Sunday, January 20, 2008

Even Hall of Famers Have Duds

At the 2003 Fasig Tipton sale in August, legendary owner and breeder Arthur Hancock III purchased a yearling colt that he co-bred by a horse with a $200,000 stud fee - the great Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled. The purchase price was $2,700,000. He made his debut as a 5 year old last November and finished over 28 lengths back at Churchill Downs under the direction of Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito. Hie second start, today at Tampa in a routine MSW he finished up the track again - 8th to be exact.

$200,00 stud fee. $2,700,000 purchase price. Countless dollars spent in training and, I'm sure, vet bills and what's the lifetime line: 2-0-0-0 $0.

It's a tough business for even the best.

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