Diary Post #308
Happy Friday, Everyone! Wow, it has been a very busy week in our industry. There is so much going on that I want to share with you. First of all, I’d love to congratulate FRANKEL (GB) on his success in winning the SUSSEX S. (G1). He is now undefeated and has a race record of 8 for 8. FRANKEL (GB) is truly a sentimental favorite in my camp as he is named for a very dear friend. Jay Hovdey, in the DRF, wrote a special piece on all of this in a recent article. Dottie and Bobby were very close friends for years. Ruben Loza, who now works as one of MY JOHN’S assistant trainers, held the same position for Bobby for 25 years. Jose Luis….who currently grooms MR. COMMONS and STAR BILLING for My John…was a long-time groom for Bobby. “Chuma” (as he is known around the barn) is… Continue Reading
Diary Post #307
Good Day Everyone! Speaking of SLEEPING BEAUTY…..I’d like you to meet BRONZE BEAUTY! She is an adorable 2 year old filly (by Latent Heat) who lives at Barn 55. She finished her appetizer (in the little black bucket MY JOHN always had for US) and then totally relaxed and took a nap. The curious part of this is that she also did not want to ‘miss a thing’. She kept her head close to the door to ‘check out’ what was also going on in the barn. I remember it well! When I was at Barn 55, we would all be in our stalls after our training, baths, and breakfast. Then between 12 and 3 each day, My John always wanted everything nice and quiet and relaxed for us in the barn! It was our special time to really stretch out, take it easy and rest! (Just like Bronze Beauty… Continue Reading
Diary Post #306
Good Morning, The other day at Barn 55, Gilbert was there ready to work. He does horse dental work for some of my pals at the barn. Well, he truly came prepared with his ZENYATTA CAP. Around the brim, he has all of the different jockey figures and pins he has collected in relation to certain races, horses and people in the industry. It is really a very unique cap! I know that the DEL MAR HAT CONTEST was last Wednesday….but in my opinion, GILBERT’S cap is a real winner! Happy ‘Hump Day’! Dottie tells me this is a reference used by people when working a normal business week…Monday through Friday. Wednesday is the mid-point…thus, you only have 2 days until the weekend. This is TOO CUTE! In our industry, Wednesday often begins the racing week! Interesting, how differences occupations can have such varying schedules. I think that is what… Continue Reading
Diary Post #305
Happy Tuesday! Today is an exciting day at Santa Anita. It is the first day horses will be permittedto use the ‘new dirt main track’ since the renovation has been completed. They will be able to go on the main track to jog and gallop this morning for the first time. Such terrific news! As many of you may have read, the dirt surface on the SA main track has been completely redone. A great deal of planning, organization, and scientific study goes into this process. The man behind the scenes responsible for orchestrating this project is Ted Malloy. John and Dottie go over to Santa Anita at night to check on the horses John has stabled there. While doing so, they take SOPHIE for a little walk and go out and check the surface. My John has visited with Mr. Malloy countless times as this renovation has been taking… Continue Reading
Diary Post #304
Happy Monday Everyone! Wow, it has been a busy, but OH SO WARM WEEKEND! (At least here and on the East Coast! My Team told ME that it was fabulous weather in Del Mar… the low 70′s!) The Saratoga Meet got off to a great start. The racing was very competitive and the stakes results were very solid. The horses seemed to handle the heat…as did the fans! Del Mar weather and racing was terrific from all reports. Shorts, hats, and California Casual dress worked well for everyone. It was crowded over the weekend…but nothing like opening day. The entire environment was perfect for betting, enjoying the horses parading in the paddock, and having a bite to eat. I’d like to give a special ‘shout out’ to my Barn 55 pal, CLOUD MAN, who won a very nice allowance race at Del Mar on Friday night. During the Del Mar… Continue Reading
Diary Post #303
Hello Everyone, From Del Mar to Saratoga…which opens today….HAPPY RACING! This is truly the DAILY DOUBLE of summer racing in our sport. It kicks into full swing today! You have Saratoga which starts the day on the East Coast…and then Del Mar on the West Coast to round out your day of thoroughbred enjoyment! During the next several weeks, there are so many options, so many great horses, an abundance of stakes races and LOTS OF FUN! Even though it is exceptionally warm on the East Coast today, in the mid-90′s and a heat index of 100, the NYRA stated that the race meet will open on schedule. There are 2 stakes races on their program, the Sanford for 2 year olds and the James Marvin Stakes for older horses. The latter drew a field of very accomplished stakes winners going 7 furlongs. Both races will be very competitive and… Continue Reading
Diary Post #302
Hello Everyone, Del Mar sure got off to a wonderful beginning yesterday! I gather it was quite a party atmosphere with approximately 48,000 happy people in attendance. The racing was fabulous and the crowd had a great time. It was perfect weather…in the low 70′s and really pleasant. Good luck to everyone during this entire meet. While all of those people were enjoying their ‘DEL MAR FUN’, Tasty Temptation and I were out having a PARTY of our own grazing and enjoying the outdoors. You can see I am getting a bit more of a baby bump and my coat is ‘highlighted by the sun’. I do think it is definitely a great look for ME… if I say so myself. I’d also like to CONGRATULATE my pal, MR. COMMONS, for winning the Oceanside Stakes on Del Mar’s opening day card. At Barn 55, he was stabled about 3 stalls… Continue Reading
Diary Post #301
HAPPY DEL MAR 2011 EVERYONE! Today is the beginning of the WEST COAST SUMMER RACING SEASON at Del Mar. It is a race track that is also known by the phrase….”Where the turf meets the surf”. When you are sitting in the grandstand watching the races, the Pacific Ocean is directly to your left. The ocean breezes are always surrounding you…and the environment is breathtaking. You literally get to see the waves roll into the shore and later watch the sunset while you are enjoying each race! I remember Del Mar very well. I won the Clement Hirsch G1 there on 3 different occasions. They use the TRAKKUS system to monitor how fast the horses are moving while running…and they noted that I was closing in the 2009 Hirsch at over 40 miles per hour. NOT BAD…if I say so myself! Dress is totally California Casual. Nice Walking Shorts, T-shirts… Continue Reading
Diary Post #300
HAPPY # 300 to ALL OF YOU! I truly can’t believe that this is Diary Entry # 300! I guess I must be one very chatty female….with so many things to say! I can’t thank Dottie enough for expressing all of my personal thoughts, hopes, dreams, feelings, and achievements in such a way as ALL OF YOU….my dear friends….can also take part in my life and share so many things with ME! Racing is an amazing sport! I truly feel deeply blessed for what I was able to achieve ON THE RACE TRACK. Yet, I feel equally as appreciative for the things I have been able to do FOR MY SPORT…and most importantly FOR THE FANS! Yesterday, in a news article discussing the final statistics for the Hollywood Park Meet, they noted that the on-track attendance was down this season. Per the article, “he partially attributed this to the absence… Continue Reading
Diary Post #299
Good Morning, Everyone, Here we are starting another week with so many different activities scheduled. I do want to take a moment and CONGRATULATE my Barn 55 Friend, NEREID, on her Grade 1 victory in the American Oaks! Her sire is ROCK HARD TEN, who just happens to be on our stallion roster here at Lane’s End Farm. Needless to say, everyone at our farm is also pleased to hear this news. YEAH, NEREID! I AM VERY PROUD OF YOU! To win a Grade 1 race is the ultimate victory in our sport. In our country, a total of 123 Grade 1 races will be offered throughout 2011. This number is further defined in the following manner. There are 112 Grade 1 stakes races offered throughout the year at various racing venues which are designed to incorporate and appeal to the 1) sex of the horse 2) a variety of… Continue Reading
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