What? Who said you need to justify your existence in this space?
You and ateamstupid had a disagreement. No big deal. Arguments are a big part of a board like this.
I happened to agree with him on this one. I am sure there were others that agreed with you.
But you are a fan of horseracing....that is all the justification you need for being here.

Congrats to Sumwon and all of her connections, owners, trainer, grooms, etc. No one deserves a great showing more. Great training job. I am so happy for you all!

Happy for all involved. Too bad a win wasn't in the cards.

No offense to anyone involved...but incredibly happy for Chuck right now, more so than anyone...as I am sure the winnings will help defray some the costs involved. He should also be commended for spotting her so well in what was a very high class for her.

His graciousness is a rare commodity found in people nowadays.

Ditto that.

Congrats to everyone connected with Sumwon! And hope she comes out of the race great and moves onward and upward.:D

I just wanted to put a few thoughts in print about this whole experience with "Somewon...." and ownership in general.

1) I couldn't be more pleased with the experience of agonizing over the performance of "our baby". It has been great to see what goes into the day to day operation of taking a quality horse from claim to race. I appreciate Chuck and Steve's investment in my entertainment.

2) Byk could not have been anymore forthcoming about what to expect with this endeavor of offering limited partnership to a group from the website that was 1) strickly for offering a crash education in horse ownership 2) Not to be looked at as a money making opportunity but a project for our enjoyment 3) a vehicle for getting together with other DT folks as a social opportunity.

Steve and Chuck have kept up their end of the bargain magnificently and any expression to the contrary is clearly missing the original agenda of the project. It was clear to me from the beginning that I should not expect to
make a profit nor should I expect to a) select a jockey of my choice and taste b) expect to pick a race level c) expect to develop a training or race
tactic agenda. These things are handled by my trainer who is also kind enough to devote his time and money to feed and shelter my horse.

I am a novice at the in's and out's of horse ownership and training but have been given an opportunity to participate in an elective apprenticeship that allows an outsider such as myself to be invited into the thoughts and daily activities of the livelihood of a man's craft for the purpose of my own entertainment and as such I am a guest and should act and speak as if I understand accordingly.

I feel exceedingly lucky to benefit from the efforts of two men I have never met in person but enjoy their contribution to my own life daily. Chuck and Steve have done a superior job creating this work in progress which already is a success. "Somewon's" efforts today and in the future show that hard work and fundamental ole fashioned hard work can take potential and turn it into a winner as this horse and project already are.

Glad to see you get a few bucks for the Silver medal today boy's because God knows you've earned it.

DrD

Best quote of the thread. None of us spent a dime on her upkeep (peppermints aside) so at least Chuck recoups some of his. My Lord is Saratoga gonna be a party! If this keeps up, and I told Hooves and Steve, I see a morning at Saratoga with a buffet breakfast cheering this girl working out. To run in the afternoon is a dream.

I forgot to ask earlier...did anyone pick up a extra program from Churchill today, if you did..let me know.
Hope there are some new pics from today too!

very well put. right on agree 100%

If she runs opening weekend, I might be in a coma from alcohol....

That first weekend...will be a killer!!!

You guys should've seen steve right before the race.... :D

Well, to be fair, we were all a little keyed up.

Dr. Coney did.

I really couldn't agree more. :)

Ohmygosh, what a great day!

Sumwon comes into the paddock dancing and feeling full of herself ... I'll let Steve and Chuck comment, of course, but here's what I saw (while my heart was racing a mile a minute!) .... she gets up and settled into a nice, steady lick, well within herself and comfortable, Willie puts her just off the two path to block the rail down the back stretch - if you watch the replay, twice he took her back a tad on the lead and she responded (good girl!) with a little rest .... she goes around the turn, came off the rail while fussing a little when he asked her to change her lead again (that's when the other horse came through) ... she gets back up into her stride and when the other horse passed she opened up her stride (huge stride, wow) and fought back and she closed down on the winner. Nice race riding!

Cherie said she came back to the barn happy, proud, and bucking and kicking!

What an awesome day - so glad Chuck got a payday! Cherie was so proud of her girl - she's done wonders with her, she looks marvelous, beautiful, so many improvements from big to little (and she'd not done yet I hope) and of course Steve was a wonderful "racing manager" and got us owners passes to the boxes for the rest of the day, and made sure we all had a great time.

I can't thank all of you guys - Hooves, Steve, Chuck, Cherie ... for letting me experience the pure thrill and joy of being a part of this, of meeting so many great new people, of being a "race horse owner". Everyone, the other owners, are so much fun - I hope this starts friendships that last a long time :)

You guys are NUTS if you don't get in on the NY bred ... it is so very, very much fun, and meeting the fellow DT'ers is wonderful (even though I'm starting to confuse screen names with the "real people" I now know <g>)

AND I GOT TO MEET STEVE HASKIN !!!!! :D

Unfortunately, BTW wasn't there :(

Riot -- thanks for the descriptive post. I was so bummed that I couldn't afford to get in at that time based on stuff that came up. I stared at the prospectus for weeks and couldn't bring myself to buy in based on personal circumstances.

While I don't own a piece of her, I feel like I can live vicariously through you guys who had the cash to spare, and I thank you guys all for that. Even I was crazy nervous today watching the race at work and found even myself smiling like a fool for about 30 minutes afterwards.

I could not be happier for you guys for this. She was so game today after those fractions to be coming back to the winner at the wire. A real testament to what a good trainer and a whole lot of good energy from a group of believers can accomplish!

Its great to hear everyone had such a good time. If she is able to race summer in Saratoga, Im gonna have to find my way up there. Even if I have to sleep in my rental car.

[QUOTE I was so bummed that I couldn't afford to get in at that time based on stuff that came up. I stared at the prospectus for weeks and couldn't bring myself to buy in based on personal circumstances.[/quote]

Here's the DeeTee Stables Challenge ...

Can you earn $500 on the track during the next couple of months?

Think about it - with all the good handicappers on this board giving us FREEBEES all the time ....

If she races there, I'm going to Saratoga, even if I have to pay $200 a night to be able to sleep in a tent in some entrepreneurs' backyard and have bathroom privileges .... :D

lol I've thought about that long and hard :)

I'm hoping my Derby Day pick-4 mini-syndicate pays ok if we hit and i can buy into the NY bred!