Orb Retired, to Stand at Claiborne in 2014

[Linny]

Remember when Orb was sent to Fair Hill? There was all sorts of chatter since Shug had never even set foot on the place prior.The fact is that Fair Hill, in addition to being a wonderful place for horses to live, has a full equine therapy center, complete with hyperbaric chamber, vibrating floors, pool etc. After a tough spring he went there post-Belmont with an eye to being back on track for the Jim Dandy. He didn't make the Jim Dandy and stayed in MD as long as possible before the Travers.
His Travers wasn't bad considering, but he was back to Fair Hill almost immediately thereafter. Sure, he'd reportedly liked FH, but it was hardly the Phipps/Janney/McGaughey model. It told me that something was "not quite right" even if no one was sure what "it" was.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Linny

Remember when Orb was sent to Fair Hill? There was all sorts of chatter since Shug had never even set foot on the place prior.The fact is that Fair Hill, in addition to being a wonderful place for horses to live, has a full equine therapy center, complete with hyperbaric chamber, vibrating floors, pool etc. After a tough spring he went there post-Belmont with an eye to being back on track for the Jim Dandy. He didn't make the Jim Dandy and stayed in MD as long as possible before the Travers.
His Travers wasn't bad considering, but he was back to Fair Hill almost immediately thereafter. Sure, he'd reportedly liked FH, but it was hardly the Phipps/Janney/McGaughey model. It told me that something was "not quite right" even if no one was sure what "it" was.

Supposedly Shug liked it so much that he has bought a barn at Fair Hill. However it was odd that he choose to keep the horse there and undergo extensive hyperbaric treatments.

[Calzone Lord]

I thought Shug showed incredible honesty during the triple crown trail. Admitting that he thought Orb was an Aqueduct spring horse and only joining the triple crown trail after having his hand forced.

If he says he's completely sound, I believe he's honest.

Orb raced in the Autumn at AQU, winter at GP, all 3 triple crown events, did a lot of traveling, I'm not sure why it's supposed to be so disconcerting that he was freshened at Fair Hill, when Fair Hill is supposed to be the best place a horse can go for a freshening.

What benefit would they have not disclosing an injury? A lot of excellent sires weren't sound horses. Danzig had 3 races and never even made it anywhere. Mr. Prospector had injuries. Storm Cat had injuries and never had a decent campaign. A. P. Indy had a couple of physical setbacks, was scratched from the Derby.

It's tinfoil hat stuff to speculate he was injured and they concealed it. It's almost as bad to speculate that he was as good or better than Easy Goer.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

I thought Shug showed incredible honesty during the triple crown trail. Admitting that he thought Orb was an Aqueduct spring horse and only joining the triple crown trail after having his hand forced.

If he says he's completely sound, I believe he's honest.

Orb raced in the Autumn at AQU, winter at GP, all 3 triple crown events, did a lot of traveling, I'm not sure why it's supposed to be so disconcerting that he was freshened at Fair Hill, when Fair Hill is supposed to be the best place a horse can go for a freshening.

What benefit would they have not disclosing an injury? A lot of excellent sires weren't sound horses. Danzig had 3 races and never even made it anywhere. Mr. Prospector had injuries. Storm Cat had injuries and never had a decent campaign. A. P. Indy had a couple of physical setbacks, was scratched from the Derby.

It's tinfoil hat stuff to speculate he was injured and they concealed it. It's almost as bad to speculate that he was as good or better than Easy Goer.

I dont believe he was injured. As a trainer there is little more frustrating than when your horse goes off form with no readily apparent reason. If there is an injury or persistent issue like sore feet then you have something to deal with and once you get the issue under control good horses will generally return to form or something close to it. When you can not find an issue or there is no real pyhsical reason why the horse is under performing you do things like send the horse to Fairhill to be freshened up and get hyperbaric treatment in hopes that solves whatever the hidden issue is. Obviously outside of a decent Travers run it didnt work with Orb.

[freddymo]

Orb was at Belmont in advance of JCGC right?

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Orb was at Belmont in advance of JCGC right?

no. stayed at fair hill, shipped in just a few days before the race. had a work at FH just 5 days prior.

[bare it all]

I had read that Shug was keeping the colt at Fair Hill because it was "quiet" and he's a very nervous animal.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I dont believe he was injured. As a trainer there is little more frustrating than when your horse goes off form with no readily apparent reason. If there is an injury or persistent issue like sore feet then you have something to deal with and once you get the issue under control good horses will generally return to form or something close to it. When you can not find an issue or there is no real pyhsical reason why the horse is under performing you do things like send the horse to Fairhill to be freshened up and get hyperbaric treatment in hopes that solves whatever the hidden issue is. Obviously outside of a decent Travers run it didnt work with Orb.

Could it be that the horse, or Orb in this case, just doesn't "want to play the game" anymore? (kind of like a show horse going ring sour)