RESPECT

(PHOTO: What you lookin at? THUMBELINA is coming to town, see below)


CARRYOVER $38,000 FOR PICK 7 THIS EVENING...

Beginning at race 2 (through race 8) the PICK 7 offers a carryover of almost $40,000 if you can select the winners of the 7 races.

Just one feature race, the 2nd event for allowance/optional claiming, 7 furlongs on the turf for fillies & mares with win-shy BE ENVIED the morning line favourite.

Race 3 - also scheduled for the grass marks the return to the speedy TUGASKE, who was impressive in his season debut in April but has not been seen since.

Race 4- maidens for $25K and CAT N SASSY (Sir Cat) may be a key for many based o nhis Beyer Figure edge.

Race 5- big field of $20K non-winners of 2 fillies and mares (Natanya is scratched). At least half a dozen contenders in this race including TERMS OF THE TIGER (should she draw in from the AE list).

race 6- another prospective key is the Terry Jordan shipper UNGI BLANC, 8 to 5 in the morning line and a Hennessy fellow with huge Beyers.

The PICK 7 wraps up with two very tough claiming races, race 7 features the tough ARCHIE'S GAL off the Steve Asmussen claim and dropping NAME IN LIGHTS.
And the finale has a litany of speed runners in the mix including dropper HOLBORN (Smoke Glacken).


WOODBINE WEDNESDAY NIGHT RACING ON
THE SCORE

Highlights of tonight's show, beginning at 7:00 p.m. include

-Chantal Sutherland's Top 5 racing moments

-a feature on Lauren Bode an "animal communicator" (sort of like the
horse whisperer I guess)

-Rapid Fire with Nick Gonzalez

-a recap of this past weekend's big stakes action

Woodbine TB department note:
There is no Saturday Sun TV show this weekend due to the
Canadian Pacing Derby being on The Score Saturday night.


LEADING ONTARIO SIRES by ONTARIO SIRED EARNINGS


Strs Wnrs SWs Earnings

Bold Executive 115 45 4 $2,531,024

Trajectory 73 38 4 1,738,727

*Not Impossible (Ire) 18 8 1 1,101,050

Tejano Run 60 31 2 1,052,248

Bold n’ Flashy 68 24 0 972,582

Peaks and Valleys 86 31 1 913,480

Tethra 67 24 1 880,259

One Way Love 62 22 0 827,570

Whiskey Wisdom 53 15 0 768,957

#Perigee Moon 58 21 0 687,873

*Ascot Knight 51 17 0 $677,638

*Cat’s At Home 59 20 0 582,067

Kinshasa 34 13 0 498,219

Compadre 44 12 0 482,729

Rock and Roll 31 15 0 477,470

Crown Attorney 22 9 1 448,597

Foxtrail 42 14 0 380,084

Paynes Bay 34 9 0 348,971

*A Fleets Dancer 34 14 0 341,792

Best of the Bests (Ire) 65 18 0 305,222

Impeachment 35 13 1 293,339

Ciano Cat 27 11 0 289,843

+Tomahawk iSD 12 5 1 288,807

*deceased
+ first crop
# pensioned



TRIBUTE

VERY PROFESSIONAL 1998-2008

Lordhyexecutioner - Advocate n' Doctors, by Advocator.
Bred by Bruno Schickedanz


Shocking news from the Woodbine backstretch last week when the popular old-timer/claimer VERY PROFESSIONAL died suddenly while being grazed.

It was a tragic ending to the life of a hard knocker who won money for everyone.

The 10-year-old, who last raced on July 25 and had been unplaced in all 4 races in 2008, apparently reared up while grazing and dropped dead to the ground.

Trainer WILLIE ARMATA, who claimed the horse in September of 2006 told DAILY RACING FORM'S BILL TALLON that the horse will undergo an autopsy.

VERY PROFESSIONAL raced just TWICE for his breeder Bruno Schickedanz when he debuted in the year 2000 for $25,000 claiming.

He raced for SVGB Stable and trainer Norm DeSouza for nine starts, raced once for Tino Attard and then was raced by Stubbs Investment and J. Glass in 2001 and 2002 while racing at the $50,000 and $60,000 level.

He was claimed for $60,000 by Carlo D'Amato and trainer Warren Wilcox in July 2002 and spent 2 years with that stable.

It was with Wilcox that Very Professional hit a professional peak. He ran a 91 Beyer Figure (plus several high 80s) when 3rd in an allowance race to track record holder Chris's Bad Boy and won races for $40K and $50K.

He was then claimed by California Stable and Bobby Lane for $60,000 but then claimed later for $25,000 by Scott Fairlie, who lost him a few races later for $10,000 to Wilcox again.
He won a couple more races for Wilcox before arriving in the fold of the Armata group.

In 2007, the gelding had a new lease on life and won 5 times, $64,000 for Willie and the All Day Stable but as mentioned, ,2008 had been a down year and he was not doing well for $11,500 claiming and $15,000 claiming.

His record:

95- 18 - 11 - 12 - $567,260

If you have fond memories of VERY PROFESSIONAL, how about a donation to LONGRUN THOROUGHBRED REETIREMENT FOUNDATION?
(see link at right on my Links list)



BRAMPTON PAPER FEATURES UNITED THOROUGHBREDS
(and THOROUGHBLOG gets a mention!)


Good luck to all those getting in the game for the first time with United Thoroughbreds - here's a cool story that was in the Brampton Guaradian recently..


It makes plenty of horse sense

The Brampton Guardian
By FRANK JUZENAS

BRAMPTON - Thoroughbred racing has been called the Sport of Kings for good reason.
The financial considerations are far beyond the means of most people.

However, Brampton’s David Godin is hoping to make the sport a lot more accessible to those who have dreamed of getting involved but don’t have the means to be a full owner.

His new company United Thoroughbreds is putting together a syndicate to purchase a yearling early in September. With 25 shares in total an individual can purchase a piece of the horse for a total of about $5,000 over a two-year period.
“Syndicates are popular in the U.K and the U.S.,’’ said Godin, a 27-year old father of two, with a life-long love for horse racing.

While there are some syndicates in Canada they have generally limited who could get in and the financial outlay has still been considerable.

Godin is willing to talk to anyone in the public whether they have experience in the industry to discuss his proposal. Those who purchase a share will be required to put in an initial fee of $1,000 and then pay $160 per month (plus taxes) for a minimum of two years.
For that fee the share holder will be like Frank Stronach or Eugene Melynk the owner of a horse that will race at Woodbine, although with fewer dollars invested.

“There is nothing like owning a race horse,’’ said Godin, who has worked for a horse breeder in the past. He now has another full-time job and like most of those who will purchase shares will keep working.
“This is not a way to get rich quick,’’ said Godin, who advises you not get involved unless you can afford to lose money.

He will have the services of a professional breeder to assist in making the purchase of the yearling at the sale at Woodbine in September. While it might be even a couple of years before the horse will race, he cautions horse racing is risky and there is a chance that the horse might never race.

In the event the worst happens and the horse is found not suitable to race there is one thing that will not happen.
“I’ve made it clear that the horse will never go to an auction for slaughter,’’ said Godin, who said while he was younger he dreamed of being a jockey but at 5-foot-6 and 120 pounds grew too big.

He loves horses and has committed to putting one per cent of the profits to the Long Run, a retirement facility for thoroughbreds.

As the founder of United Thoroughbreds, Godin said the company will purchase at least one share in each syndicate so that the owners know he has a stake in the success of the horse.

The owners will have input into the purchase of the horse and Godin will attempt to satisfy the majority of shareholders when any decisions have to be but will also get advice from professionals in the industry. The company will take a 5 per cent management fee off any winnings but also promises to provide full financial reports to all the owners.

The only publicity Godin has received to date was a mention in a blog by free lance journalist Jennifer Morrison and he said five shares have already been sold in the first syndicate, mainly to those who have previous ownership experience and wish to be involved on a smaller basis.
He said there have also been inquiries from those who rather than buying a yearling would prefer to purchase an already racing horse through a claiming race and Godin is considering a second syndicate.

He expects a number of professionals, such as doctors or lawyers might be interested in joining the syndicate. Godin also says there are tax advantages available to business owners who could write off a portion of any losses from ownership of the horse.

Of course those who invest in the horse are hoping to achieve success. They would like to find a horse like Funny Cide, a yearling purchased for $22,000 in 2001 (when the average cost was $43,000), by a group which included a couple of auto workers, and then went on to win the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

(see United's ad at right on my website)


YES, BUT CAN SHE RACE?

THUMBELINA, the WORLD'S SMALLEST HORSE, according to Guiness Book of World Records, will be at Mohawk Saturday night as part of the Canadian Pacing Derby festivities. The liver coloured chestnut mare will laso be at Sick Kids Hosptial in Toronto as part of her Ontario tour.

The dwarf minatire horse, 7 years-old, was foaled at Goose Creek Farms near St. Louis, MO. • Goose Creek Farms maintains a herd of about 40-50 miniature horses and is owned by Paul and Kay Goessling.

From her press kit (at her website www.worldssmallesthorse.com):

At birth, Thumbelina stood about 11 inches tall and weighed about 8.5 lbs.

Today, Thumbelina is a chestnut mare that stands 17 ½ inches tall and weighs 58 lbs.

Thumbelina eats one cup of oats and a handful of hay in the breakfast and dinner.

Thumbelina prefers to sleep in the dog house instead of her stall.

Guinness World records certified Thumbelina as the “World’s Smallest Living Horse” on
July 7th, 2006.

Guinness has since certified Thumbelina as the smallest horse in history since they can
find no record of anyone ever claiming to have a horse smaller than 17 ½ inches tall.

The Thumbelina Charitable Foundation was created to channel the world’s affection for Thumbelina toward worthy children’s charities and the missions for which they strive.
The goal of the Children’s Tour is for Thumbelina to visit sick and needy kids across the US and to raise $1M for children’s charities.