Schooling
Curlin (left) and Pyro (right) school in the paddock Thursday.
Along with stablemates Pyro and J Be K, Curlin schooled in the paddock this afternoon before the third in preparation for the Woodward and the most notable aspects of the scene had to do with the people gathered to see the Horse of the Year, who was a vision of glowing copper in the sunshine and perfectly behaved. NYRA security guards were slow to close the horsepath to walking traffic, causing several in the crowd to call out at the sight of the big chestnut bearing down on backyard denizens cluelessly crossing in his way — “That’s not some random 2-year-old,” said one exasperated observer — but the couple camera crews and dozen photographers in the paddock, along with assorted media and NYRA employees, also found their excitement intruding on sense, occasionally getting too close while following Curlin’s every move, earning stern rebukes from an official and bemused looks from the grooms and assistants in attendance. (The horse himself did little more than prick his ears, seemingly undisturbed by the fuss.) Much of the schooling session passed in the saddling stalls, where all three stood quietly before being led out to circle the trees and returning to the barn.
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