Barbaro Updates: 98
updates are now here.
Update 802: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (monday night). I saw Michael Matz on the track for my second set. He had heard from Dr. Richardson. Again, another beautiful morning at Fair Hill. A lovely sunrise with a very thin layer of mist close to the ground, it is also warm! For my second set I breezed Rocky (Holy Bull 2yo) with Tim (on Grandma). Judge (Rocky's trainer) caught me galloping out in 24 and change (breezed an eighth, galloped out an eighth). I thought they went well, but sometimes I wonder about the clocking accuracy of the trainer!
Quick funny story. Judge (who also ships horses) was shipping a horse to New Bolton. He took his son with him (little Judge). He asked Little Judge if he wanted to see Barbaro. Little Judge was pretty non-commital about it. When Judge got to New Bolton, he asked someone there if his son could go and see Barbaro. As he was asking his son said "Daddy it was you who wanted to see Barbaro, not me". Of course they were not allowed to see Barbaro anyway, but it was pretty funny the way Judge told it to me.
update 7:45 am, tuesday, october 10
Update 801: Again, this morning's update should be around 8 am. New Bolton will also be publishing an update later today, which I assume will detail yesterday's cast change.
Update 800: A very interesting Breeders' Cup update from Su McMullen:
Breeders' Cup update - there is a possibility, as it has yet to be discussed with all involved, that the brilliant and charismatic George Washington (bred by the Jacksons) might be rerouted to the Breeders' Cup Classic now that Dylan Thomas, who was key to Ballydoyle's BC plans, will be switched to the Turf. Ballydoyle have Aussie Rules and Ad Valorem as likely candidates for the Mile so they are tempted to send Gorgeous George for the Classic. But it would be his first run on dirt. It's an interesting prospect, with Sheikh Mohammed's Bernadini lining up against the Ballydoyle standard bearer but many of George's fans might deem it unfair to send another turf superstar to an untried surface against an awesome individual like Bernadini. It would be a sad day for the sport to see George suffer the same, and equally unnecessary, humiliating defeat as Dylan who to suggest didn't like dirt is as much an understatement as suggesting the Pope is slightly religious. The best horse wins on the day, but you at least want the competition to have the chance of running a race and go down fighting.
Meanwhile, an understandably elated Sheikh Mohammend watched Bernadini's casual stroll to victory in the Jockey Club from a TV feed to Dubai. His racing manager John Ferguson told the Racing Post: "It's fantastic for us all, for the farm here in America where we bred the horse and for Sheikh Mohammed. It's such a wonderful day. It was simply awesome. It's an honour to be involved but just as a racing fan it's so wonderful to watch such a special horse. It's fantastic for us all, for the farm here in America where we bred the horse and for Sheikh Mohammed. It's such a wonderful day."
Having lost his great favourite, Dubai Millennium (as a result of grass sickness), a horse who was very close to his heart and given the fact that they are not enjoying their best season in Europe in terms of the top level victories, it is especially pleasing to see Sheikh Mohammed, a true horseman, bask in Bernadini's glory. It is an odd feature of racing in the UK that the ruling family of Dubai have been so prominent for so long they are as much a part of the racing scene here as the Newmarket Heath. Impossible to imagine racing life without them.
Update 799: As noted earlier Barbaro did have his cast changed. New Bolton will provide detail in their scheduled update for tomorrow. My understanding is all is well with Barbaro from a brief conversation with Peter.
Update 798: Sorry, we have had terrible site problems today. Its a silly thing that caused the problems, but I am hoping that within the next couple of days all silly things will be over with as far as the site is concerned! I am planning to get a Barbaro update a little later.
Update 797: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (sunday night). I saw Michael on the horsepath as I was going out on my second set, Chappy. Michael also noted there is a planned cast change for this morning. It is a beautiful morning at Fair Hill. A lovely sunrise during the first set. For the second set Chappy actually went to the gate for a little gate schooling. We just stood her in the gate, make sure she is calm. Next time she will break from the gate. She has done that once or twice before. She is a real pro in the gate, and should soon get her gate card.
For those following Mike Rea's recovery, you can sign Mike's petition for his Extreme Home Makeover entry.
updated 7:36 am, monday, october 9
Yea!! ACN for Bobby! Thank you Alex!
A Humble Request
If anyone is going to post a link re: slaughterhouse issue, please indicate if the link will take you to something that is graphic and may NOT be appreciated by all. Some can watch/read that stuff, others, like myself, CAN NOT.
Anxiously awaiting the rest of the report from Stephanie - Miracle Horse Rescue. We're parents again "fans". What a big family we're becoming.
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cindy a - you and Cahill have been and will continue to be in my prayers.
Cathy Rea Bosley
Have already signed the petition - hope lots of others do too. Continued prayers for Mike.
Janice
A proud Barbaro fan
Posted by: Janice from Florida at October 9, 2006 12:15 PM