Tims Update 6

Update 167: This Monday morning was a pretty good one. Who's Happy ran at Philadelphia Park and tried to keep up with the sprinters. She gave it her all down the lane but when she dug in the front runners dug in faster. She came home fine and has suffered no ill affects from her race. Rajashthan seems fine after his third place finish last week. He seems a bit body sore but nothing that can't be managed. Sweet Ginger Brown was a star for her first race and she has come home in great shape. Sprinting will not be her thing but Tim needed to start somewhere. This week should be a pretty quiet one. I think one of the new horses will be running this week but Tim has just entered and it will be a few days before we know. We stayed up last night (anything after 9pm for us is late) to watch some racing from California. What a great bunch of racing. Del Mar has a polytrack surface and I wonder what it is like to train on. It would be interesting to know what kind of soundness problems they are experiencing from the track. People seem to think the polytrack is much safer and I would like to believe it is so but would also like to see the data to support it. Anyway, I will try to corner the trainer to get more accurate information for you.

Later

Update 166: These are some beautiful mornings we are having and both horses and riders are enjoying it. Today is Thursday and Tim has a busy day. Rajasthan is running at Laurel Park and Sweet Ginger Brown will be making her first start at Penn National in the first race. Tim will be going to Penn for the first time starter to make sure she has a good experience. Rajashthan has loads of experience and racing is no big deal to him. Hopefully he will run a bang up race. Ginger has been doing great and it will be great to get an idea of what she can do. You can never be really certain how they will race until they are actually racing. There are some horses that really can go in the morning but put them into a tight spot in racing conditions and they don't fair very well. Who's Happy will be racing on Saturday at Philadelphia Park and she is doing great. Lilly (Happy's little sister) worked a great quarter mile yesterday and Tim is getting excited about her. She is a tough filly who pins her ears when being tacked up and reaches out to bite people as they walk by. She now stands behind a screen for safety.
Paris Night worked three eighths yesterday and did it quite well with Robbie aboard. Veiled Reference looks forward to going to the track everyday. She is a very active girl. Miss M.V.P. is growing taller and I believe Tim reported that she worked her first half with him a few days ago and handled it just fine. Vicar's Tune continues to be his usual lovey and quiet self. What a personality. Anyway, wish Tim luck today at the races and hopefully the horses will run well.

Later

Update 165: Tim has reported that he had a great Thursday morning. Our Hearthrob sped away from the gate yesterday and today she worked an eighth of a mile is a blistering thirteen. She is doing great and has become quite a solid little girl. Lilly (sister of Who's Happy) worked again this morning and Tim says that she takes after her big sister in more than one way. All of the babies out of Enraged have been tough cookies and Lilly is no differant. That's OK with us because the first two fillies are both stakes winners and hopefully Lilly will follow them down that path. Robbie just rode a winner in Saratoga for Jonathon Sheppard. It must be quite exciting to ride and win a race in beautiful Saratoga. Veiled Reference went to the track for the first time yesterday and she is doing great. The trainer and I have miscommunicated about when Happy is running. She is running on PA day at the races but it is actually next Saturday not this Saturday. Happy is doing great and hopefully it will be a good day for both the owners and the trainer.

Later

Update 164: What great weather we have been having! This morning was cool and the horses seemed to be enjoying some fresh air. Vicar's Tune ran at Laurel on Saturday and finished second by a neck. He just got nipped at the wire but ran a bang up race. What a cool horse. Gator Nation has returned from Colonial Downs and is as happy as ever. Simon Hobson took very good care of him in Virginia. Gator now lives in the end stall and loves to check out what's going on outside the barn. Beth (takes care of horses on other side of barn for Tim) tried to get Tim to move him to her side but Tim wouldn't budge. I stopped briefly this morning to give Gator a hug and he is just such a personality. Who's Happy should be running this weekend at Pennsylvania day at the races (Philadelphia Park). She is doing great. Her little sister had her first piece of work on Saturday going an eighth and seems to have the same temperment her sisters have. Sweet Ginger Brown has somehow figured out how to rip her stall matt. They are so thick I'm not sure what she did to rip it but we have now given her several toys to play with. Ginger doesn't look like a baby anymore. She has grown very tall and seems to have loads of confidence. She will race soon and I hope her confidence carrys over! Mrs. MVP continues to train well and seems to be settling in here just fine. What a pretty girl she is. Veiled Reference is still causing loads of trouble at feed time. She sure loves to eat. I stopped this morning to give Rajasthan a pat and a hug but he really wanted to play. He is all boy and knows how to show you. I stepped accross the isle to a more willing participant (Gator). Paris Night is training well and Robbie loves her. She is as gorgeous as ever. We have several new horses in the barn now and I will try to get the trainer to spend a little time putting a few stats together that I can share with you. Luke continues to enjoy his days living at the farm with Timmy and Whip. He may ship in to school a few babies for a day or two.

Later

Update 163: What a great race Saar Treaty ran yesterday. She is such a trouper! After being shuffled to the back she made a great run down the lane to finish fourth. This was no small task which the two huge eyes she has this morning proved. The vet is treating her eyes and she will be just fine. We couldn't be happier with her efforts. Robbie will be riding this morning at Woolley Racing. Today is a light day with only three to go to the track. I believe the horses will have a couple of FOB's visiting today and I'm sure they will be more than happy for the extra love and treats. The rain has given way to a cool morning here is Saratoga. Tim has come up for the day and is over at the track visiting a friend who gallops for Bill Mott. This afternoon will be filled with looking at yearlings. Not a bad day!!!

Later

Update 162: Update from Saratoga

A light rain is now falling in Saratoga after a beautiful and sunny Saturday morning. While I was in the park looking at the beautiful flowers and listening to the birds I began to think about the yearlings being sold next week. Running along the tree lined street I wondered where they would end up. Who would buy them and where they would race? All of these babies are well bred and have been selected to sell in the main sale at Saratoga. Would their lives be long and happy ones? How will these babies take to being trained and learning about the racing game? I stopped by Walnut Green yesterday to pet a beautiful gray colt. He was standing so politely watching and waiting for his turn to be shown to a prospective buyer. He must have been used to loads of attention because when I stopped to stroke his face and talk to him he just soaked it all in. He seems to trust humans so it is a good start. As I look out the repository window I can see him out again. Having no idea what hip number he is I do not know what his breeding is but he seems to be very popular. Will he like training and stay sound enough to get to the races? Will he run fast or long and have confidence and dig in when being tested? What direction will his life go? This is just the beginning for these babies and hopefully they will give their owner's a lot of exciting racing days and hopefully when their racing days are over their owner's will return the favor by giving them a place to live and all the love they need for the rest of their days! Who knows what direction life takes horses and humans?

P.S. - If I hear from Tim later I'll try to put an update from this morning at Fair Hill!

Update 161: Today was not bad for a Friday. Rose Campbell has come out of her effort at Penn National the other night just fine. Showing little interest in keeping up with the pack, she will probably go home to be a riding horse. She is very lucky that her owner loves her to bits.
King Congaree and Sweet Ginger Brown breezed this morning. Skipping around the track for five eighths of a mile, both horses seem to be rapidly approaching the races. Sweet Ginger Brown seems to love the Tapeta surface and may make the trip to Presque Isle in a week or so to run. Vicar's Tune is coming around after his last trip to Colonial Downs and may run again next week at Colonial or Laurel. Our Hearthrob and Paris Night are now training partners and went a mile and a half at a leisurely pace this morning. They have both come back from lay offs and seem eager to train. Saar Treaty will be running at Colonial Downs tommorrow on the turf. Hopefully she will like the track and not be bothered by the ship to Virginia. She is a confident filly and not much seems to bother her. Real Lace has been under saddle for a few days with Tim in the saddle. He has decided that she needs a little more RNR and has sent her to a local farm. She has come back to her old self being very vocal at feed time. It is wonderful having her back. Hopefully with a bit more time off she will return to win a few more races. Robbie rode at Saratoga yesterday and finished third beaten by just half a length. What a beautiful racetrack to skip around. I'm sure it is dreadful to get nipped at the wire but the scenery couldn't be better. Tim is checking to see when the next video will be ready. I remain congnizant of the fact that you can not rush an artist but remain hopeful that it will be finished soon.

Later

Update 160: What a nice Monday. Why are jockey's called Pin heads? Just check out the ride Gator Nation got yesterday at Colonial Downs for the answer. How does a jockey get his horse boxed in on the 7 to 5 favorite with only five horses in the race? Anyway, Gator is fine and finished second with no racing room. Powdered Donut and Saar Treaty breezed together on Saturday and both fillies should be running this week with some luck. Veiled Reference is now going under tack in the shed row and seems to be enjoying herself. Rajasthan and Vicar both had it easy last week after their efforts at Colonial Downs in 100 degree weather. Both are fine and have recovered nicely. Rose Campbell is running tomorrow night at Penn National. I hope we see some excitement. The best news is that Real Lace came back to us. We will be trying to get her back to the races and she seems to remember where she is. Last night at feed time she was yelling for her food. That's a good sign. I made sure to give her the biggest hug she has had in a long time. Thank you all for the response to the video and the next one is currently on the cutting room floor. With a little more coaching and some cue cards Uncle Tim may get it right yet. As for Meg and Whip, they both were stars. The first class Meghan and Whip did caused a little trouble at the in and out jump. Whip ran out slightly after rushing the second jump a bit. They did not get to do the jump off. Uncle Tim talked Meghan into doing a second class and everything went great. No faults and no refusals. They have both had enough and did not push it doing the jump off. Next week they will have another go.

Later

Update 159:
Live and Online NOW!!!!

Mooney Myth Productions Presents....

"Working With The Woolleys" Volume 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9S-ltO1P2o

Update 158: After a busy weekend Tim is beginning to recover. Who's Happy made the trip to Presque Isle and won very nicely. She came back and looked no worse for the trip. Vicar's Tune ran a great race at Colonial Downs. He was in against a couple of tough horses and just got nosed out for third place. He tries so hard. Upon his return he had a sore eye but no ulcer in it. Treating it for a couple of days really helped and he is fine this morning but still a bit tired. Rajasthan also ran a great race. He was battling it out down the lane when a horse flew by in the last few strides to win it. He did well for getting second. I stopped by to see him on Sunday and he was relaxed in his stall but was a bit grumpy! I wen't into his stall and gently held his halter while I gave him a smooch. I was sure to watch when I turned by back because as I said He was very grumpy.. We have tried to enter Saar Treaty in a long race on the turf at Colonial and the race did not go. Another race was picked out going five and a half but when Tim called about it there had been only two entries. I'm sure the race won't go! We will keep looking. Rose Campbell has returned to the track after her race and she seems fine. Truimphant has not missed a meal since his gelding and continues to demand all of the attention in the barn. Paris Night is training nicely after her break. She now lives in a corner stall and enjoys spending the day looking out of her huge window. Sweet Ginger Brown and King Congaree continue their quest towards the races and both are doing great. We did however take the mat away from Ginger that was in the front of her stall because she was keeping her neighbors up at night playing with it. We found the mat inside her stall in a heep. Mrs MVP was on the track this morning and she looks like she is filling out a bit. She is such a sweet girl and has done everything we've asked of her. Binkley is back to bounding on his friend who is not at all amused. The are such a treat to watch. Anyway, not a lot of racing going on this week. We have a new video of Woolley racing done by Mooney Myth Productions. As soon as we figure out how to put it up you all must watch it . It is a hoot!!

Check back later

Update 157: Tim has had a couple of busy days so far and it continues through the weekend. This morning (Thursday) he is on the way to Presque Isle to run Who's Happy. Last night he was at Penn National running Rose Campbell. She was making her first start. After getting left at the gate (I'm sure she was dumbfounded), it was too hard for her to catch up. She behaved nicely and should improve in leaps and bounds for her next race. She was fine this morning, lounging in her stall eating her breakfast. Gator Nation ran a great race on Tuesday. He ran in an allowance race at Colonial Downs. He was beaten about a length for second and just nipped for third after being very rambuctious in the paddock. Tim cooled him out and he is just fine and is enjoying his time in Virginia. Tim will be headed back to Colonial for the weekend with both Rajasthan and Vicar's Tune running. This morning I stopped by the barn briefly and people were buzzing in every direction. I stopped briefly to give Triumphant a big hug and he is such a love. King Congaree and Sweet Ginger Brown breezed this morning a great half mile. The report is that both of them handled it nicely. Mrs. MVP also breezed a quarter mile and really stretches her little legs to breeze. Anyway, I'll try to keep you informed if I hear of any other news.

Later

Update 156: We have had a beautiful morning today (Tuesday).. What a nice weekend that began with the visit of the Fans of Barbaro. It is so nice to meet the people who are looking out for the unwanted horses. All of you have really done so much to help and it is great when you come to visit. Yesterday of course started out with rain and Powdered Donut was scratched from her turf race (it came off the turf) at Philadelphia. Tim will have to look for something else for her. Donut is doing great! Today Gator is running at Colonial so Tim is on his way to Virginia this morning. I hope he runs well and all reports are that he is enjoying life down there and doing great. Tommorrow Tim will be going to Penn National and again this weekend he will go back to Colonial Downs for a couple more runners. This is a very busy week for Woolley racing and hopefully all will go well. We gelded Triumphant yesterday and I am happy to report that at
dinner time the only thing he was interested in was why he did not get fed first. It is sometimes hard to geld a horse but I do realise that he will have a better life for it. Anyway, we have picked out a show for little Whip. Next Wednesday at the local Fair is a class that perhaps she could do quite easily. I think Uncle Tim is more excited than anyone. We'll let you know how it goes.

Later

Update 155: Loads of workers on this Friday morning. Who's Happy and Vicar's Tune breezed together. Tim has resorted to Robbie riding Who's Happy to give his back a bit of a break. She may be traveling to Presque Isle soon to run. Saar Treaty and Rose Campbell worked 5/8ths this morning with Jesus Braccho riding Rose Campbell. Both fillies breezed well and both should with some luck be running in the next week. Powdered Donut may be running on Monday at Philadelphia Park and both Vicar's Tune and Rajasthan should be running at Colonial Downs. Sounds as though Tim is going to be very busy. Triumphant is training well and is quite the personality. He lets everyone know he is there when they come in the barn, just in case they might go right by him without noticing how gorgeous he is. Sweet Ginger Brown worked yesterday with King Congaree. They worked a good half mile and continue to march towards the races. Ginger has gotten tall now and doesn't look like a baby anymore. Our Hearthrob is now back in training and jogging around the track. She loves the action and I'm sure is glad to be out of the barn. Our Diva went home yesterday for a well deserved break. Anyway, as I said lots of action today and it sounds like there will be quite a lot of action for the next week. Hopefully all will go well and horses will be happy.

later

Update 154: What a busy week at pony camp. Being the nervous Aunt Penny I have been trying to see little Whip and Meghan as much as I can. The first day Meghan and Whip had a dressage lesson (neither one had ever done that before) , both girls handled it well. Little girls were going every direction on little ponies that were fresh, believe me I was a little bit scared. Whip would not stand still but Meg kept her walking and both did just great. The next program was out in a huge field for stadium jumping. As I sat and watched these youngsters going around on big horses, I truely believed that standing at the bottom of the ring in the direction of the way home would be a great idea. The jump that looked like a gate was the only real thing concerning me. Little Whip took off at the first jump (with flowers) cleared it easily came up to the second jump (the gate) and both Whip and Meghan were not sure if they were going over it. Whip stopped and Meghan kept her composure, doing a small circle and headed back towards the jump. Over Whip went, down a slight hill (toward home) and kindly made a right hand turn and cleared jump three. Next was a jump with a big green roll top, Whip never blinked and sailed right over the roll tops. Jump five was a flashy looking yellow oxer jump with flags flying off the top, and again both horse and rider never turned a hair. Now going towards the other end of the ring was jump six being a small cross rail, Whip jumped easily and then off to jump seven which went up a slow hill to jump eight (which was the biggest jump) and you really had to keep your horse going to the end. Up and over the eighth both Whip and Meghan were all smiles. It could not have gone better. Meghan and Uncle Tim have been practicing on the farm but you never can be quite sure when horse and rider are away from their normal enviroment. The first day of pony camp was over with and I now was more comfortable after seeing Whip fit right into the crowd. Uncle Tim was on hand yesterday for the braiding demonstration. He of course prompted Meghan to ask which side the mane should be braided on. She has braided many manes for uncle Tim but the instructor was teaching braiding on the wrong side. He also noticed that a camper was leading his horse on the wrong side and prompted Meghan to politely correct this problem . Maybe Uncle Tim should be banned from pony club, although you might as well teach kids the proper way to begin with. Bad Habits can be easily corrected in the beginning but can be a bugger to break if allowed to continue. I know this from personal experience believe me.

As far as the barn at Fair Hill goes, I have had very little time to see Tim lately being that I did the night shift at pony camp last night. I will try to catch up with him later and give some more updates on the horses.

Later

Update 153: What a beautiful Wednesday. Going to be quiet on the racing front for this week but the two year olds are progressing very well. Saar Treaty should be back in the entries in a couple of weeks after a short break. King Congaree and Sweet Ginger Brown are both breezing well and are now up to a half mile piece of work. Both of these seem happy with everything so far. Triumphant is a slower maturing colt who is still doing eighths. He is the first horse you see as you enter the barn and he loves his new stall. He gets in on all of the action. So far he is not studdish and hopefully he will stay that way. Rossetta (Tim's baby formerly know as Rosie but we already have a Rosie) is progressing nicely under Robbie and she responds well to his patience and quiet demeanor. They get along great and she has been jogging nicely around the barn. Lilly (Who's Happy little sister) just gallopping and doing early gate work. She is a lot like her sister and is very laid back. Veiled Refernce is enjoying being back at Fair Hill. She has rounded out a bit and looks great. Miss VIP (Grand Slam filly) has been going to the gate with Lilly. She has a lot more experience at the gate than Lilly and is a good influence. Rose Campbell is eating like a horse so to speak and seems to be happy as a clam. Little Binkley (barn cat) is none too happy with Tim at the moment. He needs to get wormer everyday and lets just say he doesn't take it like a woman. He'll be a better man for it when he's finished. Anyway, that's all for now. I'll try to keep you informed about any new happenings in a few days.

Later

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