Railbird 2004–2019

Horses Archive

Funny Cide Ready

For his five-year-old campaign. The gelding is wintering at Gulfstream Park and will return to the track later this spring. “The tentative plan is to have Funny Cide make his first start on March 5 in the Grade II, $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap…. If he doesn’t make it into the starting gate for that one, Funny Cide may go in the Grade III, $100,000 Skip Away Handicap on April 2 at a mile and an eighth.” I love the Sackatoga gang for continuing to run this fabulous horse — although, I’m sure it’s not that tough a decision for them, since there’s no pressure to breed. If only more owners of stars had similar freedom. (Saratogian)

Posted in Horses on January 17, 2005

Azeri Retired

“Azeri, the world’s all-time leading money-earning female, has been retired from racing. Michael Paulson, who heads his father’s Allen Paulson Living Trust that raced Azeri, made the decision to retire the 6-year-old daughter of Jade Hunter rather than race her a few more times, as was under consideration. ‘In some sense I’m sad, but in another (sense) I can’t be,’ said Paulson. ‘She had a remarkable career and we’re very proud of her.'” (Blood-Horse)

Posted in Horses on December 23, 2004

Ghostzapper Who?

“But no hero, no champion, nothing could make us happily forget everything ugly and awful in the world like Smarty Jones, a rambunctious little chestnut colt from that non-hotbed of thoroughbred breeding, Philadelphia, who captured the imagination of non-racing fans like no horse since the three Triple Crown winners of the ’70s, and maybe like none since the first and greatest of those, Secretariat.” (Salon)

Posted in Horses on December 21, 2004

A Man, A Horse, A Book

Bob Merz dreamed of becoming a writer, but he lacked a muse — until Smarty Jones came along. (The Review)
Tangentially related: Smarty Jones is named one of ten nominees for BeliefNet’s most inspiring person of the year award. (BeliefNet)

Posted in Horses on December 16, 2004

Zippy Not Retired

“A day after telling an upstate New York newspaper that Zippy Chippy, the horse who loves to lose, has been retired, owner-trainer Felix Monserrate has apparently had a change of heart. Monserrate said Monday he is not sure what he will do with the 13-year-old gelding who is winless in 100 career starts, adding that there is a 40 percent chance he will run again in 2005.” Poor Zippy. Doesn’t he deserve retirement? Here’s hoping that Monserrate changes his heart once more. (ESPN)

Posted in Horses on December 7, 2004