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Beat the Winter Bugs:
How to hold your own against colds and flu

by Michelle Meadows

The winter months present plenty of opportunities for viruses to spread. Chilly weather keeps more of us indoors at the same time, and the holiday season brings together family members of all ages. Colds and flu (influenza) can occur anytime, but appear mostly in the fall and winter.

For most people, viral respiratory illnesses are usually self-limited and last only a few days. But along with making millions of us feel lousy every year, colds and flu can cause serious problems and can even be deadly. Each year flu complications cause an average of 114,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Death rates are highest for people ages 65 and up and for those with medical conditions that put them at increased risk for flu complications. (Also see “Primary Target Groups for Flu Vaccination “.)

Here are tips to ward off colds and flu and to ease the misery if they strike:

Get the flu vaccine.

A vaccine against colds hasn’t been developed because colds can be caused by many types of viruses. But the flu vaccine remains the best way to prevent and control the flu.

Influenza viruses are classified as types A, B, or C. Type A and B viruses are the most serious because they are the ones most often responsible for cases of the flu and all of its complications. Type C viruses are mostly associated with cold symptoms.

Flu season in the United States runs from November to April. October to November is the usual vaccination time for most people. “But you can also get good results when the vaccine is used in December and January, even if influenza is already starting to spread through a community,” says Roland A. Levandowski, M.D., a medical officer and virologist in the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. We need a new flu shot every year because the predominant flu viruses change every year.

The protective effect of the vaccine starts working rapidly in people who have been previously infected with flu viruses or have received a flu shot in the past. Infection-fighting antibodies in the blood reach a peak about three weeks after these people get the shot. But for some, such as children younger than 9 who haven’t been previously vaccinated, two doses of the influenza vaccine about a month apart are recommended for the first vaccination. In older people and in those with chronic illnesses, the shot may not necessarily prevent the flu, but can reduce the symptoms and risk of complications if they do get sick.

The flu vaccine is made of killed virus and can’t cause the flu. The most common side effect is soreness at the injection site. The flu shot is not recommended for certain people, including those allergic to eggs. The viruses for flu vaccines are grown in eggs.

In June 2003, the FDA approved FluMist, the first nasally administered flu vaccine to be marketed in the United States. The needle-free vaccine is for healthy children and adolescents ages 5 to 17 and in healthy adults ages 18 to 49. The nasal spray is manufactured by MedImmune Vaccines Inc. of Gaithersburg, Md., and is marketed by MedImmune and Wyeth Vaccines of Philadelphia.

FluMist is also the first live virus influenza vaccine to be approved in the United States. The most common side effects are nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, and cough. As with other live virus vaccines, FluMist should not be given to people with suppressed immunity, such as people with AIDS or cancer. The vaccine also shouldn’t be given to pregnant women, people with a history of asthma or other reactive airway diseases, people age 50 and over, or to children under 5.

Wash your hands.

Both colds and flu can be passed through coughing, sneezing, and touching surfaces such as doorknobs and telephones. So it’s wise to make a habit of washing your hands and to teach children to do the same. This helps you prevent spreading respiratory infections and picking them up from someone else.

According to the American Society for Microbiology, a national survey found that Americans were most likely to say they wash their hands after changing a diaper and before handling food. Most, however, said they don’t wash their hands after coughing and sneezing.

The CDC recommends regular scrubbing of your hands with warm, soapy water for about 15 seconds. Touching your nose, mouth, and eyes with contaminated hands makes it easy for cold and flu viruses to enter the body. Others can become ill by just coming in contact with someone who has become infected with a cold or flu virus or who has come in contact with a contaminated area.

Limit exposure to infected people.

Sometimes people are infected with a virus and they don’t know it because they haven’t experienced symptoms yet. If possible, avoid people who you know have colds and flu. Keep infants away from crowds for the first few months of life. “This is especially important for premature babies who may have underlying abnormalities like lung disease and heart disease,” says Larry Pickering, M.D., a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a pediatrician in Atlanta.

If keeping your distance is too difficult–say in the case of parents who can’t help but hold and kiss their sick kids–then, in addition to washing your hands frequently, you can keep surfaces clean with a virus-killing disinfectant available at the grocery store. A solution of 1 part bleach mixed with 10 parts water also is effective in killing viruses.

Practice healthy habits.

Eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and exercising can help the immune system better fight off the germs that cause illness. Because smoking interferes with the mechanisms that keep bacteria and debris out of the lungs, those who use tobacco or who are exposed to secondhand smoke are more prone to respiratory illnesses and more severe complications than nonsmokers.

If you’ve been feeling run down, some stress management might not be a bad idea. David Skoner, M.D., chief of allergy and immunology at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, has studied the effects of chronic stress on susceptibility to cold and flu infections. “We’ve found that people who experience more stress are more likely to get sick and experience worse symptoms,” he says. Examples of chronic stress are personal crises such as going through a divorce or feeling stuck in a bad job.

“Research has also shown that the more social you are, the less likely you are to get sick,” Skoner says. It could be because having more social contacts and support is less stressful than keeping to yourself, he says.

If you do come down with a cold or flu, here’s advice on safe relief from symptoms:

Drink up and rest.

Fluids such as water, juice, soup, and non-caffeinated beverages can help loosen mucus, keep you hydrated, and make you feel better, especially if you have a fever. Alcohol and drinks containing caffeine may have a dehydrating effect. To help others stay healthy, limit your exposure to them and promptly throw out tissues rather than letting them pile up on your nightstand.

Gargling with salt water can help relieve a sore throat. A cool-mist humidifier, which breaks water into droplets and releases them into the air, may help relieve stuffy noses. Keep the humidifier clean to avoid a buildup of mold, which could be harmful if inhaled. Saline nasal drops and suctioning with a bulb syringe can help infants and small children breathe better. But be gentle because aggravating the nasal passages could make swelling worse. Also, dress sick children comfortably–like you would dress yourself, Pickering says. “Some parents bundle them up if they have a fever, but that can make it worse.”

Choose over-the-counter (OTC) medicines that are appropriate for your symptoms.

With all the choices on the shelves, it can be hard to know what medicine to pick. It may seem easier to grab a multi-symptom medicine that promises to take care of everything, but it’s better to take a product specific to your symptoms, says Jeffrey Delafuente, a professor and director of geriatric programs at Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Pharmacy.

“If your only problem is a runny nose, why take a cough suppressant?” he says. Taking medicine for symptoms you don’t have may not be harmful, he adds, but it unnecessarily exposes you to medicine and the accompanying side effects. “Multi-symptom medicines can be useful if you truly have many symptoms.”

If you want to unclog a stuffy nose, then nasal decongestants may help. Cough suppressants quiet coughs; expectorants loosen mucus so you can cough it up; antihistamines help stop a runny nose and sneezing; and pain relievers such as acetaminophen can ease fever, headaches, and minor aches. Check with a pediatrician or your family physician first before treating children suffering from cold and flu symptoms with medicine.

Don’t give aspirin or aspirin-containing medicines to children and teen-agers.

Children and teen-agers suffering from flu-like symptoms, chickenpox and other viral illnesses shouldn’t take aspirin because of the possibility of Reye syndrome. Some medicine labels may refer to aspirin as salicylate or salicylic acid. Be sure to educate teen-agers, who may take OTC medicines without their parents’ knowledge.

Children with Reye syndrome start vomiting and become drowsy within a few days of becoming sick. The disorder, which is now rare, can affect all body organs and lead to brain damage and death. Reye syndrome occurs almost exclusively in children 4 to 12 years of age and is rare in adults, Pickering says.

Read OTC medicine labels carefully and follow directions.

Use the dosing device that comes with the medicine and don’t exceed recommended dosages or length of use. Taking a nasal spray for too long during a cold could result in an even stuffier nose, for example. Always check with a doctor first if the correct dose for a child isn’t listed on a label and before giving a child more than one medicine at a time.

Delafuente says he tells older people, who often take multiple medications, to check with a doctor or pharmacist before taking a new OTC cough and cold medicine because some can worsen underlying health problems, such as high blood pressure or heart disease. Decongestants can speed up heart rate, for example, and antihistamines can cause urinary retention in men with prostate problems. For both young and old, antihistamines can make you drowsy, which could affect driving.

Be sure to check expiration dates and get rid of old medicine. The FDA has warned consumers against using OTC and prescription drug products containing phenylpropanolamine because the ingredient has been associated with an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in the brain). This ingredient was commonly used as a decongestant in OTC and prescription cough and cold medicines before the warning.

Be careful not to double up on ingredients.

If you take more than one medication at a time, be careful not to duplicate ingredients, says Marina Chang, a pharmacist with the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Look at the active ingredients of every medicine you take,” she says.

For example, you don’t want to accidentally take two different medicines that both contain acetaminophen. The same goes for taking acetaminophen tablets to relieve pain while also taking a cough medicine containing acetaminophen. Too much of this drug can result in liver damage.

Jon Temte, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of family medicine at the University of Wisconsin Medical School, recalls a young woman who came in complaining of a racing heartbeat and anxiousness. He discovered her symptoms occurred because she had taken two different products, both containing a decongestant.

Facts About Flu Drugs.

Relenza (zanamivir) and Tamiflu (oseltamivir), both approved for use in 1999, are to treat uncomplicated cases of influenza caused by types A and B flu virus. Tamiflu also is approved for preventive use, while Relenza is approved only for treatment. Two older drugs, amantadine and rimantadine, which are sold under the trade names Symmetrel and Flumadine respectively, are approved for the treatment and prevention of Type A influenza.

Talk with your health care provider about any use of these drugs in children. The doses and approved ages are different for each. Because some of the drugs’ side effects can be serious and because viruses may become resistant when antiviral drugs are used indiscriminately, the FDA recommends that decisions to use these drugs be based on individual evaluations of risk and benefit.

Relenza, which is orally inhaled as a dry powder with a device known as a Diskhaler, can cause wheezing or serious breathing problems, and is generally not recommended for patients with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and other airway diseases.

Common side effects of Tamiflu, which comes in pill and liquid form, include nausea and vomiting. Both amantadine and rimantadine can cause gastrointestinal side effects and central nervous system changes such as nervousness and difficulty concentrating. Other side effects that can occur are mentioned in the drugs’ package inserts.

Other important flu drug facts:

• Antiviral drugs are not meant to take the place of a flu shot. The flu shot remains the best way to protect yourself. The drugs are sometimes used as a backup to the vaccine in special situations, such as to control a flu outbreak.
• The treatment effect of these drugs is modest. They won’t make you instantly better, but can help shorten the time the flu lasts by about a day. And use of flu drugs does not eliminate the risk of flu complications.
• The drugs are meant to be taken within the first two days you experience flu symptoms. That means if you arrive at the doctor’s office on Day 5 asking for a flu drug, you’ll be too late. By that time, uncomplicated flu usually starts to get better on its own, and people who develop complications are likely to need other treatment.
• Flu drugs don’t influence bacterial infections or other illnesses that may look like the flu. It’s important to talk with your health care provider if you are being treated with an antiviral drug but aren’t getting better or if you experience new symptoms.

Michelle Meadows is a staff writer for FDA Consumer.

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Cold and Flu Symptoms

People who get the flu usually know the exact day that it hit, whereas a cold tends to come on gradually. Both colds and flu cause inflammation of the mucous membranes (found in the nose, throat and mouth). Symptoms for colds and flu can be similar; both can cause a stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, and fever. Symptoms generally last about a week or two.

Colds are usually distinguished by a runny nose and sneezing. Along with coming on suddenly, the flu is more serious than a cold, lasts longer, and often leaves you with a wiped-out feeling, a headache, chills, dry cough, and body aches.

Young children may also experience nausea and vomiting with flu, but what many people call “stomach flu” is something different–probably gastroenteritis, which is usually caused by other viruses, bacteria, and toxins.

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When You Need a Doctor

Jerry Rogers, M.D., a family physician in Moorhead, Minn., says some patients have asked him about taking an antibiotic early on, before their cold or flu symptoms get bad. But antibiotics don’t help viral illnesses. Using antibiotics inappropriately only spreads antibiotic-resistant bacteria, making fewer drugs effective for treating disease.

Most of the time, colds and flu simply have to run their course. “We don’t typically treat colds and flu unless they become complicated,” Rogers says. You usually don’t need to call the doctor at the first signs of cold and flu, but there are times when you should.

Doctors will look for and treat cold and flu complications such as bronchitis, sinusitis, ear infections, and pneumonia–bacterial infections that may require antibiotics. For some people, colds and flu can aggravate underlying medical conditions like heart disease and asthma.

If you aren’t getting any better after about a week or your symptoms worsen, you should see a doctor. Your viral infection may have caused enough mucus buildup to allow for a bacterial infection to occur. Signs of trouble might be a cough that gets so bad it disrupts sleep, a fever that won’t go down, increased shortness of breath, and pain in the face because of a sinus infection (sinusitis).

Another warning signal is if after feeling better for a short time you start to feel worse and experience a high fever, chest pain, or notice a difference in the mucus you’re producing, such as a change from clear to thick, yellow-green mucus.

With children, be alert for high fevers and abnormal behavior–acting unusually drowsy, refusing to eat, crying a lot, holding the ears or stomach, and wheezing.

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Unproven Remedies

Some people rely on vitamin C supplements, zinc lozenges, and echinacea to prevent and treat cold and flu symptoms. These remedies may make some people feel better. However, their health effects are unknown, says Linda Lambert, a program officer with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

No conclusive data has shown that large doses of vitamin C prevent colds; they may reduce the severity or duration of symptoms, but there is no definitive evidence. And the jury is still out on zinc. “There are about an equal number of studies that say zinc helps as there are studies that say it doesn’t,” Lambert says.

As for echinacea, “studies have been done of echinacea for preventing or treating colds and flu, but these studies were not rigorous or definitive and the products tested were diverse,” according to a written statement from Stephen Straus, M.D., director of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health. “These studies at best suggest that echinacea may be beneficial in the early treatment of colds and flu, but does not help prevent them.”

Always tell your doctor about any supplements or herbal remedies you use, and don’t overdo it. For example, taking too much vitamin C can cause diarrhea.

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Primary Target Groups for Flu Vaccination

The best time to get a flu vaccination is from October through November, and people who have a high risk of complications from flu should be vaccinated starting in September, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC strongly recommends annual flu vaccination for these primary target groups:

Unvaccinated high-risk persons, health-care workers, those living with high-risk people, and all people ages 50 and older should try to be vaccinated by November, and should continue to seek influenza vaccine in December or later if necessary.

Here are the primary target groups for annual flu vaccination:

People at increased risk for complications from the flu, including

• people 65 and older
• residents of nursing homes and other facilities that house people who have chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and heart disease
• adults and children who have chronic pulmonary or cardiovascular disorders, including asthma
• adults and children who have required regular medical follow-up or hospitalization during the preceding year because of chronic metabolic diseases (including diabetes), kidney dysfunction, disorders caused by hemoglobin abnormalities, or a weakened immune system, including immunosuppression caused by medications or the virus that causes AIDS
• children and teen-agers (ages 6 months to 18 years) who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy, and therefore might be at risk for developing Reye syndrome
• women who will be in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during the flu season.

People who can transmit influenza to those at high risk

• physicians, nurses, and other personnel in hospital and outpatient care settings, including emergency response workers
• employees of nursing homes and chronic-care facilities who have contact with patients or residents
• employees of assisted living and other residences for persons in high-risk groups
• persons who provide home care to persons in groups at high risk
• household members (including children) of people in groups at high risk.

People ages 50-64 because this group has increased prevalence of high-risk conditions.

Repairing a Wall After Removing Wallpaper Borders & Wallpaper

QUESTION: I just moved in my house and the woman before us put contact paper on the walls. After using Diff and other things, I found that the hairdryer worked the best and it came off without taking the paint on about 75% of the wall. However 25% of the wall has some of the drywall exposed one area about 1 layer and one area about two layers. It is actually ripped and hanging in one area. Do you have any idea what I can do to repair the areas where the drywall has come off. I was at Home Depot today and they sold me gripper primer, but I think I have to repair this wall before I can primer and paint it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

ANSWER: Yes, you definitely want to repair this area first or the final paint job will look terrible. I don’t know exactly what you have but I think I would put very thin coats of joint taping compound (mud) over the smaller areas in the following way:
1. Use a 10″ taping knife (for drywall) and place some slightly thinned mud on the area in a very light coat.
2. After this dry, scrape off any bumps or ridges with the 10″ taping knife. Hold the knife with 2 hands perpendiculart to the surface so you can apply good pressure.
3. Place another very thin coat that slightly overlaps the previous coat and repeat step 2 using the 10″ knife.
4. Place another very very thin coat as you did in step 3. Repeat step 2.
5. Sand very lightly with 220 grit paper on a 3.5″x8″ sanding block (a piece of 2×4).

For the sheets with very large areas of exposed paper, you may need to replace the drywall and retape. It might be too difficult not end up with waves and ridges if you patch up very large areas. If you are only removing a single sheet, locate the studs and remove the drywall up to the halfway point of the stud. The stud is 1 1/2 inches wide and you want 3/4 inch exposed to attach the replacement sheet. You will probably want to remove the tape on the existing drywall sheet that butts up to the new sheet so there is a “valley” for the new tape. Otherwise, the new sheet will have a valley and the old sheet will have a higher profile. To remove the tape, make a 1/16 deep cut about 1 1/2″ in from the edge running the length of the (old) sheet and then use a taping knife or putty knife to lift off the old tape and compound - if you can, try to remove only the tape and old mud leaving the original paper surface intact.

While the icy wonderland that has blanketed the Bluegrass region left more than 600,000 Kentuckians without power the week of Jan. 25, Thoroughbred farm managers are doing all they can to keep their operations functional and safe in spite of property damage and lack of electricity.

“We learned from the ice storm of 2003 and had generators and spotlights on hand in case of a power outage so we could still foal out mares,” said Jen Roytz, a spokesperson for Robert Clay’s Three Chimneys Farm near Midway, Ky.

In addition to losing several trees, and having phone lines down in the main office, there have been power outages in several areas of the farm, including the yearling division.

“The farm looks like it’s been through a tornado with all the limbs down,” said Richie Donworth, broodmare manager at Three Chimneys’ Old Bradley Place division.

While plowing through the ice on the roads that wind around the farm has been difficult, as has clearing fallen tree limbs out the horses’ paddocks, Donworth said so far the farm sustained no other major damage and no horses had been injured.

“The mares that are outside during the day, and we feed them lots of hay to try and get them to stay warm, because they obviously can’t get to any grass,” said Donworth, who noted he had been bringing the mares back in their stalls earlier than usual due to the harsh weather. “We’re also letting (our staff) go home early so they can get home safely to their families, especially in these conditions the last two days. We’re just trying to keep everything safe.”

Eric Hamelback, general manager of Adena Springs, said the Paris, Ky.-based division of the farm was mostly without power.

“The foaling barns are a bit of a rough go at night, of course, trying to balance between using generators and not having too much noise going on, but having some light available for us during foaling. We did have one foal last night. So it’s been a little bit difficult–trying to get everything as safely organized as possible–both for people and horses.”

Hamelback said engineers at Kentucky Utilities estimated that the farm, which is owned by 2008 Eclipse Award-winning owner Frank Stronach, could be out of power for four more days.

“The office is of course next to a stand-still with only partial power,” he said. “We were able to get our server going, but the ability to do contracts and talk to clients comes to a big halt, unless you’re doing it via cell phone and just taking notes until you can get up and going. As for the rest of the farm–basically you’re doing everything you would on a normal day, just at a slower pace.”

So far, Adena hasn’t any freezing problems with its water system for the horses. “We’re trying to keep our fingers crossed,” Hamelback said. “We have pump houses stationed throughout the farm with kerosene heaters in to try and make sure we don’t freeze up.”

Even when electricity is restored, Hamelback said his has some fears of a possible power surge. “Just because the electricity comes back on doesn’t always necessarily means you’re out of the woods yet,” he said, “But so far, (the ice storm) has just caused a lot of inconvenience instead of monetary expense.”

Tim Thornton, general manager of Airdrie Stud near Midway, said “the last couple days haven’t been good” in reference to the power outages, fallen trees, broken fences, and treacherous, icy landscape at the farm. Airdrie is owned by Brereton Jones, whose Proud Spell just collected an Eclipse Award as 2008 champion 3-year-old filly.

“It’s tough–at least we have generators for the foaling barn and stallion barn where we really need light,” said Thornton, who noted that one of the major problems resulting from the storm was that the electric water system for the horses was down. “Now we’ve got to haul water to the horses, which is tough, but the most important thing is for them to have water, so that’s our major concern right now … then, it’s trying to fix all the fences.”

Repair work could take a month, Thornton said.

Garrett O’Rourke, manager of Prince Khalid Abdullah’s North American division of Juddmonte Farms near Lexington, said Jan. 30 about 80% of his operation was out of power. He noted a long list of other complications that had developed as a result.

“We’re using flood lights in the barn, just to try and get the mares foaled at nighttime, and unfortunately, there’s plenty of them to foal at this time of year,” O’Rourke said. “Horses are getting sick, and we’re trying to treat them in the dark; we’re getting the vets out, but they’re not able to use ultrasounds; we’re trying to get the horses fluids and the fluids are freezing in the lines; we’ve considered taking horses to the clinic, but not knowing whether we can get the van out on the roads or not.”

Although farm employees were able to clear the roads after three days, O’Rourke said it would take months and would cost a fortune to clean up all the tree damage around the farm. He predicted it would cost at least $100,000 to $150,000 to clear enough limbs to make the farm safe.

“We do some (the work) ourselves, but it’s too high of a risk from a liability point of view,” he said. “It takes professional crews to take care of the specific damage. Up until today, we were constantly chasing our tails–we’d get one thing fixed, and have something else go out. Now, the biggest fear is we’re going to (see a rise in temperature) and all the water lines will burst.”

Although Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear has declared a state of emergency, and President Obama declared federal disaster emergency for Kentucky and Arkansas, American Horse Council president Jay Hickey said it was too early for farms to receive any federal disaster relief from the ice storm. In order for farms to request monetary help, the United States Department of Agriculture has to first set up a program, he said.

“They have to define the perimeters–for everybody, not just horse people, and then people would apply,” Hickey said. “But we’re talking about sometime down the road. It’s not like a disaster is declared, and then money falls from the sky.”

Hickey said he could not predict when or if such a program would become available.

Curlin Tops Eclipse Finalists

by Leslie Deckard
Date Posted: January 4, 2008
Last Updated: January 11, 2008

The 2007 Eclipse Award winners will be announced on Jan. 21. Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

The finalists for the 2007 Eclipse Awards were announced Jan. 4, with many of the categories, as usual, dominated by winners of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships races.

It is possible that nine of the 10 (flat) Eclipse winners will have earned their championship by winning on one of the two-days of Breeders’ Cup action last October at Monmouth Park- War Pass (2-year-old colt or gelding), Indian Blessing (2-year-old female), Curlin (3-year-old male), Corinthian (older male), Ginger Punch (older female), Midnight Lute (male sprinter), Maryfield (female sprinter), English Channel (male turf horse), Kip Deville (male turf horse), and Lahudood (female turf horse).

The finalists for the Horse of the Year award will be announced Jan. 21 at the Eclipse Awards ceremony at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Belmont Stakes and Kentucky Oaks (both grade I)  winner Rags to Riches is a finalist in the champion 3-year-old filly category alongside stablemate and Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Distaff (gr. I) third-place finisher Octave. The other finalist (grade I winner Panty Raid) in that category also hails from the barn of trainer Todd Pletcher.

Grade I winner Hard Spun, who finished second to Curlin in the Breeders’ Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I), is a finalist in the 3-year-old colt or gelding category alongside Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Street Sense. Hard Spun also finished second in the Derby.

The finalists for the older male category includes 2006 Horse of the Year and 2007 Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) winner Invasor and Lawyer Ron, who broke the Saratoga track record for 1 1/8 miles in winning the Whitney Handicap (gr. I).

Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs is a finalist for leading breeder once again, as is Stronach’s Stronach Stables a finalist for leading owner. As breeder, Adena Springs has won the last three years. Stronach added a title in 2000.

Stronach is joined in the leading breeder category by William S. Farish and Martin and Pam Wygod. His leading owner rivals are Maggi Moss and Shadwell Stables. As owner, Stronach earned Eclipse Awards in 1998, 99, and 2000.

The trainer category is lead by Pletcher, who won his first classic race this year with Rags to Riches and once again broke his own single-season stable earnings record. Pletcher, a winner of the last three training awards, is joined by Steve Asmussen, the trainer of Curlin and 2-year-old colt or gelding finalists Kodiak Kowboy and Pyro. Kiaran McLaughlin, who trained Invasor, rounds out the top three.

Robby Albarado, Garrett Gomez, and John Velazquez are the finalists in the jockey category. Albarado was the regular rider aboard Curlin, Velazquez rode Rags to Riches in the Belmont and English Channel in the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf (gr. IT), and Gomez finished the year as the leading jockey by earnings and rode two Breeders’ Cup winners, Midnight Lute in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I) and Indian Blessing in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I).

The finalists for the apprentice jockey category are Tyler Pizarro, Alonso Quinonez, and Joe Talamo.

Eclipse Awards winners are selected by the Daily Racing Form, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, and the National Turf Writers Association.

2007 Eclipse Award Finalists

• Two-Year-old Male: Kodiak Kowboy,Pyro, War Pass
• Two-Year-old filly: Country Star, Indian Blessing, Proud Spell
• Three-Year-old Male: Curlin, Hard Spun, Street Sense
• Three-Year-old filly: Octave, Panty Raid, Rags to Riches
• Older Male: Corinthian, Invasor (ARG), Lawyer Ron
• Older female: Ginger Punch, Hystericalady, Nashoba’s Key
• Male Sprinter: Fabulous Strike, Idiot Proof, Midnight Lute
• Female Sprinter: Dream Rush, Maryfield, River’s Prayer
• Male turf Horse: After Market, English Channel, Kip Deville
• Female turf Horse: Lahudood (GB), Nashoba’s Key, Precious Kitten
• Steeplechase Horse: Good Night Shirt, McDynamo, Planets Aligned
• Owner: Maggi Moss, Shadwell Stable, Stronach Stables
• Breeder: Adena Springs, William S. Farish, Martin and Pam Wygod
• Trainer: Steve Asmussen, Kiaran McLaughlin, Todd Pletcher
• Jockey: Robby Albarado, Garrett Gomez, John Velazquez
• Apprentice Jockey: Tyler Pizarro, Alonso Quinonez, Joe Talamo

Funny Cide Heats Up Horse Park

by Lenny Shulman
Date Posted: December 5, 2008
Last Updated: December 7, 2008

Funny Cide is presented to his fans at the Kentucky Horse Park. Photo: Alex Cutadean

Funny Cide was officially welcomed to his new home at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Hall of Champions Dec. 5, becoming the second Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner and champion to take up residence there in just over a month.

Like his immediate predecessor at the Hall of Champions, Alysheba, who arrived Oct. 31, Funny Cide was known as a “people’s horse.” This was due to the fact  he was a New York-bred and a gelding, but also because his owners, Sackatoga Stable, were the epitome of the “small guys” in the business who reached the top.

At the Horse Park ceremony, Jack Knowlton, managing partner of Sackatoga, stated what he felt was Funny Cide’s legacy as the horse was paraded in the pavilion in front of him.

“He represents hope for the little guy,” Knowlton told several hundred people who braved the cold to welcome Funny Cide. “People tell us all the time that they’ve gotten into this game because of him. Also, racing needs more horses like him who fans can enjoy after their Triple Crown seasons. He was a huge fan favorite because he ran as long as he did–into his 7-year-old season–and because he was an underdog. We still get emails and letters from his fans everywhere.”

Funny Cide’s popularity grew through the Triple Crown series thanks to his ownership–10 partners who were small-time players in horses, including six who went to high school together in Sackets Harbor, a small town on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario in upstate New York.

The Sackatoga Stable partners each threw in $5,000 to buy horses, and they furthered their blue-collar reputation by traveling to the Triple Crown races in a yellow school bus, the only means of transportation they could find for their large group at a reasonable rate in Louisville en route to the Derby. After winning in Kentucky, they figured why break up a good thing, and rented school buses in Baltimore and New York.

A $22,000 yearling purchase, Funny Cide, by Distorted Humor–Belle’s Good Cide, by Slewacide, was running under everyone’s radar until he finished second to the powerful Empire Maker in the 2003 Wood Memorial (gr. I).

Three weeks later at Churchill Downs, Funny Cide turned the tables, laying close throughout the Derby and holding off Empire Maker by 1 3/4 lengths. He went on to crush his field in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) before finishing third behind Empire Maker and Ten Most Wanted in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I).

New York in particular embraced Funny Cide as a hometown hero, as 101,864 patrons showed up for the Belmont Stakes, the second-highest crowd in history for the race. His popularity continued to skyrocket in Saratoga after the Triple Crown series, and a Funny Cide shop opened in town. Beer, ice cream, and souvenirs were marketed in his name.

Funny Cide went on to race 38 times over six seasons, winning 11, including the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) as a 4-year-old. He earned $3,529,412 for his owners and trainer Barclay Tagg. Funny Cide was named champion 3-year-old male of 2003.

After his retirement from racing in 2007, Funny Cide served as Tagg’s stable pony, but recently, infirmities from his racing career made it difficult for the horse to continue in that capacity, prompting his retirement to the Horse Park.

Knowlton thanked Tagg; Tagg’s assistant, Robin Smullen; Funny Cide’s regular jockey Jose Santos; Funny Cide’s fans; and the Horse Park.

“We are thrilled this will be his retirement home,” Knowlton said. “It is an honor to be here today. I know he’ll get the best care in the world.”

Alysheba Arrives at Kentucky Horse Park

by Lenny Shulman
Date Posted: October 31, 2008
Last Updated: November 1, 2008

Alysheba arrives at the Kentucky Horse Park on October 31, 2008. Order This Photo Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

Hundreds of racing fans packed the Hall of Champions pavilion at the Kentucky Horse Park Oct. 31 to officially welcome back to Kentucky “America’s Horse,” Alysheba.

At 1:15 p.m., a long Sallee horse van pulled up in back of the pavilion, and Hall of Fame rider Chris McCarron, who partnered with Alysheba to win the 1987 Kentucky Derby and Preakness, and 1988 Breeders’ Cup Classic (all gr. I), strode up the ramp to say hello to the 24-year-old. He quickly pulled his hand back when Alysheba tried to have it for lunch.

Onto the van strode Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg, who called out to “Sheba” in his distinctive, gravelly baritone. The horse whipped its head around and began pawing the floor of the van. Shortly thereafter, wearing a royal blue blanket with his name emblazoned on the sides, Alysheba was walked into the pavilion, where he heard speakers extol his virtues. After several minutes, he was led to his stall, and briefly hesitated before entering. He was then walked around, and soon the lead was taken off the son of Alydar and he went right to the window that overlooks his paddock. Alysheba will be occupying the same stall that served as the longtime home of John Henry, who died just over a year ago.

Alysheba, a two-time champion and 1988 Horse of the Year, had recently arrived back in Kentucky from Saudi Arabia, where he resided after being purchased by King Abdullah. He had previously stood at stud at William Farish’s Lane’s End Farm near Versailles, Ky. Alysheba raced three years and retired in 1988 as the top money-earning Thoroughbred in history with $6,679,242 banked. Ironically, he succeeded John Henry at the top of that list. Alysheba was bred in Kentucky by Preston Madden and raced in the colors of Dorothy and Pamela Scharbauer.

McCarron, who rode both John Henry and Alysheba, said, “Although I’m sorry John Henry isn’t with us, I’m glad he’s not here today to hear me say that Alysheba was the greatest horse I ever rode. He launched my career to another level by winning the Kentucky Derby, and he did it with style, grace, and athleticism.”

One of the great moments in Thoroughbred history came during the 1987 Kentucky Derby when Alysheba stumbled at the head of the lane, then recovered to win the race.

“I’ve been mistakenly receiving credit for picking him up at that moment,” said McCarron. “I can’t pick up a 1,075-pound horse. He got up and did it with his athleticism. Every time a horse came to him throughout his career, he would re-break.”

Added Van Berg about the Derby, “He laid down, got back up, and still beat ‘em.  He had so much charisma. Every morning at Hollywood Park when he heard my voice he’d holler for his mint. Then he’d lay down and sleep for two hours before we took him to the track.”