Evening Attire Retired

[ddthetide]

thanks for sharing EA with us and taking good care of him. he goes out a winner and track record holder. i'll miss the old boy but he "really has done enough."

he could take john henry's place at kentucky horse park?

[Heels1989]

Without a doubt Evening Attire is one of my all time favs, especially over the past decade. A huge thanks to the Grants, Kellys, and all others associated with EA for giving us some wonderful, memorable performances.

Enjoy your well deserved retirement.

[Linny]

Attire has been a barn and fan favorite for years. I can honestly say that he has been more beloved by his fans than even Curlin, Ghostzapper and Cigar. He received standing ovations from crowds at AQUEDUCT, and that takes some doing.
I will miss the old warrior but I am certain that he will have a happy retirement.

[my miss storm cat]

One of my favorites, ever, and a great horse to watch and root for.

Slightly off-topic, but.....

Some of us here, quite a few of us, had the pleasure of knowing a lady named Jeanne. She went by the name Iron Horse on various forums and was just this very kind, very sharp, self-proclaimed "pretty horsie" type who had so much love for this guy. Her absolute favorite of all time.

When she, and i can't write this without feeling like I'm being stabbed just a little, unexpectedly died earlier this year, I let his connections know that their boy had lost a great and devoted fan.

I was told Attire would receive and extra hug and some peppermints or carrots or something in her name. This would have made her smile...

Anyway, I'd written to her husband a few times... not a fan, was never a fan, but he had lovingly put up with his beautiful wifes obsession with good humor.

He once told me, very excitedly, that he'd seen Evening Attire a few times.

The was the only horse he ever mentioned and it was said with such enthusiasm... as if to say he'd found a 20 carat diamond or had seen, well, fill in the blank (!).

My point is this.... I know, I know, it's about the $ and the players and that's all well and good but once in a while a special horse comes along. One who the public embraces, one who non-fans cheer on, one who is like an everyday hero for whatever reason, one who is memorable and loved.

One like this guy.

There are greats and there are greats who are so because of circumstance... there are flavors of the month and there are stars.

The other guys though...

With Lava Man, Perfect Drift and now Eveing Attire all retired it's like the end of a special era of the old guys. I wasn't meaning to compare the three and i don't want to start a which-is-your-favorite-Beatle type of argument. I hate those.

This horse..... I love and will miss this horse and i applaud his connections for always doing the right thing, always putting him first, for their kindness and allowing us to be a part of the wonderful work-in-progress life and story of this gentleman.

Happy retirement, Attire. Wishing you a long and healthy life filled with happiness just like you brought to so many of us.

Thank you, Norfolk, for always keeping the fans in the loop and letting us know how he was, the plans, for your humor and compassion.....

Happy retirement.

[migreen]

I had hoped he would go at Toga this summer, but for reasons we all know, he didn't. I got to see him work out, though, and I and several friends were excited even by that:

http://mitch.smugmug.com/gallery/6087113_dRbSA

Thanks to you, Norfolk, and to his other connections!

And thanks to you, MMSC, for your special contribution . . .

Mitch

[Chestnut Gal]

Thank you Norfolk for sharing this wonderful horse with us. Evening Attire is what the sport is all about. He made us laugh when he use to give the youngsters a head start and made us cheer when he would come flying to the finish line. Evening Attire, we will miss you. Thank you for all the memories that we can cherish and talk about. May you always be happy, healthy, safe and sound.Enjoy your retirement, you deserve it.We will always love you.

[geeker2]

Out on top

[blackthroatedwind]

He deserved a better owner.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

One of my favorites, ever, and a great horse to watch and root for.

Slightly off-topic, but.....

Some of us here, quite a few of us, had the pleasure of knowing a lady named Jeanne. She went by the name Iron Horse on various forums and was just this very kind, very sharp, self-proclaimed "pretty horsie" type who had so much love for this guy. Her absolute favorite of all time.

When she, and i can't write this without feeling like I'm being stabbed just a little, unexpectedly died earlier this year, I let his connections know that their boy had lost a great and devoted fan.

I was told Attire would receive and extra hug and some peppermints or carrots or something in her name. This would have made her smile...

Anyway, I'd written to her husband a few times... not a fan, was never a fan, but he had lovingly put up with his beautiful wifes obsession with good humor.

He once told me, very excitedly, that he'd seen Evening Attire a few times.

The was the only horse he ever mentioned and it was said with such enthusiasm... as if to say he'd found a 20 carat diamond or had seen, well, fill in the blank (!).

My point is this.... I know, I know, it's about the $ and the players and that's all well and good but once in a while a special horse comes along. One who the public embraces, one who non-fans cheer on, one who is like an everyday hero for whatever reason, one who is memorable and loved.

One like this guy.

There are greats and there are greats who are so because of circumstance... there are flavors of the month and there are stars.

The other guys though...

With Lava Man, Perfect Drift and now Eveing Attire all retired it's like the end of a special era of the old guys. I wasn't meaning to compare the three and i don't want to start a which-is-your-favorite-Beatle type of argument. I hate those.

This horse..... I love and will miss this horse and i applaud his connections for always doing the right thing, always putting him first, for their kindness and allowing us to be a part of the wonderful work-in-progress life and story of this gentleman.

Happy retirement, Attire. Wishing you a long and healthy life filled with happiness just like you brought to so many of us.

Thank you, Norfolk, for always keeping the fans in the loop and letting us know how he was, the plans, for your humor and compassion.....

Happy retirement.

Amen to that, on a sad note I was driving on a freeway today and saw a truckload of horses being transported to lord knows where, I didn't really want to think where except I hope it would be quick and humane. It's always nice to hear the old warriors that are taken care of.

[ALostTexan]

Sad, yet very happy to hear this. He went out on a high note, but it will be sad to not see him run again. Happy retirement...

[philcski]

Thanks for the memories- he'll always be one of my all time favorites. The reaction of the people at the Keeneland simulcast facility when he won the Greenwood Cup this year proved to me how many fans he had