International Thoroughbred Digest

ONE FOR ROSE WILL ALWAYS BE A WINNER. EVEN IN RETIREMENT, THE THREE-TIME SOVEREIGN AWARD CHAMPION IS STILL FINDING WAYS TO MAKE HEADLINES AND DISPLAY HER BRILLIANCE.

To kick off 2006, the seven-year-old mare didn’t need a stakes race to show off her greatness. In fact, it was just the opposite.

Upon entry into the sales ring at the January Horses of All Ages Sale at Keeneland, sporting hip #320, she carded a race of her own – a bidding war between two Japanese owners.

THERE WAS THE SMASHING DEBUT OF EMMA-JAYNE WILSON, THE REQUISITE COLLECTION OF CANADIAN CHAMPIONS (some impressive and some less so), and enough big money to keep things interesting and profitable for many. In many ways, however, 2005 was a peculiar year for thoroughbred racing at Canada’s biggest racetrack.

Peculiar in the sense that beyond Wilson, few Canadian horses or horse people distinguished themselves beyond their homeland.

IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO GET EXCITED ABOUT THE KENTUCKY DERBY.

Watch enough maiden, allowance and stakes races for three-yearolds and it’s almost impossible not to feel the anticipation pulsing towards a case of full-blown Derby fever.

The race offers much more intrigue to both casual and dedicated Canadian fans when there’s a direct Canadian connection to follow.

It’s been a while since Canadian racing enthusiasts have had a horse to be passionate about on the winding road to the Derby.

“I NEED A LOW CARBOHYDRATE FEED” HAS BECOME A COMMON EXPRESSION WITHIN THE HORSE INDUSTRY.

However, is this logic technically correct? Carbohydrates (CHO) make up to 75% of all plant matter, and therefore, make up anywhere from 55 to 75% of a horse’s diet. Carbohydrates are a fundamental part of any horse’s diet. If a horse were to be completely deprived of all CHO, he would die within days. Hence, understanding the breakdown and metabolism of CHO in our equine athletes is a great asset to any horseperson.

A STALLION NAMED THE FED RETURNS TO THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO, where he’ll stand stud at the Curraghmore Farm of Vera Simpson near the town of Waterdown.

The move is a homecoming for the 11-year-old, who was born in Ontario and
earned every penny of his $222,350 at Woodbine Racetrack. The Toronto-oval was the site of 22 of the bay’s 24 races.

THE END OF A RACING SEASON WOULDN’T BE THE SAME WITHOUT THE REGULAR POSTSOVEREIGN RUMBLINGS OF DISCONTENT.

It begins when the finalists are announced in December and swells to a feverish pitch when the winning names are announced at the annual event, which is now in its 31st year. When a group of individuals can watch the same set of races, synthesize the results and come up with vastly different opinions about what has transpired over the course of 8 1/2 months, it’s an indication of what a contentious, entertaining season it has been.

TRAINER MIKE DEPAULO ALWAYS DREAMED OF BEING A TRAINER. TODAY, AFTER 19 YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY AND A 2005 RACE SEASON THAT FEATURED 24 WINS, 178 STARTS AND A TOTAL OF $1,201,779 IN PURSE EARNINGS, HE IS LIVING HIS DREAM AND ENJOYING THE SWEET FRUITS OF HIS LABOUR.

ASSINIBOIA DOWNS CONCLUDED THE 2005 LIVE RACING SEASON ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 WITH A TOTAL WAGERING HANDLE OF $8,315,573.47. The on-track wagering total was $5,792,775.53 and the simulcast partners wagering total amounted to $2,522,797.94. This compared with the 2004 handle of $8,857,499.41, which consisted of the 2004 on-track wagering of $6,045,488.60 and the 2004 simulcast partner total of $2,812,010.81.

WHO SAYS THE FILLY CAN’T TAKE ON THE COLTS? NOT EMMA-JAYNE WILSON, WHO HAS JUST COMPLETED ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE SEASONS FOR A CANADIAN-BORN RIDER. Not the trainers from virtually every corner of the Woodbine backstretch, who have supported her with their horses.

And certainly not the bettors, who throw the weight of the grandstand on her back by making so many of the horses she rides the race favourite.