“With more than one million pieces of fan mail, several dozen marriage proposals and an animated feature film in discussion, Smarty Jones shows no signs of diminishing popularity post-retirement.” Marriage proposals? (Bucks County Courier Times)
Comment: Three months away from the Kentucky Derby and several horses have generated Smarty 2.0 hype, such as Rockport Harbor, Shamardal, and Lost in the Fog. Sometimes I get the feeling that racing, as a whole, is looking for a Big Horse: a horse beloved by the nation, a horse that can pack in the crowds not just to watch it race, but to watch others race, and thus save the sport. Smarty Jones was almost that horse, Funny Cide too. Maybe it’ll be Rockport this year or Declan’s Moon. But as nice as the crowds are (and I love to see the crowds — a filled grandstand is a good change from the typical day’s sparse trackside population), I suspect that there is no Big Horse that’ll save racing. For all the love the Smarty fans mentioned in the above article evince for the chestnut colt, there’s little evidence of a love for the game.
Posted by JC in Horses on 02/05/2005 @ 11:30 am / Follow @railbird on Twitter
– Ghostzapper could be HOTY again in 2005, but this year’s handicap division is strong, and with rivals like Saint Liam and Rock Hard Ten, Ghostzapper’s greatness isn’t assured. (ST)
– Jockey Richard Migliore rode his 4,000th winner Friday. Joined by his family in the winner’s circle, Migliore dedicated the milestone to late rider Mike Rowland. (NYDN)
– A federal judge dismissed Jose Santos’ libel suit against the Miami Herald, saying the Kentucky courts had no jurisdiction over the matter. (NYT)
– Kentucky tracks will test for milkshakes starting this spring. (CJ)
– Calder Race Course announces a new Senior Triple series. (BH)
– Send links, comments to railbird at jessicachapel dot com
Posted by JC in Miscellany on 02/05/2005 @ 11:20 am / Follow @railbird on Twitter
To send your sweetie, a friend, or a favorite horseplayer, while helping out a good cause: Our Mims Retirement Haven, an organization that cares for retired thoroughbred broodmares, is holding a special Valentine’s Day fundraiser. For a minimum donation of $10.00, OMRH will send out a lovely, personalized card to anyone within the United States.
Posted by JC in Miscellany on 02/03/2005 @ 10:55 am / Follow @railbird on Twitter
