Guest Post: The Road Through the Kentucky Derby

by Mark Cramer

   The last time that a Kentucky Derby winner was able to come back and win the Breeders’ Cup Classic was in 1990 with Unbridled. The year before, Sunday Silence accomplished the same feat.
The subsequent two-decade absence of Kentucky Derby valedictorians in the BC Classic winners’ circle is not simply a question of age. In France, where 3-year-olds regularly win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, it is very rare that a French Derby winner goes on to win the Arc. Since the year 2000, only one French Derby winner has come back to triumph in the Arc, and that was Dalakhani in 2003.
   Three-year-old BC Classic winners fit in two categories. The first group includes those that bypassed the Kentucky Derby. A.P. Indy was scratched in 1992, while handlers of Concern (1994) and Tiznow (2000) chose not to run in the Derby. The 2008 BC Classic winner, Raven’s Pass, skipped his own 3-year-old derby, the Epsom Derby.
   The second group of 3-year-old BC Classic winners is comprised of horses that were not fully matured for the Kentucky Derby but ran and finished in the money: Cat Thief (1999) and Curlin (2007), both finishing third in the Derby.
   Looking through and past the Kentucky Derby, horses that ran in the Derby but did not win seem to have eclipsed Derby winners as stallions. I admit having difficulty singling out any one of the dazzling array of sire stats, so excuse me if my own reading is slanted. I am considering horses that have run in the Kentucky Derby since the year 2000, or horses that bypassed the Derby as 3-year-olds within the same period.
   The three leading sires among Kentucky Derby winners since 2000 are Street Sense, Smarty Jones and Fusaichi Pegasus. But ahead of them in many of the sire stats that I checked, including the TDN Year-to-Date Earnings General Sire List, are horses that, in retrospect, used the Derby as a prep for their ultimate stallion career. They include:

Tapit (9th 2004 Derby)
Lion Heart (2nd 2004 Derby)
Harlan’s Holiday (7th 2002 Derby)
More Than Ready (4th 2000 Derby)
Hard Spun (2nd 2007 Derby)
Any Given Saturday (8th 2007 Derby) 
Afleet Alex (3rd 2005 Derby)

   To this leading-sire list we can throw in horses whose handlers bypassed the Derby for whatever reasons: Tiznow, Macho Uno and Bernardini.
   I may end with egg on my face over this argument. Street Sense might rally and pass the others, but he has been sent to Japan to stand the 2013 season. I am told that War Emblem, also in Japan, is being bred selectively, so he has no chance to accumulate the earnings of his stallion counterparts.
   But my point is that the Kentucky Derby appears to function like a prep race for later Grade I glory and/or leading sire rankings.
   By all means, point out the flaws in my argument, but at this moment, if they had futures betting for leading stallions, I would play horses that failed to win the Derby over those that won it.
   If my hypothesis proves right, does this take away from TDN’s entertaining Road to the Derby Showdown with Steve Sherack and Brian DiDonato? On the contrary, when the dust settles on the 2013 Kentucky Derby, we will no longer suffer from PDDL--“Post-Dramatic Derby Letdown”--the analysis we have been following will continue to resonate, and the Road To will roll on towards another horizon.         

Guest Post: Racing's Growing Social Media Presence

by Carly Silver

When 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra fell ill recently after foaling a Bernardini filly, fans were stricken with worry over her condition. But how could they express their emotions to the horse’s connections and other racing enthusiasts? Through social media, of course.

Rachel’s unofficial Facebook page encouraged fans to post pictures of, and messages of hope to, the Medaglia d’Oro mare. Her owners, Stonestreet Farm, also regularly updated the public on Rachel’s well-being via its website and Facebook and Twitter accounts. When Rachel began to recover, fans commented and Tweeted up a storm in excitement.

Rachel Alexandra has over 12,000 friends on Facebook.

If the industry is going to keep young people interested in horse racing, it has to speak “their language”--social media. For an increasingly Internet-savvy audience, farms and stables have been feeding their fans’ hunger for news about their favorite horses and tracks; they also are seeking out new enthusiasts. Witness The Jockey Club’s presence at upcoming music festival SXSW, the JC’s fan-friendly America’s Best Racing site, and NYRA’s fabulous new website.
Certain figures have embraced that wholeheartedly and opened new avenues for fans to stay in touch with their favorite Derby contenders, trainers, racehorses, and jockeys.

The connections of 2012 champion two-year-old colt Shanghai Bobby have kept fans abreast of the horse’s progress on the Triple Crown trail via Twitter. Written from Bobby’s “perspective,” the account posts pics of Bobby in his stall and his breezing schedule and workout times. The colt also cheers on other contenders, like Overanalyze and Vyjack, by congratulating them on their latest wins.

Leading trainer Bob Baffert--whose Twitter handle is MidnightLute, derived from the 2007 champion sprinter he trained--also provides tantalizing tidbits for fans. On March 5, he Tweeted, “Paynter working in 5 min,” referring to the fan favorite and 2012 Haskell Invitational Handicap
winner whose road to recovery from laminitis and colitis has been miraculous. In doing so, Baffert satisfies the curiosity of those rooting for the colt to make it back to the track. He also hints at future racehorses that might inhabit his stable by posting a picture of an Eskendereya filly he owns.

Check out the latest updates on 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta on the Facebook page
of the aforementioned America’s Best Racing. There, readers can also enter their snapshots in monthly fan photo contests, catch up with old heroes like Silver Charm, and send happy birthday messages to jockeys. ABR also boasts a stellar Pinterest page.

Farms, like Kentucky nursery Lane’s End, also keep up on the social media front. On Facebook, Lane’s End posts charming photos of stallions’ progeny, like a Twirling Candy foal with his dam. If
breeders inspecting this page like what they see, why, they can just go breed to Lane’s End stallions like Twirling Candy. Lane’s End also updates fans on major winners by their fam stallions, another incentive for social media-breeders who are looking for stallions to breed their mares to in 2014.

On Twitter, Adena Springs Farm updates fans on their favorite stallions’ progeny. For example, a recent post notified followers that 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper has five horses running in stakes races on Saturday, March 9.

WinStar Farms runs the Stablemates program, which boasts its own Facebook-esque social network. There, fans can join groups to post news and opinions about farm stallions, the 2013 Kentucky Derby, and more. Over in the Stallion Barn, check out Stallion Barn cams--if you have a
paid account--or ask the horses’ grooms questions. In the Foaling Barn, see the latest WinStar babies--and future track superstars.

These small efforts go a long way in involving fans by using the very tools that they know best.
Enthusiasts can comment and favorite photos of up-and-coming horses, keep an eye on Triple Crown contenders, and find out a jockey’s latest favorite mount. Here’s to you, racing game, for keeping it modern.

Guest Post: Dying, but Still Alive in the Double

by Mark Cramer

   Philosopher Daniel Klein paraphrases Aristotle in his book, Travels with Epicurus: "As Aristotle mercilessly noted, there is absolutely nothing to look forward to in old, old age."
   Back to the 1980s--I taught a class at Los Angeles City College called "Probability Theory as Applied to Horse Race Handicapping." Many of my students knew more than I did, so this course became a dialogue centered around past performances. My only distinction was having been able to convince the administration to schedule a non-credit class of this irreverence.
   Students would often register for the class semester after semester. One of those regulars was named Jim. At one point he began to not show up and eventually I learned that he had a terminal form of cancer. The students took turns visiting him, discussing the card and taking out his bets to Santa Anita or Hollywood Park (there were no outlets for phone or on-line betting at the time).
   I once asked Jim if this was all too much for him. Perhaps we were being too intrusive and we should let him rest.
   "On the contrary," he said, "this gives me something to look forward to each day!"
   It wasn't the action itself that kept him going in those terrible days, but rather, being able to read the past performances, and then make intelligent projections on uncertain events. Even when immobile, this gave him a chance to remain active.
   Since then I've known a few other guys who played the horses until their death. Other forms of entertainment had lost meaning to them. Seeing a movie, for example, made no sense because the ending of a film is already determined. But with a horse race, the ending is undetermined and we, the players, can get involved in predicting what will happen. This is not passively entertainment. We're actively involved.
   A couple of years ago, I "worked" with a betting partner in Oklahoma. We researched handicapping methodologies and searched for the elusive automatic bet. I had designed a computer methodology that involved art as much as science, but it had bugs. Ken helped work out the bugs, dialoguing with the software specialist, and urging for changes here and there, based on his at-the-track tests. Together, long-distance, we played the method. 
   Ken was then hit by a particularly virulent form of cancer. During the period of his illness, I would ask him to be honest with me and let me know if this was too much effort for him to continue.
   "Are you kidding?" he said. "This is what gives me energy to hang on."
   On days when it got too painful, Ken's loving wife drove to Remington to put in his bets. The uncertainty of each racing day was an antidote for the certainty of his nearing death. I suppose we could call this "therapeutic uncertainty."
   Before he died, he sent me some spreadsheets of our bets, showing that we had profits in both our win plays and the exactas. We were not winning enough to brag about it, but hell, these were automatic wagers, which, according to the experts, must inevitably fail. Ken and I were both thrilled with our defiance. 
   Ken soon passed away. I have not been able to go back to that method. We had worked so intensely on it that no other partner could take his place. 
   You might ask whether this horse play is all good for the family of the terminally ill person. I can only say that when a life-ending illness eventually descends upon me, my wife, children and friends will find me much less grumpy if I can still have a chance every day to feel alive with anticipation.    
   I used to visit Canterbury Park each summer and I got to know Dave the Bartender, who gleefully shared the intellectual stimulation he derived from the day's or evening's race card. Dave was a true student of the game. When he came down with terminal cancer, it did not stop him from handicapping the races. 
   I wrote an obituary for Dave and his daughter sent me a thank you note:
   "You wrote about his optimism, his love of being at the track, and his respect for the game as a whole. You couldn't have been more right. I wanted to let you know that his respect for the game included his respect for the players"
   Later she added, "We are planning to have a portion of my dad's ashes spread on the finish line at Canterbury. Can you think of anything more perfect?"
   From these experiences I reckon that "being alive in the double" might be more than a simple metaphor.

GUEST BLOG: LAST CHANCE AT SANTA ANITA

by Mark Cramer

Having failed to sire a horse race handicapper after having produced four "runners", I see my last chance with my grandson, Zane. So around his fourth birthday, I took him to Santa Anita, the beginning of a last attempt to pass on the flame.

The M section of the grandstand, where I used to hang out on most racing days two decades ago was now nearly empty, even though this was a Sunday of a holiday weekend with perfect weather in the low 70s. In the past, we needed to leave a newspaper to hold a seat. Not necessary any more: you can come and go as you wish and you’ll always have some space waiting for you.

Zane and Mark in their seats in section M

 

I went up to the press box and asked DRF handicapper Brad Free if he had sired any handicappers. His three offspring are all running successfully, but in different endeavors, far from the track. I asked a few other guys up there, and none of them had sired a handicapper. Brad Free was well-positioned to encourage his kids, having won a $40,000-plus pick six and having used a chunk of the winnings for a family vacation. Today, children don’t know that french fries come from a farm, that iPad games come from a vast and complex infrastructure, and that an exciting vacation sometimes comes from a score at the track. (I'm sure Brad made sure his kids knew.)  

I decided to take Zane to every corner of Santa Anita, to immerse him in the culture. After all, in so many families, livelihoods are passed on from one generation to another. You can see this with the Romneys, the Kennedys, the Gores, and the Bushes. 

I took him to the paddock. “Why can’t I ride the horse?” he asked. Good question. Perhaps racetracks could use pony rides to attract the kids.  

Mark and Zane meet Summers Dignity.

I took him to the stables. He was able to meet Robby Peterson, former jockey, who has worked for 54 years on the backside of Santa Anita. Zane met one of the Thoroughbreds under Robby’s care, in Scott Craigmyle’s barn, a two-year-old named Summers Dignity. Zane had a chance to witness a partnership between human and horse, between an elder and a youngster, and his eyes lit up when he petted the horse.

Immediately following a race, I took him to see the losing horses being walked back to the stable. More grooms, mostly Mexicans, worked with horses with dust caked on their faces after a stint of work.

Mark and Zane watch the losing horses walking back to the barns.

There was not much time to read the Racing Form, but I did teach Zane the meaning of “finish line” (not an easy concept), and then had a winner at 3-1 and took him to collect, sharing a piece of the profits, which some child psychologists might consider bribery.

In fact, it wasn’t a bad crowd out there, but there was lots of space and no lines to make a bet. Where were all the racing fans?

Here’s what I think. Among the many reasons for the decline in on-track ambiance is a shift in culture, a change from being reflective to hyperactivity. Once upon a time, we had nine races and no simulcasting, and a half hour between races. In the M section, that half hour seemed to move by a little too quickly, but it was still uncluttered time, something we don’t seem to have or want these days. The race track was a place to hang out, but today, hanging out makes folks nervous, makes them feel unproductive. In fact, squeezing too many activities into one’s life may actually dilute the pleasure that comes from savoring the few things we truly cherish. But who has time to think about that?

So as soon as Zane is old enough to really understand what a horse race is all about, and how reflecting on past performances is a creative process, I intend to take him back to Santa Anita, letting him think inventively during the half hour between races. This may not inspire him to adopt racing as an avocation, but it might be good for his development, including learning the great rewards of idle thought.

According to Dr. Michael Ungar, “Children who experience a lack of programmed activity are given an opportunity to demonstrate creativity, problem solving, and to develop motivational skills that may help them later in life. Are we really doing our children a service by removing quiet, unstructured time from their lives?” (“Let Kids be Bored {Occasionally},” Psychology Today, June 24, 2012)

Today’s conditioned need for instant gratification is better served by on-line wagering than relaxing at the track and watching the San Gabriel Mountains frame the backstretch as the horses load into the starting gate. Just as our children are disconnected from the sources of their fried potatoes and iPad distraction, horseplayers are increasingly removed from the horses they bet on and the thoughtful patience that got those horses into the race.

I imagine it’s not our fault. We have been duped into believing that a whole afternoon of glorious idleness is immoral. 

Retired Racehorse Training Project's 100 Day Thoroughbred Challenge: Finale in Photos

On December 1, 2012, four horses (including one former Eclipse Champion) representing four Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred farms embarked on the Retired Racehorse Training Project’s (RRTP) 100 Day Thoroughbred Challenge at Dodon Farm Training Center in Davidsonville, MD. Fans had the opportunity to see the horses in person at the Maryland Horse World Expo in January and also at the Pennsylvania Horse World Expo in February. At the end of their 100-day training period, the horses were judged on conformation, movement, jumping ability, and trainability by guest riders, judges, and online fans. As the Thoroughbred Challenge unfolded, Sarah Andrew chronicled the horses’ progress. Please enjoy part 9 of this series. 

The wait is over, and so is the Pennsylvania Horse World Expo. Hooves were polished, manes were braided, and tack was cleaned. Fans cast their votes, and judges tallied their scores. A standing-room-only crowd of about 2,500 cheered them on. Here are the results of the 100 Day Thoroughbred Challenge:

Best suited for dressage: Declan's Moon
Best suited for foxhunter and trail: Suave Jazz
Best suited for show hunter: Gunport
Best suited for show jumper: Alluring Punch
Best suited for eventer: Alluring Punch
The horse you'd most like to own: Alluring Punch

In an attempt to cover some of the excitement of the weekend, here is a photo gallery of he horses and some of the humans who played a part in the success of the weekend in Harrisburg:

I'll let you in on a secret... my vote for horse I'd like to own went to Suave Jazz. I voted for him because he seems like the kind of horse you can take anywhere and would be game for any adventure, from a horse show to a trail ride to sorting cattle. 

Suave Jazz showed intelligence, trainability, and nerves of steel all weekend long. He negotiated the "hockey rink" Large Arena and noisy Equine Arena, navigated the maze of corridors and stalls behind the scenes, handled the large crowd on Saturday, and also played the role of lead pony in all the sessions. 

More than once, I heard riders say, "Where's Suave Jazz?" and "Bring him over to Suave Jazz," and "Suave Jazz will help them settle." Gunport, Alluring Punch, and Declan's Moon all settled in the company of their cool, calm, collected friend, Suave Jazz. But when it was time to perform, he was all heart, nimbly cantering through grids and showing off his lovely flatwork. Rider Katie Klenk handled her role as leader with style, and they were always the first to enter an arena, jump a line, or meet a new challenge.

Knees up, neck arched, pretty little Gunport overcame her jitters and settled into her routine on Friday during a jumping session hosted by Steuart Pittman. Michelle Warro handled the mare with surgical precision and her instincts were perfect; she knew just when to encourage her to go forward and when to let her relax. Most importantly, Warro kept the mare moving and helped her focus on tasks, from flatwork to jumping.

On Saturday, Gunport was more nervous than she was in her Friday session. None of the horses had seen the Equine Arena before then, and they did their first-ever warmups in that ring in front of 2,500 people. Before she had a rider in the saddle, Gunport jigged and sweated. Her pal Suave Jazz and her excellent rider helped her to focus. The tempo of her gaits slowed as she settled, she remembered all her stretching exercises, and reached for the bit. By the end of the session, she was still hot and keyed up, but she was focused and forward. She attacked every jump with enthusiasm and style. And that canter of hers! It's lovely... round, light, and rhythmic.

Gunport got my vote for her suitability as an eventer. With a trainer like Warro, she will learn how to handle her jitters and slow down her feet, and I really like how she jumps. She is a generous horse, and her catlike agility could easily get her out of a tight spot to a fence.

Like Gunport, Declan's Moon was visibly rattled by Saturday's atmosphere. In their former careers on the track, Gunport and Alluring Punch never raced at tracks with huge crowds, but Suave Jazz and Declan's Moon both raced in front of thousands on their biggest days.

In his braids and white polo wraps, Declan's Moon looked every bit the part of a dressage horse. As he warmed up and listened to his rider, Steuart Pittman, he lost the nervous edge and began to show off a little of his spectacular gaits for the audience. Pittman also rode with calculated brilliance, and was able to engage the crowd with insightful training details while handling a powerful and opinionated horse at the same time.   

I should change Alluring Punch's TDN nickname from "The Kid" to "Mr. Popularity." He won three voting categories, and had an enthusiastic fan club and cheering section during Saturday's session. Each time I visited this year's RRTP class of horses, I ended up with a new favorite, and I saw Alluring Punch's appeal at the Maryland Horse World Expo, when he was unsure of what to do, but gamely listened to his rider and handlers. And watching how he handled his free jumping only made me like him more. 

I saw some uncertainty this weekend in Harrisburg, and "Punchy's" outstanding support team helped him figure things out. Chiantel Beaumont gave him confidence when she worked with him in the arenas and in the barn- his concern changed to curiosity and relaxation.

In Harrisburg, I saw a new focus in the way Alluring Punch worked. He was more sure of his abilities.  Under saddle, Steuart Pittman showed him how to use that lofty canter and powerful hind end to jump a line of fences. The tall chestnut has blossomed in just a few months, and the sky is the limit with him. 

On Saturday evening, I got to see Solidify, an RRTP graduate of last year's Trainer Challenge. I recognized his beautiful canter and jump, which has only improved with the quality training and riding he has received for the past year.  He and his talented rider have a bright future ahead of them.

Pictured below are Donnan Jones, Steuart Pittman, Nick Karazissis, and Bev Strauss. Thank you to all the judges, volunteers, fans, staff, trainers, and horses for making this year's challenge a huge success. If you'd like to support this effort and meet the horses, you can buy tickets for the graduation ceremony on March 9 in Maryland at Caves Farm. Click here for details: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4470469294#

- Sarah Andrew

Retired Racehorse Training Project's 100 Day Thoroughbred Challenge: In Case You Missed It...

On December 1, 2012, four horses (including one former Eclipse Champion) representing four Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred farms embarked on the Retired Racehorse Training Project’s (RRTP) 100 Day Thoroughbred Challenge at Dodon Farm Training Center in Davidsonville, MD. Fans had the opportunity to see the horses in person at the Maryland Horse World Expo in January and can also see them at the Pennsylvania Horse World Expo in February. At the end of their 100-day training period, the horses will be judged on conformation, movement, jumping ability, and trainability by guest riders, judges, and online fans. As the Thoroughbred Challenge unfolds, Sarah Andrew will chronicle the horses’ progress. Please enjoy part 8 of this series. 

In Friday's hour-long session with the Retired Racehorse Training Project's class of 2013 at the Pennsylvania Horse World Expo, spectators were treated to a mini jumping clinic and for some, their first glimpses of the horses. The RRTP horses all showed off everything they've learned during their stay at Dodon Farm, from lead changes to jumping little grids.

Gunport was her classic overachieving self, battling nerves in the beginning of the session, but eventually focusing on her job and gamely jumping all obstacles with tight knees and catlike agility. Michelle Warro expertly piloted Gunport, and kept the mare's feet moving until they settled into a rhythm.

Like Gunport, Alluring Punch began his session with a tight neck and a tense back as he eyeballed the intimidating arena and listened to the echoes of the microphone and audience. Once Steuart Pittman worked through some exercises on the flat and began taking little cross rails, the gelding recognized his routine, and rode through a little course and some gridwork with style. He still has a baby face and babyish mannerisms, but it actually looked like it was a help with his training- his expressions make it easier to read his body language. By the end of the session, after Pittman dismounted, "Punchy" stood quietly in hand, nuzzling people and taking in his surroundings with curiosity- it was a far cry from the horse he was when he entered the arena an hour earlier.

Suave Jazz lived up to his name, yet again, and was suave indeed. From the last time I saw him in January, his neck and hindquarters have rounded and become quite defined with all the careful, quality training that he has received at Dodon Farm. I also noticed more reach in his trot. During the demo, he did not put a foot wrong the entire time, and handled the arena, the jumps, and the work with Fonzie-like cool. Katie Klenk is a great fit for him, since she stays out of his way and encourages him to relax and loosen up.

Saturday is the big day. Judges will evaluate the horses and a large, enthusiastic crowd is expected. Please be sure to vote for the horses at the RRTP website, and I hope to see you at the Expo!

- Sarah Andrew

Retired Racehorse Training Project’s 100 Day Thoroughbred Challenge: Time to VOTE!

On December 1, 2012, four horses (including one former Eclipse Champion) representing four Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred farms embarked on the Retired Racehorse Training Project’s (RRTP) 100 Day Thoroughbred Challenge at Dodon Farm Training Center in Davidsonville, MD. Fans had the opportunity to see the horses in person at the Maryland Horse World Expo in January and can also see them at the Pennsylvania Horse World Expo the following month. At the end of their 100-day training period, the horses will be judged on conformation, movement, jumping ability, and trainability by guest riders, judges, and online fans. As the Thoroughbred Challenge unfolds, Sarah Andrew will chronicle the horses’ progress. Please enjoy part 7 of this series. 

The Pennsylvania Horse World Expo is underway. The RRTP horses shipped from their home base at Dodon Farm in Maryland and are now in Harrisburg, PA. On Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, you have opportunities to see the horses in person- you can view the schedule of events here: http://www.horseworldexpo.com/PAmain.shtml  

At the Expo, three judges will evaluate the horses and cast their votes for the horses with the most potential in a variety of disciplines. The judges are Nick Karazissis, Bev Strauss, and Donnan Jones. 

In addition to the judges' votes, the horses' scores will include public votes, which is where YOU come in... it's time to cast your vote. You can register and vote here: http://retiredracehorsetraining.org/

Before you do, please be sure to evaluate the videos for each of the horses. 

Declan's Moon:

The Pons Family at the Maryland Horse World Expo

Gunport

Suave Jazz

Alluring Punch

 

I'll see you in Harrisburg!

- Sarah Andrew