Curlin's connections
 

THis was on the front page of the sports section of the Lexington paper this morning.

www.kentucky.com/454/story/75425.html

Very good find. A sobering reminder of the imperfection of human kind.

I didn't care much for the article. Clay chose to throw some negative light on the winner. What's the point? It would have been more interesting to read more about the horse being owned in part by a minority stable or the fact he is named for a slave.

I'm going to write an article on John Clay's dentist or lack of.

Good article, except Curlin is not a multiple Grade I winner.

Why did I think that the Arkansas derby was a grade 1 ??

because it should be? i think it will be soon! or some heads will need examining.

Does Oaklawn Park even have a grade 1?? Is the Oaklawn Handicap a graded stakes?

Apple Blossom is a G1.

Oaklawn H'cap is a G2

the oaklawn used to be gr 1, back in the day when they drew horses like cigar. but the dubai world cup has hurt the race lately, and it lost gr 1 status several years ago. however, the apple blossom is a gr1--their only one i believe. but i really think that will change, and the ark derby will return to gr 1 status. the rebel and southwest should both be graded as well, rather than just a gr 3 for the southwest. it's shown the last several years that it on par with the east and west coast preps, and has provided some top classic horses.

I'm fairly certain the Oaklawn Handicap was G1 until 4-5 years ago. I also seem to recall the Ark Derby used to be G1, but I'm less certain of that.

no, you're right. they both were, but got knocked down a peg.

I don't think that the Ark derby was ever a G1. Obviously since the success of Smarty Jones and Afleet Alex Oaklawn is really lobbying hard for G1 status. Now with Curlin's Preakness win they have more ammunition.

As for the article, it seems a bit "sour grapes" to me. If you do a bit of digging on just about any owner you'll find some "dirt." I know alot of industry insiders don't care for Jackson and Sanan's lawsuits and proposals regarding horse sales but honestly, the business is as crooked as a stick in water. They have a point. What I don't like is the whiney tone about "buying a classic winner for $3.5m." What's wrong with that? Tons of horses change hands in the months leading up to the TC, usually sold by the moderately wealthy to the extremely wealthy. Twas ever thus.

Why the comparison to Smarty Jones when taking of the original purchase price? The media bought into the idea of Smarty as some "blue collar hero" even though his sire was owned by a Shiekh and held a world record. Elusive Quality was a high class sire prospect when Smarty was concieved. He was hardly Ol' Bob Bowers. Had Curlin not been sold to Padua and Jackson, he'd be the next "working class horse" after all he "only" cost $57k.

I do see the smarmy attorneys who are disbarred in KY as a bit of a blot on his ownership, but if I'm not mistaken, they were the original owners, who'd paid the $57k for Curlin.

it was in an article in yesterdays paper that the ark derby had been a gr 1 in the past....i'll have to look it up i guess. if it hasn't been trashed already!

The Arkansas Derby was a G1 from 1981-1985.

Personally I am very happy for Satish Sanan, a man who loves the game, has put enormous amounts of money and effort into racing, has been robbed for untold millions, had the nerve to stand up for himself and what was right, and continues undaunted to support the game. Personally I hope his success continues.

Plus, he likes to gamble.

hmm, I don't know what to make of the article. I am not sure what he was trying to get across. Rogues can own really good racehorses? All you need is money?

Too bad the horse wasn't still with Helen Pitts and the original owners, there would be nothing but glowing articles on the horse. He can't choose who owns him - remember, horses can't say no......

I think he is a jerk....

He is simply conveying the feelings of many, that this group of people are hardly lovable and certainly controversial especially in light of the great stories of recent years. I think he speaks for a majority of the people in the market in which his paper is sold. Not that it matters a bit but they are not a really likable bunch.

I can tell you the two lawyers who are the original owners are not good people, and will most likely be watching future races from behind bars.

I certainly think that what Sanan and Jackson are trying to do in terms of cleaning up the sales end of the business is laudable. However, people in "glass houses" who claim that they are trying to "clean up the game" should try to avoid even the appearance of condoning shady behavior. In this regard, their selection of Asmussen as their trainer leaves a lot to be desired.

I believe that ego not integrity was the fuel that fueled the flame to "clean up the sales business". Two extremely successful guys got burned and needed to do something to fix those bruised egos. Not that anything they are doing will have much effect anyway. You cant legislate morality.

I don't know enough about them to render judgment on what has motivated their "clean up the business" crusade. Assuming what you say is correct, however, I hope that the message is not disregarded simply because of who the messengers are, because we all know there are plenty of aspects of the sales that need to be cleaned up. Some of the obvious problems (i.e., conflicts of interest, use of steroids, etc.) are things for which regulations can - and should - be drafted.

I agree with you but it is hard to "prove" these things especially when a lot of the people who are drafting the rules, are the ones who are the reason for their existence. The steroids thing is a no brainer though.

No question. The sales companies have little incentive to restrict steroids, for if they did, the commissions they receive would likely fall.

Amazing that this article would appear after what i posted on this site. LIke i said these are not people that I want to root for and as I said in my original post curlin is all that is wrong with horse racing.

I just watched the HBO Real Sports special on drugs in the game and wouldn't ya know it, the guy that took the most heat on the broadcast...

Steve Asmussen.

Ain't that a coincidence.

A sobering reminder: he's tested positive 22 times (including one horse that was 750 TIMES the legal limit) and finished ITM 21 of those times. He acted like he had been framed!!!

he's more positive than Rickie Williams and look how harsh they are with him.

With the 3YO's, does it even matter anymore whether it is a G1 or a G2/3? I don't see the G1's having much importance between them anymore, especially with the rising purses in 2's and 3's at places like Delta Downs.

Yet another reason to change the Graded Earnings requirements for the Derby, bringing back the prestige of winning a Grade 1...

ALostTexan

Nothing but sour grapes and a smear. This article was a crappy hitpiece filled with innuendo.

“Curlin's owners are a large and controversial lot, a glossy group of multimillionaires with the green to chase their equine dreams”.
Really? What makes these millionaires “glossy”, and different from all other millionaires in the sport? Isn’t that what every owner in the sport does, use their green to chase equine dreams? And what is wrong with the ownership being a large group?

Jess Jackson – “could be a sorehead that doesn’t know his place”. Wow, what a stinging indictment.

Satish Sanan – “spent millions in the racing game”, OMG! How outrageous. Of all the nerve.

the original owners were lawyers who are being sued. Apparently not found guilty of anything yet but certainly since they're being sued the author feels its okay to claim they're part of some "dark cloud" hanging over Curlin.

Also Assmussen looked agitated on HBO. Well that's the last straw. How dare he look agitated while being filmed on HBO's hit-piece, oops, documentary on drugs in racing. At least he went on camera.

BS journalism if you ask me, better suited for the Enquirer. Try only to lurk around and pick holes in people that have a success.

Couldn't agree more. This crap takes away from a quality horse than ran a great race...

ALostTexan

ummmm, i think the article was about the humanoid connections; not Curlin.

ummmm, no one has suggested otherwise.

dwl owes him a bottle of dom and a 19 year hooker as a congrats gift,,

I just thought it was about the human connections. I completely missed the humanoid aspect.

I thought it was about the decepticons. Doesn't Megatron own Curlin?

they're not cyborgs, living tissue over metal endoskeletons?

I would like to set aside the Steve Assmusen element for a moment. This article speaks to Curlin's connections -- and a major component of that, and the article, are the owners. This right here is one of the major problems we have in this industry and this sport -- and that is the mainstream media.

Jess Jackson has put forth a great deal of efforts to bring to this industry something that we have never had before -- integrity! It is not only needed in the sales/auction/bloodstock arena, but other arenas as well; vis a vis the drugs in horse racing arena. For the author to trivialize, critisize, cast aspersions, and mock the efforts of Jess Jackson, he is gulity of showing no class and being nothing more than ignorant to the real issues. I don't care how many Pulitzer Prize awards he may have won or what is accomplishments are. His ignorance to this sport and industry stands alone with this article.

Satish Sanan also has been involved in bringing integrity to our industry. If men such as these are not successful, this will be, and has been to an extent, a major contributory factor in the decline of our industry and sport. Integrity, as a vision and destination, knows no borders. It may start in one area, but you could be assured that these efforts will continue with success. Nothing breeds success like success!

"Street Sense owned a cleaner story line. There was the sage 65-year-old trainer in Carl Nafzger, the trusted single owner in James Tafel and the local jockey as national hero that became Calvin Borel. Rooting for Street Sense was as easy as his running style.

With Curlin, it's much less so."

Thank you for the aspersion of setting the stage for what is to come.

Why is Curlin's owners a large and controversial lot? Because the author said so? Because they chose Steve Assmusen as a trainer? If they are to be condemned for this and this alone, then this industry is in such trouble. People who would critisize these owners as controversial are not looking beyond a trainer selection, when in fact there is so much more than that going on.

There are far too many hecklers in the stands. At least people like Sanan and Jackson don't sit in the stands and heckle like this author. They got in the game and played all out.

"Curlin's owners are a large and controversial lot, a glossy group of multimillionaires with the green to chase their equine dreams. We're not exactly talking Sackatoga Stables here, those lovable high school chums who owned 2003 Derby winner Funny Cide."

Is this the standard for owners to be measured by? I am sure we will soon see Jess Jackson and Satish Sanan selling beer, posters, books, and everything else. I am not condemning Sackatoga -- great story -- however, let's not make owning a Classic winning horse and not being the "wealthy owner" who paid a high price as one's automatic nomination to sainthood.

"Instead, we have Jess Jackson, the white-haired Kendall-Jackson winery and Stonestreet Farms proprietor who, depending on your view, is either a courageous reformer in the area of horse sales or a sorehead of a newcomer who doesn't know his place."

Doesn't know his place? The author is casting a net of foolishness and is mocking the efforts of someone who has a vision to make our sport and industry better. I would like to know what the author has done in this regard -- other than heckle.

I guess it's OK for Nafzger to compliment and acknowledge Curlin, but not for this author.

He closes his article by saying:
"Our job is to reconcile our questions about the connections with our appreciation for the horse. That might be the tougher of the two."

Really? Who gave him this job? And why is this "our" job?

We have a potentially great rivalry here -- 1-2-3 finishers in the Derby and Preakness, and now maybe all 3 heading to NY for the Belmont. Why aren't we hearing about that from this so called author. I say it's because he doesn't have the level of sophistication and knowledge to write such an article -- but can only write a "National Inquirer" type of piece.

This author has insulted every horse owner, fan, bettor and everyone involved in this great sport and industry.

Eric

He didn't insult me. How dare you?

If you take it as an insult, so be it.

Eric