Posted on 05/03/2009 4:59:39 AM PDT by poobear
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- It began the way it always does -- with the thump of horseflesh against horseflesh in a field so crowded, the wonder is that somebody didn't bounce all the way to Cincinnati. Dunkirk, a hot wise-guy horse, stumbled, and elsewhere, Mine That Bird, a colt nobody was even thinking about, had to fight a pair of horses for simple living space.
Calvin Borel, up on Mine That Bird, did what he has always done here at Churchill Downs. He grabbed hold, steered clear and headed for his office.
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
Enjoy.
Admin Mod if this is already posted my apologies.
Too bad the horse’s name wasn’t “flip the bird.”
Question for horse race fans:
Why do they give race horses such crazy names?
“Why do they give race horses such crazy names?”
Because they can.
I wonder if anyone else on this forum remembers Silky Sullivan. If not, look him up in Wikipedia and you will find out that Bill Shoemaker brought him from dead last and 28 lengths back to win the 1958 Santa Anita Derby. Now that was fun to watch.
I looked for any other reason for this one, but, it appears to be a family thing.
His Daddy is Birdstone and his Mommy is Mining My Own.
Very good article. Thanks for posting.
gate, I’m glad I missed this one as I had to work (I would’ve lost $82). 2/5 I’m gonna make some money at work (not even 1/9 as I’ve lost money in businesses before)...AND 1/9 that the government is going to cash in when I do.
Nice sports writing! I haven’t seen good sports reporting like this for ages. Great story, too, of course!
It seemed like he must have run the 2nd half of the race in record time. Has anyone written about that?
Reading this article was almost as exciting as watching the race.
Isenberg is a treasure!
sw
Wasn’t anything special. Just looked spectacular because everyone else was tiring out in the middle of the track. I guess he ran the final quarter in about 24. Not bad, not great.
Here's another one.
“Wow!
Reading this article was almost as exciting as watching the race.
Isenberg is a treasure!”
That’s why I posted.
Not to many around like Isenberg anymore sadly.
Bill Shoemaker, that guy could ride
Why aren't we supposed to like him?
sw
Makes sense.
I have a pedigree Basset Hound, though he’s strictly low-rent, LOL! His mother was ‘Sophie La-Di-Dah’ so I named our dog ‘Sophie’s Choice Rufus’ on his papers, but he goes by, ‘Rufus’ or ‘Doofus’ or ‘G@ddamit Dog, Git Over Here!’
I thought naming horses might be for similar reasons. :)
Great piece.
Don’t expect this owner to be invited to any swank Lexington or Louisville parties! This guy seemed ANGRY in the interview just moments after the win! I suspect his motorcycle accident!!, and the PAIN KILLERS may have affected his persona! LOL! This guy looks and sounds like a roadee for Garth Brooks!
“Wasn’t anything special. Just looked spectacular because everyone else was tiring out in the middle of the track. I guess he ran the final quarter in about 24. Not bad, not great.”
I may have to retract that statement. The fractions were almost identical to Spectacular Bid’s win, and Bird was coming from @8 back (at the mile.) I guess it was pretty good.
sw
Let’s see, Secretariat ran his final quarter in 23 and 1. Using that as the best, Bird’s 24 and change is pretty darn good.
It looked like MTB had been accustomed to tight places and wasn’t afraid of running on the inside in a really tight place. It looked like there was too much space allowed on the inside because the other horses might not have liked the extreme inside track. - He had a lot of heart and gumption as did the jockey riding him, and I don’t know a thing about racing.
Not the same tactics in the Preakness. Tighter turns, much different pace scenario. Different soil composition. Unless it’s sloppy again, this horse won’t win the Preakness.
The owner tended to be curt and abrupt. It seemed to me that he was probably in pain. He had ridden all the way from New Mexico to Kentucky with a broken leg, and this must have been discomforting. I can only imagine how bad that must have felt. The win was spectacular! Maybe that took the edge off the pain of the leg. What a terrific race.
Because each registered horse has to have a unique name, and most normal names have already been taken. Frequently, the owners will use pieces of the names of the sire and dam, but they don’t have to. As a bit of trivia, it took eleven tries to give Secretariat a unique name. Barbaro’s name came from an old painting of hunting dogs.
Jerry Izenberg is a class act and a legendary sports writer.
How about the last 1/2 of the race, not just 1/4?
I don’t see it as anything special. Good, not special. IMHO.
0k. thanks.
That's about the same thing my betting Uncle just told me. He says the horse won't finish in the money next time.
sw
The Derby is very unique. Extra large field. Lots of horses that probably shouldn’t be there (although this year’s results show any colt can win.) Lots of bumping and blocking. Hard trips, etc. The nature of the run to the first turn often causes fast early pace. Best horse doesn’t always win.
The Preakness will have a smaller field. Speed does better. These big closers can’t leave themselves too much to do. Add some fresh colts whose connections didn’t get caught up in Derby fever.
Ya never know.
sw
Ha, not to mention his trainer was carrying a handgun during the race. :-)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2243156/posts
That was the trainer.
And don’t they have to be under 16 letters?
Yes. The trainer. Thanks, B.
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