Maybe it's the holidays. Maybe it's not having a horse in training. Maybe I'm just uninspired when it's fifteen degrees below zero. Whatever it is, this time of year ends up leaving a bunch of holes in the blog roll. At least fellow blogger, the Aspiring Horseplayer, has an excuse - his team just won the NCAA Football National Championship. Throw that run in with the Holiday Season and who can blame him? Me? I don't have that as an excuse. In fact, with the Celtics injury issues and the Patriot's completely and utterly laying an egg along with BC not being able to compete with a scaled down version of USC, I really have no excuses. Yet, this happens each and every year.
Well, that is about to change! I'm slowly starting to feel inspired again. Maybe it's because I purchased a small interest in a Cal-bred gelding with some friends and I'm back in at Santa Anita again. It could be because I spent the weekend watching live and taped races looking from Tampa Bay Downs now that we're close to closing out the 2010 Claiming Partnership (still about 20% available if you're interested!). Derby preps and the Road to the Triple Crown is about to start in earnest - that's always a blood pumper as well.
I need to start trying to find some balance between the written blog and the radio blog as well. Sometimes I pass on things to write about because I figure I'll tackle it on the Show. I end up landing a fun interview instead and then the entire topic fades away. I downloaded an App on the iPhone that allows me to record my thoughts, so I think when something comes to me I'm going to record some thoughts and get them down on here as soon as I can.
Hopefully we're going to start tomorrow with the unveiling of our newest runner. At least one that I have a minor piece. The big purchase will probably take a few more weeks, but stay tuned for that. I just hope that he or she can bring us the type of excitement that Fizzy Pop brought us. The financial return was nice, to a point. You'll recall that the group was also heavily invested in Miss Belle Express who went down with a shattered knee shortly before her first race. Devastating emotionally, for sure, but it also killed the group's profitability. Fizzy was able to come back strongly and almost make it all up, but we still ended up a bit behind where we started. Three pictures on the wall and 18 months of pure joy was well worth it!
Lookout 2010, here I come!
Showing posts with label Miss Belle Express. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Miss Belle Express. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Friday, September 25, 2009
Now What?
An interesting situation is what I have going on right now. Our group's horse, Fizzy Pop, was claimed Friday night. I still own 12.5% of pacer I Am Woman, but I don't manage her so that leaves me - a guy with a blog and a radio show dedicated to his emerging racing empire - without a horse to manage! In an ideal world we would have had Miss Belle Express to race us through the fall as well, but that was not meant to be. I also made an offer on a California horse to no avail as we were very far apart on the price.
Due to personal reasons, some of the Fizzy Pop partners need to take the money and run while the others and myself plan to soldier on with some new partners mixed in. But where do we go? Hopefully this weekend I will get a line on another California horse, so there is a start. I also definitely want to be ready with another claiming group for Tampa this winter and try to replicate the success we had with Fizzy. Still hanging out there is the possibility of teaming with a few other owners and try and hit a home run with a private purchase of a higher class horse, but that's a bit higher end and those kind of partners are hard to find in this economy.
So now what? Well, we keep pushing on. If we can get a nice percentage of a good horse racing in California, that would be nice. I would go ahead and offer some type of low cost entry point for that one for small shares and get the left coast in action. I'll also keep working for partners here in Minnesota and down in Florida that would like to see their horse run between Tampa Bay and Canterbury. $20,000 will get that group off the ground with a nice mid-range horse and money left over to pay the bills for a while. I'll also keep on talking on Blog Talk Radio (you can listen to the latest episode on claiming on the top left) because that is such a fun release I can't imagine giving that up. And, of course, I'll chronicle it all here!
Speaking of the radio show, thanks to your support, the show has become eligible to move into prime time. The question is what time? I was thinking 8:30 Central Time. That makes it only 9:30 on the East Coast and 6:30 on the West so most everyone should be home from work by then and it not be too late in the East. I'd be happy to entertain thoughts from the audience on this one. Again, thank you all for getting the show over that threshold so quickly. I really appreciate it.
Due to personal reasons, some of the Fizzy Pop partners need to take the money and run while the others and myself plan to soldier on with some new partners mixed in. But where do we go? Hopefully this weekend I will get a line on another California horse, so there is a start. I also definitely want to be ready with another claiming group for Tampa this winter and try to replicate the success we had with Fizzy. Still hanging out there is the possibility of teaming with a few other owners and try and hit a home run with a private purchase of a higher class horse, but that's a bit higher end and those kind of partners are hard to find in this economy.
So now what? Well, we keep pushing on. If we can get a nice percentage of a good horse racing in California, that would be nice. I would go ahead and offer some type of low cost entry point for that one for small shares and get the left coast in action. I'll also keep working for partners here in Minnesota and down in Florida that would like to see their horse run between Tampa Bay and Canterbury. $20,000 will get that group off the ground with a nice mid-range horse and money left over to pay the bills for a while. I'll also keep on talking on Blog Talk Radio (you can listen to the latest episode on claiming on the top left) because that is such a fun release I can't imagine giving that up. And, of course, I'll chronicle it all here!
Speaking of the radio show, thanks to your support, the show has become eligible to move into prime time. The question is what time? I was thinking 8:30 Central Time. That makes it only 9:30 on the East Coast and 6:30 on the West so most everyone should be home from work by then and it not be too late in the East. I'd be happy to entertain thoughts from the audience on this one. Again, thank you all for getting the show over that threshold so quickly. I really appreciate it.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Spring in Minnesota
Well, we're finally at the point where opening day at Canterbury and the month we're in coincide. I'm traveling at the moment, but my wife tells me that in the few days I've been gone the trees are finally budding, our bushes look like bushes again and the lawn is in desperate need of mowing. When spring finally hits us, it hits with a vengeance.
Another sure sign of spring are the vans that have been entering the backstretch at Canterbury Park. On a van arriving sometime later today, Fizzy Pop will emerge and take his place in the Rhone barn again. Last year he had a tough first outing, this year we hope he'll remember his surroundings and settle in a bit better. Granted, last year he trained like a monster when he first got up here and then ran a flat first race, so we thought he had settled in pretty well. Come the first race...not so much. Of course he did pick up the win in his second attempt, so nothing to complain about there.
I'll be at Canterbury later in the week and get licensed up again and get ready to roll. I'll check on our boy, buy a bag of peppermints to leave in the car for the summer and snap some photos for the group. However it gets sliced, though, they'll be a hole in my heart where Miss Belle Express used to be. It's going to be a different summer then we planned on without her. I'm hoping the return of spring, the horses and racing to Minnesota will help lessen that burden as the summer races on.
Another sure sign of spring are the vans that have been entering the backstretch at Canterbury Park. On a van arriving sometime later today, Fizzy Pop will emerge and take his place in the Rhone barn again. Last year he had a tough first outing, this year we hope he'll remember his surroundings and settle in a bit better. Granted, last year he trained like a monster when he first got up here and then ran a flat first race, so we thought he had settled in pretty well. Come the first race...not so much. Of course he did pick up the win in his second attempt, so nothing to complain about there.
I'll be at Canterbury later in the week and get licensed up again and get ready to roll. I'll check on our boy, buy a bag of peppermints to leave in the car for the summer and snap some photos for the group. However it gets sliced, though, they'll be a hole in my heart where Miss Belle Express used to be. It's going to be a different summer then we planned on without her. I'm hoping the return of spring, the horses and racing to Minnesota will help lessen that burden as the summer races on.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
The Ebb and Flow
I was reading other posts about how fellow bloggers are having a hard time getting into the Kentucky Derby this year and thought - 'hey, that's me, too'. I started to think about the reasons. Looking at it, the potential Derby field seems to be pretty deep and the three year old crop in general (Quality Road, Dunkirk, The Pamplemousse, Musket Man, Pioneerof the Nile, and on and on) seems to be pretty deep, though it remains to be seen if it's a deep quality crop or just simply full of parity. What’s not to like, right?
Yet, I sit and watch apathetically for the first time since I was living in Guam, a lifetime ago and thousands of miles from the nearest racetrack (which was either in Hong Kong or Singapore – I actually spent the day at the track in Singapore, but that’s a completely different story!). So I pondered and it all comes back to one thing – Miss Belle Express’ breakdown.
It was shattering at the time in many ways. For the first time I suffered real loss in this business, one that couldn’t be analyzed away or fixed with some rest. Complete strangers (and some friends) bought into Missy – fully knowing the risks, of course – but they still suffered financial loss. Her breeder was devastated and even with the birth of a new foal hasn’t acknowledged me since the tragedy. The ripples have run deep and the ramifications of one bad step have been harsh both in reality and in the psyche. I have to admit that I thought it would pass more quickly. Maybe there needs to be more time, but it doesn’t feel like it’s ever going to clear. Fizzy came back and ran poorly in his last and I Am Woman can’t seem to catch a break at Maywood.
Life ebbs and flows. Folks come in and out of your life and events that give you great joy and great sorrow pass through it and give our lives texture and richness. Racing is that way as well. Sometimes it's the people, but most of the time - if you really love what you're doing - it's the horses. Until a few weeks ago I've never experienced a real loss racing. Sure, we lost races, be it as GRS or under Star of the North or under VIP Stables, but that's not real loss. That's a temporary loss where the sting fades in an hour or so and you can look back and analyze what happened.
I get frustrated and really steamed up after a loss at the track, I can admit it. I'm a very competitive person and while the realist in me knows we can't win 'em all, the ex-jock in me wants that very thing. Fortunately after a bit of brooding time (usually no more than an hour or so), I can look back with a critical eye and work with the team to make adjustments.I look back to the beginning of the season as I Am Woman reeled off three consecutive victories at Balmoral, Fizzy Pop came back with a strong second after four months off and Miss Belle Express was finally training forwardly and how high that was. The future seemed as bright then as it does dark now. The lesson I’m learning through experience: steer yourself on a middle course. The highs will be high and the lows can be very, very low but you have to stay even to survive. The funny thing is, I knew this intellectually, but until going through it, it’s not real.
Now the lesson is very real. But I know that there are highs ahead again. I Am Woman will leave Chicago and give Tioga a try in some higher level racing. Fizzy Pop will be back next weekend at Tampa Bay before coming north to Canterbury. The memory of Missy will drive me to do better and I hope that time will heal the wounds that the tragedy opened.
Yet, I sit and watch apathetically for the first time since I was living in Guam, a lifetime ago and thousands of miles from the nearest racetrack (which was either in Hong Kong or Singapore – I actually spent the day at the track in Singapore, but that’s a completely different story!). So I pondered and it all comes back to one thing – Miss Belle Express’ breakdown.
It was shattering at the time in many ways. For the first time I suffered real loss in this business, one that couldn’t be analyzed away or fixed with some rest. Complete strangers (and some friends) bought into Missy – fully knowing the risks, of course – but they still suffered financial loss. Her breeder was devastated and even with the birth of a new foal hasn’t acknowledged me since the tragedy. The ripples have run deep and the ramifications of one bad step have been harsh both in reality and in the psyche. I have to admit that I thought it would pass more quickly. Maybe there needs to be more time, but it doesn’t feel like it’s ever going to clear. Fizzy came back and ran poorly in his last and I Am Woman can’t seem to catch a break at Maywood.
Life ebbs and flows. Folks come in and out of your life and events that give you great joy and great sorrow pass through it and give our lives texture and richness. Racing is that way as well. Sometimes it's the people, but most of the time - if you really love what you're doing - it's the horses. Until a few weeks ago I've never experienced a real loss racing. Sure, we lost races, be it as GRS or under Star of the North or under VIP Stables, but that's not real loss. That's a temporary loss where the sting fades in an hour or so and you can look back and analyze what happened.
I get frustrated and really steamed up after a loss at the track, I can admit it. I'm a very competitive person and while the realist in me knows we can't win 'em all, the ex-jock in me wants that very thing. Fortunately after a bit of brooding time (usually no more than an hour or so), I can look back with a critical eye and work with the team to make adjustments.I look back to the beginning of the season as I Am Woman reeled off three consecutive victories at Balmoral, Fizzy Pop came back with a strong second after four months off and Miss Belle Express was finally training forwardly and how high that was. The future seemed as bright then as it does dark now. The lesson I’m learning through experience: steer yourself on a middle course. The highs will be high and the lows can be very, very low but you have to stay even to survive. The funny thing is, I knew this intellectually, but until going through it, it’s not real.
Now the lesson is very real. But I know that there are highs ahead again. I Am Woman will leave Chicago and give Tioga a try in some higher level racing. Fizzy Pop will be back next weekend at Tampa Bay before coming north to Canterbury. The memory of Missy will drive me to do better and I hope that time will heal the wounds that the tragedy opened.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
What A Roller Coaster - But Right Now It's All Down
The last few days have been trying, hopeful and sorrowful. In a nutshell - it's what owning racehorses can be like at times.
On Thursday we learned of the catastrophic breakdown of Miss Belle Express, a fine MN-bred filly who was to carry our colors this summer at Tampa and then back at her home at Canterbury Park. The lows in this business can get no lower.
Thursday evening another filly, this time 3-year old Standardbred I Am Woman who we own under partnership with VIP Stables took on seven others in a non-winners of 3/$9,000 lifetime event at Maywood Park. It was very, very difficult to get excited about the race. Honestly, it was impossible. Put pace on they did. In a break from the strategy previously employed by driver Brandon Simpson, I Am Woman went straight for the lead out of the seven hole. She showed some nice early speed, but was three wide through most of the first turn. She got the lead, but had to work mighty hard for it. She led the field through the middle half of the race but as the field moved into the final turn, Cole By A Nose started her move right off our gal's flank. Cole took a bit of a lead in the stretch, but I Am Woman fought back to get a head back in front. It was apparent that the early struggle for the lead took it's toll and Cole By A Nose came back to win by half a length. The rest of the field followed three lengths behind the top pair.
Second isn't bad and I can understand a bit the change in strategy. You certainly don't want to be behind a wall of tiring horses with such a small home stretch such as on Maywood's half mile oval. But to have to charge virtually the entire first quarter to get to the top - and most of that three wide? Considering she only ended up second by a half, that wasn't bad. A shift to a more advantageous post next out and she may be able to do some real damage.
Finally there was Fizzy Pop who I thought was in a good position to pick up another check. I thought he was completely underrated coming into this race. He was not. He was flat. It was a straight $25,000 claiming race over the grass at Tampa Bay Downs. Fizzy came out of the gate well and seemed to be in good position early. He worked his way to mid-pack down the backside and that was as good as it would get. He came a bit wide in the stretch to get some running room and simply came up empty. It was a depressing and embarassing 8th place finish. On the heels of the breakdown of our filly, this was the icing on the cake. I was hoping that something good would happen here. It didn't.
This won't end our pursuit of the dream, but it's one of those weekends that makes you want to just give it up. Chuck it all and say the heck with it. It's one of those times when no move seems to be the right move. I won't, of course. I'll wallow for a while. I'll need to work through this depression and sort things out. Now I'm just going to try and shake it off with the kids this weekend.
On Thursday we learned of the catastrophic breakdown of Miss Belle Express, a fine MN-bred filly who was to carry our colors this summer at Tampa and then back at her home at Canterbury Park. The lows in this business can get no lower.
Thursday evening another filly, this time 3-year old Standardbred I Am Woman who we own under partnership with VIP Stables took on seven others in a non-winners of 3/$9,000 lifetime event at Maywood Park. It was very, very difficult to get excited about the race. Honestly, it was impossible. Put pace on they did. In a break from the strategy previously employed by driver Brandon Simpson, I Am Woman went straight for the lead out of the seven hole. She showed some nice early speed, but was three wide through most of the first turn. She got the lead, but had to work mighty hard for it. She led the field through the middle half of the race but as the field moved into the final turn, Cole By A Nose started her move right off our gal's flank. Cole took a bit of a lead in the stretch, but I Am Woman fought back to get a head back in front. It was apparent that the early struggle for the lead took it's toll and Cole By A Nose came back to win by half a length. The rest of the field followed three lengths behind the top pair.
Second isn't bad and I can understand a bit the change in strategy. You certainly don't want to be behind a wall of tiring horses with such a small home stretch such as on Maywood's half mile oval. But to have to charge virtually the entire first quarter to get to the top - and most of that three wide? Considering she only ended up second by a half, that wasn't bad. A shift to a more advantageous post next out and she may be able to do some real damage.
Finally there was Fizzy Pop who I thought was in a good position to pick up another check. I thought he was completely underrated coming into this race. He was not. He was flat. It was a straight $25,000 claiming race over the grass at Tampa Bay Downs. Fizzy came out of the gate well and seemed to be in good position early. He worked his way to mid-pack down the backside and that was as good as it would get. He came a bit wide in the stretch to get some running room and simply came up empty. It was a depressing and embarassing 8th place finish. On the heels of the breakdown of our filly, this was the icing on the cake. I was hoping that something good would happen here. It didn't.
This won't end our pursuit of the dream, but it's one of those weekends that makes you want to just give it up. Chuck it all and say the heck with it. It's one of those times when no move seems to be the right move. I won't, of course. I'll wallow for a while. I'll need to work through this depression and sort things out. Now I'm just going to try and shake it off with the kids this weekend.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
I Got "The Call"
It's that early morning call we all dread as owners. "Ted, Miss Belle Express broke down this morning. It's her knee and it's bad. We may have to put her down. Call me back as soon as possible. It's urgent."
I was upstairs getting ready for work as the message played out on my cell phone downstairs. I was blissfully unaware until I got into the office and unpacked my bag. I pushed the button on my iPhone to check e-mail as my computer was booting up and there it was staring me in the face "One Missed Call: Bernell Rhone - Cell; One Voicemail". I knew right away it couldn't be good. As that message payed out in my ear I was shattered. Our brave girl had worked through so much to get to the point where she was just two weeks from racing and now this. I called back as soon as I listened to the message but only got voicemail. I know Bernell had a previous commitment today that would have him away from his cell so I efforted all morning to gather information.
I wanted to have all the information I could before I started notifying people, but one person I wanted to reach before she went out to work was Janet Weber, Missy's breeder. I hated calling her with less than complete information, but I also wanted her to be aware before she got into an office full of people. I gave her the news - all that I had at that time - and she took it hard. Janet is a wonderful person and takes care of her homebreds (and all living creatures really) like they were her own kids. I wanted to make it all better but there is so little to be able to say other than "I'm sorry".
I was able to track down the vet a little while later and to say he was straightforward would be putting it politely. We think human docs have no real bedside manner. To be fair, he probably is used to owners who stay more detached than I do. In any event, she shattered her knee after her work. There was no support to it whatsoever and no way to repair it. She was in an obvious amount of pain and the decision was made to euthanize her.
Bernell and I were able to connect this afternoon. This isn't the first time a horse has broken down on him. Anyone who has been training horse for 30+ years has seen it before. But you could hear the hurt in his voice and the concern in his tone. Sure enough, as Missy was being pulled up exercise rider Lianne Rhone said she switched leads and as she did she took a bad step. Thankfully she was able to get clear and safely dismount. She tried to make Missy as comfortable as possible until help arrived.
The all engulfing sadness is horrible. I will never forget the day I met her at Russ Rhone's training center last fall. I was standing in the barn watching another horse get saddled up in front of Missy's stall. She popped her head out and hung it over my shoulder, sizing me up with her big expressive brown eyes. I reached around her beautiful head and gave her a little hug and a scratch and she leaned into me letting me know she approved. We connected, she worked well and the match was made.
Eight Belles and other high profile breakdowns were very public tragedies. Miss Belle Express is a private one, but one that is no less significant to her breeder, ownership group, trainer and barn staff. I'm also not looking to assign blame. People will scream "surface", "trainer", "rider", "racing" and on and on. This does happen. It's painful. It's miserable. But it does happen. We always erred on the side of caution with her. The slightest ache gave her a few days off. She didn't gallop unless she was sound. Even after coming back from the farm, Bernell waited a week longer than the vet recommended before galloping her back to be safe. A hard thing to understand is that this past week she was sounder than she had ever been. No aches or pains, a good attitude and her head was most definitely on her business. Her morning gallops were excellent and her schedule was being shifted to point to her debut on April 22.
That race will go on, of course. The world keeps turning. The sun keeps rising. Racing goes on. Outside of a handful of people who were very much attached to this Minnesota-bred filly, no one will know that in the third race that day there should be one more entry on the track - a Janet Weber homebred daughter of Mocha Express with a big heart and a sweet disposition that never got her chance to shine on the afternoon stage. Thanksfully, for too short a time, she was able to light up the lives of those of us that knew her.
I was upstairs getting ready for work as the message played out on my cell phone downstairs. I was blissfully unaware until I got into the office and unpacked my bag. I pushed the button on my iPhone to check e-mail as my computer was booting up and there it was staring me in the face "One Missed Call: Bernell Rhone - Cell; One Voicemail". I knew right away it couldn't be good. As that message payed out in my ear I was shattered. Our brave girl had worked through so much to get to the point where she was just two weeks from racing and now this. I called back as soon as I listened to the message but only got voicemail. I know Bernell had a previous commitment today that would have him away from his cell so I efforted all morning to gather information.
I wanted to have all the information I could before I started notifying people, but one person I wanted to reach before she went out to work was Janet Weber, Missy's breeder. I hated calling her with less than complete information, but I also wanted her to be aware before she got into an office full of people. I gave her the news - all that I had at that time - and she took it hard. Janet is a wonderful person and takes care of her homebreds (and all living creatures really) like they were her own kids. I wanted to make it all better but there is so little to be able to say other than "I'm sorry".
I was able to track down the vet a little while later and to say he was straightforward would be putting it politely. We think human docs have no real bedside manner. To be fair, he probably is used to owners who stay more detached than I do. In any event, she shattered her knee after her work. There was no support to it whatsoever and no way to repair it. She was in an obvious amount of pain and the decision was made to euthanize her.
Bernell and I were able to connect this afternoon. This isn't the first time a horse has broken down on him. Anyone who has been training horse for 30+ years has seen it before. But you could hear the hurt in his voice and the concern in his tone. Sure enough, as Missy was being pulled up exercise rider Lianne Rhone said she switched leads and as she did she took a bad step. Thankfully she was able to get clear and safely dismount. She tried to make Missy as comfortable as possible until help arrived.
The all engulfing sadness is horrible. I will never forget the day I met her at Russ Rhone's training center last fall. I was standing in the barn watching another horse get saddled up in front of Missy's stall. She popped her head out and hung it over my shoulder, sizing me up with her big expressive brown eyes. I reached around her beautiful head and gave her a little hug and a scratch and she leaned into me letting me know she approved. We connected, she worked well and the match was made.
Eight Belles and other high profile breakdowns were very public tragedies. Miss Belle Express is a private one, but one that is no less significant to her breeder, ownership group, trainer and barn staff. I'm also not looking to assign blame. People will scream "surface", "trainer", "rider", "racing" and on and on. This does happen. It's painful. It's miserable. But it does happen. We always erred on the side of caution with her. The slightest ache gave her a few days off. She didn't gallop unless she was sound. Even after coming back from the farm, Bernell waited a week longer than the vet recommended before galloping her back to be safe. A hard thing to understand is that this past week she was sounder than she had ever been. No aches or pains, a good attitude and her head was most definitely on her business. Her morning gallops were excellent and her schedule was being shifted to point to her debut on April 22.
That race will go on, of course. The world keeps turning. The sun keeps rising. Racing goes on. Outside of a handful of people who were very much attached to this Minnesota-bred filly, no one will know that in the third race that day there should be one more entry on the track - a Janet Weber homebred daughter of Mocha Express with a big heart and a sweet disposition that never got her chance to shine on the afternoon stage. Thanksfully, for too short a time, she was able to light up the lives of those of us that knew her.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Missy Gets Closer While Fizzy Wallows
Fizzy Pop (Slew Gin Fizz - Pop Pop BB Gun - Red Ryder) was to be entered to run Wednesday afternoon back on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs for a $25,000 tag. In fact, the title of this blog was originally "Fizzy Starts and Missy Gets Closer". Unfortunately that isn't going to happen. Fizzy's race was not written for Wednesday. Apparently as the meet winds down many of the middle class horses ($20,000 - $50,000) are bailing and whoever is left can't get a race. That puts us in a tough spot. We gave him five months for a little R&R which, by all accounts, went very, very well. He's come back in great shape, ran a strong second against a ringer in his first back and seemed poised to step up in his second start back. Now that momentum is getting flushed as race after race doesn't write. Additionally, we're not recouping any of the money that we put out resting him. Our options become running him over his head or running him lower than his value. I hate protecting a horse against a claim, but if Fiz could step up like he showed he may, he becomes a viable entry of the Claiming Crown. It's quite the dilemma and no fun at all. Now that we're almost six weeks past his last start it's just like coming back from a layoff again. There's no blame, but a whole lot of frustration.
On the other hand, while Miss Belle Express (Mocha Express - Tonya Belle - Best of Both) missed her scheduled work this weekend with some weather issues in Tampa, she is moving forward. It was decided that she had enough to learn without throwing a sloppy track on top of that. She's been galloping and is getting readier by the day. Finally it appears that there may be a maiden race setting up for her in a couple of weeks so her work schedule is going to be modified to get her ready to race. We'll see a work out for her on Tuesday this week; another early next week and then a blow out a few days before her start. While still a few weeks away - and anything can happen when you're talking about high strung equine athletes - it's exciting to have a goal in mind; a start to shoot at.
From a business standpoint for her group, it's good to have her getting close to race. She's been burning cash for a while now and she'll finally get the opportunity to start paying some of that back. It's good business-wise, but it's also good for the morale of the partners. It's frustrating when you pay for a horse and she's just a newsletter or an update. Watching her on TVG or, better yet, in person is what it's all about. Trying to get that picture for the wall and some respite from the maintenance fees for a while is what makes this fun. It's going to be exciting to get all the partners involved in racing rather than prepping!
We're still looking for a few more if you're interested!!
On the other hand, while Miss Belle Express (Mocha Express - Tonya Belle - Best of Both) missed her scheduled work this weekend with some weather issues in Tampa, she is moving forward. It was decided that she had enough to learn without throwing a sloppy track on top of that. She's been galloping and is getting readier by the day. Finally it appears that there may be a maiden race setting up for her in a couple of weeks so her work schedule is going to be modified to get her ready to race. We'll see a work out for her on Tuesday this week; another early next week and then a blow out a few days before her start. While still a few weeks away - and anything can happen when you're talking about high strung equine athletes - it's exciting to have a goal in mind; a start to shoot at.
From a business standpoint for her group, it's good to have her getting close to race. She's been burning cash for a while now and she'll finally get the opportunity to start paying some of that back. It's good business-wise, but it's also good for the morale of the partners. It's frustrating when you pay for a horse and she's just a newsletter or an update. Watching her on TVG or, better yet, in person is what it's all about. Trying to get that picture for the wall and some respite from the maintenance fees for a while is what makes this fun. It's going to be exciting to get all the partners involved in racing rather than prepping!
We're still looking for a few more if you're interested!!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
12th of 31
Miss Belle Express is now officially back on track. She worked today in an official clocking of :50.4 for four furlongs. Breezing. Eight of fourteen works at that distance on a fast track today at Tampa Bay Downs.
As a younger guy, I always put a lot of stock in the time I saw on workouts. The twelve second a furlong rule was etched in my brain. Ten years ago I would have looked at this workout and thought, "Nothing there at all." Today? Much different story. I've learned that a workout's importance is on several levels and the least of that is time. How did the filly handle the work? Was she labored during the effort or was she smooth? Did it drain her completely or did she come back like it was nothing? Was she aggressive on the track and try to get after other horses or was she passive and just did what she had to in order to get back to the barn?
Here is what we learned about Missy today according to our trainer, Bernell Rhone:
She changed leads exactly when she was supposed to - without being asked;
Bernell's instructions to jockey Dean Butler were to just let her do it on her own - don't urge her, but don't discourage her. So the work was entirely her own;
Seemed to come back just fine;
Also working under the same instructions today was Shot of Silver, a MN-bred 6-year old mare with 10 lifetime wins and earnings of over $138,000 competing at mostly the $15,000 - $20,000 level. She worked in :51.6. Outworking her under the same conditions, to me, was most encouraging. Early in her career Silver competed in several MN-bred stakes races and throughout her career she has won at Canterbury, Turf Paradise and Remington Park. A very useful racehorse here and away.
Missy is still new to her craft and should improve as she gains experience. It's not a stretch to hope that she'll be a higher caliber racehorse than Shot of Silver - though it's no guarantee either. Until that gate springs open and there is the pressure of a race, you don't know what you have.
As a younger guy, I always put a lot of stock in the time I saw on workouts. The twelve second a furlong rule was etched in my brain. Ten years ago I would have looked at this workout and thought, "Nothing there at all." Today? Much different story. I've learned that a workout's importance is on several levels and the least of that is time. How did the filly handle the work? Was she labored during the effort or was she smooth? Did it drain her completely or did she come back like it was nothing? Was she aggressive on the track and try to get after other horses or was she passive and just did what she had to in order to get back to the barn?
Here is what we learned about Missy today according to our trainer, Bernell Rhone:
She changed leads exactly when she was supposed to - without being asked;
Bernell's instructions to jockey Dean Butler were to just let her do it on her own - don't urge her, but don't discourage her. So the work was entirely her own;
Seemed to come back just fine;
Also working under the same instructions today was Shot of Silver, a MN-bred 6-year old mare with 10 lifetime wins and earnings of over $138,000 competing at mostly the $15,000 - $20,000 level. She worked in :51.6. Outworking her under the same conditions, to me, was most encouraging. Early in her career Silver competed in several MN-bred stakes races and throughout her career she has won at Canterbury, Turf Paradise and Remington Park. A very useful racehorse here and away.
Missy is still new to her craft and should improve as she gains experience. It's not a stretch to hope that she'll be a higher caliber racehorse than Shot of Silver - though it's no guarantee either. Until that gate springs open and there is the pressure of a race, you don't know what you have.
Monday, March 23, 2009
"She Looks Like a Million Bucks"
Glad to hear it. After almost a month away from the racetrack, Miss Belle Express (Mocha Express - Tonya Belle - Best of Both) is back in the Rhone Barn and looking at her first timed work in over a month later in the week. Here is what we know so far:
- She has not tied up in two months since she was treated for the issue. Whew;
- Since she has had her time away, she has lost all heat in the sore shin and, thankfully, has not returned since galloping over the racing surface for a week now;
- She is dappled, bright eyed and well muscled. Our trainer was pleasantly surprised at how little fitness she lost at the farm. Great news;
- She is moving steadily toward her work later this week and there is now the very real possibility that she'll get one, maybe even two, starts in at Tampa Bay before coming north in May.
- She has burned through her group's initial cash outlay and now I'm going back and letting them all know that we need to kick in another three months worth of estimated expenses to carry us through May. Depressing for them, I'm sure, when they haven't seen her race yet.
What we don't know:
- How the shin will react to a hard work;
- Is she fast enough?
The good is all good. What we don't know, however, is big. I suspect the shin will be fine. She would have shown some soreness by now and everything has been great and the vet is confident that we've cleared that hurdle. How fast? Well, that is the age old question, isn't it? It's also one that we won't know the answer to until she steps into the starting gate a few weeks from now and runs with purpose.
She has smooth action, is focused when she's on the track, a quick learner and appears to be aggressive when she gets out there. She looks like a million bucks. I know it's asking a lot, but please let her be fast...
- She has not tied up in two months since she was treated for the issue. Whew;
- Since she has had her time away, she has lost all heat in the sore shin and, thankfully, has not returned since galloping over the racing surface for a week now;
- She is dappled, bright eyed and well muscled. Our trainer was pleasantly surprised at how little fitness she lost at the farm. Great news;
- She is moving steadily toward her work later this week and there is now the very real possibility that she'll get one, maybe even two, starts in at Tampa Bay before coming north in May.
- She has burned through her group's initial cash outlay and now I'm going back and letting them all know that we need to kick in another three months worth of estimated expenses to carry us through May. Depressing for them, I'm sure, when they haven't seen her race yet.
What we don't know:
- How the shin will react to a hard work;
- Is she fast enough?
The good is all good. What we don't know, however, is big. I suspect the shin will be fine. She would have shown some soreness by now and everything has been great and the vet is confident that we've cleared that hurdle. How fast? Well, that is the age old question, isn't it? It's also one that we won't know the answer to until she steps into the starting gate a few weeks from now and runs with purpose.
She has smooth action, is focused when she's on the track, a quick learner and appears to be aggressive when she gets out there. She looks like a million bucks. I know it's asking a lot, but please let her be fast...
Thursday, March 19, 2009
A Lull
I Am Woman did not get entered at Balmoral this weekend. Fizzy Pop wasn't entered into the $32,000 claiming race over the turf tomorrow at Tampa Bay Downs. Miss Belle Express is still weeks away from starting so now we enter a bit of a lull.
I'll need to speak to Bernell tomorrow morning to see why we didn't enter Fizzy Pop in tomorrow's race. I hate missing opportunities with a sharp horse. I know he doesn't want to burn him out at Tampa with Canterbury coming up in May, but as a Florida bred, Fiz is eligible for added money down there that he's not eligible for up here. Sure, I love watching his run live, but I also like the opportunity to give our partners the most bang for their buck. There was some talk that the racing secretary was going to write back another $25,000 claiming race and perhaps we're waiting on that. I'll know more in the morning.
One of the tough things in placing a horse is the timing of the races that are written. Tomorrow would have been probably been a bit soon (20-days) after the last start, but the next distance over the turf is April 4 (about 35-days). Given the purse structure, it's a sad reality that if we can keep Fiz healthy and sharp he needs to race once a month in order to try and pay the bills and catch up with the four months he was laid off. Since he had a first out Beyer of 80 in February, there is the possibility that he may be able to step up bit in class, but unless he can be competitive in the mid-level stakes (Claiming Crown, The John Bullit) our only option is to try and have him ready every three to four weeks.
It was probably time for I Am Woman to take a week off. She has raced four straight weeks and reeled off three wins and a third. It's hard to complain about that type of month. She was also able to lower her times from 2:00 flat to a head behind a 1:56.2 winner during that time as well, so she's moving up the right way and a week off wouldn't be the worst thing in the world right now either. There are also filly and mare races for Wednesday evening and there is the possibility that she may be pointed for one of those as well giving her a few extra days of rest.
One way to fill the lull this weekend will be to pay the bills. I have been traveling for a few weeks so I'll need to sit down and pay the horse bills. I'm still waiting on one vet bill to close out the 1st quarter of Miss Belle Express, but I don't want to keep the partners waiting, so if the bill doesn't come this weekend the financials will go out with a caveat. She hasn't started out the way we had hoped with her tying up issues and then her shin soreness, but both have hopefully been treated successfully and is now on the path to stardom. Well, at least the path to her first start!
I'll need to speak to Bernell tomorrow morning to see why we didn't enter Fizzy Pop in tomorrow's race. I hate missing opportunities with a sharp horse. I know he doesn't want to burn him out at Tampa with Canterbury coming up in May, but as a Florida bred, Fiz is eligible for added money down there that he's not eligible for up here. Sure, I love watching his run live, but I also like the opportunity to give our partners the most bang for their buck. There was some talk that the racing secretary was going to write back another $25,000 claiming race and perhaps we're waiting on that. I'll know more in the morning.
One of the tough things in placing a horse is the timing of the races that are written. Tomorrow would have been probably been a bit soon (20-days) after the last start, but the next distance over the turf is April 4 (about 35-days). Given the purse structure, it's a sad reality that if we can keep Fiz healthy and sharp he needs to race once a month in order to try and pay the bills and catch up with the four months he was laid off. Since he had a first out Beyer of 80 in February, there is the possibility that he may be able to step up bit in class, but unless he can be competitive in the mid-level stakes (Claiming Crown, The John Bullit) our only option is to try and have him ready every three to four weeks.
It was probably time for I Am Woman to take a week off. She has raced four straight weeks and reeled off three wins and a third. It's hard to complain about that type of month. She was also able to lower her times from 2:00 flat to a head behind a 1:56.2 winner during that time as well, so she's moving up the right way and a week off wouldn't be the worst thing in the world right now either. There are also filly and mare races for Wednesday evening and there is the possibility that she may be pointed for one of those as well giving her a few extra days of rest.
One way to fill the lull this weekend will be to pay the bills. I have been traveling for a few weeks so I'll need to sit down and pay the horse bills. I'm still waiting on one vet bill to close out the 1st quarter of Miss Belle Express, but I don't want to keep the partners waiting, so if the bill doesn't come this weekend the financials will go out with a caveat. She hasn't started out the way we had hoped with her tying up issues and then her shin soreness, but both have hopefully been treated successfully and is now on the path to stardom. Well, at least the path to her first start!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Thoughts Bouncing Around My Head Today
I Am Woman will try and make it four for four in 2009 tonight as undoubtedly the odds-on favorite in the first race at Balmoral tonight. Post time is 6:30 CT and at that moment my boys and I will be driving on I-15 toward their mom's house in N. Las Vegas. If anyone out there catches the race, if you could drop me an e-mail with the result I'd appreciate it. TrackMaster harness results are no way near as timely as their Thoroughbred brethren are so until I get to the hotel, I will be resultless.
It was quite a day for Minnesota connected horses yesterday. David M. Miller outlines it best in his View From the Quarter Pole blog entry today. Best of luck to Mac Robertson and the Win Willy crew. That is going to be a fun horse to watch the next few weeks. I hope Canterbury can still be an attractive enough destination for Mac and other trainers every summer. David covers that a bit as well.
While Tampa Bay Derby pacesetter Perfect Bull didn't have it to hold Saturday against this ilk, be certain that the Bernell Rhone trained colt will be a factor in the Minnesota Derby. It was exciting to see a Minn-bred in with the big boys and even more so to see him up in front. I hope he came back well so we can enjoy him up here. I remember the day after he arrived in Shakopee from the Assmussen barn in Texas. My wife and I happened to be in the Rhone barn visiting Somerset Sam and Fizzy Pop that morning. Bernell was excited to show him to us and he lived up to his billing. He was a strapping black colt at two and just looked the part of a racehorse. I've been following him ever since and while not successful in the Tampa Bay Derby, I think he has a future in less ambitious stakes racing for a couple of years.
Val over at Foolish Pleasure asks an interesting question about trainer Scott Lake's bankruptcy. I don't know a lot about Lake's situation other than it happened, but boy can I see this spreading if things don't turn around economically soon. Owner's that can't pay their bills translate into trainers that don't get paid. A trainer can only confiscate so much stock or have it signed over to them by cash strapped owners before he or she has a glut of stock. This has the potential to be an ugly problem - I hope it never gets there.
Other Stable News and Notes
Our Miss Belle Express is back at the track this week. She started training over the surface again today and we'll see in a few days if that shin issue is behind us. It appears to be, but until she gets some real work over the racetrack, we won't know for sure. It looks like Fizzy Pop will move up a bit in class next out as the only $25,000 claiming race in this book was run on Friday. There are, however, three $32,000 claiming races a mile or more upcoming with two on the turf. I think he can handle the potential foes OK it's just too bad that the purse money for the $20K, $32K and $50K claimers are all the same. Regardless, we're happy to be running and Fizzy's a fighter. What's nice is that as a Florida bred he is eligible for the bonus win money - if we can just get him under the wire first before he travels north!
It was quite a day for Minnesota connected horses yesterday. David M. Miller outlines it best in his View From the Quarter Pole blog entry today. Best of luck to Mac Robertson and the Win Willy crew. That is going to be a fun horse to watch the next few weeks. I hope Canterbury can still be an attractive enough destination for Mac and other trainers every summer. David covers that a bit as well.
While Tampa Bay Derby pacesetter Perfect Bull didn't have it to hold Saturday against this ilk, be certain that the Bernell Rhone trained colt will be a factor in the Minnesota Derby. It was exciting to see a Minn-bred in with the big boys and even more so to see him up in front. I hope he came back well so we can enjoy him up here. I remember the day after he arrived in Shakopee from the Assmussen barn in Texas. My wife and I happened to be in the Rhone barn visiting Somerset Sam and Fizzy Pop that morning. Bernell was excited to show him to us and he lived up to his billing. He was a strapping black colt at two and just looked the part of a racehorse. I've been following him ever since and while not successful in the Tampa Bay Derby, I think he has a future in less ambitious stakes racing for a couple of years.
Val over at Foolish Pleasure asks an interesting question about trainer Scott Lake's bankruptcy. I don't know a lot about Lake's situation other than it happened, but boy can I see this spreading if things don't turn around economically soon. Owner's that can't pay their bills translate into trainers that don't get paid. A trainer can only confiscate so much stock or have it signed over to them by cash strapped owners before he or she has a glut of stock. This has the potential to be an ugly problem - I hope it never gets there.
Other Stable News and Notes
Our Miss Belle Express is back at the track this week. She started training over the surface again today and we'll see in a few days if that shin issue is behind us. It appears to be, but until she gets some real work over the racetrack, we won't know for sure. It looks like Fizzy Pop will move up a bit in class next out as the only $25,000 claiming race in this book was run on Friday. There are, however, three $32,000 claiming races a mile or more upcoming with two on the turf. I think he can handle the potential foes OK it's just too bad that the purse money for the $20K, $32K and $50K claimers are all the same. Regardless, we're happy to be running and Fizzy's a fighter. What's nice is that as a Florida bred he is eligible for the bonus win money - if we can just get him under the wire first before he travels north!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Paying the Bills
This is probably the least fun thing to do when you own racehorses! I spent the morning working with spreadsheets and getting ready to pay the bills. There are the usual bills for training, vet, and farrier but this time of year there are also bills for accountants and the renewal for business licenses for the various partnerships. It's important to get K-1s out in a timely manner as you don't want your partners waiting to file their taxes because they need paperwork from you. I've been there, and it's no fun at all - I don't want my clients feeling the way I did then.
Compounding the bill paying is we're not racing All you do is watch the account balances dwindle. Thoughts turn to toward the good old days when your horses gave you a race every other week and purse money was coming in and you were hoping to add photos to your wall. Looking ahead, you know that there is light at the end of the tunnel and those days will be back, but you also know you're going to be on that edge of invoicing partners for another three months of training expenses and that's not something I like to do. We all know getting in that it may be a possibility - heck, it's more likely a probability - but you hope not to do it and work toward that end diligently. However it does happen and is part of the business/game/sport (pick your category). So in the end you try to be frugal, responsible and a good steward of the money entrusted to you and, in many ways, you then hope for the best.
The upside: everyone seems to be training well. Miss Belle Express's issues appear to be resolved and she's starting to move forward again. Fizzy Pop followed up his bullet work with another nice work over four furlongs this morning. Valid Port is back in training after his ankle strain. I Am Woman is being shipped to Balmoral Park in Chicago to start her career in the next few weeks. So here's hoping that February race cards start filling up with our horses and that bill writing next month may include a few deposits!
Compounding the bill paying is we're not racing All you do is watch the account balances dwindle. Thoughts turn to toward the good old days when your horses gave you a race every other week and purse money was coming in and you were hoping to add photos to your wall. Looking ahead, you know that there is light at the end of the tunnel and those days will be back, but you also know you're going to be on that edge of invoicing partners for another three months of training expenses and that's not something I like to do. We all know getting in that it may be a possibility - heck, it's more likely a probability - but you hope not to do it and work toward that end diligently. However it does happen and is part of the business/game/sport (pick your category). So in the end you try to be frugal, responsible and a good steward of the money entrusted to you and, in many ways, you then hope for the best.
The upside: everyone seems to be training well. Miss Belle Express's issues appear to be resolved and she's starting to move forward again. Fizzy Pop followed up his bullet work with another nice work over four furlongs this morning. Valid Port is back in training after his ankle strain. I Am Woman is being shipped to Balmoral Park in Chicago to start her career in the next few weeks. So here's hoping that February race cards start filling up with our horses and that bill writing next month may include a few deposits!
Monday, January 19, 2009
An Eventful Uneventful Week
As I am traveling for IGT this week, I'm going to be a little sporadic posting, but there was some solid news from last week:
Fizzy Pop had his first timed work since his three month vacation and he showed that he was tired of just hanging in the sun. He bulleted a three furlong work in :36.4 out of 18 runners that day at Tampa. More importantly, he did it well within himself, came back barely winded and even galloped out strongly for another furlong after the wire. YAY! Start up the dream machine!
I Am Woman did not meet her reserve at Tattersalls' Mixed sale at the Meadowlands this morning, so she remains with VIP Stable and I still own 12.5% of a Standardbred. Trainer Tom Fanning doesn't feel that she's quite up to Big M calibre at this time, so she'll probably ship west (Chicago?) to mature and hopefully win some races before she heads back to take the East by storm (OK, that's wishful, but why not?)!
Finally, Miss Belle Express had no tying up issues this week and is scheduled to work tomorrow. Sure, she's fallen behind schedule a bit, but she seems to have turned an important corner in her development. I'm excited to watch her to continue to move forward and get ready for that first start - hopefully in March.
Pretty eventful week for no racing!
Fizzy Pop had his first timed work since his three month vacation and he showed that he was tired of just hanging in the sun. He bulleted a three furlong work in :36.4 out of 18 runners that day at Tampa. More importantly, he did it well within himself, came back barely winded and even galloped out strongly for another furlong after the wire. YAY! Start up the dream machine!
I Am Woman did not meet her reserve at Tattersalls' Mixed sale at the Meadowlands this morning, so she remains with VIP Stable and I still own 12.5% of a Standardbred. Trainer Tom Fanning doesn't feel that she's quite up to Big M calibre at this time, so she'll probably ship west (Chicago?) to mature and hopefully win some races before she heads back to take the East by storm (OK, that's wishful, but why not?)!
Finally, Miss Belle Express had no tying up issues this week and is scheduled to work tomorrow. Sure, she's fallen behind schedule a bit, but she seems to have turned an important corner in her development. I'm excited to watch her to continue to move forward and get ready for that first start - hopefully in March.
Pretty eventful week for no racing!
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