The Distinguished (Ladies and) Gentlemen's Club

Soaring Softly · #1 01-12-2012, 08:22 PM

Well, here's one that just happened today. I'm sorry to say that I've never heard of the horse....but I have now.

El Bomba won today's 1st at Turfway in the 100th start of his career......at age 13!!

How cool is that!

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...eer?source=rss

my miss storm cat · #2 01-12-2012, 08:34 PM

Oh that was SO cool! I'm so happy you posted that.

Love it when the announcers sound stunned.

What a great old guy (I had never heard of him either).

Very nice!

herkhorse · #3 01-12-2012, 08:45 PM

Heart Ack Road, 9 year old grey mare. Hasn't won in over a year, makes her 79th start in tomorrow's 2nd at Oaklawn. She has no facebook page, but at least one fan.

GPK · #4 01-12-2012, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soaring Softly

Well, here's one that just happened today. I'm sorry to say that I've never heard of the horse....but I have now.

El Bomba won today's 1st at Turfway in the 100th start of his career......at age 13!!

How cool is that!

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...eer?source=rss

Only 5 different trainers in those 100 races (Been with his current trainer since Oct. 2006.) His wins have all come between 1 mile and even won a 1 7/8th mile race. First race was Aug. 8th 2002 at Woodbine, where he finished 7th of 14, only beaten 2 3/4 length at odds of 94-1. That must have been some helluva photo finish.

Soaring Softly · #5 01-12-2012, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GPK

Only 5 different trainers in those 100 races (Been with his current trainer since Oct. 2006.) His wins have all come between 1 mile and even won a 1 7/8th mile race. First race was Aug. 8th 2002 at Woodbine, where he finished 7th of 14, only beaten 2 3/4 length at odds of 94-1. That must have been some helluva photo finish.

Interesting information, GPK. It does appear that he's been well cared for by a relatively few connections. One thing I thought remarkable is that El Bomba ran in that race today without front wraps. Maybe it's nothing, but I just thought it was notable that a 13yo in a low-level claimer would be running without fronts. I would think that would be saying something positive about his soundness level.

Anyway, it's a great story, and I'm already looking forward to start #101!

OldDog · #6 02-20-2012, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soaring Softly

Interesting information, GPK. It does appear that he's been well cared for by a relatively few connections. One thing I thought remarkable is that El Bomba ran in that race today without front wraps. Maybe it's nothing, but I just thought it was notable that a 13yo in a low-level claimer would be running without fronts. I would think that would be saying something positive about his soundness level.

Anyway, it's a great story, and I'm already looking forward to start #101!

Finished 5th last Friday in his 101st.
http://www1.drf.com/drfPDFChartRaces...20120217&RN=11

He did get some local press the day before.
http://www.wlwt.com/r/30477765/detail.html

OldDog · #7 03-14-2012, 09:30 AM

West Seattle Boy appears in the Portland Meadows Route Claiming Series today (R8).

http://www.drf.com/events/route-clai...rtland-meadows

From the Profiles:

The 13 year old veteran has been a Northwest staple for a decade now and while he hasn't fired his best shot yet in the first two legs of the series, he's still one to be respected as he appears to be able to run all day and that's what he'll need here. Also note that top rider Leslie Mawing flies up for the mount.

Best of luck to them.

jballscalls · #8 03-14-2012, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldDog

West Seattle Boy appears in the Portland Meadows Route Claiming Series today (R8).

http://www.drf.com/events/route-clai...rtland-meadows

From the Profiles:

The 13 year old veteran has been a Northwest staple for a decade now and while he hasn't fired his best shot yet in the first two legs of the series, he's still one to be respected as he appears to be able to run all day and that's what he'll need here. Also note that top rider Leslie Mawing flies up for the mount.

Best of luck to them.

West Seattle Boy is the all time leader in career victories at Emerald Downs. He's pretty cool. Trainer said they actually thought about retiring him and he hated it, so they brought him back and he just loves it at the track. He's a neat horse, hope he runs big today

ranger5830 · #9 03-14-2012, 10:41 AM

Earlier in the card at Portland, 12-year old Colonel Courtney goes for his 28th lifetime win, and third this year, in the second. 'Courtney was actually scheduled to run against West Seattle Boy a couple months ago, but the Colonel had to scratch. He has quite an amazng record having won at 10 different tracks from Mountaineer to Hastings dating back to 2002.

This thread reminds me of when I used to go to the now defunct Playfair race course in Spokane, every summer they had a race called the Rocking Chair Handicap that was restricted to 9-year olds and up. Was always a fun race with a full competitve field of hard-trying vets.

Kasept · #10 01-13-2012, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soaring Softly

Well, here's one that just happened today. I'm sorry to say that I've never heard of the horse....but I have now.

El Bomba won today's 1st at Turfway in the 100th start of his career......at age 13!!

How cool is that!

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...eer?source=rss

Tom Lamarra of Bloodhorse tweeted about La Bomba yesterday. One of his favorites. La Bomba is a horse whose career has been prolonged and helped tremendously by the advent of synthetic surfaces.

OldDog · #11 01-13-2012, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soaring Softly

Well, here's one that just happened today. I'm sorry to say that I've never heard of the horse....but I have now.

El Bomba won today's 1st at Turfway in the 100th start of his career......at age 13!!

How cool is that!

Tremendous!

OldDog · #12 01-13-2012, 08:28 AM

Two old favorites that immediately come to mind are Awesome Gem and Musketier. Who wouldn't love to have them in their barn?

ranger5830 · #13 01-13-2012, 12:47 PM

13 year old West Seattle Boy squares off against spry "young'un" 12-year old Colonel Courtney in the 9th at Portland on Monday. 'Boy has won 26 of 107 starts and the Colonel is 25 for 107, and have been able to grind out a combined $570,000. Good luck and safe trip to both.

my miss storm cat · #14 01-13-2012, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldDog

Two old favorites that immediately come to mind are Awesome Gem and Musketier. Who wouldn't love to have them in their barn?

Love both too. I had meant to talk about the seniors who were entered in or had just had races but you're right we should open it up cause they're all woth talking about.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ranger5830

13 year old West Seattle Boy squares off against spry "young'un" 12-year old Colonel Courtney in the 9th at Portland on Monday. 'Boy has won 26 of 107 starts and the Colonel is 25 for 107, and have been able to grind out a combined $570,000. Good luck and safe trip to both.

That's fantastic!

I remember Colonel Courtney and had no idea he was still racing.

Have not heard of the other gentleman but good luck to both and please update this after the race!!!

It's really nice to see people who mostly lurk here posting. Hope you both do (a lot) more often and that others follow.

Rudeboyelvis · #15 01-13-2012, 02:55 PM

Punk

Was a 10yr. old maiden that lost, I think, over 100 races in a row. It's been a while but if memory serves, he finally broke through at age 11, and the owners retired him.

Didn't want him going out a loser.

I'll see if I can dig up his pp's - He was a badass.