Uphold is doing well and has finished his arena training and has now progressed onto the track. He is standing in the gate and jogs 5 furlongs daily on the track. He recovered recently from a hoof abscess, and was off training for almost a week, but it didn’t seem to have slowed him down any. Dermot describes Uphold as a very straight forward intelligent, compliant horse. I get the impression that Uphold is a breath of fresh air after training Defining Hope! 🙂
What an exciting end to the Indiana racing season! Defining Hope proved that distance is where she wants to be and she is definitely living up to her pedigree. She laid back about 4-5 lengths off the pace and then charged up on the outside to challenge Midnight Boulevard. Hope over took her in the stretch to win by almost 5 lengths. See race video, article and pics below.
Malcolm and Defining Hope
And They’re Off! in the Miss Indiana Stallion Stakes
Defining Hope has chosen to be a Snowbird and is wintering in Tampa these days. She left with Barb and her team and headed down with 7 other horses. I understand that she has taken to the warm weather and the track at Tampa Bay Downs, but has yet to purchase a bikini! Hope is due to race in the Sandpiper Stakes on Saturday, December 3rd. We plan to visit for the race. See pics below.
Morning Workout
Hope and her main man Chile
Hope surveying the track after morning workout
When we were in Lexington for the Keeneland Fall meet recently, I took the opportunity to visit an old Friend. A Friend that started my journey back in 2006. I’m referring of course to Point Given. I can say with certainty that the fellow has mellowed with age, but still has that confident, intelligent, fiery look in his eye. He still looks just as big and intimidating. It’s amazing how much Defining Hope runs like him on the track. She runs with the same sheer aggressive determination that Point Given was famous for.
To be near such a great horse is both breathtaking and humbling at the same time. He will always hold a special place in my heart. Below is a picture of my visit with Point Given at Calumet- a cherished moment of reflection born out of utter respect and love.
Me and PG
I can’t express how excited I am to have On The Point booked to stallion To Honor & Serve for 2017. He is an awesome, very regal looking horse and his pedigree and his physical match On The Point perfectly. His presence and confident air caught my eye much like Strong Hope wowed me years ago. The fact To Honor & Serve ran in the fall of his 2 yr old year even sweetens the pie further. Looking forward to a big, strong good looking foal! See picture below of To Honor and Serve at Gainesway.
To Honor & Serve
The Indiana Stallion Stakes marked the only 2nd place finish for Hope during the Indiana meet. All those who witnessed the race saw that Defining Hope didn’t give up without a fight! Hope actually came eye to eye with I Came To Praise in the stretch and refused to give up, but got nipped at the wire. A gallant effort! I was so proud of her. I later learned that she had a case of the sniffles that week which made her effort all the more special.The link to the race video is below.
onthepointstable.com 