Railbird 2004–2019

Horses Archive

100 Starts Enough

Zippy Chippy has been retired. Owner Felix Monserrate says he hopes to make Zippy, who turns 14 this January, an outrider pony at Finger Lakes. (Democrat & Chronicle)

Posted in Horses on December 5, 2004

Better Talk Not Conceding

“Flushed with joy in the immediate aftermath of a Breeders’ Cup Turf victory, trainer Graham Motion said Better Talk Now would be put away for the rest of the year and would reemerge late next spring.” But Motion reconsidered: “So Better Talk Now was sent west on Tuesday for Saturday’s Grade 1, $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup, which will be the first start on the West Coast for Better Talk Now, and the first runner ever at Hollywood Park for Motion.” (Daily Racing Form)
Related: Graham Motion has posted photos on his blog of Better Talk Now and a few of his stablemates in training (scroll down).

Posted in Horses on December 1, 2004

Hard to Believe

Trainer John Servis tells the Daily Racing form that two-year-old Rockport Harbor still has a few things to learn: “This horse hasn’t really learned how to run yet. He hasn’t gotten aggressive. Once he starts figuring that all out, he’s going to be a force to be reckoned with.”
Related: Unbeaten Rockport Harbor meets unbeaten Galloping Grocer in the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday. The race’s outcome should affect this year’s voting for champion male juvenile, writes Paul Moran. (Newsday)

Posted in Horses on November 25, 2004

The Way to the Derby

Afleet Alex follows Smarty Jones’ path through Arkansas. (The Capital)

Posted in Horses on November 21, 2004

Smarty SOTY, not HOTY

“Smarty may not even be the best horse to race in America this year — that honor will almost certainly go to Ghostzapper, who won the Breeders’ Cup Classic in record time. But have you ever heard of Ghostzapper? I love racing, and I have no illusions about the sport ever being saved by a Triple Crown winner. It’s a boutique pastime that gets its moment in the sun every spring. For that reason, horses like Ghostzapper, with the kind of speed that comes along once in a generation, deserve to be the true champions. But horses with the crossover appeal of Smarty Jones are rare, as well. That’s why he’s my Sportsman of the Year,” writes Mark Beech. (Sports Illustrated)

Posted in Horses on November 19, 2004