Video by Michelle Jensen. Watch it here.
Good Morning,
I hope you are all doing well…and your week is off to a splendid beginning!
In our thoroughbred world, the pre-entries were taken yesterday for the World Championship Racing Days which take place this year on November 4th and 5th at Churchill Downs. Next year, they will be at Santa Anita again in California. (I remember it ALL so well!)
Tomorrow the fields for each specific race will be announced. Then…let the handicapping and analysis begin.
My Moss pal, COZI ROSIE, is preparing for the Filly and Mare Turf. This race will take place late Friday afternoon. (The same day as MY PARTY!) Cozi is currently training at Hollywood Park and will take a flight this weekend to Churchill Downs.
I must say, the horse transportation crews have the schedules so well-organized. Their flight plans and times are very specific as they must be sure all of the horses planning to participate in these races from around the world are able to get to Churchill Downs on time. It is one of the many things that takes place ‘behind the scenes’…so to speak…but must be done perfectly for the benefit of all the competing horses and their staffs.
My Barn 55 friends are also preparing at Hollywood Park and will fly to Kentucky later this weekend. My dear friend and personal masseuse for years, Michelle, took the above video of MR. COMMONS while on the track during his morning exercise. Jacqueline is riding!
MEMORIES, MEMORIES! I can’t imagine how many times I went around that oval at Hollywood Park while training during my career! It is SO GREAT to see it again!
Here’s wishing you a wonderful day,
With love,
Hugs to All~
Z
MARY
OH AND HOW WELL I REMEMBER YOUR TIME AT SANTA ANITA…AFTER I SAW YOU THE FIRST TIME AT SANTA ANITA 2008 BREEDERS CUP…MY HUSBAND AND I PLANNED THE REST OF OUR VACATIONS AROUND WHAT TRACK YOU WOULD RUN…LOL…SWEET MEMORIES…SUCH SWEET MEMORIES…
ZENYATTA I LOVE YOU…
Sue Fredrick - Wisconsin
@Diane S sorry it was no reflection on your appearance or anything else, I meant nothing more than you invented the tags and continue to make them for all of us. No insult intended.
Barbara Wood (Texas)
Ditto to all the lofty sentiments expressed above.
@Linda in NJ–realize you are “otherwise occupied” in surgery today, but sending up prayers for successful outcome.
@Marty R–lol! You have LOTS of senior company here! I’m on FB, but it’s still a mystery to me.
@Akene–prayers for your back as well.
Allen
Z,I hope You and Tasty have a wonderful day. Enjoy the great weather. Also GO MO GO.
Eveline / Maryland.
@ Marty R. – about the question; do people travel with their own feed for the horses? Yes most will bring their own. Michael Dickinson would also always bring his own water. You would always know where his horses were stabled by the enormous pile of water bottles. Most trainers feed commercially prepared race horse feed. For example, we feed Purina RaceReady. This feed is the same no matter where you go, so instead of hauling it with you ,you could call ahead, see if the local feedstore can deliver it. When it comes to big days like the BC, most people take no risk and bring everything themselves. This is especially true for the horses that fly in from a different country. Horses are very sensitive to feed changes. Even a little bit of dehydration can have disastrous effects. As for farriers – If you make it all the way into the BC with a bad footed horse, most will take no changes and take their own farrier, but there are always multiple farriers at every racetrack. There is also a farrier in the paddock during the races for last minute problems.
Marty R / Colorado
@Eveline/Maryland-Thank you so much for your response. I don’t think I even want to imagine what it takes for folks to haul in their own feed. I believe Todd Pletcher was bringing eleven horses and I’m pretty sure I heard Larry Jones, in one of the interviews, say something about forty horses. They can’t all be for the BC races.
I remember in a recent race, one of the horses had to have a new shoe put on in the paddock.
Rosemary McCauley - Southern California
@Karen Grogue. I have sent several emails in the last several weeks to you and haven’t received a response. Please check your email with my name in the reference line. Thanks.
Barbara Wood (Texas)
@Eveline–thank you for sharing your expertise on a subject most of us haven’t even thought of! Hugs.
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Trina N.:
You’re so welcome. Hugs, JB
Kim
Zeny…. Can you give us updates on your little sister & if she has started her training/how it’s going, please.
VickiS.
Just watched a video of Eblouissante taken in June. It’s just amazing how young she is! (I mean this in a good way). She still has that baby face that is TOO PRECIOUS. You just wanna smooch her all over with kisses!
Paul
They have the Breeder’s Cup races all set up now. I am really looking forward to it all. Zenyatta, good luck to all of your buddies coming to Churchill Downs from Barn 55. You said that they had an exceptionally organized flight plan for getting the horses there on time and back. Let’s hope so. Too bad the airlines for people aren’t as organized as the airline services for horses.