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First, a big thanks to the two comments I received, and my apologies for not replying to them earlier. Obviously, keeping up a blog while working full-time on a "real" job is harder than it looks! Another reason for my absence the past few months is that I have striven to avoid posting information on stallions or racehorses that have been posted in the major publications or blogs elsewhere. I want to be try to be unique, yet obviously there has to be a bit of information available elsewhere on the thoroughbred in question in order to do the research. After a major stakes win, I waited until the dust settled from the other publications before considering a new posting. With the Breeder's Cup generating information everywhere, that proved to be difficult. And, as one comment pointed out, this blog requires quite a bit of research to get the job done. Plus, I'm anal about accuracy of research. (My first master's degree was in library science, after all.) Plus, of course, there's that little thing called a "full-time job" and "life" getting in the way! Hopefully, I can devote a bit of time again to this blog.
In the meantime, if any of you would like to see a posting devoted to a specific thoroughbred, please let me know! And thanks for reading!
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1 comment:
Hi Ken! Thank you for all of the good work that you do. There is not enough (free anyways!) info available on pedigree analysis in my opinion. Your stuff is sooo good- it reads like a fine novel for a pedigree enthusiast. I can only imagine the time and care you put into it. Myself, I could pore over pedigrees for hours- not stopping for food, sleep, anything! Honestly though, my knowledge level is probably at your WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED OUT. But I try! My goal is to learn more and while having fun help spread the joy of horse racing to others at a time when the sport needs it most. I have a few horses that I would like to run by you, and please feel free to skip or limit your response- I don't want to send you into a mega study. Stallion Vindication is gone. I had hoped that he would carry on the Seattle Slew legacy. It appears that they bred him to alot of mares with foriegn bloodlines. US sires noted often appearing in these mares pedigrees- Relaunch, In Reality, Dr. Fager, Dr. Blum, Dark Star, Double Jay- it just looked like they were going for something different. Vindication had five foal crops, hopefully with three more years to go a champion will emerge to carry on the Seattle Slew legacy. Pedigree enthusiasts on other forums have scoffed at the idea of any legacy, claiming that he retired with an injury and that his babies should be looked upon with suspicion. I don't consider a suspensory injury in the same realm as a bone injury myself, but I'm no vet. I do know that the pedigree guru (George?) who arranged Vindication's conception tried to breed him to be "bullet proof"- and claims that he did fail, but obviously not for lack of trying. Final note on Vindication- three more crops to observe, an infusion of foreign blood from his dam Strawberry Reason, perhaps more careful mare selection by his handlers, and my strong hopes that his promoters and fans do not leave him to fade into history. I hope that his remaining foals continue to be promoted. Any thoughts that you might have Ken would be welcome. Aside from that, I am really watching the 2009 Derby potential colts. The more their stories are told, the more fans to draw in to love our sport. There is a colt being quite ignored in West Virgina (not so shocking) named Russell Road. His owners did mention Preakness possibilities but you never know if Derby fever will catch them. Russell lost his debut by a 1/2 length, won his next 5 by big margins (probably against lesser competition). I always dream about the little horses (remember Cable Guy taking on the likes of Curlin in the Haskell?) But this little horse is by Wheaton (Alydar x Terlingua) and out of a producing granddaughter of Exceller- from a line of winning and producing mares. Just something to think about! After all, dreams are what keep us fans going! I look forward to reading your posts in the future. Don't be afraid to make them shorter so you can offer more separate topics. Happy New Year and Thank You again!
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