JC / Railbird

Breeders/Breeding Archive

100% Organic Foals

Here’s an idea from T.D. Thornton for healthier horses:

It’s all about changing the incentives …

Posted in Breeders/Breeding on May 28, 2008

Three Chimneys, Racing at Four

An oldie but goodie from December 2006 (please ignore the typo in the first paragraph, LOL).

Posted in Breeders/Breeding on May 18, 2008

Strong Words

“[Eight Belles broke down] right where Raise a Native was the weakest, right in the ankles, and everybody acts like they don’t know what caused this filly to break down. It’s written right there for everyone to see! Except they refuse to see it. To admit it is to address the fact that all these stallions that are bred like that, that all the yearlings that are bred like that, are potential accidents waiting to happen.”

Posted in Breeders/Breeding on May 16, 2008

Two Points for Honesty

I’ve read a lot of chastising of Michael Ivarone for him having stated that Big Brown would likely not race as a four-year-old.
Personally, I appreciate the honesty and sparing us the song and dance. Remember Smarty Jones and the hoopla that surrounded him? His owners swore from here to doomsday that their Elusive Quality colt would race at four. He didn’t.
Three Chimneys stands Smarty Jones, War Chant, and Point Given, three horses that did not race at four. Three Chimneys is one of two breeding operations (along with Coolmore’s Ashford Stud) believed to be in line to acquire Big Brown’s services when he retires.
I don’t hold it against owners who take the money. In almost all instances they invest back into the sport anyway. More than anything I hate lip service, and Ivarone was honest.
It’s not like it’s his decision, anyway. The stud farm probably told him “this year and that’s it.” Just like Darley told the owners of Any Given Saturday, Hard Spun, and Street Sense.

Posted in Breeders/Breeding on May 15, 2008