A Look Back...Before We Forge Ahead

As the year comes to close, it’s important to look back and recognize the folks that had an impact upon the year as well as looking ahead at what I’d like to accomplish in 2014.  Today I will take a look back before taking a look forward in the next day or two.

First recognition has to go to the horses that graced the stable this past year.  The winners: Ask Eddy, Bourbonology; those that tried: Mundy, Elusive Edition; and the mother to be: Tabby Lane.  All are very special and while Mundy and Eddy have moved along and were part of the Canterbury Racing Club, Bobo and Ellie remain in our partnership stable and are wintering at Russ Rhone’s operation in Chaska, which is as good a place as any to start the human portion of the acknowledgements.

The Rhone family and extensions have been instrumental to any success we may have on the track.  From Russ breaking Ellie and getting her ready for racing (and getting Bobo ready for 2014) to Bernell and Cindy at the track getting them at the very best which helped us garner our first Maiden Special Weight victory with Bourbonology this past year to Rhone daughter LeAnn and her husband,  Dean Butler, who predominantly ride our girls in the morning and afternoons, respectively, are our most intimate connection to the equine athletes and their success in the afternoons can be attributed directly to their efforts - these folks are not only accomplished but some of the best people you’ll ever meet.

It was an honor to work with Clay Brinson for the first time.  The guy is magical and turned an overworked, undernourished horse into a multiple winner with his patience and ability.  To have a season where I was able to hang out in the Rhone and Brinson barns was an experience like no other and with Juan indulging Heather with time with Eddy (even though he got a little naughty - Eddy, not Juan), the time with the horses this season was tremendous.

At Canterbury, for me, it all starts and stops with Jeff Maday.  If Jeff didn’t indulge a goofy blogger five years ago, I’m nothing in racing today.  I owe my place at the Form to him (and David Miller) as well as my position managing the Canterbury Racing Club.  To that end, the efforts of Andrew Offerman, Michelle Benson and Jalique Eikenberry cannot be understated as they were always at the ready with help and advice.  Track President Randy Sampson’s guidance over the track operations and influence on Minnesota racing can sometimes go unnoticed – but it shouldn’t.  The guiding light for Minnesota racing may have been lit by Dale Schenian and Randy’s dad Curt, but Randy has taken that torch and held it higher than it’s nearly ever been and will continue to make history over the next several years.  In any talk of a resurgence, Randy needs to get the lion’s share of the credit – though he would never say so himself.

When discussing the resurgent Minnesota racing industry one cannot give the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community enough credit.  Their deal with Canterbury is a unique one in the United States and has led to elevated purses, full stalls and fields, better wagering opportunities, more competitive racing and a strong heartbeat for a once dying industry in Minnesota.  They are also not passive participants.  You can see members attending the races and on major race days you can see the presence of their executive team actively participating in the success of the racetrack.  I see this teamwork only getting closer as time goes by.

It’s always a pleasure sharing a pressbox with Paul Allen and my fondest wish every year is that no track takes this gem away from us.  And speaking of sharing a pressbox, the inimitable Jim Wells makes it a pleasure to go to work each race day.  Angela Hermann provided the most noteworthy event of the summer when she was the first female in North America to call an entire thoroughbred race card and I was honored enough to report on, as well as witness, history.  Inviting me into the booth for some pre-race analysis with her was a blast, as always, and my day subbing for her in the paddock made me realize (again) just how difficult a job it is.  I would judge my performance as a C with a couple of A races but a couple that were just downright awful as well.  Of course I still had a great time and really appreciate the opportunity.

All the members of the Canterbury Racing Club this season were wonderful to work for.  They were an active, animated, opinionated and passionate group that made it one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional life.  I hope that I can come back in 2014 and see if we can finish the year in the black for the first time as well as to continue to pass on my love and understanding of the business.

The Minnesota Thoroughbred Association board of directors was eventful and interesting this year as well.  Jay Dailey took over the presidential reins from Scott Rake and continued on with strong, stable leadership as the organization continues to grow and racing in Minnesota flourishes once again.  The rock beneath the occasional storminess of the Board is the miraculous Kay King, our Executive Director, who seemingly takes on task after task and makes them all look effortless. 

As we foray into breeding for the first time, Lisa Duoos and her team at Dove Hill Reproduction have been wonderful in guiding us through the breeding process and taking as good of care of Tabby Lane as could ever be expected.  It’s nice to see additional stallions come under her management, she certainly deserves it.  We used Deb and Jeff Hilger’s Storm Cat sire, Eastwood Dacat, and the patience and time that the Hilgers put into guiding me through the process before we even got started was above and beyond anything that you could expect.  This foal and any success he or she may have will be more a testament to those three than anything I have done.

Finally, I would be very remiss in not acknowledging the contributions of Heather Frisbie.  Her love, support and frank opinions are all much appreciated and sorely needed.  Her knowledge of the sport horse from her years showing horses and barrel racing is more valuable than I can express.  She brings an insight into the business that I don’t have and is a compliment to what I do know!  Add to it her eye for photography and willingness to share those gifts with the partners and Club members and I am forever grateful.  I love her dearly and glad we’re a team.  Now if I could only get her to stop falling in love with the horses…

If I inadvertently forgot anyone, I am truly sorry.  There are simply so many kind and generous folks for me to possibly be able to thank individually and I hope that if I missed you, you’ll forgive me!  In a day or two, I’ll share my goals for 2014 as we kick off another year of racing!

Last Two Weekends Are No Throw Ins at Canterbury

The Canterbury season is coming to a close and while barns are paring down and shipping horses to Chicago, Oklahoma and other locales, the action has not stopped in Shakopee.  Actually, a LOT went on over the weekend including history being made and a first of it's kind event comes to Shakopee closing weekend.

Angela Calls the Card

Track analyst Angela Hermann became the first North American woman to call and entire card of Thoroughbred races on Saturday.  I covered a lot of the specifics in my first feature for the Daily Racing Form this past week. 

The poise she showed, especially race 1 when there were 3 video cameras in the booth and some dope with a cell phone camera, was impressive.  Her voice may not boom like regular announcer Paul Allen, but she was smooth and fluid and had her own take on the races as they unfolded.  It was a pleasure to listen to and even more so to have a front seat to some racing history.

Mundy Gets Claimed

Canterbury Racing Club horse, Mundy, was claimed over the weekend.  We had claimed her for $16,000 in the hopes that she would make a nice higher level addition to the Club.  I was mistaken.  The 5-year old mare wasn't herself in Minnesota.  As the meet wore on she was more and more determined to drag her pilot through fast early fractions and had a tougher time settling down on the front end.  The result was just a single 3rd place finish as we dropped her through the class levels until she was finally claimed at $7500 and will head back to AZ with old trainer Mike Chambers. 

She looked all the part to be a solid claim but that certainly did not materialize.  She may have disliked the Canterbury turf or she may be starting to get babies on the brain. Either way she never fired for us and I wish her well back in AZ.

That leaves the Club with one horse, Ask Eddy, who will go for his 3rd win of the meet in 5 starts on Friday evening.  It's a tough, full field, but we're hoping that Eddy can bring home one more win before heading to Hawthorne.  The race is his preferred mile and 70 over the dirt, $5,000 claiming.

Bourbonology Ends Season With A Second

Our own Bourbonology finished a solid second in her sixth race since we purchased her earlier in the meet.  She had a rugged win in her GRS debut, winning a Maiden Special Weight but faltered thereafter.  She came back in a first level allowance and was smoked; the same for an off the turf effort at $20,000 claiming.  In her final attempt at $20,000 she closed a bit better, but it appeared that she needed some class relief. 

We gave it to her in her next out, a $12,500 claiming race, and she responded well.  She was coming hard late and I thought we had a shot to win, but jockey Dean Butler couldn't give her head to run: she was trying hard to lug in and with a horse on her inside flank any rally would have resulted in a disqualification, or worse.  She ended up finishing 4th but gave us a reason for optimism.

Saturday she broke fairly and was settled nicely. When the time came to run, Dean was able to get her going and, with a change in the blinker set up, she was less apt to lug in.  Dean also had her on the rail and she rallied nicely for a second place finish.  Now she'll get some time off until Tampa Bay Downs in December, or perhaps even the 1st of the year.  Given the purse increases at Canterbury, we want to have a fresh mare for the 2014 season so we won't bring her back too early.

Professional Indian Horse Racing Association

An event that I have been looking forward to for weeks - no, not the last Food Truck Festival on closing day (well, YES, that too...); the PIHRA Professional Indian Relay Tribal Championships will take place at Canterbury.  If you haven't seen this, you can take a look here.  It's exciting, dangerous and full of tradition and pride.  One rider will make three laps around the track on 3 separate horses making two exchanges along the way.  The exchanges are exciting and these guys can flat out ride!  Bareback!  Races will be held all three days the final weekend of the meet starting Thursday night and I can't wait to see this live.

New and Notes

In other stable news and notes, Tabby Lane is doing just fine in foal to Eastwood Dacat.  She's settled on a farm in New Prague, MN and we will await the arrival of her first foal sometime in March.  Elusive Edition (Ellie), has recovered nicely from her shin soreness and is showing signs of growing out of it.  However, we will wait on this nice 2-year old Minnesota bred and not start her back until February to get ready for the 2014 season.

Back From "Vacation"

I’ve been horribly remiss in filling this spot the last month.  I have no legitimate excuses other than I’ve been remarkably busy between the day job, the horses and the Form job that when I have time of my own I find it hard to sit here and bang out 500 words.  It’s a crock, I know, but then again I can’t blow off the paid work so this suffers.  Here are some bullet points to catch everyone up in what’s going on:

TABBY LANE

Tabby tweaked an ankle in her last race.  Nothing serious, thank goodness, but enough to give her some time off.  It wasn’t all R&R for Tabs though, she swam several days a week to keep her fitness level up and she was still inundated with visitors as she is Ms. Social.  Her spot in the Rhone barn allows her to see everyone that comes in and out and soak up all the attention she can get.  She’s back working on the track and I hope that I’ll be previewing a race for her in a few weeks!

CANTERBURY

Story lines around half time are the purse agreement with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and how it’s impacting field size (up a horse from the beginning of the meet) and stakes races (the inaugural Mystic Lake Derby this coming Saturday); Heliskier – an impact thoroughbred gelding that may be the best Minnesota bred ever; Tanner Riggs trying to run away with the jockey title; and Mike Biehler giving Mac Robertson all he can handle in the trainer’s race.

Extreme Day at Canterbury was a huge hit with over 16,000 fans converging to see the ostriches and camels, but the highlight was that day’s ninth race being called on helium by race caller extraordinaire Paul Allen.  You can catch the videos over at Canterbury Live.  The brain child of “Idea Man” Jeff Maday and delivered with an assist from track analyst Angela Hermann, the race is believed to be the first time a race has ever been called on helium.  Watching it from the booth was hilarious and Paul pulled it off with his customary aplomb.  While the animals were fun, the call was great!

There has been some fun wagering activity on Heliskier at Canterbury.  Well, not at Canterbury per se but via an ADW somewhere.  He was such a heavy favorite, the second choice in his last race, the MTA Stallion Auction Stakes, went off at over 300-1.  There were two bets of over $200,000 placed on hi in that race – one to win and one to show.  Why, you ask, would someone risk a win bet to win the same as a safer show bet? The only thing we can figure is that there must be some kind of rebate program wherever he/she is betting that is only available for win betting.  Still, the gelding won while breezing and earned a 86 Beyer for that workout.  I simply cannot wait and see what he can do when challenged.

E SVEIKATA

Who?  Yeah, that’s the next blog post.  I still haven’t introduced you all to the 2 year old filly entrusted to Kathleen O’Connell at Calder that one of our groups owns in partnership with breeders Gabe Puniska and Jenepher Hess.  She’s doing very well and you’ll learn more about this young Even the Score filly in a few days.

Hopefully my break is over and I’ll be back at it every few days or so.  With the $150,000 added Mystic Lake Derby this weekend, Fillies Race for Hope Day and the Lady Canterbury Stakes next weekend and Tabby returning to the races, there should be plenty of fun stories to address and I’ll try and stay roused enough to write ‘em!