Welcome to the Year of the Horse!

This past weekend marked the beginning of the Chinese New Year and the Year of the Horse.

According to astrology expert and author, Susan Levitt, “The Wood Horse year is a time of fast victories, unexpected adventure, and surprising romance. It is an excellent year for travel, and the more far away and off the beaten path the better. Energy is high and production is rewarded. Decisive action, not procrastination, brings victory. But you have to act fast in a Horse year. If you are not 100% secure about a decision, then don’t do it. Events move so quickly in a Horse year that you don’t want to gallop off in the wrong direction.”

What might this mean for horse racing in 2014?

Certainly Levitt’s forecast about “fast victories” and “high energies” should bode well.

But maybe an even more positive and hopeful sign is that the last Triple Crown was won in 1978 – another Year of the Horse.  Some say that this was the greatest rivalry in thoroughbred racing history – the battle between Alydar and winner Affirmed.  This lack of a Triple Crown winner for 36 years feels very much like the Curse of the Bambino and the 86 year drought the Red Sox suffered with no World Series wins between 1918 and 2004.  Hopefully we will have a new Triple Crown winner this year…

Good luck to all of the horses leading up to the first leg of the Triple Crown challenge – the Kentucky Derby scheduled for Saturday, May 3 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

Zenyatta’s Foals Fun Facts: Learn More About Her Growing Legacy

Excitement builds among Zenyatta fans as the due date for her third foal nears.  

Zenyatta, 2010 Horse of the Year and a true champion and fan favorite, is in foal to Claiborne Farm stallion, War Front. Based on reports, the two horses were bred early May 2013 … so a third foal is expected sometime in early April.

Here are some fun facts and photographs of Zenyatta and her first two foals:

Zenyatta

• Birthday:  April Fool’s Day 2004 (4/1/04)
• Dark bay mare with a distinctive white blaze and stockings.
• Purchased as a yearly by Ann and Jerry Moss at the Keeneland Sales at a bargain price of $60K.
• Named after The Police album, Zenyatta Mondatta, a band discovered by Jerry Moss who was also a founder of A & M Records.
• Began her racing career as a 3-year old at recently closed, Hollywood Park under the training of John Shireffs.
• During her racing days, she stood 17.2 hands tall and weighed 1,217 pounds.
• Took first place in 19 of her 20 starts.
• First mare to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2009 against an all-male field.
• First mare to win two different Breeders’ Cup races, taking first place honors at the BC Lady’s Cup Classic in 2008.
• She is racing’s all-time North American leading female earner.
• 2010 Eclipse Horse of the Year; three time Eclipse Champion Older Mare winner
• Hall of Fame jockey, Mike Smith, piloted Zenyatta 17 of her 20 starts.
• She is known for her come-from-behind racing style.
• She likes peppermint candies, drinks beer and likes to prance and dance for an audience!
• Zenyatta was retired from racing November 2010 and currently resides at Lane’s End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky.
• Her best friend is Breeders’ Cup champion, Life is Sweet.  They are good pals.
• Will I ever get a chance to meet the great Zenyatta?  I was ecstatic to meet her owners (Ann & Jerry Moss), jockey (Mike Smith) and trainer, John Shireffs  at the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Zenyatta Celebration. I hope to get the opportunity to meet this wonderful, majestic horse someday too!

Cozmic One (formerly Z12)

• Cozmic One will be two years old on March 8, 2014.
• Sire is Bernardini, 2006 Preakness winner.
• Coz is a dark bay colt and looks a lot like Zenyatta with similar coloring and size; his forehead blaze resembles a “star”.
• Weaned in August 2012, Coz started racehorse “school” in early Oct 2013 at Mayberry Farm in Ocala, FL.
• Will he race this year?  My guess is not yet – that the owners and trainer will wait another year or so.

Z13 (Yet to be named)

photo courtesy of Alys Emson/Lanes End

• Happy birthday, Mom! Z13 was born on Zenyatta’s ninth birthday, April Fool’s Day, 2013!
• Sired by Tapit, Z13 is a coppery colored chestnut colt and weighed 145 pounds at birth.
• Bo Derek “imprinted” on Z13 so that “he will remember me in the winner’s circle” during a visit to Lane’s End Farm.
• Weaned in September 2013 but still resides at Lane’s End Farm with mom.
• What will this fine colt be named?  We are all waiting anxiously to find out….

The Track at Saratoga: America’s Grandest Race Course

Celebrate 150 years of the famed Saratoga Race Course with ‘The Track at Saratoga: America’s Grandest Race Course.’ This historical documentary will transport you through 150 years of owners, trainers, jockeys and horses. Experience the track beginning with four thrilling days in August 1863 through the pageantry of today.

Racehorses at Longchamp

“Horse racing, a luxury sport imported from England, experienced a vogue in 19th century Paris.  Built on the Western edge of the city in 1857, the Longchamp racetrack drew fashionable crowds and Degas, whose love for horses was matched only by his attachment to the ballet.  This scene of jockeys and their mounts milling beside the track at the end of a race was the first Degas painting acquired by an American museum.” MFA; Edgar Degas; 1871; Oil on canvas.

Cozmic One Still Running Free

Cozmic One at Lanes End Farm

Officially named a few months ago, Cozmic One (formerly Z12) is just about 18 months old now.  From the Zenyatta blog: “May the heavens bless him and he has all the chances to be the bright star he is :)”.  

“Coz” will celebrate birthday #2 March 2014.

Kentucky Derby 2014 News

Churchill Downs Releases 34-race Schedule for 2013-14 ‘Road To The Kentucky Derby’ Series.

Derby Top 25 Update

Here’s how it is shaping up with just over 8 weeks to go.  Points are earned for the top four finishers in each Kentucky Derby prep race and these are the top 25 horses as of today.  To see the longer, complete list link here.

Next prep race is the Gotham Stakes scheduled for this Saturday, March 2 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

A lot can change between now and the May 3 & 4th Derby dates . . .

Get Your Game On

If you like to play games, pick winning horses and not lose money (but have an opportunity to win up to $3K!) this is the perfect competition for you!  It’s time for the “Showvivor” contest again – out of SantaAnita Park.  Simple steps to participate:  1) register;  2) log on to the Showvivor website each day of racing; 3) select ONE horse in ONE race(each day) that you think is going to win, place or show.  That’s it!  If your pick comes in first, second or third – you will move on to the next day of gaming; if not it’s sudden death and you are out.  It all starts tomorrow – so sign up here before 3pm (ET) tomorrow, Saturday February 23 and you’ll be off & running . . .

El Camino Real Derby – Real Upset

Dice Flavor pulls from behind as a 9-1 medium shot and takes the win in the El Camino Real Derby on Saturday, 2/16 at Golden Gate Fields.  DF surpassed all Derby hopefuls to take this race – coming from behind to over-take those who took off too fast with a 3 3/4 length lead over the second place finishing horse.  Bafferts favored horse (2-1), Manando led the pack for most of the track, but then after losing steam, staggered in last almost 25 lengths behind Dice Flavor.  Jose Valdivia, Jr. rode DF for the win.

Link here to see replay – fun race to watch!

Next Derby prep race is today – – Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park – tune in at around 6:09 (ET).

Magnificent Snow Sculpture

Snow sculptures of stallions are carved onto the landscape prior to the start of the annual Vasaloppet China International Ski Festival at Jingyuetan Park in Changchun, China.