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Big Brown's Race for the Triple Crown
Big Brown to Face Derby Rival at Preakness
At Preakness, Bet on Brown
Eight Belles' Last Lap
The Wiener Dog Capital of Texas
THE TIGER BEATS THE HORSE
FIRST FILLY SINCE 1907 WINS THE BELMONT
MARYLAND HORSE RACING INDUSTRY CUTS PURSES
NEW ZEALAND JOCKEYS WARNED ABOUT CELEBRATING TOO SOON
RACING TEXAS WEINER DOG RUNS AWAY
Big Brown's Race for the Triple Crown
June 3, 2008
Belmont Park, New York — Big Brown wasn't able to intimidate all of his Derby rivals into staying away from the Preakness with his decisive victory.
Big Brown, whose wins at the Kentucky Derby and Preakness have put him in the position to be the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 30 years, will take his shot at this honor from the no. 1 post at the Belmont Stakes, taking place at Belmont Park Saturday, June 7.
Big Brown's Derby win came from the much reviled no. 20 post on the outside. At Preakness he dominated from the middle of the pack. Jockey Kent Desormeaux likes the odds from the inside post saying, "it's an easier trip" and that "he's (Big Brown) so fast away from the gate…the race might be over in 40 yards."
Trainer Rick Dutrow's confidence in his horse is even greater and, despite the setback of a quarter crack in Big Brown's left front hoof, set to be patched on Friday, he claims that Big Brown would win regardless of the post position.
"As long as we break good, I can see us getting a good trip," he said. "There is not a lot of speed in the race. If we need our horse early on, he'll be there for us."
Hidetoshi Yamamoto, owner of Casino Drive, who represents Big Brown's greatest challenge in the upcoming race, dismissed all of Dutrow's boasts, saying "No one wins with chatter. No one wins with a big mouth."
True enough. But it's looking good that at Belmont you will win with Big Brown.
Big Brown to Face Derby Rival at Preakness
May 13, 2008
Pimlico Race Track, Maryland — Big Brown wasn't able to intimidate all of his Derby rivals into staying away from the Preakness with his decisive victory.
Gayego trainer Paulo Lobo has announced that Gayego, who finished a disappointing 17th in the Kentucky Derby, will face Big Brown as his only Derby rival at the 133rd Preakness to be run this Saturday, May 17.
Gayego took first place in his inaugural race, the Arkansas Derby, but ran the Kentucky Derby from the no. 19 post, a neighbor to Big Brown at the no. 20 post, and never recovered from a slow start. Strong performances in post-Derby workouts, however, have been encouraging.
“That’s the reason we are thinking about (the Preakness),” trainer Paulo Lobo said Monday. “He’s very happy right now and he came back very sound.”
Big Brown, who ships to Pimlico Wednesday, doesn't seem concerned as he exercises on the Churchill Downs track. His step exudes the sort of confidence that can take a horse to greatness.
If Gayego had not joined the field then this would have been the first time in 60 years that the Derby winner did not face a Derby rival in its pursuit of the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown.
With the addition of Gayego the Preakness field has now expanded to 13 - Big Brown, Behindatthebar, Gayego, Giant Moon, Hey Byrn, Icabad Crane, Kentucky Bear, Macho Again, Racecar Rhapsody, Riley Tucker, Stevil, Tres Borrachos and Yankee Bravo.
At Preakness, Bet on Brown
May 12, 2008
Pimlico Race Track, Maryland — Big Brown, winner of the Kentucky Derby and the favorite to win Preakness, began preparing for the second leg of the Triple Crown this weekend with a walk around the track at Churchill Downs.
After a decisive victory at the Kentucky Derby trainer Rick Dutrow was able to silence skeptics who considered Big Brown too green to compete and win. Now the question is not so much over victory at Preakness but whether the undefeated thoroughbred has what it takes win the Triple Crown.
Victory in Pimlico will not come without challenges – Dutrow has only two weeks to rest his horse and prepare it for a new track – but the fact that no other Derby contenders will be competing at Preakness makes Big Brown the horse to bet on and many horse racing fans are looking forward to Belmont and a possible Triple Crown for Big Brown, a feat no horse has accomplished in thirty years, since Affirmed won in 1978.
But taking the Triple Crown requires more than speed, strength and endurance. A true Triple Crown thoroughbred needs to have a sense of its own greatness that sets it apart from the rest of the field. Big Brown has shown this quality by the margin of victory in his previous races. His victory at the Derby came from the no. 20 outside post – the first Derby victory from this much reviled position since 1929.
The story of the race to the Triple Crown often takes many twists and turns. Past horse racing superstar and Triple Crown hopeful Barbaro entered Preakness as a heavy favorite but, after a false start, broke the ankle of his right hind leg and had to leave the race. His injuries eventually led to his death by euthanasia.
So don't look too far ahead to the Triple Crown but when betting at Preakness this Saturday, bet on Big Brown.
Eight Belles' Last Lap
May 3, 2008
Louisville, Churchhill Downs — Farewell to Eight Belles, the courageous filly who, following a valiant effort in this year's Kentucky Derby, collapsed with two broken front ankles and was euthanized on the tracks minutes after the race.
The tragedy is a sad reminder of the similar fate of Barbaro, the 2006 Kentucky Derby champion who was eventually euthanized after breaking an ankle at Preakness, and has brought new spark to the old flame of controversy surrounding thoroughbred horse racing. In the wake of Eight Belles' death horse racing participants and fans have been quick to defend the Sport of Kings against critics, led by PETA, who condemn the sport as inhumane to the mighty beasts in its relentless pursuit of victory and, ultimately, the almighty dollar.
Amid the back and forth of such a timeless controversy it is all too easy to forget the life at its center. It is time to put aside the politics of men and celebrate the life of a horse. And a magnificent life it was that Eight Belles lived, from her first race to her last lap.
Eight Belles was a beautiful charcoal gray thoroughbred with a pedigree that leads to Winning Colors, one of just three fillies to claim victory in the Kentucky Derby. Early in her career, Eight Belles did her winning pedigree proud with first place finishes at Delaware Park, Fair Grounds and Oaklawn Park. In February of this year she made history by being the first filly in the history of Oaklawn Park to win the Martha Washington Stakes.
It is with this record of excellence and a four race winning streak that Eight Belles came to Churchill Downs as the first filly to run the Kentucky Derby in nine years, and one of only thirty-nine fillies to run the race since its beginning. Her achievements brought her celebrity and a legion of enthusiastic fans, including Senator Hilary Clinton. With her fans cheering, Eight Belles ran a strong race to a second place finish behind the Unbeaten Big Brown. However, after appearing to gallop out normally around the first turn and into the backstretch, she collapsed without warning. Her injuries were soon diagnosed as too severe to even attempt to remove her from the tracks and she was euthanized before a crowd of horrified fans that had cheered her effort only minutes before.
Such a tragic and dramatic ending has cast a harsh light on the sport of horse racing that threatens to overshadow the magnificent life a brilliant horse. So take a moment to put aside the controversy, regardless of what side you stand on, and stand on the side of the horse and her legacy.
It's time for a (derby) hats off for Eight Belles.
The Wiener Dog Capital of Texas
April 26, 2008
Buda, Texas — Watch the Dachshunds dash - their tiny legs pumping, their giant ears flopping. They range in experience from amateur to returning champ. Levels of focus and dedication vary from intense sprint to casual stroll. At the end of the track stand their owners, enticing their would-be athletes with play toys and tasty treats. All around the track the crowd cheers, urging on their favorite contenders.
You can find this entertaining, joyful and unlikely sport just south of Austin, Texas in the quiet, rural community of Buda, where for more than a decade now the Buda Lions Club has hosted the annual Buda Wiener Dog Races.
The sport of Wiener Dog racing traces its origins back to Australia in the 1970's where enthusiastic dog owners gathered together to race their dogs - including but not limited to Dachshunds, Whippets and Afghan Hounds – purely for fun. Wiener Dog racing later trotted the globe over to the United States in the early nineties when it was introduced to American culture via a Miller Lite commercial that touted oddball sporting events. Since then it has steadily grown in popularity, bringing in new fans each year and even inspiring two crowd pleasing documentaries – Wiener Takes All, which documents two years on the national Wiener Dog racing circuit and Lord of the Wiens, an amusing and touching look at the annual Buda Wiener Dog Races.
A trip to the Wiener Dog races in Buda, held each year in April to benefit the non-profit Buda Lions Club and fund their aid for children and adults with vision related health problems and diabetes, among other things, will reveal much more than the off-the-wall hilarity of watching the Wieners chase the title of top dog. As a part of the annual Buda Country Fair, the competition is just one tasty slice of small town life. To take part in the races is to be part of a community organized in the name of helping its citizens grow stronger. And it's one hell of a good time that includes a BBQ cookoff, live music and arts and craft vendors.
The competition is always open to new participants so if you think your wiener has what it takes to rise to the challenge then now's the time to start training. Or just come for the food, the fun and a little bit of small town Texas life in the "Wiener Dog Capital of Texas".
THE TIGER BEATS THE HORSE
CINCINNATI — Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson, who had a 100-meter head start, beat Restore the Roar in a charity horse vs. man race in June 2007 run for charity.
"Floyd Mayweather, you're next," said Johnson, who admitted the race was to spotlight charity events which he plans to participate. "I want to fight you. I'd like to take Kobe and LeBron one-on-one.“
"He's quick," Restore the Roar’s jockey P.J. Cooksey said about Johnson. "He's a fast man. That was phenomenal. When I looked over at him, all I could see were his legs; they looked like a windmill. He was a blur. I was beat bad."
Johnson rode a horse around the winner’s circle after the race and suggested he might be back to take on another horse later this summer.
FIRST FILLY SINCE 1907 WINS THE BELMONT
BELMONT -- Rags To Riches became the first filly to win the mile-and-a-half long Belmont Stakes since 1905 and in the process gave a big shot of adrenaline to a sport badly in need of a new hero … uhh, heroine … to grab the public’s attention.
The horse was only the 22nd filly to try and win the Belmont. It has been called a testerone filled race because not only is Rags to Riches the first filly to win the race in over 100 years, only one female jockey has ever won the race – Julie Krone on Colonial Affair in 1993.
The filly went head to head against Preakness winner Curlin but in the end, it was Rags to Riches that won the race.
MARYLAND HORSE RACING INDUSTRY CUTS PURSES
BALTIMORE -- Maryland’s struggling horse racing industry will slash purses and stakes races for the remainder of 2007 in an effort to balance a projected $3 million shortage in revenues.
The Maryland Jockey Club and the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association agreed to the reductions. They will reduce purses at every level by $2,000; cut the number of races during the fall meeting; and drop the stakes schedule by approximately $1 million.
NEW ZEALAND JOCKEYS WARNED ABOUT CELEBRATING TOO SOON
NEW ZEALAND -- Jockeys in New Zealand have to be careful not to celebrate too soon. Chief stipendiary steward Cameron George has said celebratory gestures prior to the finish of a race will not be tolerated.
One jockey, Lisa Cropp, who raised her arm in a victory salute was recently suspended three months for not riding the horse to the finish. Her salute caused her to lose the race by a nose.
Another jockey was fined $1500 for waving his whip on the way to victory in the New Zealand Bloostock Classique.
George said a victory salute prior to the finish could cause a horse to get beaten and that it was unsafe because riders might lose control of their mounts.
RACING TEXAS WEINER DOG RUNS AWAY
SAN ANTONIO -- Brigetta, the two-time champion of the Weenie Dog Races at the Berges Fest in Boerne, has gone missing after running away from her owners just days before she was set to run in her third big event.
Brigetta, a long-haired dachshund, first won the race in 2005 and then captured her second trophy in 2006. When she ran away, she was scheduled for her third big race in five days.
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