Thoroughbred Today Fall 2017 by EverythingEq

Thoroughbred Today

ARROGATE Why he still deserves a spot among the greats 6 PAGES TO DO HIM JUSTICE

ALSO INSIDE: THE BEST ARE HEADING TO DEL MAR! BREEDERS’ CUP CEO CRAIG FRAVEL DISCUSSES WHAT IT TAKES TO PUT ON THIS WORLD-CLASS EVENT...

dallas stewart: “forever unbridled has been a blessing.”

DIY Songbird Cookies FALL 2017

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Thoroughbred Today

Greatness is synonymous with perfection: FALSE. The greatest athletes in the history of sports have failed one time or another, some failing more times than we can count. So what is it that makes them great? The problem with this question is that the definition of “greatness” is extremely ambiguous, and the meaning can vary from person to person. In 2008, Forbes published an article titled “Reach For Greatness, Not Perfection” in which author Kerri Strug wrote, “For athletes to achieve greatness, one thing is key: they must succeed on the biggest stage. We want to see them perform at their best when the pressure is at its highest and the most is at stake.” Strug isn’t just a writer; she’s an Olympic gold and bronze medalwinning gymnast, so her words should weigh heavy. To me, greatness in any athlete is defined by their ability to overcome adversity, make something difficult look effortless, and win in a manner that leaves people speechless multiple times. If you combine my definition of “greatness” with Strug’s, Arrogate checks off every point. What I’m trying to get at is that I find it really unjust to hear people who have touted Arrogate’s greatness for the last year all of a sudden question it because he lost a couple of races. In seven months, he surpassed all of our expectations and the one time he stumbles we tear him apart? Sure, his loss in the San Diego Handicap wasn’t ideal, nor was his near-miss in the Pacific Classic, but he’s done things – big things – others have not. His losses shouldn’t take away from that. Personally, I would love to see him cap off his career with a win. But if for some reason he doesn’t, will it take away his greatness? Not a chance. Thank you to everyone who helped with this issue, I hope you like it as much as I do.

Publisher

Everything Equestrian, LLC. visit us online

www.everythingeq.com FOR ADVERTISING RATES & INFO admin@everythingeq.com Editor-In-Chief

Claudia L. Ruiz Managing Editor

Lauren Lima Front Cover

Emily Gricco Editor-In-Chief Thoroughbred Today

Contents 13 Do It Yourself

The injury that changed everything

How one young woman is helping OTTBs find second careers

08 Giving Back to OTTBs

Songbird Sugar Cookies

19 A Jockey’s Vision

A French jockey shares his perspective on the sport

09 The Forever Line

27 Places to Go

Trainer Dallas Stewart tells the story of his star filly and her great family

Fasig-Tipton Saratoga: Why you need to plan a visit

12 Cool As Ever

30 The List

The Breeders’ Cup heads to Del Mar

Sue Ziegler Contributing Writers

04 A New Mastery

Back Cover

9 songs about horse racing

On The cover: ARROGATE Why he still deserves a spot among

Marion Altieri Ciara Bowen Megan Devine Ryan Dickey Eric Kalet Hayley Morrison Dallas Stewart Photographers

Doug Defelice Alex Evers Waddell Hancock Eric Kalet Kenny Martin Adam Mooshian Hayley Morrison Amanda Murphy Coglianese Photo Eclipse Sportswire

the greats... pg. #21-26

Thoroughbred Today

A NEW MASTERY

A talented colt; a rollercoaster of emotions; the injury that changed everything. By: ERIC KALET

ne minute and forty two seconds... That was the final time for a superstar three-year-old Kentucky Derby contender in the making. Mastery had glided easily to the finish line in front of rival Iliad by 6 ¾ lengths and placed himself firmly in position to be the early 2017 Kentucky Derby favorite. Then, unexpectedly, within seconds of the victory, Mastery’s future became uncertain as Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith abruptly pulled him up and guided him to the outer rail, not far from the finish. Smith had sensed something wrong with the colt, quickly jumped off, and immediately tended to him to prevent further injury. Watching the race on a TV monitor across the country was Walker Hancock,

President of Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky. Hancock had brokered a deal with owner Everett Dobson of Cheyenne Stables for stallion rights just after Mastery’s win in the Gr.1 Cash Call Futurity at Los Alamitos Race Course in late 2016. As Mastery crossed the finish line in the San Felipe, Hancock was impressed with the colt’s performance. The stallion deal and the San Felipe win meant that Claiborne would have a “very impressive stallion prospect, a brilliant, grade one winner, that had some serious speed and could carry it around two turns.” Then, emotions went from “jubilation to serious concern,” as the aftermath of the San Felipe unfolded. “When something like that happens, your heart stops Thoroughbred Today

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A New Mastery

and you kind of go numb for a minute trying to process what’s going on,” he explains. It was a good twenty to thirty minutes before he received any information regarding the extent of the injury. Fortunately, it was not life-threatening, and after several weeks of treatment Mastery arrived at Claiborne. Hancock recalls, “He got to the farm on June 12 and settled in well. He was put on stall rest for the first 30 days as part of the protocol from his injury. Then we got him x-rayed and he was cleared to go on regular turn out.” Though a late foal, born May 3, 2014, Mastery was brilliant right from the start. Four races resulted in four wins, forever defining his abbreviated racing career. “There’s no telling what he could have done on the racetrack,” Hancock adds. “We’ve heard Bob Baffert say he was on the same path as American Pharoah. The way he won his first

few races, he demonstrated that same brilliance.” As a two-year-old, Mastery broke his maiden by 4 ¼ lengths in October 2016 at Santa Anita Park, and followed up his performance with wins in the Gr.3 Bob Hope and Gr.1 Cash Call Futurity. His three-year-old season, the son of Candy Ride (ARG) made what was to be his final appearance on the track in the Gr.2 San Felipe Stakes. The injury sustained – a condylar fracture to his left front ankle – put Mastery on a list of highly regarded, champion horses whose racing careers were also cut short due to some form of injury, but went on to be great sires. Such list included the late Holy Bull and Danzig. A champion on the track, Holy Bull won several prestigious races as a three-yearold, including the Florida Derby, Met Mile, Haskell Invitational, Travers Stakes and Woodward en route to becoming Horse of

“Just because Mastery sustained an injury doesn’t mean he has a ceiling on what his potential is as a sire...”

- walker hancock, president of claiborne farm

the Year in 1994. When Holy Bull returned in early 1995, he sustained a severe strain to the superficial flexor tendon in the lower part of his left front leg during the running of the Donn Handicap. The injury ended his career and he was sent off to recover before beginning his stallion career at Jonabell Farm– Godolphin’s USA base in Lexington, KY. Jimmy Bell, President of Godolphin USA, recalls Holy Bull had “special attributes he brought to the breeding shed, including his physical presence, absolute versatility and ability to win at any distance and age.” Bell speaks of Holy Bull much like Hancock speaks of Mastery as a stallion prospect, “From the get-go we were very realistic about his value as a stallion. [Holy Bull] sired successful runners like Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo and Eclipse Award winner and Breeders’ Cup champion Macho Uno, and his daughters have produced over 50 stakes winners.” Smith, who also rode Holy Bull, says the two were simply different from other racehorses. “Mastery and Holy Bull were above average horses. They stood out as far as talent; they outworked everyone and were fast with lots of stamina.” These days, Walker Hancock is reminded of his farm’s late stallion, Danzig, who ran just three times before knee problems forced his premature retirement. Ranked top US stallion from 1991 to 1993, he produced 188 stakes winners that won on dirt and turf, at sprint and classic distances, and sired champions Chief ’s Crown, Lure, Dance Smartly, Danehill, Dayjur, and champion descendants from his line including Ouija Board (GB), Sea The Stars (IRE), Fusaichi Pegasus, Big Brown and Hard Spun. He was a world-renowned stallion. Hancock believes, “just because Mastery sustained an injury doesn’t mean he has a ceiling on what his potential is as a sire. Look at horses like Malibu Moon and Algorithms and McLain’s Moon, who have all sired classic winners despite not really getting to prove themselves on the track.” Mastery is currently at Claiborne Farm just being a horse and will not begin test breeding until December of this year. Hancock adds that a breeding soundness exam will also be performed and “assuming all checks out well, he will start breeding around February 11, 2018.” Only time and his progeny will judge Mastery as a stallion. Photos (p.3-4): Scenes from the 2017 San Felipe Stakes, Alex Evers | (p.5): Mastery at Claiborne Farm in late August 2017, Waddell Hancock

Thoroughbred Today

OTTB Spotlight

Giving Back to ottbs By: CIARA BOWEN

At 26 years old, this California native is using her 20 years of equestrian knowledge to place retired racehorses in permanent, loving homes through an organization called CARMA.

ike several young girls, Natalie Rietkerk’s love of horses stems from childhood; and it has not waned with age. If anything, it has expanded. “I think some of us are just born with a special connection to horses,” she says. Her great grandparents, on her father’s side, were thoroughbred breeders and trainers in the 1930s and 1940s, but it was her mother who encouraged her love for horses. “She gave me horse figurines, enrolled me in horse summer camps, drove me to lessons and helped me with my first horse when I was twelve. She idolized Secretariat and loves the Triple Crown races.” An equestrian for 20 years and horse owner for 14, Rietkerk’s roots are in dressage, trail riding, hunter-jumpers and developing young and green horses. While she has hot-walked a few horses for Chew Racing, her emphasis lies with retired racehorses rather than active ones. “Coming from the equestrian side of things gives me a unique perspective on the racetrack,” she points out. “I am always thinking of what discipline each racehorse will be good at once they retire.” Rietkerk works with the California Retirement Management Account (CARMA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2007, that raises money for retired racehorses, hosts fundraising events, raises awareness, and educates figures within the industry about aftercare and retirement. CARMA also funds more than 20 thoroughbred aftercare organizations and helps retired racehorses find their second career. “When I graduated college, I took an internship with Santa Anita Park Marketing, which is how I met current vice-president of CARMA, Candace Coder Chew. Recognizing our mutual love of horses, she introduced me to CARMA and enlisted my help with some of their projects like the Thoroughbred Classic Horse Show,” Rietkerk said. She officially began working for CARMA in May 2016 as their project manager and also serves as event manager for the Thoroughbred Classic Horse Show. “My main responsibility is overseeing CARMA’s Placement Program and the recently retired racehorses in our care,” she states. “On average we have between 17 and 20 horses in our program at a time in various stages of rehabilitation and/or retraining. Once a horse is ready to graduate, we place them with

an approved organization for which he/she is best suited, either to begin a second career or find permanent sanctuary.” While Rietkerk points out that each horse that goes through CARMA is its own success story, she admits that she has a current favorite; a recent graduate of the program named Intaxication. “He ran his heart out on the track,” she says. “He retired with a bowed tendon and a tough guy attitude. I figured he would take his competitive streak with him into his next career and placed him with one of our aftercare partners, Neigh Savers Foundation, who was looking for a horse to take to the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) in Kentucky. ‘Taxi’ is absolutely thriving as a dressage horse and has fallen in love with his new trainer’s three-year-old daughter. He’s a big softy now and having the time of his life.” In recent years, the racing community as a whole has become more concerned about the aftercare of its horses, something CARMA and similar organizations work toward constantly. It is a big step forward for the industry, which Rietkerk and others see as progress. “There are areas of the sport that needed to evolve if it is going to survive with the younger generation of potential fans,” she says. “Many owners/trainers in racing care a great deal about their equine athletes, but do not know what to do once the horse cannot race anymore. By raising awareness and educating the public about safe ways to retire horses, we’re giving people an opportunity to do the right thing.” Thoroughbreds have a reputation among some as being too high strung and on-the-go, but the breed is making a comeback in show rings, and organizations such as CARMA are helping to show their true colors. “Thoroughbreds always give 100 percent and are so incredibly versatile,” Rietkerk says. “If you show them you care, they will give you their heart and strength. They are warriors, but are also gentle. They can do anything from racing, show jumping, cross-country, dressage, polo and rodeo to therapeutic work and lazy Sunday trail rides. They are the most amazing breed.” To learn more about CARMA visit www.carma4horses.org Photo: Claudia L. Ruiz

Thoroughbred Today

THE FOREVER LINE In first person, Trainer Dallas Stewart shares what it’s been like to train Forever Unbridled and why the five-year-old filly means so much to him. Written By CLAUDIA L. RUIZ as told by DALLAS STEWART

grew up in New Orleans with no family background in the racing industry, but I knew I wanted to become a trainer the moment I got involved with horses. It all started when my grandfather bought me a horse as a present – I think I was about 12 years old. I named her May Leigh and kept her at a place that happened to have racehorses, so I would go out there to ride her and help the trainers with whatever I could. About the time I was 15, I started exercising horses at the track and it really became my entire focus. Right after graduation, I went to work for a local trainer until I met D. Wayne Lukas when I was 26 years old. That was back in 1986. I spent almost 12 years working under Lukas before going out on my own. And now, here I am.

Forever Unbridled arrived at my barn in the spring of 2014 after spending time with the McKathan brothers in Ocala, Florida. She was a bigger-type filly, and just looking at her, I knew she was going to take time to develop. But I absolutely loved her. She was tall and rangy and big just like her mother, and I had high hopes for her from the start. I just didn’t want to get ahead of myself. Ok, let me back up, because there’s a lot more to this story… From 2005 to 2007, there was a filly in my barn named Lemons Forever, who I owned with the Horton Family. I bought her at the 2004 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $140,000 and she went on to win the Kentucky Oaks for us in 2006. After her four-year-old campaign, the Hortons

and I sold her for $2.5 million to Charles E. Fipke, who wanted to breed her. Mr. Fipke then started sending me horses to train and among those horses were her babies. Lemons Forever is Forever Unbridled’s mother. There’s a lot of history here. Before Forever Unbridled, I trained her sister Perfect Forever in 2012, then Unbridled Forever (that’s actually her older sister’s name) in 2013 and she was just a superstar filly who went on to win the Gr.1 Ballerina at Saratoga in 2015. Midway through Unbridled Forever’s three-year-old campaign, Forever Unbridled joined the barn. She was kind of developing slowly, so I waited until the fall of that year (2014) to start her. She ended up breaking her maiden second time out. She was a good three-year-old, but she Continued on page 18

Thoroughbred Today

On The Horizon

Cool as ever Craig Fravel, President and CEO of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, talks Del Mar and what it takes to put on racing’s biggest event. By: CLAUDIA L. RUIZ

his November, for the first time in its 34-year history, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships will run two days of world-class racing at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California. Breeders’ Cup President and CEO Craig Fravel is based on the east coast, but moved west earlier in the year to prepare the venue and community for the event that will welcome racing’s brightest equine stars from all over the globe to compete against one another on the sport’s biggest stage.

TT: Tell us about yourself and how you got involved with racing. CF: I grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, about 10 minutes from Pimlico, but I had never been to a Preakness because I didn’t grow up in the industry. When I graduated college, I moved to Del Mar as a practicing lawyer and one of my clients was the racetrack. In 1989, they started talking to me about coming to work for them and right at the beginning of 1990, I took the job as Vice President. I was with them for 20 years and became President in 2010 before taking the position with Breeders’ Cup in 2011.

TT: What requirements does a track have to meet in order to host the Breeders’ Cup? CF: We don’t have a rigid checklist of what you have to have or do. Preferably, a racetrack has to have a management team and depth of management that is able to handle a large event. Some tracks around the US are not accustomed to having crowds of 30, 40, 60 or even 80-thousand and handling those with an element of ease. The ability to handle our crowd and deliver all expectations from a customer service standpoint is huge. The tracks that we go to have great management teams and all want to do what’s right for the sport.

TT: What kind of preparation goes into getting a venue ready for the Breeders’ Cup? CF: We layer our activities on top of an existing operation, which requires a lot of coordination between our staff and the racetrack. There needs to be close understanding of who’s doing what, how budgets are prepared and what the expectations are at the end of the day so that we can go above and beyond in our delivery. We want to be a world class event, not just a racing event, and that requires bringing in expertise that may not exist at a track on a day-to-day basis, whether it’s food and beverage enhancements, temporary seating, facility enhancements, or all of those things. The logistics are significant, but the hardest thing is really making sure

two different staffs perform as one. Last year at Santa Anita that worked beautifully and we are certainly hopeful that will be the case this year.

TT: How will you use what you learned at Keeneland to ensure success at Del Mar? CF: Going into it, Keeneland really seemed to have a lot of drawbacks in terms of size and hotel and restaurant infrastructure in Lexington (KY). It was a challenging event simply because of the amount of areas that had to be addressed and the negativity from people that questioned whether it could be done. But the team at Keeneland was cognitive of the challenges and invested ahead of time to erect temporary structures for their spring and fall meets to see how they operated. We took a place that has limited seating, trackside and elsewhere, and nicely accommodated 45-thousand people on Breeders’ Cup Saturday. It was a tremendous success. Now, we have two models. The first is the Churchill Downs/ Santa Anita model where the facility has a lot of space. The second is the Keeneland/Del Mar model where the facility is a bit more limited. I like to call the second the “Deer Valley” model, because if you’ve ever been skiing in Deer Valley, you know they cap the number of skiers allowed on the mountain. When they reach that number, that’s it, nobody else gets in. That’s the way it was at Keeneland and that’s the way it will be at Del Mar. We have x-amount of seats to sell, x-amount of parking spaces, once sold out, nobody else gets in. That, in itself, eliminates a lot of logistical challenges.

TT: Why should fans be excited about heading to Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup this November? CF: Del Mar may have the finest weather of anywhere in the world. I don’t want to jinx anything, but you have great beaches and many activities to enjoy in the area. People are going to be hospitably welcome by more four and five-star hotels within four square miles of the track than any other venue I know of. You can put on your flip flops and walk to the beaches and just as easily walk to morning workouts and the races. It’s a bit of a bubble, but it’s a great one. Many people in racing, internationally and in the US, haven’t been to Del Mar before, (a lot of our constituents spend their summers in Saratoga) so this will be a great experience for them as well as for the racetrack to expose itself and welcome many guests from all over the world. Photo: The paddock at Del Mar | Alex Evers

Thoroughbred Today

DIY

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songbird sugar cookies By: LAUREN LIMA

What You Need Your favorite sugar cookie recipe White icing Nutella Decorating brushes Decorating tips for icing A picture of Songbird EverythingEQ Fancy Face Cookie Cutter *Prepare recipe of choice. Once dough is ready, follow the steps below!

1 2 3 4 5 Click to order

Preheat your oven then roll out your dough until it is about ¼” thick. Grab your cookie cutter and start cutting! TIP: Keep dough thin! Dough that is too thick will cause cookies to lose their shape in the oven. Place raw cookies onto a cookie sheet. Note that some recipes require the sheet to be buttered; stick to your recipe’s instructions for optimum results. Put in oven and let them bake! TIP: Set a timer, you don’t want to burn them! When done baking, let cookies cool. For convenience, and because I love chocolate, I used Nutella as icing. Dip a clean brush into Nutella and spread over each cookie. TIP: Whether spread thick or thin, Nutella will remain sticky. Leave sides Nutella-free to give fingers clean grip when eating. You’ll need a photo of Songbird for reference. Grab your white icing, twist on a fine, circular decorating tip and begin by drawing the star on her forehead. Draw an outline, then fill with icing and smooth with clean brush. Tip: There are plenty of Songbird photos on the internet; I recommend a head-on shot with a good visual of her facial markings. Pull it up on your phone and keep it in front of you. Wipe off your decorating tip to keep white icing Nutella-free and continue by drawing Songbird’s stripe. Like you did in Step 4, create an outline first, then fill it in. TIP: I’m a perfectionist, so the first time I did this, I was super uptight. You’ve got this! Mistakes can be fixed by scraping off the white icing with a clean brush and reapplying Nutella. Congratulations, you’ve finished your first Songbird cookie! Repeat Steps 4 and 5 on the rest of your cookies and enjoy with friends and family – or eat them all by yourself like I did... don’t judge me!

cookie cutter available at Everythingeq.com/shop

Thoroughbred Today

‘Dreaming’ Under The Spires

Thoroughbred Today

Photo Feature

Captured with a Canon 7D Mark II at 400 ISO; the field of the 143rd Kentucky Derby gallops into the first turn and splashes into the light. From the left: Irish War Cry, Battle of Midway, State of Honor and eventual winner Always Dreaming on the rail. Photo: Claudia L. Ruiz

Thoroughbred Today

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The Forever Line

Continued from page 9

was tired after her 11th place finish in the Kentucky Oaks and we decided to give her a break and send her to Mr. Fipke’s farm in Kentucky. We wanted to make sure she was healthy and at the same time we were trying to see if she still wanted to be a racehorse. Towards the end of her layoff, we sent her to WinStar Farm for some light training and then entered her in the Gr.2 Raven Run at Keeneland in the fall of 2015. The race ended up being a little short for her, but, man, she was flying! She finished fifth, but made up a lot of ground and galloped out really nicely in front of everyone. That’s when I knew she was ready. She came back bigger and stronger after that five-month-layoff, I think the key was just giving her time to mature and grow. When she won the Gr.3 Comely, she really started to roll and her development was just unreal. That strength and energy carried on throughout her four-year-old campaign and she ended up winning two Grade Ones – the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn and the Beldame at Belmont. To cap off the year, the Breeders’ Cup Distaff was one heck of a race with Beholder and Songbird putting on a show. Forever Unbridled ran really well to finish third and I was happy with her performance. However, she did come out of the race with a bit of an injury. It wasn’t serious, but she did have

to have a small chip removed. So we went ahead and got that taken care of and sent her back to the farm on another vacation. After the year she had, she deserved it. Now that she’s back in action as a fiveyear-old, I would really like to thank Mr. Fipke for allowing me to run her another year. She’s really turned into a fine filly, winning the Gr.2 Fleur de Lis and beating a champion like Songbird in the Gr.1 Personal Ensign. Joel Rosario gets along really well with her, and she’s not an easy filly to handle – on the ground or in the saddle. She’s a queen in the stall, like a baby, and she won’t try to bite you or anything like that. But the second she gets out of her stall, she’s a bear – she’s always had an attitude. We have to be on our toes when we walk her because she’ll try all kinds of stuff, which is why we had a pony with her at all times on Personal Ensign day. We wanted to get her to the paddock quiet because sometimes she tends to jump around, so we put the pony with her and she was excellent. Joel knows how to warm her up, keep her happy and quiet. Horses just love him. Watching that race unfold was something else, but I have to admit I was a little worried. I was thinking to myself, “what in the heck is Joel doing riding her so wide?!” After the race, he told me that when he was

coming around the turn he was liking the three-path and he was just going to stay out there to avoid going head-and-head with Songbird and bringing out her competitiveness. So he went along on the outside and when Songbird saw them, it was too late. We had already won the race. I commend Songbird for her effort because it wasn’t easy to get past her; Joel had to be super tactical to get the job done. It was a great move on his part and a real Saratoga finish. Mr. Fipke was there to watch the race with me. After the win we went out to dinner to celebrate and had a great time. I guess for me – having her mother, her sisters and then her – it’s just been a really special opportunity. A blessing, really, and one I can’t fully describe. I’ve gotten to work with such a talented female family, probably the strongest female family in the world right now. Watching Forever Unbridled develop over the last five years has been an incredible experience for me and I feel very fortunate to have been a part of her journey. Photos (p.9): Forever Unbridled wins the G1 Personal Ensign, Alex Evers | (p.18): Charles E. Fipke and Dallas Stewart celebrate their filly’s victory; Joel Rosario shows his affection toward Forever Unbridled after her big effort, Eric Kalet

Thoroughbred Today

A JOCKEY’S VISION For jockey Jerome Lermyte, “going to the races is like going to Disneyland.” By: HAYLEY MORRISON

erome Lermyte stakes his life on the sport of horse racing come every race day. The 28-year-old jock is sitting in the grandstand of Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, overlooking the lush turf and tapeta track where morning workouts are near completion. A long way from his home country of France, Lermyte is the newest addition to the Canadian jockey colony and has been riding a steady contingent of horses for Woodbine’s top trainer Mark Casse. A competitor at heart, Lermyte went to jockey school at the young age of 14 and began race-riding a couple years later. In 2009, after five years of riding at various tracks across France, he began travelling, riding in Germany, Mauritius, Qatar, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Macau, Hong Kong, Australia, the U.S. and Canada. Given the exposure to different cultures, Lermyte sees racing through a very panoramic lens and has a greater understanding of how fans perceive his job and the sport in general. “It’s a very tough sport, and I’m sure a lot of people don’t realize it. It’s not just about getting a good start, going around and the finish. There’s a lot behind it – the morning work, the study before the races, the pressure…” He is keenly aware that something needs to be done to improve the level of engagement with fans, and uses Hong Kong racetracks Shah Tin and Happy Valley as examples for North American racetracks to follow. “In Hong Kong, the crowd is amazing all of the time. You see beer stands, food stands, there is a band playing, it’s very enjoyable. On a Wednesday night, it’s the place to be, everybody is there.” Fans are drawn to Hong Kong racing venues because of the events organized on site. But the cost of attending is also important, and many North American tracks tend to be expensive. “A dollar a beer is going to attract 19

Thoroughbred Today

more people than a ticket for entrance.” These are simple suggestions, but good food for thought given the continued decline in attendance and demise of several tracks across North America. In a recent ESPN podcast from In The Gate featuring Gary West and Darren Rovell, both commentators discuss the state of racing and how it must adapt to remain viable. West, a son of a jockey and a frequent contributor in the sport, specifically notes the importance of addressing racing’s audience. “There are many general managers and people working in executive positions at racetracks who couldn’t even calculate the cost of a trifecta ticket. They don’t know anything about their sport or their product and nothing about the betters in the grandstand. Horse racing needs to reach out to those people as well.” Although the betting public remains a pivotal machine in keeping racing afloat, the livelihood is also dependent on the initial interaction new racing fans have with the once herald sport of kings. “Pretty often, people have the wrong idea. But when they finally come to the races they realize that it’s actually a beautiful sport.” As the French jock sees it, there are several essential elements that need to be addressed, noting that greater connection between the fans and the athletes needs to be established. “Jockeys are not trendy enough. When you think about football, basketball or hockey

people follow one player or another. For us, we talk a lot about the horse, which is great, but what about the guy on top? It’s important [for fans] to like the jockeys. When they come to the races, they see them and look up to them like they do in any other sport.” One other vital element that remains to be conquered lies with their four-legged counterpart. “When you watch racing [in Formula One], you see those cars that are worth millions and know they have the best care and the highest skilled mechanics – that’s what we have in horse racing. We have the finest care for the horses. They are athletes.” As the rain starts to fall, Lermyte watches the last group finish their work. His latest riding venture in a new country has brought him to the winner’s circle several times already and he even landed a mount in the 158th running of The Queen’s Plate – Canada’s oldest Thoroughbred race and longest continually run race in North America – finishing sixth on Spirit of Caledon. Taking everything in stride, balancing a busy schedule of working horses in the morning and riding races in the afternoon, it is easy to see that Lermyte is doing what he truly loves. “I need to be on a horse,” he says as he looks out longingly at the track, anticipating his next race day. To him, there is no greater thrill and nowhere else he would rather be. Photo: Lermyte at Woodbine | Hayley Morrison

Thoroughbred Today

Cover Story

The Living Legend of

ARROGATE

What goes up must eventually come down, but that doesn’t mean we should let loss overshadow his achievements. By: CLAUDIA L. RUIZ and Megan Devine

n a busy morning, at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, a big gray colt emerges from the shed row of the Baffert barn and casually makes his way to the track. Leggy, big-bodied, and unassuming in nature, he stops to take in his surroundings. As he watches horses gallop in the distance, he seems fascinated, like a little kid watching older kids on a playground, absorbing information like a sponge. Back then, he was just another horse with a relatively unremarkable routine. It was Saturday, August 20, 2016, just one week before his legendary run at Saratoga. His name: Arrogate – an omen of things to come. Arrogate (verb): to claim or seize without justification. Purchased as a yearling by Prince Khalid bin Abdullah (owner of Juddmonte Farms) for $560,000 at the 2014 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Arrogate was no sale topper; he didn’t impress as a two-year-old; he didn’t win any Triple Crown jewels. Instead, the lanky colt took a while to develop and didn’t even race until April of his three-year-old season. And that debut, in the words of his trainer, “was a disaster.” “He tried to bite the pony, ran away with Martin Garcia in the warm-up, acted up in the starting gate and broke poorly,” Bob Baffert recalled of Arrogate’s maiden race at Los Alamitos. “The competition shut the door on him every time he tried

to make a move. Then, in the last hundred yards, he came running like a locomotive.” He finished third that day then went on to win his next three starts before the Gr.1 Travers happened. 1:59.36 – that was how long it took him to run the mile-and-a-quarter gateto-wire, 13 ½ lengths ahead of 12 other horses in the Travers Stakes. And that was just the beginning of his legendary tour de force. Within seven months, the son of Unbridled’s Song won the Breeders’ Cup Classic (taking down California Chrome by half-a-length), Pegasus World Cup (setting a new track record), and flew halfway around the globe to win the Dubai World Cup so brilliantly that it left the racing world utterly speechless. “It was like a Hollywood script,” Baffert recalled with conviction. “He was back there by himself and I’m thinking, ‘This is ridiculous. Why did I bring him?’ I was so mad at myself.” The chance for a horse to recover after missing the break so severely is almost non-existent, but Arrogate tried, trusting in the confident hands of his rider who had guided horses like Giacomo and Zenyatta from last to first on racing’s biggest stages. “Turning for home, I saw him in that stride and I could tell he had Gun Runner in sight. I thought, ‘No, he – no. This is – no. Oh my – he’s going to...’ and at the top of the stretch he just threw that head down and went by them like nothing. I was in shock. What did I just see?!” Thoroughbred Today

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En route to the winner’s circle after a 13 1/2 length victory in 1:59.36 in the Gr.1 Travers (Aug. 27, 2016)

A joyous Mike Smith throws flowers into the air upon winning the Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Classic (Nov. 5, 2016)

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Assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes, Mike Smith on Arrogate, groom Eduardo â&#x20AC;&#x153;Laloâ&#x20AC;? Luna, and trainer Bob Baffert capture the inaugural Gr.1 Pegasus World Cup (Jan. 28, 2017)

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Baffert said. Jockey Mike Smith was just as impressed, “99.9% of horses would’ve never won that race. He never had that kind of kickback in his face, but he got used to it in a matter of seconds and was back on track. I mean, [most] horses don’t get knocked around and still run the way he did.” By the time he crossed the finish line in Dubai, Arrogate was being worshipped like a god; like he was untouchable; like he was on even ground with 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat – a horse that, 44 years later, still holds track records and is famously known for having won the final leg of the Triple Crown (the Belmont Stakes) by a jaw-dropping 31-lengths. “That’s the greatest horse we’ve seen since Secretariat,” Baffert told the media in Dubai, and it sent the racing community into an uproar that went on for weeks. It was like comparing LeBron James to Michael Jordan – heated. Then, the unthinkable happened. On July 22, Arrogate lost the Gr.2 San Diego Handicap, finishing fourth, 15 ¼ lengths behind the winner, who had not won a race since September 2016. And, one month later, he lost again, though only by half-a-length, in the Gr.1 Pacific Classic. It’s needless to say that things are a little different now after back-to-back losses. Comments are more conservative and headlines oppressive.

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“Arrogate a Not-So-Super Horse at Del Mar” – The Daily Gazette

“Unthinkable Upset of Arrogate Jolts Horse Racing” – The LA Times

“Abject Arrogate Flops at 1-20” – The Racing Post

“Arrogate: Good is Not Good Enough” – The TDN

So, what now? Well, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the “what have you done for me lately” mentality. But brash statements based on emotions should not be used to judge a horse’s body of work and place among the greats. Instead, it’s important to be rational and look at the facts. Nothing puts things more into perspective than numbers. From his debut back in April of 2016 to the Pacific Classic of 2017, Arrogate has run 10 races, on 6 tracks (Los Alamitos, Santa Anita, Del Mar, Saratoga, Gulfstream Park, Meydan), in 3 states (CA, NY, FL) and 2 countries (US and UAE). In those 10 races, he’s run a total of 89 competitive furlongs, or 11 1/8 miles, and his combined winning margin in 7 races totals 32 ½ lengths, the bulk of this in a short window of 7 months. Arrogate has also set records: he shattered Saratoga’s 37-year-old record for the mile-and-a-quarter distance and ran the fastest Travers in its now 148-year history. Five months later, in the inaugural running of the Pegasus World Cup, he set a track record for 1 1/8 miles in 1:46.83. And he’s made over $17.3 million in earnings.

Now, take into consideration the amount of travel Arrogate has done and keep in mind that most of the greats were not exposed to the same conditions. This gray colt has traveled approximately 30,500 miles, 98% of which are air miles, and 91% of those recorded in just 11 months from the Travers to his start in San Diego. That’s a lot to ask of any horse, especially a four-year-old. Michael Phelps, one of the greatest swimmers of all time, has an Olympic record of 28 starts, 23 firsts (gold), 3 seconds (silver), 2 thirds (bronze), 1 fourth (off podium), and 1 fifth (off podium). His record is anything but perfect, yet his losses do not take away from his great accomplishments. Michael Jordan missed over 9000 shots, lost nearly 300 games and failed his teammates by missing the final shot of a game 26 times. Still, none of that makes him any less great. LeBron James may be a lot younger than Jordan and may have a lot more to prove, but what he has shown in his short time on the court is that he deserves to be considered among the greats. The same goes for Arrogate. “I called him baby LeBron in Dubai because what he was able to accomplish in a short time was just phenomenal. It’s never been done,” Smith said of Arrogate’s body of work. It may not be perfect, but we simply cannot deny that what this colt has achieved is legendary.

Photos (p.21): Arrogate wins the Dubai World Cup, Doug Defelice | (p.25-26): Scenes from the Gr.2 San Diego Handicap, Amanda Murphy.

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PLACES TO GO By: MARION ALTIERI

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WHY FASIG-TIPTON IS A HORSE RACING FANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PARADISE

or 119 years, Fasig-Tipton has sold exceptional Thoroughbreds to studious buyers with an eye for perfection. Founded in 1898, by William B. Fasig and Edward A. Tipton, it is the oldest auction house of its kind in North America, with facilities in Lexington, Kentucky; Elkton, Maryland; Ocala, Florida; Grand Prairie, Texas and Saratoga Springs, New York, representing the very best of the Sport of Kings. In 2008, Fasig-Tipton was purchased by Synergy Investments, Ltd., a Dubai-based company headed by Abdulla Al Habbai, a fan of horse racing and comrade of HH Sheikh Mohammed

bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and a prominent figure in the horse racing community. With the new ownership came a new sensibilityâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;and a spirit of rejuvenation, of breathing new life into a historic, fabled business. Between 2008 and 2010, Al Habbai transformed the Saratoga facility into a place unlike any other. Work was done using world-class materials like real copper for flashings and cupolas, and hand-cut slate from Vermont, which kept an entire town working for three months in the middle of a national recession.

Photos: Fasig-Tipton

No expense was spared. A water wall was put in, next to the final walking circle and path into the back of the sales pavilion, to help calm the yearlings. The larger buyers’ walking ring was simplified to make viewing easier. A five-star restaurant was constructed on the property, as was an area with a snack bar, tables, and chairs. (The previous snack bar area looked more like a county fair than a place where the world’s greatest racehorses sold as babies). Aesthetically pleasing, yet not distracting from the business-at-hand, the surroundings encourage and enhance the buying experience. This August, Fasig-Tipton’s Saratoga Sale numbers reflected renewed optimism in the industry: For the two days, Fasig-Tipton reported 156 horses sold for $52,995,000 (up 16.3% over the $45,570,000 gross for 156 head in 2016). The average price also rose 16.3%, from $292,115 to $339,712. The 38 horses

not sold represented a 19.6% buy-back rate, compared with 47 horses last year and 23.15%. The gross was the highest since the sale reached $62,412,000 in 2001, as was the average, when 201 head averaged $385,259. *Statistics provided by Fasig-Tipton.

turn in the evening for the sale, which starts at 7PM. Sales Catalogs, along with other publications, can be found in the Sales Office, for those wishing to study the horses being auctioned.

What To Expect

Dress comfortably and casually, but remember that Saratoga summer afternoons can be blisteringly hot. Ladies, wear a sundress and strappy sandals, but leave fascinators and hats behind. Gentlemen, put on some slacks and a collared shirt. Saratoga Clubhouse Rules require ladies and gentlemen dress modestly. Those same rules cross Union Avenue to Fasig-Tipton. If your outfit would make a priest blush – do not wear it!

A horse racing fan’s paradise, the facility is open to the public and people are on the property all day looking for horses to buy, evaluating and spending time with them. Walk around; see the horses, and peoplewatch with great satisfaction. You’re bound to see Sheikhs, renowned horse trainers, star jockeys, media personalities, and perhaps a celebrity or two. There is no Millionaires’ Row in the FasigTipton backyard, and no one is paid to attend. People of every economic, cultural and social status commiserate together, sharing one common motive: a love of horses. Take a break in the afternoon and re-

What To Wear

What to Pack

A tote bag, a notebook and pen, and a charger for your phone–because there’s nothing worse than a dead phone on an adventure. Especially one as exciting as this! Thoroughbred Today

The List songs about horse racing for your playlist

By: RYAN DICKEY

Camptown Races

By Stephen Foster (1850) Quite possibly the gold standard for songs about horse racing, Foster’s minstrel classic is purportedly about horse races near the village of Camptown, PA. The catchy tune has been featured in Looney Tunes, Merrie Melodies cartoons (crooned by Foghorn Leghorn), and the Mel Brooks satirical comedy “Blazing Saddles.” Catchy lyrics: “Gwine to run all night!/ Gwine to run all day!/ I’ll bet my money on de bob-tail nag/ Somebody bet on de bay.”

Better off Betting on a Horse By Ken Darby (1951)

From the movie “Meet Me After the Show,” leading actress, pinup girl, and songstress Betty Grable belts out a myriad of reasons why horses are better than men. Oscar and Grammy winner Darby was also the lead composer of Elvis Presley’s “Love Me Tender,” and vocal coach to Marilyn Monroe for “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” Catchy lyrics: “You’re better off betting on a horse than betting on a man/ You’re better off betting on a longshot/ Or an also-ran.”

Let the Big Horse Run

The Race is On Who’s Got the Action By George Duning (1962)

Dean Martin starred in and sang the theme song to the 1962 comedy film of the same name featuring an all-star cast of Lana Turner, Eddie Albert, and Walter Matthau. Duning, a star in his own right as a songwriter, would also score the original “Star Trek” television series, as well as other hit movies in the sixties. Catchy lyrics: “Now once I had a filly/ I ain’t seen her since/ Some can’t go the distance/ They’re only good in sprints.”

Bottle of Smoke By The Pogues (1988)

The Celtic punk rockers penned a frenetic ode to hitting it big at the track on their third studio album, “If I Should Fall From Grace with God.” The song is a tale of hitting a double-digit longshot while dodging an inquiry by the race stewards. The protagonist of the song takes his winnings home, giving fifty to his wife, and “a new five” to each of his “brats.” Catchy lyrics: “Twenty (expletive) five to one/ Me gambling days are done/ I bet on a horse called the Bottle of Smoke/ And my horse won.”

By John Stewart (1975)

After replacing Kingston Trio founding member Dave Guard, Stewart embarked on a solo career in 1967. His best known hit was the Monkees’ “Daydream Believer.” His eighth solo album, “Wingless Angels,” culminated with the song that paid homage to 1973 Triple Crown winner, Secretariat. Catchy lyrics: “Swaps, Citation, Man o’War/ Never saw a horse like that before/ Let him run, let the big horse run.”

By Don Rollins (1964) Released as a hit single for country music superstar George Jones, the song is a horse racing metaphor for a romantic relationship. Over the years, the song has been sung by artists Travis Tritt, Waylon Jennings, The Georgia Satellites, and Elvis Costello. It also appeared on The Grateful Dead’s 1981 album, “Reckoning.” Catchy lyrics: “Now the race is on and here comes pride in the backstretch/ Heartaches are going to the inside.”

Molly and Tenbrooks By The Carver Boys (1929)

First recorded by the Carver Boys for Paramount Records, the story is a fictional account of a real match race between Ten Broeck (KY) and Mollie McCarty (CA) that took place at what is now Churchill Downs on July 4, 1878. Contrary to the final verse, Mollie did not break down at the end of the four-mile race, but was well-beaten by the Kentucky steed. Catchy lyrics: “Out in California where Molly done as she pleased/ Come back to old Kentucky, got beat with all ease.”

Fugue for Tinhorns By Frank Loesser (1950)

Up on Cripple Creek By Robbie Robertson (1969)

The low-brow depiction of a trucker pulling into Lake Charles, LA, to see his “little Bessie” while taking time out for drinking and betting on the races. From The Band’s second album which also included “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” one of Time Magazine’s “All-time 100 Songs.” Catchy lyrics: “Odds were in my favor/ I had him five to one/ When that nag came around the track/ Sure enough we had won.”

In the opening Act of the 1950 Broadway Musical “Guys and Dolls,” which received a Tony Award for Best Musical, under Loesser’s musical direction, characters Nicely-Nicely Johnson, Benny Southstreet and Rusty Charlie spout their opinions on an upcoming horse race. Catchy lyrics: “I tell you Paul Revere/ Now this is no bum steer/ It’s from a handicapper that’s real sincere.”

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