Mike SMith up.
Sharon Call
@Zenyen. I so agree with you. My thought was strictly rhetorical. Much further back in the posts to this diary, I had stated the same thing you just said about Ruffian’s sire and dam. I drew my thoughts from Wikipedia.
“Ruffian’s bloodline may be considered at least partly to blame for her broken leg; her sire, Reviewer, suffered three breakdowns in his racing career. After his fourth and last breakdown, obtained while in his paddock, he had to be euthanized after operation.[2][4][5] Shenanigans, Ruffian’s dam, broke two legs during her life, and was euthanized following intestinal surgery May 21, 1977. Ruffian’s damsire, Native Dancer is often considered to be the purveyor of “soft boned” genetics.” Copied frm Wikipedia.
I also expressed the thought about Native Dancer presented as only a thought. I was immediately shot down and told that was “just stupid”.
In the Wikipedia article, Ruffian’s jockey stated that he knew something was wrong and he just couldn’t stop her until not only her sesamoids were shattered but also her fetlock and the skin over these areas until the hoof dangled uselessly. I’ve seen the film and it’s just horrible to watch.
I do believe this great filly was destined to break down on the track whether it was in that match race or some race after that. I agree that had she lived and been bred, she would have passed along those genes from her dam and sire and, just maybe, clear back to Native Dancer.
Let me hunker down – I think I’m about to get blasted again for saying that.
Sharon Call
@Barbara Wood. How about Mr. Blowen from Old Friends? He could bring pictures of the horses there (including Little Silver Charm) and show them on an overhead projector. Bill Farrish might be another candidate as a speaker. Of course, Dottie, it wouldn’t be the same without her.
This would have to be RSVP. It’s the only way you could get a head count to deal the hotel on blocks of rooms and free meeting room. Maybe a post to this diary and an entry on Z’s facebook page?
The Kennedys in San Diego
So sorry to hear about Awesome Maria.
http://www.drf.com/news/awesome-maria-out-year-condylar-fracture
judy berube
Dear Trina Nagele:
You’re welcome. Love your posts. Hugs, J.B.
Judy
@Zenyen & Sharon Call, I agree with both of you and want to add to this discussion that if you also notice Ruffian’s front action, her legs, especially her left fore, are like egg-beaters. I believe this is structural and places greater stress on already bad legs. Yes, she was a great great filly. Yes, she was a phenomenal racehorse. And, yes, she was incredibly unsound. I only wish the owners had never agreed to the Match. It just would never have been worth the risk. Would she have inevitably broken down further into her career? Who knows. Was she at greater risk because of her structural issues? I think so. Do we all love and miss her? Absolutely! She was a freak of nature and I’m glad we can still see tapes of her races just to remind ourselves of how great she really was. One in a million.
judy berube
Dear Kari Bussell:
Good to have you back posting. Hugs, J.B.
Zenyen
@Sharon Call,
It’s alright, I’ll hunker down with you because in my opinion Unbridled Song is giving us the same unsoundness. I know many argue that it’s the law of averages, given how prolific he is but I always hold my breath when I see his babies run. Like Ruffian herself, I think when you breed in great heart to win, great speed to perform but then put it on a foundation of weak/soft bones, you wind up with a recipe for disaster.
As you say, Ruffian’s drive and will to win, her refusal to be drawn up and that same fighting, running instinct when she came out of anesthesia were as much her downfall as her injury. Even in today’s medical advances, her running that leg into the ground and compounding her fractures in her will to keep going would be a death sentence. She should have been euthanized on the track, even today an injury like hers would be euthanize on the track but they loved her and wanted to try.
judy berube
Dear Kennedy’s in San Diego:
Oh, how disappointing. Sad that another beautiful one is injured. Maybe we should be thankful, though, that it didn’t happen while she was in a race going at full speed. Hopefully she will recover from the surgery and have a long, happy life. Hugs, J.B.
The Kennedys in San Diego
What a great Opening Day at Del Mar with record attendance of 46,588! We try not to miss this event and “EVENT” it is since we live 7 minutes away. Mr Commons was far from “common” — he ran a wonderful race and looked in top form. Congrats to him and John!
http://www.drf.com/news/del-mar-opening-day-attendance-breaks-record-handle
judy berube
Dear Tarry Crow:
That’s probably the reason. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
To Terry Crow:
Sorry, I messed up your name. Hugs, J.B.
The Kennedys in San Diego
In Excess retired. We visited this gorgeous, big stallion several times at Vessels — sorry to see him retire, but we are sure he will have a comfortable, secure retirement — but cannot help but believe he will miss breeding mares.
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/64114/california-sire-in-excess-pensioned