7 of 8 BC winners to run next year

[LARHAGE]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

I know I'm going to sound like a pooh-pooher, but it's not really retirement; it's her next career-- she'll be either pregnant or nursing for the rest of her active years, which is not exactly risk-free for mares. It's not like they're retiring her so she can relax- they're moving her to broodmare so they can, hopefully for them, continue to make money off of her.

Mind you, I agree that there isn't much left for her to prove, and since Kingmambo seems to be getting a bit long in the tooth in HIS second career, perhaps better to get a Kingmambo baby as soon as possible!

I can't grouse about retiring a five-year-old mare the way I can a three-year-old colt, though, so I'm looking forward to following her babies' careers. Plus, it's easier to follow a mare's babies, since they don't have as many!

I don't agree, it is not a ''career'', it's as natural to a horse as living and breathing, as with all life. The mares spend the majority of their lives grazing and raising their foals, they love it, ever hear a mare nicker at the straw in her stall as she's being led in to foal?They know the little one is coming, they adore their foals. I'm not saying theres no risk, but there is risk in them just living. I guess my point is a top class broodmare lives about as ideal a life as a horse can, and that is what Ouija Board has earned at this point.

[kgar311]

Originally Posted by LARHAGE

I'm not a horse whisperer, but I know horses and they race because we make them, it isn't something they would do on their own. I, nor Oracle, was inferring that racing was cruel, but rather that she has accomplished enough on the track to earn a nice retirement, and yes, it's a life horses love, THAT is what they were evolved to do. I have heard of horses pining away when taken from the track, but it's 9 out of 10 times geldings, they are managed completely different, mares LOVE being out in pasture, thats there natural life.

Wow horses are forced to race, thats a first. Youre right all horses stop in their tracks when jockeys fall off. Ive never seen a horse do battle with another with out jockey. Plus all that legislation in congress to stop horse racing because its cruel and it forces horses to do things they dont want to do. Ive come across horses that refuse to go on to the track and not once have I ever seen a trainer whip and beat a horse to make them train. Once that happens they are finished.

[LARHAGE]

Originally Posted by kgar311

Wow horses are forced to race, thats a first. Youre right all horses stop in their tracks when jockeys fall off. Ive never seen a horse do battle with another with out jockey. Plus all that legislation in congress to stop horse racing because its cruel and it forces horses to do things they dont want to do. Ive come across horses that refuse to go on to the track and not once have I ever seen a trainer whip and beat a horse to make them train. Once that happens they are finished.

The simplistic answer is horses are PUT into training, they don't all line themselves up out in a field and race, they compete because they are made to, the good ones excel and do get to understand the game, the bad ones don't. They also run on after the jockey falls off because they are herd animals and their instinct is the safety of the herd. I'm not saying they can't and don't enjoy racing, but believe me, they also would rather spend their times in a pasture than a 12x12 box stall for 22 hours a day.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by oracle80

All of em except Ouija Board, and if any horse ever deserved retirement its her, what an incredible mare.
Very encouraging to see everyone else coming back for more.

Of all the great memories I'll have of this BC, her showing why she's the queen was the best. What an amazing animal. I don't usually get excited when 6/5 shots win but I was for this one.

[Crown@club]

I know a lot of studs were watching Oujia Board salivating to tap that (cough* cough*)

Hey Hey watch what you say about my Evansville Slew