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 thick coating of ice has caused trees to fall, snapping power lines and fence boards.

“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 Slide Show

Funny Cide

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 Slide Show

Alysheba

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.”

Curlin earns trip to Santa Anita

Adam Coglianese/NYRA

Curlin

By David GreningPosted 8:05 pm The Breeders’ Cup Classic became a real possibility for Curlin on Saturday after the reigning Horse of the Year splashed his way to the record books, winning the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. The $450,000 first-place prize enabled Curlin to become North America’s all-time leading money earner