Hope is in the Air

Posted on May 20, 2014 by onthepointstable

With two legs of the Triple Crown under his belt, the strapping California Chrome will be allowed to wear his nasal strips and continue his journey in the Belmont and hopefully onto the pages of Horse Racing history. A Triple Crown not only means a lot to the Owners and connections of California Chrome, but it means a lot to the future of Thoroughbred racing. Record crowds filled the Derby and Preakness. New York, listen up, the fans will be coming in droves so you better get ready, get ready! The people have spoken and want to see a Triple Crown winner and deserve it as much as the athlete himself. Enough with the nonsense and the 36 yr drought. No other sport would survive such a travesty. Get on your feet, and prepare to cheer because it will be an Oh Happy Day.

A Lazy Sunday- June 23, 2013

Posted on June 25, 2013 by onthepointstable

I visited On The Point and Rudy yesterday and the temps were near 90 but there was a gentle breeze that calmed the mares and their foals. They were all sleepy and sloth-like
as the sauntered over to the fence. All of the babies are so well behaved. Doc has them
socialized well.

Rudy is slick and shiny with the recent rains, and has just one final strip of baby fuzz left on the top of his back. I received the foal kit in the mail from the Jockey Club and intend to send that in toward the end of July.

Happy Mother’s Day- May 12, 2013

Posted on May 15, 2013 by onthepointstable

I went to visit On The Point ( Dream) on Mother’s Day to take her a treat and to see how the new mother and son were doing. She seems to be doing well. She is fostering independence in her 3 mo old son and he seems quite content to venture away from his mum without a worry or care. They share the paddock with another mother and a filly. All four seem to be content in parallel grazing while granting each other their space. Dream didn’t care for her baby carrots and seem to be disgusted that I didn’t bring her oat/green apple treats. So, I meandered over to the stallion barn and treated Strong Hope who was more than thrilled as we kept dropping carrots into his feed bowl. He literally would stomp when he wanted more! Love that horse! Attached are pics of Rudy at 3 months taken on Mother’s Day.

Derby Day- May 4, 2013

Posted on May 15, 2013 by onthepointstable

This year marked the 3rd Annual Derby Day at my house. I started it as a fun way to introduce my family to the racing fever. By inspiring the upcoming generations in my family, I hope that horse racing will become a fun passion they will remember into their adulthood. To make it feel all the more “official”, we walked and were photographed on the red carpet before feasting on fine food and sipping on mint julips. My granddaughter and nieces enjoyed a silly string fight with Uncle Mike who also served as official photographer. An honor bestowed upon him for three years and counting! There was even wagering and some funny surprises. Derby Day is my favorite day of the year. One that I look forward to all year long as it kicks off the Triple Crown races. Yes, Orb and Revolutionary were among my choices but so were Oxbow and Will Take Charge. All fine horses indeed. As we approach the Preakness, we wait and hope in anticipation as Orb tries to make history. Godspeed.
Above are pictures of our Derby red carpet event. ( Group picture: front left to right: Sophie, Ryleigh, Maddie; Back left to right-Rachel, Brit, My Mom and Me)

Will 2013 be the Year for a Triple Crown Winner?

Posted on April 26, 2013 by onthepointstable

So the world of thoroughbred racing has had a 35 year drought when it comes to a Triple Crown Winner or has it really? Since the dawn of the new millennium, there have been four horses that immediately come to mind, that for some reason or another, were deprived of the title but certainly were worthy of its accolades.

The first Triple Crown winner of this millennium should have been in 2001 when Point Given showed up on the scene. The talented Dam Sire of my mare, Point Given went 2 for 3 and whose Sire, Thunder Gulch, captured 2 legs of the Triple Crown as well. The talent definitely runs deep in the family, so perhaps a grandson can redeem his lineage? They say you can’t breed a Triple Crown Winner- they simply show up. We shall see.

Point Given’s win in the Preakness and his dominating performance in the Belmont further solidified the notion that Derby Day 2001 was definitely a fluke. Not only did Point Given win 2 legs of the Triple Crown, but he came back and won the Haskell and the Travers on his way to Horse of the Year. Not every horse gets inducted into Horse Racing’s Hall of Fame either so extra credit here please! And no other horse in history has ever won (4) 1 million dollar races in a row. Do I hear hand clapping???

The second Triple Crown winner should have been the fun-loving, the little horse with heart, Smarty Jones in 2004. His loss to Birdstone was a crime, but everyone knew that day who the Real Winner should have been, even Mrs. Whitney.

The third Triple Crown winner should have been in 2008 where the impressive and athletic Big Brown could have blown the other horses away in the Belmont, but didn’t.

And finally last year, we wanted ANOTHER. I’ll Have Another would have taken the Belmont given his racing style but came up lame prior to the race.

So you see, at the very least as breeders, we should be able to deliver to the country a Triple Crown Winner every 4 years?

So will 2013 be the year we get to celebrate a Triple Crown winner or is 2013 the year that the Triple Crown winner is produced which means he will be on the scene in 2016. You be the judge……

Pedigree Matters

Posted on April 21, 2013 by onthepointstable

Bloodlines don’t lie as the saying goes. I believe that bloodlines are 50%-60% and the rest is what you do with it. In watching horse and dog breeding for the past 6-7 years, my theory is that the mare or dam puts in about 60% and the stallion or sire adds about 40%. I’m sure many will argue that point with me, but I’m just voicing what I have personally witnessed.
First note to self: Breed large mares with good bone, substance and scope and get large foals! Second note to self: If you like what you get with the first breeding- Repeat the Breeding! Some would argue with me here too saying that I should wait to see if the first foal runs at 2 or 3. Nope- you have to be willing to take a risk at some point. But from my vantage point, I don’t consider the repeat breeding a risk. I would love nothing more than to have two full brother’s dueling on the racetrack.