June July 2018 mini-issue

$7.99 June / July 2018

Volume 30, Number 4

2 0 1 8 Celebrating 30 Years as Arabian Horse Racing’s Foremost Publication

foals!

power the industry

path to the future of arabian horse racing

50

Years

Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary to Mickey and Michelle Morgan a couple who have done it all and with love, grace, integrity and style!

Raising a great family of children (and enjoying grandchildren), achieving outstanding professional careers, building a great Arabian horse global enterprise, and still finding time for just about every leisure adventure under the sun togetherMickey and Michelle have accomplished nothing short of a fairytale 50 years of marriage.

Friends in the Arabian Horse industry also salute Mickey and Michelle for their outstanding contributions and are so fortunate they made Arabian Racing their favorite pastime. The sport wouldn’t be what it is today without their dedication of thousands of dollars in donations every year and thousands of hours in time, particularly in early beginnings to launch and preserve Texas racing. We applaud their unwavering devotion and leadership in board roles both statewide and nationally for three decades.

Tons of gratitude, admiration, and hearty congratulations go out to Mickey and Michelle!

Congratulations! from your adoring friends around the world

ARC Breeders Incentive Program Preparing to Transition to Full Program Why this matters to you NOW! As an introductory promotion, all breeders have been eligible for ARC Breeder Bonuses since the new program went into effect in 2016. A total of $18,000 is earmarked for paying out this year to the three state affiliates (California, Delaware, and Texas) over four races each ($1,500 per race, paying $500 to the breeders of the top three horses).

The program will continue in this way for this year’s runners and horses running in 2019, incentivizing all breeders regardless of the horse’s nomination process.

However, in 2020, the program nomination requirement will be placed in full effect, requiring that horses running in ARC Breeders Incentive Program races are fully nominated before their three-year-old year in order to receive these funds for the remainder of their lifetime.

Why is this timely now? Your horses that are being pointed to the track to race in 2020 for their three or four-year-old years are currently yearlings or two-year-old’s right now.

These babies must be nominated before they turn three (before December 31st specifically) in order for them to remain eligible for program rewards beginning 2020.

“We decided to offer the option of installment payments so that the breeder was not forced to pay the full amount up front and risk the horse getting hurt or never making it to the track after the full amount was paid,” said Michelle Morgan, ARC Chief Steward.

“It was our goal to make it as easy on the breeder as possible, while providing them the opportunity to make it back all at once with either a 1st, 2nd or 3rd place finish. You are paid ONE WEEK after your horse finishes 1st, 2nd, or 3rd- each gets a $500 bonus. This means any bonus earned after that first payout during the horse’s lifetime is pure profit, since your foal’s total nomination is $500.”

It’s time to start your nominations SIRE NOMINATION FEE: $150 per year. All his progeny of that breeding year are eligible.

FOAL NOMINATION FEE: Weanling Year~ $50, Yearling Year~ $200, 2 Year Old Year~ $250. Must be received by Dec. 31st of each year. A fully nominated foal is eligible to earn Breeder’s Incentive Rewards for the Breeder of Record in any Cup Breeders’ Incentive Races held in the United States for its entire lifetime racing career.

See list of Nominated Stallions and find offcial nomination forms on the website. Or for questions email Michelle Morgan at mandolynn44@gmail.com.

ARABIANRACINGCUP.COM

26

12

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE DEPARTMENTS

ARTICLES/STAKES 12 16 20 24 25 26

Bristol Breeze Finish Line - November, 1999 Arabians in Art Stakes Racing in the U.S. Stakes Racing in France Behind the Scenes

3 10 28 30

Editor’s Notes Notes from the Ovals Leading Earners List of Runners

COLUMNS 4 6 8 32

Just Talkin’ by Michael Economopoulos Making Claims by Joe Nevills Equi Tech by Dr. Deb Powell The Backside by Steve Heath

ON THE COVER

Young Arabian foals are the future of our industry. This photo is the next generation at Cre Run Farm. Photo by Deb Mihaloff. Design by Corliss Hazard.

@ArabFinishLine

www.facebook.com/ArabFinishLine

Disclaimer : The opinions expressed in Arabian Finish Line are those of the individual authors and are not necessarily those of the editors and owners of this publication. Arabian Finish Line does not intentionally print incorrect materials. The contents are the responsibility of the parties furnishing materials and do not necessarily constitute a statement of fact. Accuracy of information is subject to information known to us at printing deadline. We apologize for any errors which are sometimes unavoidable. Arabian Finish Line is not responsible beyond retraction of error.

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Editor's Notes

By Stephanie Ruff In 2014, breeding for racing had dropped off considerably. Small breeders had gotten out of the industry and large breeders had significantly cut their numbers. After 20 years in the business, I thought that perhaps it was time for me to (as Dianne Waldron likes to say) "have some skin in the game". I knew we needed more horses for racing to survive. I couldn't do much, but I could try to do my part.

Now I've been doing hypothetical matings for many years - both in Arabians and thoroughbreds. The idea of actually having a foal from this was pretty exciting. Forta Stud's stallion Sadeem had already caught my eye. I liked his size, conformation and most of all his durability and soundness. He was by the French stallion Djelfor and out of BJT Miss Bobbie, a half-sister to the great Flying Tessie and a granddaughter of the immortal Kontiki. I decided I wanted to breed a mare to him, so I went in search of a Wiking daughter as I thought that would be a good cross. Michelle Morgan leased me Awesome Blossom, a pure Polish mare with an incredible pedigree.

Out of Samborsta, she traced to the racing foundation mare *Chlosta. Besides her sire Wiking, legendary stallions such as *Sambor++, *Orzel and Pietuszok were in her pedigree. On paper it looked good.

of what she might be able to do.

Lily is an independent filly. She is very smart and will test you a bit, but if you treat her fairly she becomes quite respectful and listens well. She still has long legs. I wish she had more substance of bone, and her pasterns are longer than ideal, but the rest of her conformation is good. We will just have to see how she progresses. She is definitely not the early maturing type.

In a perfect world, Lily will be ready for her first race later this year at Delaware

Fortunately for me, Awesome Blossom got in foal easily and other than needing to be on Regumate, she had an uncomplicated pregnancy and easy foaling. On March 29, 2015, a leggy bay filly was born.

Named Stylized Lily, after the National Flower of France, this youngster grew up for two years in Texas before spending a year with me in Maryland. Now at age three, it's time to see if she has any talent as a racehorse. She recently shipped back to Mandolynn Hill Farm to learn the basics of carrying tack and working on the walker. When deemed ready, she will be sent off to be started under saddle. I guess then we'll have a better idea Arabian Finish Line • June/July 2018

Park or Retama Park. It may be that she needs to wait until next year, and if that's the case so be it. And if it turns out racing is not her thing...well...it's a good thing I'm a dressage rider.

I've been a racing fan all my life, and for the first time I am going to have a racehorse in training. It's exciting and nervewracking at the same time. I hope she does well, but most importantly I hope she stays healthy. Bottom line is, because of Lily, I am now a racehorse breeder and owner. I have "skin in the game."

CALIFORNIA

The ownership of Dream Pearl was incorrectly listed in the Ovals part of the April/May issue. The owners of Dream Pearl are Dorothy Burt, Evelyn Call, Cory Soltau and Terri Eaton Upcoming Fair Dates June 15th - July 8 Alameda County Fair - Pleasanton, CA July 13th - July 29th California State Fair - Sacramento, CA August 16th - August 26th Humboldt County Fair - Ferndale, CA October 4th - October 14th The Big Fresno Fair - Fresno, CA

DELAWARE

Arabian Racing Cup Breeders' Incentive Fund Spotlight. The breeders of each of these three top finishers will receive a check for $500.

June 9 - $10,000 Maiden Special Weight for Maiden Fillies/Mares 3-years-old and up 1. Fortaissa (TH Richie x Shippey Lane), bred by Dennis and Paulette Hughes 2. Foxy Roxy (Norphe x Scarlet CS), bred by Eric and Randi Moreau-Sipiere 3. Omega CS (Zeifiro De Nulvi x Mega CS), bred Eric and Randi Moreau-Sipiere June 13 - $10,000 Maiden Special Weight for Maiden 3-year-olds and up 1. Burn Em Joey (Burning Sand x Triumphs Silkie), bred by Joe and Betty Gillis 2. RB Texas Hold Em (T M Fred Texas x R B Sand Storm), bred by Dianne Waldron 3. Big Ben AA (Burning Sand x Tri Spring Proof ), bred by Joe and Betty Gillis

TEXAS

Are you a member of the Texas Arabian Breeders Association (TABA)? Membership helps promote enjoyment of all our Arabian horses, Arabian horse racing, and the growth of the entire Arabian horse industry. Race meets, purses, stakes opportunities, VLTs... the value of your horses and the Arabian´s place in racing is all up to you. Have a voice in where Arabian Racing is heading in Texas. Vote in the elections for TABA board members, or run for the board yourself and be an important leader in the industry. To be a member of TABA, you do not have to live in Texas. To be on the TABA board you do not have to live in Texas, but board members must have a current TABA membership, and a current owner's or trainer's license from the Texas Racing Commission.

Membership is current for one year beginning with your payment date. TABA membership is just $35 per year. Now offering a 3-year membership for $95! Save $10 over the three years.

Three easy ways to join!

1. Pay with Paypal (email us your application and we will send you an invoice), or 2. Contact TABA with Credit Card (VISA or MC only) at 972-564-9430, or 3. Mail a check with your application. Click below & mail it to TABA at PO Box 215, Forney, TX 75126.

Arabian Finish Line • June/July 2018

SPIRIT WINDS

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Over 20 years of success in breeding and racing Arabians.

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KAO MALOAN SWA (KAOLINO (FR) X MOLLI MALOAN, by FMR GRAND JETE) started his �rst year of racing last year as a 4 year old and won the H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship Stakes at Monmouth Park, plus earned a DARLEY NOMINATION. He has 9 career starts never �nishing out of the money, with 3 �rsts, 3 seconds, 1 third, 1 fourth, and also came �fth in the Grade 1 President of the United Arab Emirates Cup Stakes at Churchill Downs.

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BRISTOL BREEZE

Nicole Holst-Ruvalcaba's Horse of a Lifetime

BY JOE NEVILLS As Michigan’s all-time leading Arabian trainer, Nicole Holst-Ruvalcaba has tended to a fair number of talented horses under her shedrow. None, though have had the lasting impact of Bristol Breeze.

Photo by Terri Buist.

Over the course of three decades, the Wiking mare laid the foundation for HolstRuvalcaba’s Morley, Mich., operation as a runner, broodmare, and pensioner, and helped set the narrative for the state’s entire racing Arabian program along the way.

“The little mare took me on a ride around the world,” Holst-Ruvalcaba said. “There is no way a horse could mean more to a person. She was the start of it all for me.

She was my world.”

The horse and owner first crossed paths in 1990, when Bristol Breeze was to be offered at auction in Indiana. Holst-Ruvalcaba was about to stake out on her own after working as a groom for trainer Cyndi Smith, and she went to the sale with a $2,000 budget. She spent $1,200 on a filly named Elina TM who died in a training accident the following year.

Another filly caught Holst-Ruvalcaba’s eye that she considered taking a chance on if the price was right. Wiking was still an unproven stallion at the time, with just one crop on the racetrack, though one of those runners became the great Monarch AH. “I had seen this adorable 2-year-old blowing bubbles and sinking her head up to her eyes in her water bucket,” HolstRuvalcaba said. “She went into the ring, paddled a little, and was pretty small, with ears like a mule.

“The announcer stopped the auction to tell about Wiking, but he only had the one crop hardly running,” she continued. “Most people there wanted riding horses. I bought her for a $500 opening bid. It was one of the most exciting days of my life.”

Holst-Ruvalcaba took Bristol Breeze home

and put her through hands-on training, breaking and preparing her for the racetrack herself. She was a slow breaker from the gate, but she showed natural talent during schooling races and an ability to make up the ground.

Bristol Breeze didn’t take long to make back her initial sale price, winning her first two races at Mount Pleasant Meadows.

She made her debut at age three in a nonwinners of two allowance to help fill the field, and she won by a length and a half.

Arabian Finish Line • June/July 2018

The filly then returned to win another allowance by 11 lengths.

Holst-Ruvalcaba then took her filly to Delaware Park to test the Arabian Cup Juvenile Stakes, her greatest challenge yet in terms of distance and class. Bristol Breeze was never a threat to winner CR Samborsta, but she closed with interest from the middle of the pack to run second. She returned to Michigan to win a trio of stakes races, then finished the season at Bluegrass Downs in Paducah, Ky, including a

and the Harem Handicap at Bandera Downs.

Nicole Holst-Ruvalcaba leads Breezin Bye (by Aransas HF) with Nate Alcala aboard. Photo by Joe Nevills.

As Bristol Breeze entered her 7-year-old campaign, it became harder to find races for the mare, and her form began to slip. She raced three times in 1995 from March to August and missed the board each time before she was retired. In the end, Bristol Breeze had compiled a resume that included 12 wins in 35 starts for earnings of $50,849.

One of the horses that joined Holst-Ruvalcaba and Bristol Breeze on their cross-country travels was R-Kon, a flashy gray stakeswinning Tiki Lark stallion owned by Jennifer Swart of Virginia, a longtime client of Holst-Ruvalcaba’s. When R-Kon retired to stud, Holst sent Bristol Breeze to Virginia to join his book of mares, then to foal out in Texas, while the trainer continued on the racing circuit.

The cross was a quick hit. The first foal out of Bristol Breeze was the filly Whatabreeze, who became a stakes winner in Michigan for Holst-Ruvalcaba, taking four of 22 starts and hitting the board 16 times. Her second foal, the filly Kool Breezie, died in a training accident before she could reach the racetrack.

In the meantime, Holst-Ruvalcaba settled down in Michigan and brought her mare home, where she would see her greatest success crossing with another Holst-trainee – the stakes-placed Samtyr horse Aransas HF.

12-length win in the Kentuckiana Futurity, giving her four stakes wins in her debut campaign and recognition as a Darley Award finalist for champion 3-year-old female.

After a stellar debut season, Holst-Ruvalcaba received plenty of offers to buy her star filly, but the ride was too special to cash out.

Instead, she doubled down and took Bristol Breeze on the road along with some horses for clients.

Holst-Ruvalcaba, still a fledgling trainer, learned some hard lessons along the way about who to trust and who to avoid putting on her horse, but she got to see the country from coast to coast with her horses, hauling Bristol Breeze and others from Mount Pleasant to Delaware Park and to Los Alamitos during her 4-year-old season, finishing again at Bluegrass Downs.

At each stop, Bristol Breeze turned in an honest effort, rarely missing the board with her trademark closing rush. Her 4-yearold season was highlighted by runner-up finishes in the AJC Oaks West at Los Alamitos and the Kentucky Arabian Distaff Stakes at Bluegrass Downs.

“She never really liked a jockey to tell her what to do,” HolstRuvalcaba said of Bristol Breeze. “She liked a nice, quiet hand that could just hold on and not get in her way. I think her favorite riders were Sammy Thompson and the great Tad Leggett.”

Future campaigns saw the two continue to expand their range, checking off Bandera Downs, Trinity Meadows, and Sam Houston Race Park in Texas and Turf Paradise in Arizona. She won or finished in the money 11 times in 19 starts as a 5-year-old and older, and she won the Arabian Distaff Stakes at Mount Pleasant

“Aransas gave the foals a little bigger bone, and they were a bit taller,” Holst-Ruvalcaba said. “His foals have outstanding personalities; brave, level-headed, courageous. They were Bristol with height. I truly loved every one of his foals I ever handled.”

All three of the foals produced by that cross were winners, but the runaway standout of the bunch was the first, Need For Speed.

The colt was twice named Michigan-bred Horse of the Year by the state’s Arabian horseman’s group, A.R.A.B. of Michigan, and he missed the board just twice in 17 career starts, both of them being fourth-place efforts.

“Speedy, from day one, was the sweetest,” Holst-Ruvalcaba said.

“He always wanted to please. He was handled often by my young children, and he had that fantastic, ‘put me in, coach’ attitude. I will never forget the stakes race we entered him in to make a full field, and he went off and won the race.”

The race Holst-Ruvalcaba detailed was the 2009 ARC Midwest Maturity Open Stakes at Mount Pleasant where Need For Speed left the gate at odds of 12-1, making him the second-longest price on the board. Under jockey Oscar Delgado, Need For Speed fought off a speed duel in the early goings of the six-furlong race, then survived a late charge by runner-up Vagas to win by threequarters of a length. It was his third career stakes win, after taking the Michigan Juvenile Stakes and Michigan Derby in earlier campaigns.

Need For Speed remained with Holst-Ruvalcaba as a stallion at the end of his racing career, and he is the last direct link she has to Bristol Breeze’s bloodline. She has kept a pair of fillies by Need For Speed to further preserve the family.

The mare’s next two foals were the winning gelding Breezin Bye

Arabian Finish Line • June/July 2018

and the stakes-winning filly Wicked Breeze. The latter was named Michigan’s 2011 Horse of the Year, on the strength of a campaign that featured a win in the Arabian Michigan-Bred Stakes at Mount Pleasant.

The final foal out of Bristol Breeze was Its A Hemi, a gelding by Nassem de Blaziet who was a winner at Hazel Park Raceway in Detroit.

While Bristol Breeze’s runners were successful on the racetrack, she also proved to be a successful producer of endurance runners.

Whatabreeze and Its A Hemi were purchased by international interests after beginning their long-distance careers domestically.

Wicked Breeze has been the most successful of the group, having logged over 1,200 miles with owner/rider Lisa Delp. The duo have taken massive strides over the past few years, winning the 50-mile Fort Valley II race in Virginia in 2016, and following up last year

Above: Need For Speed (by Aransas HF) and jockey Oscar Delgado. Left: Wicked Breeze (by Aransas HF) with Nate Alcala. Photos by Joe Nevills.

Still, the experience reminded Holst-Ruvalcaba that their time together was limited and likely coming to a close.

When a beloved longtime family member reaches the far end of old age, all the preparation in the world does little to soothe when the time finally comes to depart. In January, a group of Holst-Ruvalcaba’s horses were roughhousing in the pasture, including the 30-year-old Bristol Breeze, when the mare slipped on a frozen patch and fell to the ground. She never got up again.

with scores in the 55-mile Old Dominion No Frills Ride and a 100-mile race in Patrick, S.C. Back in Michigan, Bristol Breeze transitioned into life as a pensioner, helping raise the next generation of Holst-Ruvalcaba’s Arabians after the mare’s own foals had moved on.

“Bristol was the queen of everything here on the farm,” HolstRuvalcaba said. “All the young horses followed her everywhere. She taught them to be smart and get out of the rain, to stay calm in thunderstorms and not go running out in it, to not to get yourself in a corner of the fence, to stay in safe places. It’s hard to explain.

“All the babies loved her,” she continued. “She weaned all the last foals. She loved having a job and was sad when the foals left.”

For three decades, Bristol Breeze was a central figure in HolstRuvalcaba’s life, and she was still going strong last year at age 29 until a stroke put her future in jeopardy. Near-miraculously for a horse of her age, the mare managed to make what was practically a full recovery, and she spent the summer living comfortably turned out in a pasture.

“I heard the crack, and I knew she likely broke her pelvis,” Holst-Ruvalcaba said. “It was one of the worst days of my life. I was glad I was there. I had a few hours to say goodbye. I really wasn’t ready to let her go yet, and I know she wasn’t either.”

The tough thing about raising animals is that the chances are good you are going to outlive them, even in the best-case scenarios. Over the course of a lifetime, we endure the pain of saying goodbye over and over again, and even for veteran horsemen, there’s a part of it that never gets easier.

Bristol Breeze was part of Nicole Holst-Ruvalcaba's story for more than half of her life, and nearly all her life as a professional in the horse racing industry. There is, of course, an emptiness when such a big piece of one’s personal puzzle is suddenly missing, but all of the pieces that built around Bristol Breeze helped give HolstRuvalcaba the life, career, and professional success that she can reflect on with pride. The reminders of their time together stand in the fields around her property.

Some 28 years later, it was clear that Holst-Ruvalcaba’s decision to buy the quirky $500 filly that blew bubbles in her water tank was one of the most important ones she’d ever made.

Arabian Finish Line • June/July 2018

Stakes Racing in the U.S.

Photos courtesy of Coady Photography.

Three Horse Field for the Texas Yellow Rose (Gr.3) May 7, 2018

By Kasey Johnston, https://kaseyjojohnston.wixsite.com/kaseyjohnston A field of only three horses competed for the $20,000 purse guaranteed in the Texas Yellow Rose S. (Gr.3), for 4-year-old Arabian fillies, that took place on Monday, May 7th at Sam Houston Race Park. The second race of the day experienced three scratches prior to post time, leaving only Uptown Sandy Girl, Risky Vaz, and Aim N to compete for the Grade 3 Arabian title. Bygollyitzaphilly, RB Kinkie Boots, and Tiffany’s Dream scratched from the field. The seven furlong race, which took place entirely on a dirt track, continued to excite the crowd from start to finish, even with its few participants.

Uptown Sandy Girl Does it Again After her win in the $41,500 HH Shelkha Fatlma Bint Mubarak Ladles IFAHR Cup, Uptown Sandy Girl re-entered the winner’s circle once more, accompanied by jockey, Sasha Risenhoover, and owner, Jon R. Henningsgard. This race marks the sixth win for Uptown Sandy Girl (Burning Sand x Wibwilcca, by Wilkolak) after her eleven starts, three being in 2018. The Darley Champion 3-Year-Old Filly's cumulative earnings have reached a total of $72, 670.

As the Yellow Rose Stakes began, Uptown Sandy Girl took the lead from the break, followed by Risky Vaz, who took second, and Aim N in third. She went on to win by more than 28 lengths and completed the seven furlongs in a time of 1.33.92.

Arabian Finish Line • June/July 2018

Stakes Racing in France

Qatar Derby des Pur-Sang Arabes de 4 Ans June 17, 2018

Text and photo by Debbie Burt, www.equinecreativemedia.com Along with ‘Arc’ weekend, the Prix de Diane is an annual highlight on the French racing calendar, with Parisians flocking to the historic racecourse in Chantilly to picnic in the centre of the course. Like the ‘Arc’, the fixture also hosts top class Arabian racing, in this case the French Arabian Derby, the first opportunity for four-year-olds to compete against their peers at Group 1 level in Europe.

The principals were closely matched on form, with Rajeh the sole Group 1 winner at the trip, having won the Qatar Total Arabian Trophy des Poulains at Saint-Cloud last autumn, ahead of Rodess Du Loup and stablemate Goumoh, with Akoya much further behind. Rajeh had also previously beaten him into third the Prix Cheri Bibi (Gr3PA), with Hajres in fourth.

However, later in Toulouse, Rodess Du Loup recorded his first Pattern victory in the French Arabian Breeders Challenge (Gr2PA) dropped back to a mile, where Dynamites and Hajres were third and fourth.

Many of the ten runners had reappeared in the Prix Dormane (Gr3PA) at La Teste in April over 1900m, where Hajres scored a one and a half length win over Rajeh. Mashhur Al Khalediah was third ahead of Rijm and Rodess Du Loup, so the stage was set for a fascinating renewal. In the event, the early pace was set by Mashhur Al Khalediah and Akoya, with Rodess Du Loup handily placed in third, in company with Dynamites, ahead of Rajeh and Hajres.

With 400m to go, Christophe Soumillon brought Rodess Du Loup around Akoya and the tiring Masher Al Khalediah to make his challenge, whilst Rajeh and Francois-Xavier Bertras joined them up the centre of the course, with Rijm and Hajres in pursuit. However, Soumillon had the edge, and the grey son of Dahess pulled away, moving over to the rail for a length and a quarter win. Rijm and Julien Auge and a fast finishing Hajres and Jean-Bernard Eyquem were closing towards the finish, overhauling Rajeh for the places by the time they reached line.

Rodess Du Loup (out of Aurore Du Loup, by Darike) showed improvement on previous form to win, giving trainer Charles Gourdain back to back wins in the contest. According to an interview with The French Purebred Arabian, Gourdain blamed himself for Rodess Du Loup’s previous defeat when he had applied blinkers, which were left off on Sunday, however he had always liked the horse as soon as he had arrived in his yard. As Rodess Du Loup is owned by Qatari, Khalid Al Attiyah, he cited the HH Emir’s Sword (Gr1PA), as a likely future target, with a trip to the UK as a possibility beforehand.

This may well mean he follows a similar programme to Gourdain’s 2017 winner, Nafees, who doubled up in the President of the UAE Cup (UK Arabian Derby) at Doncaster last September.

Arabian Finish Line • June/July 2018

Spring 2018

T H E

A R A B I A N

R A C E H O R S E

ARO Season Preview Gulf Review

FREE, quarterly digital publication with dedicated coverage of all the Arabian Racing Organisation meetings and single races in the UK, plus coverage of pattern races overseas.

Worldwide distribution via www.issuu.com where back issues are always available - view online, or via a smart phone or tablet using the free to download ISSUU application subscribe for free, by clicking on the 'follow publisher' link on the website, so you never miss a copy. Sign up for the monthly Newsletter through the 'Join My List' link on the dedicated Facebook page or the 'Subscribe' button on the bottom of the website.

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Behind the Scenes...

with Hendrik and Lettie Smeding 1. What is your job title?

Owners of Snell Valley Ranch in Pope Valley, Calif. Named "New Breeder of the Year" for 2017 by the Arabian Racing Cup. 2. What do you do at your job?

Horses are not our “job” or our “business”. They are our passion.

3.How did you get started?

Our first Arabian was a mare named Anchor Hill Amila. She was stout and had good withers, bone and hooves. She had a beautiful very slightly dished head and big, soft eyes. She taught our young sons to ride. They rode through the hills, did county Pprades and competed in endurance on her. Her previous owner had introduced us to endurance riding and so began our Arabian herd.

We began breeding fast, correct Arabians with endurance in mind.

We had some very nice predominantly CMK (Crabbet/Maynesboro/Kellogg) mares that we crossed with our two CMK stallions Rabba Baron and Bucephalos. Each stallion sired National Endurance Champions. Farabba (Rabba Baron’s son) also won the coveted Haggin Cup for Best Condition on the 100-mile Tevis Cup ride and Redfellow (a Bucephalos son) known commonly as Monk also clocked the fastest time for 100-miles in the US. We took a break from breeding horses to raise our children. Soon however, Hendrik wanted “foals on the ground again.” Rushcreek Land and Cattle Company in Nebraska was dispersing their herd of tough, solidly built Arabians that had been bred for cattle work on their huge ranch. These horses also historically made excellent endurance competitors. We were able to get several of their top ten keeper mares. We purchased the stallion they were using but gelded him as he was not what we had in mind for a herd sire. As we were searching for an appropriate stallion, we came across Dianne

Waldron. She said she had a French stallion that would cross well with the big Rushcreek mares. That stallion was Doran SBFAR. We purchased him as he was exactly what we wanted and would be a good match for the mares we had. He showed that he could “stamp” his foals with traits we desired.

So began our journey towards breeding for the flat track the following year. We purchased a few race mares from Dianne Waldron, Helen and Warren Shelley, Ken and Nancy Blewett, and several others that helped us get started. Our first Burning Sand daughter, Sand Tiki Belle, came from Diane. We eventually purchased three more Burning Sand mares from the Shelleys along with many other wonderfully bred mares that Helen sent our way. We now have mares by Ala Croixnoire, Virgule al Maury, Bengali d' Albret, Akim de Ducour, Wiking, Juan de Shawn and so on. We have many Doran SBFAR get running the fields. Some are just now getting started under saddle. Doran SBFAR was exported to UAE, but we are using his semen, and he is still our main herd sire.

6. Tell us about any horses you own/ride.

Our herd currently consists of about 70 horses. We have them roaming on our 1,400 acre Snell Valley Ranch.

We still actively ride for pleasure and for endurance. Hendrik rides an off-the-track Burning Sand son named TM Big Papa. Lettie rides an off-the-track Sand Tiki Special daughter KD Special V, bred by Ken Danyluk. In addition to these horses we will soon be riding our Doran SBFAR get.

7. Give us a tip about something horse related - anything you'd like to share!

When breeding, pay close attention to the dam lines and their accomplishments - even more so than the stallion.

Two of the Smedig's 2018 foals. Left: Filly by Doran SBFAR out of One Hot Chick, by Burning Sand. Right: Filly by Assy out of TM Sold Out, by Burning Sand.

Arabian Finish Line • June/July 2018

Bimonthly - June/July 2018

AL JAÏMIR DE BOZOULS KAI SAGEMUELLER / KAVKAZ BLOODSTOCK & RACING SIDI THABET TUNISIA : ARAB HORSE AUCTION - KASZMIR LA CAMARGUE : IN THE LENS OF EGIJA LABANOVSKA CHANTILLY : QATAR DERBY DES PUR-SANG ARABE

21

u.n:told stories of horse life

By Steve Heath

selecting silks In the early days of horse racing, runners were few and match races were popular. The matches often consisted of only one race a day of two, three or four-mile heats. Therefore, the need for distinguishing the colors riders wore was not a serious problem.

Close finishes were rare, and it did not seem to matter much if the jockey's jackets were of similar color.

During the 1700's, as the owner's list increased, confusion resulted from the duplicate entries that arose. It became absolutely necessary to vary the color and design for positive identification of the horse. The difficulty of telling horses apart in a race became a topic of discussion at a meeting of the Jockey Club at Newmarket, England.

At Newmarket in 1762, the English Jockey Club requested that the owners submit specific colors for a jacket and cap. Registering their colors and using them consistently distinguished riders among a field of horses and settled disputes that might arise.

This resulted the famous Newmarket resolution: "For the greater convenience of distinguishing the horses in running, and also for the prevention of disputes arising from not knowing the colors of each rider, the under-mentioned gentleman have come to the resolution and agreement of having the colors annexed to their names, worn by their respective riders."

From the Duke of Cumberland's purple to Mr. Jenison Shafto's pin, the first silk colors were all solid shades and topped with the black velvet cap. The "straw" registered by the Duke of Devonshire is still used by the family’s racing stable and must be considered the oldest racing colors in existence.

Certainly no other sport in America enjoys a more notable heritage or any finer traditions than horse racing. Racing silks have become an inherent part of the sporting traditions which we inherited in the British legacy of horse racing. The oldest American racing colors in continuous use today are the "scarlet" racing silks of Mrs. John A. Morris, believed to be used first at the Metairie Track in New Orleans during the 1850's.

Today every American race horse owner registers his "silks" with The Jockey Club, the sport's registry and ruling body.

Is it difficult to design silks? Not necessarily. "I looked through patterns and colors, and I liked the bright purple with the white," says Arabian Jockey Club President Sue Meyer. "I thought the large white star would be easy to see from far away."

Michelle Morgan, Chief Steward of the Arabian Racing Cup, focused her silks on her Mandolynn Hill Farm. "My farm colors are black, silver and blue," she says. "I used my logo on the back and thought the circles would go well with circle logo."

Arabian Finish Line • June/July 2018

Cre Run Mares Produce Winners Fiftyshadess Of Bay ( DAHESS X DONNATELLAA )

Winner at Delaware Park - May 30, 2018 Career Record 6(2-1-1)

Colors In Motion ( DAHESS X OVOUR THE RAINBOW )

Winner at Delaware Park - May 31, 2018 Career Record 4(1-2-0)

Jimdandy Totherehessq ( DAHESS X IN AWE )

Winner at Delaware Park - June 7, 2018 by 5 lengths Career record 9(3-1-1)0-1 2nd H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship Stakes photographs copyright

The dams of these & other winners are on our Mare Lease list!

CreatingRunners

CRE RUN FARM

ALAN KIRSHNER AND DEBORAH MIHALOFF 15460 Campbell Lake Road, Doswell, Virginia 23047 804-227-9491 Email: crerun@aol.com

Find details about our winners, lease mares, new foals and more on our website!

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