New Joisey Bound!!

Phew, done my projects, now onto my exam - But enough about that, I don't want to bore the hell out of you!

Let's go to the New Jersey Sire Stakes Finals on Saturday, August 13, 2011 at the Big M!

2-3-4-6...No, that's not my superfecta picks, but the races to watch out for on Saturday!

Girls On Film!!  Nope, not the Duran Duran song, but race number 2 for the NJSS 3yo pacing fillies!  In this race we see the likes of Pretty Katherine (all but once a bridesmaid), Krispy Apple (the backstretch tornado -they never see her coming), Rocklamation (the silent sleeper), Honky Tonk Woman (she's a "rolling stone" when she gets her speed going), and Mystical Diva (diva is as diva does).  Nonetheless, this will be a real nail biter of a race, er a hoof biter of a race.  Don't miss this one.

Here's the lineup:

1.  Rocklamation
2.  Pretty Katherine
3.  Honky Tonk Woman
4.  Caviart Sarah
5.  Myluvmylife
6.  Weekend Update
7.  Krispy Apple
8.  Mystical Diva

Onto race 3 for 3yo NJSS trotting fillies!  These gals are hot to trot (Bad joke)  Ahem, anyways Hey Mister has my vote here (Is this not a filly?)  Enough said.

Here's the lineup:

1.  Tui
2.  Creme De Cocoa
3.  Wincinnatti
4.  Hey Mister
5.  Sashay
6.  Lost Symbol
7.  Southwind Amiga
8.  Firstclassprincess
9.  Tawesome More
10.  Dixieland Delite


MOMM's the word!  Manofmanymissions definitely needs to redeem himself after the dismal finish in the Hambletonian last weekend, and he will have his opportunity in the 4th Race for NJSS 3yo Colt Trot.  A couple problems I see heading towards him in this race, and they sport the names of Whiskey Tax, Vc Chocoholic, and Whit.  Now MOMM is the current favorite, but to me, I just don't feel "safe" enough to bet on him - he's like one of those spinning tops you played with as a kid - you just don't know if he's going to hold his position or shoot right out off the table!  Still debating, I'll look at him in the post parade and make a decision then.

Here's the lineup:

1.  Whiskey Tax
2.  Take Heart
3.  Vc Chocoholic
4.  Big Sky Storm
5.  Whit
6.  Guiltywithanexcuse
7.  Winuendo
8.  Celebrity Bombay
9.  Charlie De Vie
10.  Manofmanymissions

Race 6 will show us Big Jim once again, and he too may have his hooves full - with the likes of Shadyshark Hanover, Rock'em and Rockstar Temper!  Oh hell, they're ALL good horses in this line-up!  Let's just say it'll be an exciting race!

Here's the lineup:

1.  Rockstar Temper
2.  High Noon
3.  Roll'em Up
4.  Lizard King
5.  Best Man Hanover
6.  Big Jim
7.  Rock'em
8.  Shadyshark Hanover
9.  Lookinforadventure

Notes & Totes

*  Heads To Roll - Nope, not a Rocknroll Hanover progeny, but the title of the article concerning the "swabbing scandal" in New South Wales!

*  A casino battle is brewing in Ontario - Slot Revenue Debate

*  Secretsothernephew stopped the clock in 1:49.4 at the Little M (Mohawk) last night, as he chewed up the track in fast fractions:  12.4 - 26.2 - 54 - 1:22.3 - 1:36, coming his last 1/4 in 27.1.



Stay safe, keep your hooves on the ground, and keep reaching for the wire!

Vacation-Studying-Horse Racing

Last week I took a "vacation" from the computer, which is why I haven't updated this blog.  Outside of owning and operating an off-the-track standardbred rescue and rehabilitation facility, I also do residential bank appraisals, as well as real estate (which is my primary work).  In order to become an "accredited" appraiser with the Appraisal Institute of Canada, one has to take quite a few courses, and my latest course has me up to my elbows in projects.  Now for anyone who cares, the course I am currently taking is called "Foundations of Real Property Assessment and Mass Appraisal".  I realize the title just screams boredom, but in order to become a Certified Residential Appraiser, it must be done.  I am literally within inches of getting this degree, so to back out now would be a big mistake.  To be honest, I'd rather be studying the anatomy and physiology of horses, which is what I originally wanted to do when I was fresh out of highschool.....I wanted to become a large animal vet. *sigh*  Hmm, maybe I can "appraise" horses for their current market value?  Dare to dream. 

With that being said, I missed quite a bit of horse racing action this weekend, but I did catch my two favorite gal pals, Monkey On My Wheel and Village Janus, battle it out at Rideau Carlton.  MOMW held off the five-horse field to win it, which had me over-joyed because I had been following this "cutie patootie" for quite some time now.  She's really coming into her own now!

The only other race I caught was Crys Dream's race in the Hambo Oaks Elim. at the Meadowlands.  At first, I thought she was entered in error because last time I checked she tested positive and was on a 90 day suspension.  But apparently her suspension with the ORC doesn't travel south of the border.  This does not make sense to me.  If a horse tests positive and is suspended for a certain period of time, why does this cease to exist in other racing jurisdictions?  We obviously need a centralized governing body in harness racing.  Nothing against the horse, but what do we have rules for if all you have to do is shuttle elsewhere to race?  Anyways, she won, and it wasn't an impressive win either.

I definitely will be watching both the Hambo Oaks and the Hambletonian this weekend, and the programs look quite exciting.  Would like to see Manofmanymissions show up and take the win.

Well, back to studying......*snore fest*


Stay safe, keep your hooves on the ground, and keep reaching for the wire!   
  

And They're Off!

In a nutshell, here are my picks for Saturday night:

Meadowlands

Race 1 -  Myluvmylife; Rocklamation; Mystical Diva
Race 2 -  Rock 'em; Line Officer; Big Jim

Mohawk

Race 1 -  Bunny In The Bank; Pancleefanddarpels; Sweet Hedge
Race 2 -  Peach Martini; Eagle Canada; China Pearls
Race 4 -  Monkey On My Wheel; Village Janus; Look Cheap; Camille
Race 5 -  Anndrovette; Dreamfair Eternal; Western Silk
Race 7 -  Lucky Jim; Arch Madness; Define The World
Race 9 -  Mach Of Ballykeel; Twin B Legend; Dreamfair Kovu
Race 10 -  Tamarind; Mr. Joe Sixpack; Daylon Magician
Race 11 -  Major Hottie; Atochia; Keystone Horatio

Notes:

*  According to his sources, Arch Madness has recovered completely from last years broken splint bone.

*  Could do without the rail post for Big Jim; The 4, 5, or 6 post would have been better I think.

*  Lucky Jim likes the outside posts, which puts him in a nice spot for the ML Trot (Just hope the 10 hole isn't TOO far out!)

Good Luck To All!!


Stay safe, keep your hooves on the ground, and keep reaching for the wire!  

From Foal To Goal

Last week, my friend Pull The Pocket blogged about the importance of longevity in racehorses, and it began to make me think about incorporating different methods of training into their programs.  In my neck of the woods, where horses are stabled at the racetrack, most trainers take their horses out for about an hour, jog one way, then the other, put the horse back in the stall, then head off to the local Tim Hortons for some chat.  To me, this doesn't seem too productive.  A racehorse that stands in the stall for 23 hours a day, receiving no time outside, equates to a losing commodity.  And if we're going to be spending copious amounts of cash with regards to their upkeep and maintenance, should we not be investing copious amounts of time in their programs? 

Now me, I was raised as a riding gal, mostly English Equitation with a bit of Western Pleasure thrown into the mix, and let me tell you, I get quite a bit of heat from the standardbred guys when I mention the word, "longeing" (lungeing).  Usually the eyebrows go up, a snicker or two comes out of their mouths, which is then followed by the comment, "Riding horses and race horses are different!"  Yes, that may be true, but their conditioning, especially when they're a youngster, is absolutely identical.

The benefits of, and uses for longeing are so varied that it should be a part of the training and exercise program of all horses.

Tell me something all you racehorse trainers out there: What are the first injuries that normally occur when racing?  If you answered splints and bows (stifles are up there as well), you win a prize.  What's the prize?  Education.  Keep reading.

The benefits of longeing are two-fold:

1.  Develops obedience to voice commands and body language.

2.  Establishes the foundation for ground driving.

3.  Is a progressive step in the horse's education.  Makes the transition from in-hand work to training work logical and systematic.

4.  Develops added confidence and familiarity between horse and trainer; sets the stage for upcoming learning.
 
5.  Introduces movement principles - balance, rhythm, vertical and lateral flexion, gait extension and collection without interference from a driver.

6.  Is helpful for correcting bad habits such as impure gaits, head tossing, or spooking.

7.  Allows the horse to develop physically - left/right balance, suppleness, strength of back and loin, tendon and ligament durability without the weight of the driver/sulky.

8.  Promotes the cardiovascular system.

Twenty minutes a day is all it would take to add this short, but beneficial exercise into your program.

To learn more about longeing, you can read this article.

The next exercise that I got laughed out of the county for...was trotting poles!  Hmm, you own a trotter and yet you don't think TROTTING poles would be a smart addition to your program?  Now don't get me wrong, trotting poles are just as beneficial to pacers as well!

The advantage of trotting poles, like longeing, is it increases balance, rhythm, and stability.  It also allows the horse to extend his front end and really work the shoulder muscles, while at the same time, work the stifles and hips.  Now of course, if your horse is just starting out, you can walk him over these poles, and what I find is that first time over, the horse is a little scared, but after a few times, the fear is gone.  Now I realize that standardbred trainers use shadow rolls to keep the horse focused on whats in front of them rather than whats on the ground (shadows), but this exercise will teach the horse that even though there are SCARY SHADOWS on the ground, they will not hurt them, and the horse will eventually pay no mind to them on the race track.  Trotting poles will also teach your horse to develop an ability to adjust their stride.

To do this exercise:  Find four 4-6 rails and set them apart at a distance of 1.4 metres between the rails and you will be pretty close to an "average" horse's trot stride.  Walk him over them first using a lead line and get him acquainted with them.  If he sees you going over them, he'll know they won't jump up and bite him!  Most importantly stay safe and have fun!

Odd objects you can find around the farm (that have no sharp edges) is another way of "toughening" up your horse.  Blue tarps, garbage bags, flower pots (with some really colorful flowers in them), barrels, or anything that they may "snort" at, are things to desensitize them.  Position these items at varying spots in a sand ring or some type of an enclosure, then lead them around, getting not too close at first, but use a "gradual" introduction approach.  They may get a little freaked out, but keep in mind that YOU are the herd leader, and if you're calm, they too will soon relax.  If your horse pulls back away from you, let him.  There's no sense in getting into a tug-o-war with him, because let's face it, you'll lose.  Just calmly follow your horse, do a small circle with him, and re-introduce him to the object.  Eventually, he will be satisfied that NONE of these objects are going to attack him.  Remember, horses are prey animals and they have inherited a "Fight or Flight" reflex.  You'll know when your horse feels safe around the object when he eventually starts blinking again and tends to look off into the distance, as if to say, "Ok, this is boring, what else have you got for me?"  A horse that is blinking, is thinking.  A nice scratch on the withers is a great reward.  Try and refrain from patting his face or neck because in the wild, scratching the withers is how they show "affection".

A Blue Tarp Can Teach A Horse To Not Be Afraid

Other training techniques that can be used are:

1.  Backing - This is pretty self explanatory.  You just ask the horse to "back up", in a straight line, for about 20 feet.  Walk the horse forward and repeat.  This is a great way to work the stifles and the haunches!

2.  Circles - Asking your horse to do tight circles with you promotes flexion and suppleness in the back and loins.  Going both right and left works the neck muscles too.  Remember, when your feet are moving, his should be moving, and vice versa; when your feet are not moving, neither should his.  Always keep 2 feet of distance between you and your horse; You don't want him on top of you when he's walking, and you don't want him pulling away either.

3.  Grooming -  Now you may say, "How is this a training technique?"  Well, not only does it give you an opportunity to thoroughly inspect your horse for cuts, bumps, bruises, etc., it increases their blood circulation.  It promotes bonding and respect, and what horse doesn't LOVE the attention...who wouldn't like to be pampered?

4.  Turn-Out - For those of you stabled at a racetrack, go invest in a round pen or rent one.  Just a few hours a day of outdoor time works wonders.  It gives them a chance to stretch their legs and allows them to unwind emotionally!

For now, I strongly suggest even implementing ONE of the above mentioned techniques into your training program.  I'm not saying that you have to do all of these every single day, but incorporating something different will keep your horse from becoming bored with the same old routine.  Plus, you are working muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints that could easily prevent you a visit from your vet!  And let's not forget that emotionally, your horse will be a lot happier...and a happy horse is a winning horse!

Notes

I'd like to give a shout out to Eldorado Max, who just last Thursday, raced at Hiawatha Horse Park and finished 3rd.  He's 14 years old and this will be his last year racing!  The "old warrior" never fails to impress and just keeps on truckin'.  He's owned and trained by Danterra Racing Stable in Strathroy, Ontario.  GOOD LUCK MAX in your retirement at the end of this year!

Stay safe, keep your hooves on the ground, and keep reaching for the wire! 









Roll With It Baby!!

I'm not going to start with the Meadowlands Pace (Roll With Joe won it), but begin with a few other races that caught my eye during the night.

Takterrific!!  Who the hell said the 7 hole was taboo, because See You At Peelers cleaned their clocks in the Tarport Hap on the Meadowlands Pace undercard.  And what the hell was Krispy Apple doing trying to over-take SYAP on the backstretch, then going WAY wide on the turn for home?  I think a lot of the entrants were trying to out-race the filly phenom, but were left scratching their heads.  And what the hell happened to Pretty Katherine?  She was pulled up off the gate.  Would it be impossible for the commentators to give us an update?  Just tell us if she's ok or not damnit!  Idyllic was the only real threat to SYAP and after she was given the whip on the stretch for home, she basically said, "eff you", and broke stride, however she still retained her second place finish.

Brian Sears said that SYAP felt like she was going to break stride on the turn for home, but he caught it, and checked her back into her momentum.  She may be looking for a much needed rest after this race, and hopefully her connections won't run her into the ground and she ends up becoming lame.  So, the filly phenom wins in 1:51:0 and keeps her winning streak going - 20 and 0.  To compare her to the thoroughbred, Zenyatta, would be like comparing apples to oranges, however, both are great for their perspective industries.

Race 6:  Speaking of Takter, he also had Pastor Stephen entered in the Stanley Dancer Memorial Elimination for 3-yr-old trotting colts, and while he wasn't as successful as his stablemate, See You At Peelers, the race was still exciting.  Pastor Stephen trotted to the top in 27:1, but the 5 horse, Dejarmbro, took over in 56:1, and then the race belonged to Manyofmanymissions, who eventually won it in 1:52:1.  The son of Yankee Glide is definitely on his way to the Hambletonian as he cleared the wire just 1/5th of a second off the Stanley Dancer track record.  Trainer Erv Miller commented, "The horse has been a puzzle", "He had an abscess in his foot and we re-shod him."  Andy Miller had the drive and will be looking forward to the Hambletonian.

Race 7:  I Fought Dalaw wins the NJ Sire Stakes Championship, with Dave Miller on the lines.  Trainer Sam De Pinto had only good words for the Western Ideal colt, saying, "He don't give up", and when asked about how he came across the 2-yr-old?  "I liked the way he moved in the field and took a shot at him."

Race 8:  With Yannick Gingras at the lines, the Astreos sired, Mr Massimo never looked back as he crossed the wire in 1:50:2.

Race 9:  Here we go!  So here were my picks:  Wink N Atcha, Big Jim, Foreclosure N.  Who wins?  Or should I say, "Who screws up my trifecta?"  ROLL WITH JOE!!   But first, I would like to say that this is the first time I have seen a small video clip of HOW the entrants got to the Meadowlands Pace.  It was a quick montage of some of the elimination races, however, I would have liked to have seen the entrants a little more in-depth.  Maybe them frolicking at the farm, or explain their pedigrees, or talk about the trials and tribulations of racing.  But, who cares, it was better than nothing.  I learned quite a few things before the race, which explains alot about the outcome:

*  Betterthancheddar scoped mucous because of allergies, that, and the fact that he had a shoe change.  Yikes!

*  Custard The Dragon touches his knees and that's why his connections picked the 3 hole...Ummm...something to keep in mind when betting him in future races??
 
*  Foreclosure N was born on January 1, which makes him the oldest colt in the field!  I think he's coming into a win soon and should have a nice 4-yr-old campaign! 

But, as much as Big Jim tried his hardest to win, having 5 lengths to make up on the outside turn for home, it was Roll With Joe, a $100,000 purchase at the Lexington Sale, that stole the show.  The fractions were:

26:1 - 53:0 - 1:21:0 - 1:48:2

That had to have been the hardest race Big Jim has run and with a bit more real estate, Jim would have nipped Joe!

Joe's driver, Ron Pierce, is no stranger to the winner's circle in the Meadowlands Pace, where he guided Well Said in 2009 and Art Official in 2008.  He has also won million dollar races in the last 6 straight years. KA-CHING!  After the race, Pierce commented on the Cams Card Shark progeny; "He's better than anyone thought he was."  And when asked about his race strategy, the Hall of Famer easily quipped, "I thought I had enough horse to hold him [Jim] off!"

Trainer Ed Hart was over-the-top with joy as he stood shaking in the winner's circle; "He had an excellent week in training."  "Pierce had real confidence in him."  Hmmm, wonder what's next for Joe??

On to other news:  The Meadowlands Pace consol didn't surprise me too much as Up The Credit, with Brian Sears on the lines, "pulled a rabbit out of his hat" and drove hard on the outside to steal the win away from High Noon and Ron Pierce in 1:50:1.  When it comes down to it, I don't think Up The Credit would have done much in the Meadowlands Pace, and maybe the consolation was a better fit for the Western Terror colt.

Other horses "kicking their heels in delight" with big wins:

Monkey On My Wheel; Camille; Chapter Seven; Pirouette Hanover; Vic Smith; Upside Hanover; Twin B Legend; Mach Of Ballykeel; Lucky Jim.

The Sophomore Pacing Filly Final will go down on July 23, 2011 at Mohawk;  Here is the line-up:  

1.  Camille
2.  Monkey On My Wheel
3.  Patsys Luck
4.  Village Janus
5.  Imagine Semalu
6.  Modern Connection
7.  Machs Delicacy
8.  Look Cheap
9.  Epoxy Queen
10.  Brush With Royalty
AE  Lucky Taryn

The Sophomore Pacing Colt Final also set to go down on July 23, 2011 at Mohawk, features:

1.  Twin B Legend
2.  Prodigal Seelster
3.  Mach Of Ballykeel
4.  Calgary Seelster
5.  Drain Daddy
6.  Cam B Zipper
7.  Dreamfair Kovu
8.  Thats The Life
9.  Camaes Fellow
10.  Mystician
AE  Eastend Eddy

Stay tuned for more exciting harness racing action!!


Stay safe, keep your hooves on the ground, and keep reaching for the wire!

It's The 2011 Meadowlands Pace!!

This should be one of the most exciting nights of racing this summer, as the field is set for the 2011 Meadowlands Pace!  Not only is Big Jim the favorite, but he has his own CHEERING SECTION too!!

Take a look at the entire field here

With powerful punches going to come from Roll With Joe and Custard The Dragon, Big Jim will definitely have his work cut out for him!  However, nabbing the 2 hole should help, and coming off a win, the Western Ideal phenom is looking for a TKO!!!

Westwardho Hanover

More Info

Big Jim

More Info

Custard The Dragon

More Info

Feel Like A Fool

More Info

Wink N Atcha

More Info






Powerful Mist

More Info

Betterthancheddar

More Info

Roll With Joe

More Info






Bestofbest Hanover

More Info

Foreclosure N

More Info







My picks:

Win:  Wink N Atcha
Place:  Big Jim
Show:  Foreclosure N

I know, I know, probably not even close to what the betting public will choose, but I think they're all great athletes and it's really difficult to pick!!

Good Luck To All!!!


Stay safe, keep your hooves on the ground, and keep reaching for the wire!

See You At Peelers Going To The Meadowlands!!

See You At Peelers will make her only stop at the Meadowlands this season on Saturday, July 16.

Harness racing's undefeated princess of pacing bids for her 20th straight win in the $127,000 Tarport Hap. She will start from post seven in the evening's fifth race with Brian Sears at the lines. Her only other appearance at the Meadowlands was in her first career start, a conditioned raced for two-year-old fillies on July 10, 2010. See You At Peelers, trained by Jimmy Takter and owned by his wife, Christina, and John and Jim Fielding, is not eligible to the Mistletoe Shalee on August 6.

The three-year-old filly is within reach of two notable winning streaks, those of Sanabelle Island, who won 23 straight races from 1996-1997, and Handle With Care, who won 24 from 1973-1974. Sanabelle Island first tasted defeat at the Meadowlands courtesy of Stienams Place in the 1997 Mistletoe Shalee. Handle With Care's streak ended to a filly named Joanns Time in 1974, pre-dating the 1976 opening of the Meadowlands.

The Tarport Hap stakes record is 1:49.2, set by Happy Dreamer in 2008. All three sophomore fillies who went on to become Horse Of The Year won the Tarport Hap along the way: Fan Hanover (1981), Bunny Lake (2001) and Rainbow Blue (2004).

Trainer Jimmy Takter won the Tarport Hap with Cabrini Hanover in 2005.

Story by Standardbred Canada


Stay safe, keep your hooves on the ground, and keep reaching for the wire!