Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Ask The Experts

Ask The Experts #23

12Z. Photo by Alys Emson/Lane's End
12Z. Photo by Alys Emson/Lane’s End

Q:

I have a question about the colts. When is the decision typically made whether to geld or leave them intact, and what factors go into that decision?

Nancy Schaffer

Tucson, AZ

A:Typically we will never geld a colt before it leaves the farm, either for the sales or to be broken in, unless there is a medical issue involved. We often have a good idea that they may become geldings fairly soon into their training careers though! Some colts are definitely more “studdish” than others.

Buyers usually don’t want to purchase a yearling gelding, as this will often indicate they have a difficult temperament. On top of that, this is a dreamers game—when someone buys a colt they like to think they have a shot at owning a horse that will have a stellar racing career and go on to leave his legacy as a stud.

Photo by Alys Emson/Lane's End
Photo by Alys Emson/Lane’s End
Some of the colts that are headstrong and studdish as yearlings improve once they are in training and they have a job to do. With the horses that don’t settle down, it becomes a question of whether you can get the horse to train and race to his full ability if his mind is not on the game and he’s fractious and difficult to handle. If the answer is no, then often he will be gelded at this point.

The other reason to geld a colt is if they are clearly not going to compete at the levels that would then lead to a career at stud. A gelding is usually easier to handle and deal with on a daily basis. I know a lot of people will say they have had difficult geldings or easy colts, and of course that can be the case but generally it’s easier to have a gelding in the shed row, especially when there are fillies in the barn.

Our Expert

Cooper Sawyer

Yearling Manager, Lane’s End

Cooper was born in Lexington, KY and graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in Agriculture. He started working with horses in 1997 in the training barn of Al Stall Jr. Before coming to Lane’s End as the Yearling Manager in 2010, he worked at Wimbledon and Mill Ridge Farm.

Reader Interactions

965 Comments

  1. / Reply

    Cooper, I am wondering and have for a time. If a filly or mare is to race with the boys, will she always not race during her Season or does she. If she does, don’t all the boys know what is going on??? Wonl’t this disturb them a bit?

    I

    • / Reply

      On the race track, their focus is on running. Entire (male horses’ who are still intact) horses who show too much distraction or attention on procreation are often gelded but for the most part they are kept in an unnatural environment so the proclivities of ‘nature’ are not at the front of their minds.

      Remember, at the track they are not allowed to directly interact with each other or encouraged to show interest in another horse. The closest contact they have to another horse are the track ponies and every pony horse I have ever been in contact with, is a gelding.

      This is one of the reasons why when a colt is retired to stud, everybody holds their breath to see if he ‘gets with the program’ of breeding.

      There is often more concern about a filly getting hormonal during her cycle and not running to her potential, than the colts getting distracted by her.

    • / Reply

      12Z would probably try to mount his mother (not really having a clue why, just instinct) and get a firm chastising from her in the form of a kick or a bite.

      Nothing to severely hurt him but her tolerance for him would be greatly diminished. Once 13Z is born that tolerance will go down even further. Young bachelor stallions play rough and a mare is not likely to allow one near her newborn.

  3. / Reply

    Good afternoon Dumplings. Still no news on Zenny or V? Pace pace pace.

    Keta, it’s de-ja-vu, alright!!!! Grrrr

  4. / Reply

    Animal Kingdom Draws Post 12 in World Cup
    By Claire Novak, The Blood-Horse Updated: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 11:28 AM
    Team Valor International’s Animal Kingdom, winner of the 2011 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), drew post 12 of 13 when the field was drawn March 27 for the $10 million Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates (UAE-I) to be run March 30 at Meydan
    Excerpt from article

    $10,000,000 Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates (UAE-I), race 9, approximate post time 2:05 p.m. EDT NH4YO&Up and SH3YO&Up, 1 1/4m, Tapeta
    Post, Horse, Jockey, Trainer
    1. Treasure Beach, C. Soumillon, M. de Kock
    2. Red Cadeaux, G. Mosse, E. Dunlop
    3. Dullahan, G. Stevens, D. Romans
    4. Hunter’s Light, S. De Sousa, S. bin Suroor
    5. Capponi, A. Ajtabi, M. Al Zarooni
    6. Side Glance, J. Spencer, A. Balding
    7. Planteur, R. Moore, M. Botti
    8. Royal Delta, M. Smith, W. Mott
    9. Meandre, M. Guyon, A. Fabre
    10. Monterosso, M. Barzalona, M. Al Zarooni
    11. African Story, K. Fallon. S. bin Suroor
    12. Animal Kingdom, J. Rosario, G. Motion
    13. Kassiano, W. Buick, S. bin Suroor
    *All horses carry 57 kilograms (125.6 pounds) except for mare Royal Delta, who will carry 55kg (121.25 lbs)

    Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/77109/animal-kingdom-draws-post-12-in-world-cup#ixzz2Om87P7Q1

    • / Reply

      Hi Keta:
      Thanks so much for posting. I almost forgot about it. I am going to make sure I am home to see this race. I am sure TVG and HRTV will broadcast it. I love Animal Kingdom, Royal Delta and Dullahan. I will be cheering for all 3 of them.

      Take care,
      – Linda

    • / Reply

      Whaaaa? I’m already up here! Join me! And bring the cigars!

      diastu in tempe

    • / Reply

      You 2 are too funny. Pretty soon we will all be up there with you! Pacing, Pacing and Pacing. I wonder if the Moss’s are in Ky, yet?

    • / Reply

      sheena. Kauto is also complaining about the cold. He said that Laura gave him a duvet and now he wants his own heater in his stall. Apparently French tv is over to film him. He is constantly busy. Is he going to parade on Friday?

  11. / Reply

    This is getting exciting. Go Royal Delta! I gotta pull for her, even though I am rather fond Animal Kingdom and Dullahan. Safe trip and safe travels to all involved.

    Keta, Thank you for all the updates. They teach me alot and save me tons of time. Hugs and three whinnies to you my friend.

  12. / Reply

    History & Horses by NYRA
    On this day in 1950, the American thoroughbred was forever changed. A mare named Geisha, by three-time Whitney winner Discovery, gave birth to a grey colt by Polynesian. Native Dancer became one of the greatest thoroughbreds of all time. He won 21 of his 22 lifetime starts, including the Hopeful, Futurity, Wood Memorial, Belmont Stakes, Travers, and Met Mile. The Grey Ghost of Sagamore was so popular that, not only did he land the cover of TIME Magazine, but TV Guide ranked him behind only Ed Sullivan among America’s top television stars of the time.
    In addition to his phenomenal racing success, Native Dancer was truly the whole package. As a stallion, he became a breed shaping sire. Among his descendants were Northern Dancer, Raise a Native, Ruffian, and Sea-Bird. His influence continues to run deeply today. For example, both of the unbeaten early favorites for the upcoming Wood Memorial, Vyjack and Verrazano, trace back to Native Dancer through multiple sources.
    http://thenyra.tumblr.com/post/46440685496/on-this-day-in-1950-the-american-thoroughbred-was#_=_

      • / Reply

        He was one of the all time greats. Northern Dancer is a descendant through Native Dancer’s daughter, Natalma. She was a very spirited filly. I read that she disliked Belmont Park so much that she refused to enter the place. This dislike was passed on to Northern Dancer who had a similar phobia about the track. The various personality quirks of thoroughbreds can be fascinating.

  13. / Reply

    Peggy (N) South Georgia
    March 26, 2013 at 6:14 pm
    Dear Orfevre,
    Haven’t heard much posted about your race. I love Ya very much and many prayers go out for your safety and the jockeys. Hope so hard to see you Sunday
    My prayers are for all racing safety, but you know your very much in my heart. Love ya very much.

    Dear Peggy
    I have been training very hard for the race. Here is my latest workout
    yasukai‏@uk_maniax tweet Wed. March 27
    Orfevre workout (4F 52.2 – 3F 38.2 – 2F 24.8 – 1F 12.3) #horseracing #JRA

    Ray Paulik wrote a nice article about me earlier this month
    Champion Orfevre Returns to Training
    by Paulick Report Staff | 03.05.2013 | 1:33pm
    Orfevre, Japan’s 2011 Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year, has returned to training following a three-month vacation. Connections are pointing the 5-year-old son of Stay Gold to the 2013 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) in October
    According to the Racing Post, the Japanese champion spent his vacation at Northern Farm Shigaraki. Orfevre completed his first racecourse gallop March 3, and is targeting the Osaka Hai (Jpn-II) at the end of March for his first start.

    So, keep those prayers going for the Osaka Hai.
    Orfevre

  14. / Reply

    Safe trip to all of our American horses in Dubai. We haven’t fared too well in the last few years so here’s hoping one of our guys or our super gal will pull off a win. How exciting it must be for Gary Stevens to be in this race after only being back in the saddle for a few months. Most of all, God Speed and come home safely to all the horses and jockeys.

    • / Reply

      Is that a nurse mare with this baby? Or the baby’s mom? It would be interesting to know. Old Fashioned is a grey – – – but not THIS grey, tee hee!

      dia-loves-all-foals-stu in tempe

  17. / Reply

    Bob Baffert‏ tweet
    Govenor Charlie and Midnight Lucky will go straight to Ky Oaks and Derby
    Keta Note; This makes me think there will be NO more Prep races for these two.
    Interesting

    • / Reply

      I thought they were there already! She could be due any minute, however much pacing we’re doing! The more we pace, does that make it go any faster for Zenny?

      • / Reply

        When I saw the tweet that “We’re here!” My first thought was, “You better be! Somebody has to take care of her!”

    • / Reply

      I bet tonight’s the night! Prayers, Zenny, for a safe delivery and a healthy baby! Hugz!

      • / Reply

        Karen L. Gogue just posted on Facebook: “Inside Tips @Backsidetips 2m
        Zenyatta is fine. Labor has started!!!”

  20. / Reply

    Thanks to all of you who can navigate Twitter for keeping us in the loop!!!! The excitement builds . . . . . Zenny must be close! Prayers for a safe delivery for her and Z13 and for all of her caregivers and connections. Hope Prince will be able to handle relinquishing his baby role and thrive as a big brother!
    Love to all,
    Sandy

  21. / Reply

    Inside Tips tweet
    Have you heard that Zenyatta is in the foaling barn and may be in labor? Can you confirm this?
    Zenyatta is in labor tapit foal!!
    yessssss moss just arrived!!!!

  23. / Reply

    Queen Zenny: Mom and Dad Moss are there – Go for it! We love you so much and are awaiting the wonderful news.

    Auntie diastu in tempe

  24. / Reply

    Nina Berry tweet
    The Mosses have arrived at Lane’s End! No Zenyatta foal yet,
    but just their arrival has me excited to a ridiculous degree.

  28. / Reply

    Dear Z:

    Wishing and hoping for an easy, safe foaling and good health for both of you. Love you. Hugs, JB

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