When as a horse as influential as Empire Maker passes suddenly, as he did at the age of 20 on January 18, it is natural to reflect on all he achieved and to wonder what may have been. It is natural to feel shock and grief, to feel perhaps he was gone too soon even at 20, particularly since it had not been long since he was returned to the U.S. for sire duties.

Yet I think our time is preordained and nothing will intervene to alter that when we are meant to go. This does not mean I don’t feel the loss.

When I first moved to Kentucky, it was to follow a dream horses just like that can ignite in people. And he was so royally bred, I thought if any horse deserved to win one of the three-year-old classics in the history of those races, it was him. So I was elated when he prevailed on a rainy day at Belmont Park, the denial of the popular blue-collar horse Funny Cide’s Triple Crown notwithstanding. I had nothing against Funny Cide but that certainty Empire Maker belonged among the elite winners of a Triple Crown race was that strong. I had only lived in Kentucky for a few months by the time he won the Belmont in 2003, but when he retired to Juddmonte, I made sure to go see him. It was visiting the horse farms the year before I moved there and getting to see all these horses in the flesh that I had only watched on TV that sold me on moving, as well as the desire to be professionally involved.

I also had another reason for being an ardent follower of Empire Maker. It was about pedigree, too, as was my thought that he deserved to win at least one Triple Crown race. His sire Unbridled was the first Derby winner I remember, watching on TV in Tennessee, which was the closest I could get to horse racing in that state.

Then I began tracking Empire Maker’s progeny. I went to Keeneland specifically to see one of his first runners myself. I didn’t want to waste any opportunities to visit these horses or see their progeny race now that I lived in a state where that was possible. And he had so many good runners, they sprung to the top of the list of favorite horses in years they raced. Mushka. Acoma. In Lingerie. Pioneerof the Nile. I was so devoted a follower of his progeny, and Mushka had particularly captivated me, that I remember standing at the rail of the paddock at Keeneland one day ankle deep in pooled rain water to see her before she made her way to the track. Like I said, I didn’t want to miss an opportunity now that I lived where it was easier than ever to see these horses.

I was a little shocked Empire Maker was sold to Japan, especially since he had been such a product of Juddmonte breeding, and did feel it was premature. When Royal Delta burst through to such prominence, that notion was reinforced. However, I read a Thoroughbred Daily News article since his passing that indicates he was likely not a good match for Juddmonte’s primarily turf-oriented mares. The decision is not my concern and I will never castigate an owner for sending his horse overseas because no matter how much I admire and feel a connection to a particular horse, I don’t lose sight as I have seen can be the case that a connection does not equal a say in how he is managed. It seems to go without saying that is not realistic, but there are many who seem to have difficulty grasping that.

Because I love the Unbridled line as I do, Pioneerof the Nile was my Derby pick in his year and I was elated to see him take the lead, though it was only that briefly, for the short amount of time it took to run by my section of the grandstand.

Naturally, it was incredible not only to finally see a Triple Crown winner in my lifetime in 2015, but that he descended from Empire Maker, living up even more to the billing in his stud advertisements when he was at Juddmonte, which his own progeny had also proved: Destined.

If ever a horse was destined, it was he. To be a great runner. A great sire. A top-notch grandsire.

And it is exciting to see the success he has had with his first U.S. crop since returning from Japan, and to see how not only Pioneerof the Nile achieved excellent results as a sire, but also that his grandson American Pharoah has been off to a rousing start.

I will follow these new U.S. crops of his just as avidly as I did the first, and I am on board all the way with Eight Rings, having placed my first Derby future wager on him and on one of Pharoah’s sons, just as I made sure to place a bet on Empire Maker when he was entered in the Derby, though it was a long wait in a drivethrough betting line at Keeneland. It mattered. Not for potential money won, but almost to register my strong belief in him in an official sense.

Yes, it sad that he is gone. But what a gift it was he came back and that he had time to produce additional crops in this country and that the first one is already proving he has not lost a step as an influential sire. I do believe it was his time and thinking of him with gratitude for all he gave to the sport and the breed is to honor him best.

I think of this too because I just lost my feline companion of thirteen years the day after Empire Maker’s passing. He let me know it was his time and as hard as it is to adjust to life without him, echoing what everyone at Gainesway has said about Empire Maker, the gift was his presence and he had the time he was meant to have. And what a blessing it is to know these animals who touch our lives so profoundly that in equal measure we feel gratitude for who they were and sorrow that they could not stay with us longer.

I will never forget how amazing it was to see Empire Maker again at Gainesway, all those years later. It was like the first time and left a strong indelible impression. He exuded class and that impression has stayed with me. I last saw him a few months ago in November, and I especially treasure the day that I saw him, Pioneerof the Nile, and American Pharoah all in the same month during open houses and got a photo with them all. Now that two of those three are gone, that means even more. I am certain, as Chris McGrath eulogized in the aforementioned TDN article that Empire Maker has assured his legacy and name will live on in pedigrees and memories and even though I was in his presence only a few times those impressions will stay with me too. Even in a region full of top-notch stallions, his class and demeanor seemed to put him in a rare realm.

Source:

McGrath, Chris. “An Empire That Will Survive Its Maker’s Loss.” Thoroughbred Daily News, January 20, 2020.

On an early morning in late October, champion mare Beholder and her trainer Richard Mandella stood quietly in a saddling stall in the serene hush of Keeneland. Only a small group of onlookers were on hand as she schooled prior to her anticipated attempt at the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Classic. Mandella stood with her as her rider moved her from stall to stall, turning to the media present to say with a smile that he didn’t know which stall she’d start from so he was having her stand in all of them. His bond with Beholder was evident, and it felt like a privilege to witness. This is one reason mornings at the track can be so special. Details like that which get lost in the busy spectacle of the racing hours are easy to take in and absorb.

While Beholder did not start in the Classic, that moment lingered in my memory as a taste of what the first Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland still made it possible to see, especially before American Pharoah arrived and the crowds in the morning grew exponentially. It was also my most enduring memory of her until the morning Spendthrift hosted a chance to meet her in retirement four years after that day at Keeneland, which also marked my first opportunity to get to know her temperament and interact with her.

It was a serene drive in the early morning, down Iron Works Pike where trees formed a green tunnel overhead, echoed along the drive to the farm office once through the Spendthrift Farm gates. It did seem reminiscent, too, of that quiet morning when she schooled at Keeneland.

The visit began in the grand farm office, a former home, which now hosts offices and displays racing trophies, as most farm offices do, as well as Beholder’s framed Pacific Classic saddle cloth. “It’s clean because she was in front the whole way,” Autry Graham, Spendthrift’s assistant marketing director who led the tour that day, said. Indeed she was, in an 8 ½ length romp that left no doubt who the best horse in the race was that day, and also indicated overall how good she is.

Beholder today lives in the broodmare barn, stabled across from the gray mare Coup de Coeur, who she is closely bonded to among the field of six or so other mares they are turned out with.

Before Beholder was turned out for the day, I got to feed her carrots. The v-shaped bars in the front of her stall were removed and she immediately came over and put her head through. She has a presence and a look in her eye, the look of a great horse,that made me pause for a moment and just soak that in and then start feeding her carrots.

She has such a laid-back personality, which seemed evident as I saw her school several years ago, that 30 people were present the first time she foaled—a farm manager, an assistant farm manager, a broodmare manager, and so on, and many of them even brought their kids—and it never fazed Beholder at all. Whatever her first foal may become (and he has already shown a tendency to be feisty, which could bode well for a competitive fire on the racetrack, noted by Graham), I think those kids may have quite a story to tell someday of seeing the great mare’s first foal come into the world.

After a few carrots, Coup de Coeur was led out of her stall and hesitated on the pavement, reluctant to go on without Beholder in sight. And then Beholder was brought out. She is captivating to see. She carries herself like she knows she is a multiple champion. Yet many have seen that the greats know they have that “something” that sets them apart. It does show in their eyes too, and that may be what captivated me the most. The sun highlighted the dapples in her coat, making her look even more dazzling. She couldn’t have a more fitting name. It is said beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but she may be one of the loveliest horses I have seen and it is hard to imagine it is just because I am the beholder and that most wouldn’t concur.

She tried to make a beeline for the grass, much more intent upon it than Coup de Coeur was. “She is all about her grass!” Graham laughed.

When turned out in the pasture, she and Coup de Coeur grazed head to head, their bond evident, before wandering off to join the other mares in about the center of the pasture.

Gas Station Sushi was also in the pasture and entertained a notion of coming up to the fence for some of the carrots that remained. While she didn’t come up for interaction, her coming closer offered the chance to get a few photos of her. I remembered her from racing at Keeneland and all the attention she garnered for her name, but had never had a good look at her until then to realize how photogenic she is.

On the visit, Beholder was described as a dream as a broodmare so far, getting in foal on one cover each of the three times she’s been bred, and foaling twice so far quite close to her actual due date and at easier times of the day to attend than the middle of the night or wee hours of the morning. Spendthrift also tends to support the stallions they stand to a large extent with the mares that reside on the farm, so Beholder’s foals have represented some of the only ones they have by the stallions she has been bred to. “I’m curious to see what her War Front (appearing to be a filly, due in February next year) looks like because we don’t have any of those. So far, her foals have looked like her in the head and had the body type of their sires,” Graham said.

Richard Mandella and Gary Stevens have paid visits to Beholder in retirement too. Richard Mandella doesn’t come that often because it is emotional for him. “One time he came to visit, and Beholder was out eating grass. She wouldn’t even look up and he was a bit disappointed. Then he pulled a peppermint from his pocket and that was the key to getting her to leave her grass! She even somewhat weans her foals by herself because they get in the way of her grass eating!” Graham said.

This visit was all Horse Country aspired to provide in the way of experiences when they were launched, getting to meet the stars once followed on the track, as well as telling the story of the land and enhancing visitors’ connections to the farm and horses.

To the end of further providing experiences that resonate like the Beholder meeting, Spendthrift is going to open up their onsite training track to visits starting at 5:30 in the morning next spring, and also the breeding shed for a morning’s session, since most farms are not doing that.

They also are looking into options for aftercare, with 8 retired mares currently living on the farm. It brings to mind how Mill Ridge Farm offered a very extensive tour of the property, visiting multiple areas, including interacting with the older mares retired from broodmare duties, which Stonestreet also does on one of their tours. If those older mares are one day part of the group that can be visited, that would be quite memorable too, and for those horses they have ownership in that may still be suited to other careers, they are considering whether New Vocations will be the route they want to take for placement for them.

It is gratifying to see the success Horse Country has become, and how it does allow these farms to expand their tours and provide even greater access to visitors, as Spendthrift plans to do with training and breeding shed tours, success that has also seen WinStar add tours of their mare and foal division and Claiborne do the same, areas that had rarely been open to visitors. I also applaud the farms for making the commitment, while operating their business, to opening the doors regularly and welcoming people. Graham noted that they are fans of the great horses that reside on the farm too, and no doubt that helps drive the willingness to let others see these horses who captivated them on the track. It always makes for a memorable occasion.

Rachel Alexandra, still showcasing the trim athletic figure that had helped power her to an amazing array of victories, stood outside of a barn at Stonestreet to meet a group of eager admirers. On that day in March 2011, the people gathered around the recently retired mare had been selected for the farm’s first “Meet Rachel Day. ” The entree into the gates at Stonestreet was a marvelous harbinger of the hospitality and graciousness that was to be a hallmark in years to come. As promised in the first announcement of the “Meet Rachel Day” events, the farm’s illustrious star would be available to meet other admirers around her broodmare duties. While she is breeding sound, there have not been broodmare duties for several years, and the rhythm of her life has only changed in that she has no foal at foot and is pastured with several older pensioned mares for companionship, but she still lives in a foaling barn in a roomy stall.

During that first “Meet Rachel Day,” it was evident the chosen attendees were awed to be in her presence, and grateful to get time to know the mare one-on-one and have pictures taken with her. While the racehorse she had been was evident, at that time she had recently been bred to Curlin and was carrying the colt that would be named Jess’s Dream. There was a sense of reverence among some people there that day that even led stroking her soft stomach, and I for one thought of the little life just beginning. It was amazing to have those moments with her, for she is the horse of a lifetime for many beyond the environs of Stonestreet as well.

March 2011

March 2011

One of the incredible victories that she still appeared to be in racing condition from eight years ago was the Haskell Invitational in 2009, her second victory against male horses.

As Rachel Alexandra stepped forward into her position in the starting gate that August day, the track announcer said, “The Preakness winning filly is in the gate and there’s one left to load,” indicating even running against the likes of Summer Bird and Munnings in the seven horse field, she was the one likely gathering the most attention, also reflected in her low odds as the field went off.

When the gates sprung open, Munnings rocketed to the lead, with Rachel Alexandra quick to rush up into contention to sit off of his flank, while Summer Bird moved up equally rapidly to take a position on the rail off of Munnings’ other side. 

As those two classic winners flanked Munnings, they ran on even terms by the quarter pole, dark bay head on the outside mirrored by the chestnut head on the rail, in a race all their own even as they chased the pacesetter. Summer Bird began to edge ahead of Rachel Alexandra, breathing down Munnings’ neck while Rachel still kept her position off of that leader’s flank. 

Munnings appeared to be striving with all he had, pushing forward determinedly but it would not be enough. Rachel Alexandra unleashed her move past the ¾ pole and swept to the lead with an effortless surge of power. She left Summer Bird, who had looked full of run and with every chance at victory before she took over, to have to settle for second place.

It was a sublime effort, and thrilling. The track announcer burst in that she turned “for home with a four length lead” and the crowd roared at this display of superiority, unable to contain how it felt to witness such a tour-de-force. 

He got it exactly right when he finished his race call with all the excitement swirling through the crowd and around Rachel Alexandra, who would not let herself be bested throughout her entire 2009 season, no matter what track she went to or what competition she faced.

“Here’s a filly for the ages, a Haskell legend….. Rachel Alexandra did it!”

She did indeed, and that was a wonderful occasion to celebrate as Stonestreet opened its gates once more July 20 for a Haskell Watch Party to commemorate her emphatic six-length victory that day, and how she rocketed to a four-length lead in almost no time at all.

The occasion was also a fundraiser for the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, with attendance capped at 50 people. It was wonderful to be among so many people united by a common admiration of and fondness for Rachel Alexandra. One attendee came from Michigan, and thought when Rachel nearly was lost due to foaling complications several years ago, that she had lost her chance to see her. She reiterated, during the wait for the bus that transported us from Keeneland to Stonestreet (due to limited parking at the farm), how much these things matter, to see these great horses that touch our lives and “speak” to us deeper than any words ever can. I understood perfectly. I love to watch my favorite horses race, but it is wonderful to get one-on-one time with them too, to truly get a sense of who they are as individuals and their temperament and characteristics.

Every party-goer aboard the bus, it meandered through the Keeneland gates, down Rice Road, and past the lovely barns of Fares Farm, where curious broodmares along the fence line nearest the road turned their heads to watch us pass. It is lovely to go down the roads in this region lined by farms and away from the urban sprawl. There is a serenity in seeing fields of corn growing tall, rather than parking lots and shopping centers, a happiness in seeing sleek mares turn to watch us pass—understood best by those that are fulfilled by a life that includes horses–and a joy in seeing a group of weanlings sprint across a pasture, full of wild young exuberance.

Alighting from the bus at Stonestreet, we were ushered inside one of the beautifully crafted barns. All the horses from that barn but Rachel Alexandra were out in the paddocks.

The party was originally going to involve watching the current year’s Haskell, but when excessive heat necessitated it being pushed back several hours later than its originally scheduled post time, the TVs on site played a loop of Rachel Alexandra’s races instead. It was a chance to pause once more and relive her greatness in races I had not often watched since they occurred, while snacking on hor d’oeuvres and chatting about the mare with other attendees. The other plus of the Haskell start time being pushed back—besides the benefits to its entrants—was now those at Stonestreet would have more time to spend with Rachel Alexandra.

The hospitality, as expected, was incredible and is well worth a description. Stonestreet staff greeted everyone warmly as they filed off of the bus, directing us into the cool of the barn. Paper fans were passed out with the names of the 2019 Haskell entrants printed on them, and a variety of Kendall-Jackson wines as well non-alcoholic beverages were on offer, and so were trays of hot browns, and a buffet set up of fruit, cheese, crackers, and mixed nuts, and later chocolate cake. 

Small groups were chosen to greet Rachel outside of the barn, to keep it manageable for her, but she never minded all the people, taking a very relaxed stance as she was led under the shade of trees. She looked magnificient and filled out, and still every bit the powerhouse she had been on the track, the muscles of her frame evident even after beginning her retirement near the end of 2010.

I was chosen with several others to be in the first group to greet her, getting my first opportunity to have a meeting with her other than in her stall or from a field as she was part of the Horse Country tours to Stonestreet but whether she interacted with people then was on at her whim. Not that it made it any less wonderful to see her, but this day was extra special.

Rachel’s dark coat gleamed as she stepped from the barn into the sunshine before being stopped in the shade and people singly or in pairs stepped forward to greet her and get photos with her.

I was content to stand back for a while and observe her, soak in her presence. She is my favorite living racehorse, after all. 

Even when the first group’s turn was over, people gathered at the barn door to watch her. She is deservedly every bit the draw she was when she pulled away in the Haskell and dominated that field, when she showed all determination in the Woodward that same year, and was unquestionably the Horse of the Year for one of the best campaigns it could be hoped a three-year-old would string together, regardless of gender. For even the races that she ran in restricted to gender were evidence of her superiority, most notably the 20-length romp in the Kentucky Oaks.

Rachel hats and shirts were in evidence throughout, including one that honored her Hall of Fame induction which I had not seen before, available from that Saratoga Springs institution at one time. The guest of honor also received gift bags from a few attendees, likely full of treats for her.

As the party wound down, door prizes were drawn outside of the barn, steps away from a pasture where the next generation of Stonestreet foals grazed with their dams, including Good Magic’s brother.

It was an incredible day, full of wonderful memories and further testament to Barbara Banke’s generosity and hospitality, as mentioned by the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation staff on site  at Stonestreet, who also noted briefly what fundraisers like this one help them do for the horse and some of what has been learned in the process, like about leg injuries in racehorses.

Disembarking at Keeneland, the grounds quiet, immaculate, and as serene as ever, was a good bookend to the day, and worth lingering for as reflections of the day and the peace of the surroundings flowed through my mind.

Summer day

Light and carefree

Made our way down to the last stall

On the left

Near black horse

First ignored us

Looking out the window

Then stuck his head through the opening

At the front of his stall

Lured by the rustle of plastic containing a peppermint

He was kind, mellow

That impression lingers

As does the tour guide saying

his most famous son

got that similar temperament

as a birthright

That was the last time I saw him in this life

After following him on the Derby trail

Cheering him wildly as he briefly attained a lead

For only the short time he ran by our section

at Churchill Downs,

as the field rocketed out of the final turn

and headed down the homestretch

He retired, went to Vinery the first time I saw him up close

It lingers in my mind how he was in trim racing form still

The athlete’s shape evident in every line,

indicating what a top notch runner he had been

He, like many newly retired colts, was a bit antsy

dancing lightly on the end of the lead rope

rather than standing still

And I drank him in with my gaze

Never gets old to see the horses you followed from a distance

up close

once you get that opportunity

Underneath the competitive fire that still burned, the ball of energy within,

it was too soon to reveal that gentle temperament he also had in abundance

That was not a thought then

I was just glad to see him

One more horse from the avidly appreciated Unbridled line

to have his chance at glory through his future progeny

Moved on to WinStar,

where he resided in that final stall

and ate the offered peppermints

the last day I spent in his company

In between those two visits

he cemented his legacy

with a cascade of good runners

and more

the rare feat of becoming a sire of a Triple Crown winner

American Pharoah alone ensures his name will endure

Yet more than any of that

Was the quiet moment in a barn on a lovely late summer day

When he endeared himself to a small group of admirers

That day will linger in my memory the most

For getting to truly know him,

Beyond even the substantial sire statistics and race record, even as important as those are

For one who loves the horse, what matters even more is who they are

that is when they touch your soul

in an elemental way that words are never able to express adequately

but you know will stay with you

He touched people’s lives

That never dies

Even if the physical presence left too soon

and you are saddened

You know he lives on

In a way that can never fade

Mourned

for the last page being turned

Celebrated

for

authoring his place in racing history

For the chance to know him I am forever grateful

Rest in peace, Pioneerof the Nile

You were and are loved

Blackwood Stables in Versailles, Kentucky, is part of the long tradition of excellence in raising and training Thoroughbreds in the Bluegrass region, with several graduates from the renowned Irish National Stud program, including one of the farm’s two owners, and a 6-furlong training track that was developed by the same team that converted Keeneland’s track back to a dirt surface recently. The track is also accredited, so horses that train there can have published works from their time at Blackwood Stables.

The office overlooking the training track also reflects the tradition they strive to attain, with framed win photos of several top graduates of their program, and horse paintings of past greats or famous scenes, including a 1920 painting by J. Martin of Man o’ War under saddle on a track. Leofric, last year’s Clark Handicap winner, is one of their more recent graduates to achieve graded stakes glory. They also have a horse on the Derby trail currently.

A painting in the office overlooking the track

The operation primarily takes in client horses, sent by owners, trainers, or vets. None of the horses are under the care of outside trainers during their time at Blackwood, as the entire regimen is managed by the farm staff. Co-owner Matthew Hogan accompanies the racehorses to the track on a pony. The first sets to go out each day are horses that are three and up, since they spend the most time in the barn and are ready for the exercise by the time morning comes around.

Warming up before going to the training track

One of the definite advantages of being a privately owned training facility, instead of being based at a public track, is that adjustments to start times for training can be pushed back later in the morning if needed due to weather, and can go on much later in the day. Typically, in the winter months, they try to start at 8 a.m. and finish by noon, but there is a lot of flexibility to start or finish later when necessary.

They also take in yearlings to break, and horses on layups. There is a high-speed treadmill on site, and plans to expand into more therapeutic features later this year, including a cold water spa.

On the yearling side, a short distance away from the barns where the older horses are stabled near the training track, the younger horses get a lot of turn-out time, with fillies in groups and colts turned out individually. The yearling barn also has resident pig Pickles, adopted from the Lexington Humane Society, and a few miniature horses.

Young horses enjoying turnout time

One of the resident mini horses

Silver Charm received a grand celebration for the 25^th anniversary of his birth, at Old Friends in Georgetown, KY, where he has resided since 2014 upon retirement from stud duty in Japan. Seeing the large turnout, and knowing how immensely popular Silver Charm is, a quote from one of the Harry Potter movies came to mind: “It’s not every day your young man turns 11, is it?”

Of course, for Silver Charm, the age is not 11 (which was still a milestone age for Harry Potter, however, so the fictional character and the dual classic winner do have that in common with those two different ages, hence the quote coming to mind). Michael Blowen, in an interview during the course of the festivities, said Silver Charm’s age is equivalent to an 83-year-old human. While that is worth celebrating, even better is honoring the life he’s had, touching hearts around the country during his racing years and then during his time at stud in Japan (Blowen pointed out he did receive a card from Japan to commemorate his silver anniversary), and most of all in his retirement at Old Friends. He has transitioned wonderfully to an ambassador role and truly does take all the visitors he receives and everything else in stride. I recall visiting him years ago at Three Chimneys, before he was exported to continue the stud career begun there, and understandably he was like most stallions and quite territorial about his fence boundaries.

Now that he is retired and his only “job” is to receive visitors and eat carrots on daily tours, that impulse has fled. Naturally it won’t for every stallion, and there are certainly those at Old Friends who have to be approached cautiously or not at all, but within reason they now get to live life on their own terms, a routine that has most notably helped mellow War Emblem somewhat, even while he will always have to remain behind a double fence to keep a buffer between him and visitors.

The party for Silver Charm was billed as a silver jubilee, and naturally milestone ages lead one to reflect on where he has been and what a life he has had, elements incorporated into my card for the birthday card contest Old Friends held in conjunction with the day’s events. I created a border along the side of the card of braided ribbons in his racing colors, roses around a photo of him at Old Friends for his Derby win and Japanese and American flags on the interior of the card along with a cake that also featured his silk colors and numeric candles for his age. There was also a nod to his name with a silver photo matting and a message about his “charmed life.”

And it truly has been charmed. He is eye-catching as a nearly white horse, lightened perceptibly from the steel gray coat he had in his racing days, and his kind nature strikes one as gentlemanly and lingers even more in the memory after time in his presence than his physical appearance does, which is incredible for his age and not even for his age, but just in general. He is still particular about having his face stroked, a natural impulse, but that is his only insistence that reminds visitors he is a stallion, since such a touch is viewed by stallions as being one of domination.

The event featured goody bags for guests, with a 1997 Kentucky Derby glass, a postcard and a bookmark with Silver Charm’s photos, and several other wonderful mementoes. Each bag had a label with green and gold balloons printed on it and read, “Happy 25^th Silver Birthday Silver Charm February 22, 2019.”

He had been groomed and brought into his stall for the day’s festivities, and while visitors ate soup from several area restaurants, the media gathered around him to get photos. His stall was festooned with all the cards people made, and throngs of people gathered around to get photos with him and of him, feed him carrots, and attempt to pat him. The sweetest encounter I saw was with a young boy of perhaps two or three on his mother’s hip who fed him a carrot and stroked him with a few fingers. He looked awed by the encounter, just for a moment with a horse. That mattered more than even who the horse was, specifically, and what he has accomplished and that truly is the best thing about Old Friends, the opportunity for interaction with and the chance to get to know these horses much better than was possible for most people while these horses were racing. Silver Charm was on my radar for a long time as a racehorse, but he has become even more special to me for getting to see him often and visit him at Old Friends, and I am so grateful he was able to return from Japan for all his U.S. fans. So naturally, attending his party was a must.

He did eventually tire of the attention—even a great ambassador needs a break—and stood in the center of his stall, half-dozing. Yet when Michael Blowen came along to say a few words, present the card contest winners with their prizes, and lead off singing “Happy Birthday”, Silver Charm perked his ears and came over when Blowen said his name. There is certainly a deep affinity between those two, and it is wonderful to see.

There was a cake with a photo of Silver Charm on it for the people in attendance and an oat cake decorated with whole carrots, carrot slices and numeric candles for his age for Silver Charm himself. He didn’t want the cake at first, having been inundated with attention and carrots, but before being turned out, he did come over to his stall door and eat the green leafy tops of the carrots.

His coat gleamed, having been groomed just for the party, with not a spot of mud on it, and one attendee even pointed out his halter was brand new—only the best for the birthday “boy”!

He couldn’t resist a roll in the mud once he was turned out, trailed by well-wishers for a few more photos and a bit more time in his presence. It wasn’t as unpleasant as a winter day could have been, but a biting wind made it colder than the temperature indicated it should feel—yet that didn’t deter everyone who wanted to celebrate him. It was a lovely commemoration of his big day, and wonderful to see what he meant to so many people.

Crestwood Farm

On a lovely, quite atypical January day, Crestwood held their annual open house. Clear blue skies and a sun that illuminated the horses’ coats, most noticeably highlighting the subtle dapples on Jack Milton, brought out a large group of attendees. The farm later said it was likely their best turnout yet.

Texas Red, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner, was being shown upon my arrival.

Jack Milton is quite stunning. The son of War Front has a masterful way of presenting himself, proudly, that makes one stop and take notice.

The Player, recently arrived at Crestwood after spending more time at Buff Bradley’s farm upon his release from a clinic where he was treated for fractured sesamoids, had people flocking to him. He has long been a fan favorite for being a star of Bradley’s Facebook videos during his race career, and no doubt many of those who flocked to him during the open house had followed his progress after his injury and appreciated the opportunity to see him and that he had recovered. He understandably walked with a limp but the hitch in his stride didn’t override how he appeared otherwise. He seems to have a calm and very personable temperament, and stood quietly as breeders and other onlookers inspected him. Anyone who came near his head and wasn’t just walking around to assess his conformation was given  a carrot to feed him, from a bag of them that was just for him. After his ordeal and recovery, it seemed he deserved all the carrots anyone wanted to give him, and he took one from my hand in an unrushed gentle fashion that seemed to match the calm nature evident in his demeanor and the look in his eyes.

Ashford Stud

A few days after the Crestwood open house, typical cold temperatures returned but the sun still shone upon the horses, both at the farms and Keeneland for the four-day sale, where all were as impeccably turned out as possible, and the sun caught the little details like oiled hooves.

Mendelssohn has settled in well to life at the farm, and carries himself with a comportment and poise that one may not have guessed he would from his days on the track, when he famously neighed nearly continuously in the mornings until he began his gallops during training.

He has an impressive conformation and balance, and one of the staff at Ashford already firmly believes he will be a champion sire. He certainly has the pedigree to be. It will be interesting to see how that unfolds. He also has a kind nature, as revealed when I got one-on-one time with him not long after his arrival at the farm in November.

Practical Joke was described as having filled out nicely from a year ago, and while he had not been on my radar among all the other notable names that fill out the current Ashford stallion roster, there was no denying how eye-catching he is.

Speaking of filling out nicely, American Pharoah also fits that bill, as the newly turned 7-year-old had just recently returned from stud duty in Australia. He still amazes, for the fluidity of his motion even at a walk. He evokes awe in his presence, for his physical appearance, even beyond his achievements as a Triple Crown winner and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner at three. His next big test comes this year, as his first crop has turned two. Reports suggest they largely have great minds, and hopefully there is a good pool of racing ability to go along with that.

He didn’t stay out of his stall long, since he had so recently been in the Southern Hemisphere’s summer days, and was described as “only wearing a T-shirt,” but it was certainly long enough to get a good look at how he has continued to mature and develop.

Justify was being shown on the hour every hour during the open house, so while waiting for him at the barn nearest to the statue honoring Giant’s Causeway, Classic Empire was led out for inspection. He has also matured into an impressive-looking individual.

Justify is shown behind the white fence placed near the entrance to the barn, and everyone present had to stand on the other side, since he does not have the same laid-back demeanor as American Pharoah. He mostly wanted to remain on the move too, whereas Pharoah had stood stock-still, like a statue, until asked to walk. Justify was all walk and little standing still but even that was enough to be struck anew by how muscular and large he is for his age.

Spendthrift

Lord Nelson, who had covered 125 mares in 2018 because that seemed a book size that was just right after it took him an entire year to recover from foundering in 2017, will remain at that book size for this year’s breeding season. The only concessions to those issues are a special shoe and not being turned as sharply when being shown as the other stallions, and probably a little extra monitoring of his feet condition, but otherwise he gets turned out the same amount of time as the other stallions and follows their routines.

Free Drop Billy

Bolt d’Oro has already had his book filled before the season has even begun, and a recent TCA auction of stallion seasons saw his sell for as much as his stud fee.

On a sweltering day that had more in common with summer than early fall, lovely Ashford Stud opened its gates to welcome Horse Country visitors—one of many that have filled the tours to sold-out capacity over the next few months—as the farm has been home to Justify for the past couple of weeks, the second Triple Crown winner they are standing.

Tour guide Nathaniel said he has settled in well, going by the same routine as the other stallions in the barn. He appears to take all in stride, just as he did during his run through the Triple Crown. He gleamed in the sunshine, and mostly stood patiently for photos. His stall is the one formerly occupied by Giant’s Causeway and next door to him is Classic Empire.

The tour then passed by headstones of former stallion barn residents, as a brief biography of each was presented.

Storm Bird, interred there, was a stallion that essentially started off the farm in America for Coolmore, being available for purchase the year after they had planned to import Shergar, who was notoriously stolen during a time of great turmoil in Ireland in the 1980s, with the details surrounding his disappearance still an unsolved mystery.

Storm Bird had, in fact, been considered to have the makings of another Shergar, and so Coolmore did jump at the opportunity to buy him.

The Kentucky branch of the farm got its name from Ashford Castle in the west of Ireland, a place and name that had enchanted John Magnier when he spent time there on a vacation.

The property that become Ashford started as a parcel of around 500 acres and was a cattle farm prior to acquisition by Magnier and in his hands it grew to 2,000 acres as surrounding property was also added in and numerous top stallions joined the roster and left their mark, including several that eventually led to Justify. Most notable of those is his sire Scat Daddy, still a tremendous influence as a sire around the world, even for having lived a relatively short life.

Newly arrived Mo Town, a son of Uncle Mo, was being shown to breeders as the Horse Country group went through the barn where Uncle Mo himself resides. He has a lot of presence, and the success he found early in his stud career was not with the top-notch group of mares that now fill his book, so he should only get even better runners now.

Mo Town

Fusaichi Pegasus occupies the stall next to Uncle Mo, and in a flashback to when I first visited him years ago, he charged at his slightly open stall door with ears bared, making the description of him as “anti-social” seem like a mild way to describe it. He did stay near his stall door, giving the opportunity to take photos, for a few moments before wandering back to look out the window open to the outside at the back of his stall.

Interestingly, he is now primarily (or entirely) being bred to Standardbred mares, as he had only a few grade 1 winners early in his stud career and then his top runners tapered off significantly. I had not heard of Thoroughbred stallions being bred to Standardbred mares before, and it did raise the question if they could be registered to race. Our tour guide was not sure, but his theory was that Thoroughbred blood appealed and Fusaichi Pegasus specifically had durability to contribute, appealing for a breed that races often. Nathaniel, the guide, thought that perhaps they hoped for fillies to pass on Thoroughbred qualities.

Air Force Blue was in the barn across from Uncle Mo and Fusaichi Pegasus, along with Cupid.

Air Force Blue’s first foals were described as spectacular, so spectacular that Nathaniel had bred his own mare to him. He said it can be a hard sell to get a sire considered to have a turf pedigree off the ground in America, although Air Force Blue does seem to have dirt credentials on the top and bottom in his pedigree.

Speaking of turf sires, as the tour wrapped up he mentioned what drives shuttling certain stallions to various locations, and that Australia is all turf racing. Considering American Pharoah is there now as he has been for several seasons and based on other things I’ve read recently, it is intriguing to see if a turf preference will come to the fore in his foals as Coolmore is sure it will. But I recall Afleet Alex had quite a few successful runners on turf to my surprise, so versatility is certainly on the table, even with sires that didn’t run on turf to be able to gauge how they would have done on the surface.

The Cumberland County Fair in Greenup, IL, has a commitment to horse racing stretching in an unbroken streak to the fair’s inception in 1888. For anyone who attends now, or envisions horse racing in a fair setting, it is intriguing to think of what it may have been like to attend their first day of racing and how it has evolved over the years. One could imagine it being a fun event for people whose way of life revolved around farming, to have a little fun and socialize, all while cheering on favorite horses.

The day’s card of Quarter Horse, Thoroughbred, mule, and pony races on August 18 was my first visit to a fair that also held racing, and it was another racing experience I was eager to have.

The gates to the fairgrounds hung open during a late morning arrival, with each half of the gate decorated with an ornate horse head design.

Outside the racing office, saddle cloths with “Cumberland Co Fair” embroidered on them were neatly folded and stacked, waiting to be placed across the backs of the day’s runners. Immediately surrounding the racing office, horses stood patiently at the end of lead ropes attached to trailers and support posts for barns, while others were stabled at a barn nearest the gap that led onto the half-mile track.

It was a beautiful sunny day, perfect for racing. The track retained a fair amount of moisture on its surface from the previous day’s rains, but the track crew worked diligently to get the track closer to being rated good or even fast.

Ascending the steps on the perimeter of the grandstand and up a narrow wooden walkway to the announcer’s booth granted my first glimpse of the entire track from a more complete vantage point. Trees along the backside formed a barrier, along with a fence, from a nearby road and also created a beautiful backdrop in their lush greenery.

As may be guessed from a fair that has held racing since 1888, there were a lot of knowledgeable and dedicated horsemen on site. It was great to have a conversation between races about grooms and their importance, and horse care and management in general, with Bill Gross, the presiding judge, and to later veer into talking pedigrees—one of my particular obsessions about racehorses.

Fair racing was on my list of racing experiences to have for its unique aspect, and as the races began, it was evident it was going to provide opportunities to add to my racing knowledge, a welcome bonus.

Races restricted to Illinois-bred horses—5 of the 9 on the card, when the mule and pony races are included—were required by the Illinois Department of Agriculture to have at least three horses with three separate owners be entered and also break from the gate to meet the criteria to receive Illinois Department of Agriculture funding.

The first race of the day was a Quarter Horse race (the only one on the card specifically for that breed) at 220 yards, won by Bid of Shine in a time of 12 2/5 seconds. Line I One captured the following race, the first Thoroughbred race of the day, covering the four-furlong distance in a time of 59 2/5 seconds.

The third race was not restricted to Illinois-breds, and was able to run with only two entrants, Lucky Song Cat and Midnight Louis. It was a maiden race at 5 furlongs, and in the parlance of fair racing, “maiden” does not mean a horse who has never won a race as one is used to its definition being at pari-mutuel tracks. “Maiden” in this context means a horse who has never won on the fair circuit.

Lucky Song Cat, a gray horse, had been a $26,000 yearling purchase and had been victorious at pari-mutuel tracks. She had a lovely way of moving at a trot that was reminiscent of a dressage horse. Her stride at a run was long and reaching and everything about her revealed class and style, and she won the race, a fair maiden no more.

Schwarzkopf captured race 4 for his jockey Mike James, a regular rider at pari-mutuel tracks, and James rode that streak into the next race aboard Pirates On Line, giving him his fourth consecutive win for the day. Pirates On Line is also a winner of multiple races at the Cumberland County Fair, and his affinity for the track was on display as he crossed the wire in an easy-looking effort, with his ears pricked.

Before the card finale, the Cumberland County Derby at a mile-and-an-eighth, the mule and pony races were held. Fred the mule was the victor over his larger opponent, covering the short distance in front of the grandstand to the wire in a time of a little over 15 seconds.

The ponies, like the mules, also started from a standing position on the track with no starting gate, and several of them showed the distinction between pleasure horses and those conditioned to race when they attempted to run through the gap at the top of the stretch to go back to the barn. No discredit to their riders—just one of those things I’ve heard pleasure horses will attempt from time to time!

The community feel of the racing was a wonderful element, as was the aspect of it drawing spectators for the love of the sport instead of also being driven by potential gambling payouts. It was a great time.

The final race of the day was split into two divisions with two runners each, with the ultimate winner being the horse who finished fastest in the two runnings. Division 1 featured Maelstrom and WW Spring Storm. Maelstrom won in a time of 1:59 4/5, setting the mark for Waz You Doing and Schiller in division 2 of the race.

Schiller, the 2017 winner, successfully defended his title in holding off Waz You Doing and covered the distance in a time of 1:59 2/5, giving him the overall victory against Maelstrom and WW Spring Storm as well, and his jockey Mike James a record six wins in one day at the fair.

With the racing over for another year on the closing day of the fair, the work began to convert the track into a setup for the evening’s Demolition Derby.

It had been a wonderful experience seeing fair racing for the first time, and I look forward to seeing more racing in similar venues in the future.

The interval between the Demolition Derby and the racing was filled with more racing talk, further highlighting how invested and sought-after horsemen from this region can be, as one gentleman shared fascinating stories of D. Wayne Lukas and working for him on the California circuit, and several people gathered were wearing Juddmonte hats, signifying professional ties to one of the most renowned farms in Kentucky.

The devotion to racing is certainly evident at every turn at the Cumberland County Fair, and it is incredible to think of it being conducted for well over a hundred years. It’s more low-key than the tracks that garner headlines on a regular basis, naturally, but no less worthwhile to attend for anyone who has racing in their blood. You’ll be among your kind and conversation about horses will flow naturally even with people you never knew before. What better way to spend a day if you love the sport?

Information about funding and conditions to be met for races to be run, as well as background details about horses entered, were provided by race announcer Kurt Becker’s commentary (drawn from his research) during the course of the race day.

Justify, recently arrived at Winstar to begin his transition to retirement, was shown on a Horse Country tour there the morning of August 16, brought in from his paddock as rain swept across central Kentucky, streaking his chestnut coat.  Still learning to stand to be shown, he is behind a barrier of ornamental horse head posts linked by chains, and each tour attendee was given the opportunity to have photos taken with him.

Seeing him for the first time in retirement, it was still as astounding as ever to take in his muscular physique, seeming to be indicative of a horse much older than he is. After about 15 or 20 minutes, he was led back out to his paddock with a pat on the neck. He seems to be adjusting well (though the standing to be shown is still a work in progress), taking all in stride, just as he did on the Triple Crown trail.

The tour then went through the barn to see the other stallions in residence.

Pioneerof the Nile

Winstar office decor