equicurean 2010

EquicureanThe Horses, The People, The Lifestyle

SUMMER 2010

COMPLIMENTARY

Equicurean 2010 | 3

Photo provided by John Fulton Bloodstock

4 | Equicurean 2010

PublisherChad Beatty

Editorial DirectorMarion E. Altieri

General ManagerRobin Mitchell

Art DirectorTiffany Garland

AdvertisingChris BusheeCindy Durfey

Pre-Press CoordinatorSam Bolles

Contributing PhotographersCreative Photo and GraphicSharon Castro PhotographyStock Studios Photography

Head WriterMarion E. Altieri

Constributing WritersBob Bullock

Helen Susan EdelmanRuth Fein Wallens

Copy ProofreaderAnne Proulx

PrintingFry Communications, Inc.

Published bySaratoga Publishing, LLC

Five Case StreetSaratoga Springs, NY 12866

tel: 518.581.2480 fax: 518.581.2487

saratogatodayonline.com

Equicurean

Equicurean is brought to you by SaratogaPublishing, LLC. All information containedwithin this publication is based on data collect-ed from a variety of sources at the time of pub-lication. Saratoga Publishing, LLC shall makeevery effort to avoid errors and omissions butdisclaims any responsibility should they occur.No part of this publication may be reproduced,stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted inany form or by any means without prior writtenconsent of the publisher Copyright (c) 2010,Saratoga Publishing, LLC

The Horses, The People, The Lifestyle

Cover photos by: Sharon CastroPhotography

For many of us, horses are the reason why we getup in the morning. We're up to muck a stall, feedand workout, or to stand at that famed rail, pen andpaper in-hand. We keep these hours because welove horses utterly and completely: we cannot imag-ine life without them.

Working on Equicurean has been a labor of love,with people I treasure. Horses are my passion, andour Publisher gave me free rein to explore—a greatgift, indeed. As I sit in our office next to Fasig-Tipton Saratoga, I note that, as Equicurean was tak-

ing shape, finding its voice—our renowned neighbors similarly were reshapingtheir lovely property, making it even more spectacular. Final dabs of paint arebeing applied to the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion even as we put the magazine tobed.

It has been a privilege to work with so many bright, lively, creative people, fromthe marketing team at Fasig-Tipton to my dear friends here at Saratoga Publishing.Space allowing, I'd thank each person by name: if it takes a village to raise a horse,surely a community came together to foal this new equine magazine. I am blessedbeyond measure. Thank you for reading our new baby, Equicurean—we hope youlove what we've made as much as we loved making it. Success to you this Saratogameet, whatever your vocation—and thank you for giving us the opportunity to liveout our own racing dreams.

Marion E. AltieriEditorial Director

Fasig-Tipton Saratoga 6

Lights, Camera, Auction 12

Selected Yearling Sales 2010 16

Conformation 18

Pedigree 20

The Arabian Horse 24

Racing Partnerships 30

Royally Bred 34

Ride, Sallee, Ride 40

Amaryllis Farm 42

Festival of Racing 44

Equine Advocates 48

Bill Nack 50

Live Nation 51

Saratoga Saddlery 53

Hair &Makeup byAnn-MarieFlores

Equicurean 2010 | 5

6 | Equicurean 2010

2010 brings with it a rebirth that will quietly announce the arrival ofworld-class horse sales in the Spa City. There is no other facility to rival

it in the world.Visitors to the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga facility will be delighted when they arrive

on the property for the 2010 Sales. Last year's work—the calming waterwall, buy-ers' lounge, brightened barn areas and new walking ring joined hands with a five-star restaurant and bright copper roofing. What else could be done to improve onsuch a grand achievement?

Fasig-TiptoIncomparable BeautyBuilt on Eternal ValuesPhotos by ©stockstudiosphotography.com

Equicurean 2010 | 7

ton Saratoga Susan Zehnder and Ben Palmer-Ball of idea source of

Louisville are those who are entrusted with the sacred mis-sion of taking the vision held by Fasig-Tipton and turningit into tangible, workable beauty. With careful considera-tion and insight, they created a space that is not onlyappealing, but which remains faithful to the original intend-ed use of the buildings and grounds.

To marry the virtues of safety, beauty, respect and visionto the practical jobs of making a space that is workable forhorses, horsemen and the community is a tremendous job.A demanding job, an assignment that can be filled only by those whofully understand the inner processes of those for whom they work.

Saratoga Springs' own Mike Ingersoll and the LA Groupwere at the literal and figurative foundation of the project:without their insight and ability to share the vision—the

project would not have realized the client's dreams andexpectations. Working with Sonny Bonacio and BonacioConstruction (employing local workers and buying localmaterials) Zehnder and Palmer-Ball made a blueprint forrevitalization without intrusive, angular modernization.The Mid-Century Modern facilities are brought fully intothe 21st Century, losing none of the original appreciationfor pragmatism that is perfectly wed to the simple, organicallure of equine majesty.

The 112-year-old establishment is steeped in history,none of which is forgotten nor cast aside. Even as con-temporary, green materials are being fitted in considerationof codes and practical needs, the overarching goal ofshowing respect for the horses and humans who use thebuildings and grounds is achieved in spades. No stone is

left unturned, no measure of beauty or comfort is over-looked.

Fasig-Tipton is bringing the ancient endeavour of horsesales fully into this century, while keeping one foot firmlyplanted in tradition. Fasig-Tipton is assured not only of suc-cess on the nights of the Sales, but also in the arena of inter-national public opinion.

The first, most obvious change is that the Pavilion has beencompletely and perfectly renovated. Re-created, actually.More comfortable seating takes the place of the crowded,cramped red seats and suffocating aisle space. The scratchedand worn plexiglass that formed the perimeter wall is nomore: in its place are materials so bright and clean that theyappear to be invisible. The new windows allow the inside ofthe room to feel part of the Nature outside the new frontdoor. Trees, blue skies and the west end of the Oklahomahave become a mural for those seated inside.

Truly, the new half-circle and clearly-defined entryway isFasig-Tipton's front door to the community.

The heating and air conditioning systems are brand new,allowing for use of the building in the wintertime. Theacoustics and sound system are state-of-the-art: the cacoph-

ony with which guests had become accustomed over the yearsis gone. The building itself cooperates with the requirementto soothe both the horses being sold and those who bid onthem.

The Intersection of Vision, Form and Function...The architectural principle that Form Follows Function

seems to be based on pragmatic advice: let the shape andstyle, the angles and materials, be dictated by the intended useof a proposed facility. A sensible directive, a formula thatguarantees success.

Vision is at the helm for both Fasig-Tipton and idea source:all decisions, even those directing nails and mortar, lumberand copper, must be based on the foundation of the owners'vision of creating the most prestigious, forward-thinkingequine auction house on Earth. Just as important is the valuethat the facility must be a place of quiet reassurance andunspeakable beauty—reflections of the owners' respect forthose who will use the East Avenue spaces.

And respect is a word that, when genuinely executed, canopen doors and build bridges. Those from divergent culturesand morés can do business in an environment of trust wheneveryone involved has respect as a best practice.

8 | Equicurean 2010

Equicurean 2010 | 9

10 | Equicurean 2010

Civil engineers are con-cerned about function,but without a deepunderstanding of the ori-gins of the word itself,every structure would bea solid, workable unitbuilt solely of steel andcement. The root wordof function comes from

Latin, but Merriam-Webster reports that the spirit of theconcept is of Sanskrit: bhukte, the kindred sound, means,"he enjoys."

And spirit is the dwelling place of form, as any studentof Plato will confirm.

The idea that function is tied from its very beginning to the ideal ofenjoyment is the core of the Fasig-Tipton vision. Function is insepa-rable from respect for the horses and humans who will use the facili-ties. The enjoyment—deep, abiding pleasure—of all who walk ontothe property—is the underlying message. This is the function thatinforms the architects and workers who give the vision its tangibleshape.

This is the place at which Art meets Business: a housebuilt on Vision, a far-more enduring foundation than con-crete, itself.

Fasig-Tipton throws open the doors, and welcomes all.The world is watching the facilities, activities, horses andpeople doing business (and the Business of Life) inSaratoga in August 2010—and the world will be appropri-ately impressed, if not openly envious.

...the calming waterwall, buyers' lounge, brightened barnareas and new walking ring...

Equicurean 2010 | 11

The 112-year-old

establishment issteeped in history,

none of which is forgotten

nor cast aside.


Lights,Cameras,


The renewed Fasig-Tipton facilities wed form tofunction in a fashion that is heretofore unknown inthe world of equine sales. The beautiful new build-ings and rejuvenated grounds sparkled under thebest-possible, exquisitely-engineered, non-invasivelighting. The horses shone as never before as theymake their debuts 'neath copper roofs in freshly-painted walking rings, their juvenile hooves treadinggently on a bed of rubber "cobblestone" walkways.

When Fasig-Tipton set to work the day afterLabor Day in 2008. the goal was to create a facilityunlike any other in the world. Their labors came tofruition on August 10th, 2009, when the rebornproperty was unveiled on the first night of theSaratoga Sales. The Saratoga property had trulybeen transformed into a welcoming and graciousenvironment. This gift to the city and to the indus-try—a space that is functionally and aesthetically farsuperior to the previous incarnation—conjured anatmosphere that is reminiscent of a Peter Lorreyfilm.

The first night of the Yearling Sales was electricwith anticipation as patrons and rubberneckers alikebreathlessly took in the lush Boston ferns; fresh,green barns; new walking ring; second-floor loungeand waterwall which seemingly flowed from the feetof elegant patrons.

The lighting was perfect, the result of studyingthe psychology of appropriate lighting for everysquare foot of the buildings and grounds. TheAdirondack skies reflected back the light of equineand human stars on East Avenue. The wondermentof this amusement park for horselovers and theuber-rich answered the question, "How could aplace so serene and quiet in its design, generate

2009 Sales GeneratedExcitement in NewShowcase Facility

AUCTION!Photos Courtesy of Fasig-Tipton


enough watts to lightup Giants' Stadium?"

The ambience man-aged to perform dou-ble duty: comple-menting the business-at-hand without dis-tracting, while at thesame time providing acomfortable, beautifulenvironment for allconcerned.

The major con-cern—how would horse sales fare in the wake of a dwin-dling economy—dissolved with each stroke of the gavel.The horses were the cream of the crop, literally: wellturned-out, well-conditioned and mature, most enteredthe staging area with aplomb and great grace—indicatorsof self-awareness and ability to focus on their futurejobs.

Leading sires for the sale included Storm Cat, sire ofHip No. 204. On a Storm, out of the Mr. P. mare,Onaga, was the high bid of the two days. JohnFerguson bought the dark bay/brown colt for his client,His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid AlMaktoum. On a Storm weighed in at $2,800,000, thehighest price of the two days. His Highness was inattendance both nights, quietly moving about the back-yard yet adding to the electricity by his mere presence.

Bernardini was also a hot property sire, as his proge-ny—especially the fillies—brought in extremely highprices. In grocery terms, Bernardini babies were flyingoff the shelves at prices such as $1.2 million and $1.4million. Medaglia d'Oro, whose top six earners to date

are fillies, came in third place: no doubt the wild successof his spectacular daughter, Rachel Alexandra, influencedthe hopes and dreams of those in the bidding wars.Rachel Alexandra was voted Horse of the Year in January2010, an award which may bear some weight again in thisyear's Sales ring.

The 2009 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sales were the firstindicator for many, the sign that the recession would even-tually fade and that the horse industry can exhale.

Horses played an irreplaceable role in the forging ofAmerica and the culture thereof. Once again, the horsesare leading the way, pointing toward economic growth;renewed spirit and encouragement for anyone within theglow of their sparkling coats. Fasig-Tipton and theinsightful owners have faith in the future of the sport ofThoroughbred racing. Once again, Fasig-Tipton is poisedto lead the way to the growth of the sport. The gavel hitthe desk on East Avenue, and the verdict was, "Sold!"

Jane Lyons addresses the press

HH Sheikh Mohammed binRashid Al Maktoum inspects Hip

No. 204 at the 2009 auction


Number of horses sold: 160 Up 31.1% from 2008 Gross Revenue: $52,549,500 Up 45.6% from 2008Average Price: $328,434 Up 11% from 2008

Leading Buyers by Gross:John Ferguson, agent, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

12 Horses $11,850,000

John Sallusto, agent, International Equine Acquisitions Holdings, Inc. (IEAH)

6 Horses $ 2,150,000

Shadwell Estate Co. Ltd.5 Horses $ 1,835,000

Leading Consignors by Gross:Taylor Made Sales Agency Offered 32, Sold 23 $7,627,000Lane's End Offered 13, Sold 11 $7,570,000Eaton Sales Offered 22, Sold 18 $5,480,000

2009 Leading Sires:Storm Cat Sold 4Low: $325,000 High: $2,800,000Average: $1,027,500

Bernardini Sold 10Low: $230,000 High: $1,300,000Average: $635,000

Medaglia d'Oro Sold 8Low: $250,000 High: $1,500,000Average: $610,714

Fasig-Tipton Saratoga 2009 by the Numbers


Each of the 202 yearlings occupying the dark green barns at Fasig-TiptonSaratoga has earned the right to occupy their respective stalls, and to walk thatfamed stage. All shiny and new—each are polished to a high gloss, manestrimmed, for their big debuts. Every single horse who struts into the Pavilion hasmore potential than any other Thoroughbred on Earth. A heavy thought,indeed.

They are, after all, the Selected Yearlings for Fasig-Tipton's renownedSaratoga Sale—the most prestigious horse auction house, the most importantsales on Earth.

What will 2010 bring? We know about the highest bidders andmost sought-after sires of 2009. Medaglia d'Oro has seven coltsand four fillies this year: is another Rachel Alexandra in the mix?Will Horse of the Year for 2012 grace our presence?

Empire Maker, the big, gorgeous hunk of horse who stole theTriple Crown from Funny Cide in a driving rain in 2003 is repre-sented by four fillies. Afleet Alex has but one colt and one filly—but oh, the possibilities. The lucky purchaser may well get a horsewho has the guts and spirit to "do an Alex." Alex won thePreakness in 2005, just seconds after he nearly went head-over-heelson the track—yet picked himself up, lost not a second. That wasthe moment that showed him to be a Thoroughbred of extraordi-nary gifts. Another horse might have gone down, taking seven oth-ers headlong into the equine ambulance. Disaster could haveensued—but Alex was a man on a mission. His name was sealed ingold that day, for that one second in time when he looked Death inthe eye—and literally did not blink.

The next Kentucky Derby winner, or—dare we hope?—a TripleCrown king or queen—may be one year old now, and sold atSaratoga.

Hope springs eternal in this sport: this is why bettors line thepath to the windows; why breeders send their best and their bright-

Royalty in our Midst? est in the big, lush Sallee Horse Vans to this city in the country.Hope, according to Emily Dickinson, perches in the soul. The veryorigin of our being is the residence of Hope. Every year breeders,buyers, consignors, bloodstock agents and Fasig-Tipton administra-tors anticipate these golden days. They inhale, but don't exhale againuntil the following summer, when the yearlings from the current salemay be ready to test their mettle.

And when they break their maidens or otherwise first show theirtalent ("…raising their hands," as saith All Play Stable's PaulRothfuss)—it's a beautiful thing. The heart-stopping moment whena Fasig-Tipton yearling sale alum bests its competitors for the firsttime, and the fire that cannot be extinguished is lit in their well-tucked-up bellies—connections breathe again. Everyone involvedwith the horse is compelled to see how far the talent will take them.Then back to the sales, to see if lightning really can strike twice in thesame place.

The Fasig-Tipton yearling sales are just as much a part of horseracing as the oval itself, for without the parade of beauty queens andkings on East Avenue—there would be no races. Thoroughbredsdon't just show up out of nowhere: they are carefully bred, nurturedand presented with the intention not that they will become 1,200-pound trophies who stand still to be admired. No, they are broughthere so that they may be bought by that one person who has theinsight and the trainer to bring out the best in the horse, to turn thatmagnificently-beautiful collection of sinew and bone, heart andglutes, into a racing superstar.

Some say that all the great horses were of yesteryear, that there areno real Champions among us or on the horizon. Those who live thissport and work in the trenches with the yearlings know that, everytime a yearling bleats for the first time—she or he may be declaringtheir future supremacy on the track. Those first wobbly steps takenby the newborn may light that fire. Learning to walk, then intuitive-ly running all day against other foals—something primal andprimeval is observed.

Those babies take their first steps, not just toward Mother, or outof the stall door. Those first tentative, knobby-kneed movementsforward are those that inform the psyche of the foal that this is whatyou do. You walk, then you run, then you run the competition intothe ground.

And for the exceptional few, baby steps lead to the big greenPavilion on East Avenue, and out the door—into history, and, forthose who prove themselves to be pre-ordained equine royalty—next door, to the Hall of Fame.

Come. Watch. Learn. Fall in love. Take notes, and follow careers.Get excited about horse racing for the first time, not at the track, butacross the street where it all begins. Welcome, Fasig-Tipton yearlings:you are our Hope.

Fasig-Tipton Saratoga SelectedYearlings 2010:

Empire Maker

sec

reta

ria

t


Ph

ot

o p

ro

vid

ed

by

ww

w.S

ec

reta

ria

t.c

om

Po

ll

Ea

r

Fo

reh

ea

d

Eye

Br

id

ge

of N

ose

No

st

ril

Mu

zz

le

Mo

ut

h

Ch

in

Ch

eek

Th

ro

at

la

tc

h

Sh

ou

ld

er

Po

in

t o

f

Sh

ou

ld

er

Ch

est

Ar

m

Fo

rea

rm

Kn

ee

Fet

lo

ck

Pa

st

er

n

Co

ro

net

Ho

of

Ca

nn

on

Elb

ow

Fla

nk

Sh

ea

th

St

ifle

Ga

sk

in

Heel

Ho

ck

Th

ig

h

Po

in

t o

f

Bu

tt

oc

kD

oc

k

Cr

ou

p

Po

in

t

of H

ip

Lo

in

Ba

ck

Rib

s

Wit

her

s

Nec

kJa

w


Whe

n bu

yers

of

Tho

roug

hbre

ds c

onsid

er a

hor

se fo

rpu

rcha

se,o

ne o

fth

e ke

y co

nsid

erat

ions

is c

onfor

mat

ion:

simpl

y pu

t,th

e w

ay a

hors

e is

phys

ical

ly p

ut to

geth

er.T

hebo

nes,

mus

cles

and

pro

port

ions

of

the

anim

al a

re t

hech

arac

teris

tics

that

ulti

mat

ely

prep

are

them

for

the

irjo

b—th

at o

fru

nnin

g qu

ickly

with

gre

at e

ffic

ienc

y.A

s w

ith h

uman

cul

tura

l di

ffer

ence

s,ea

ch b

reed

of

hors

e ha

s st

anda

rds

ofbe

auty.

Tha

t bea

uty

is no

t sup

er-

ficia

l,ra

ther

tied

dire

ctly

at t

he m

ost b

asic

leve

l to

expe

c-ta

tions

for

the

jobs

of

hors

es w

ithin

sai

d br

eed.

Dra

ftho

rses

wor

k ha

rd fo

r a li

ving

:the

y ar

e st

ocky

and

mus

cu-

lar,

with

thi

ck l

egs

and

stro

ng b

acks

.T

horo

ughb

reds

mus

t be

able

to r

un f

ast w

ith g

race

,for

gra

ce o

fm

ove-

men

t is

a fa

ctor

in t

he s

cien

ce o

fw

inni

ng r

aces

.Lon

g,el

egan

t stri

des

are

the

dom

ain

ofth

ose

who

win

pur

ses,

whi

le ja

ckra

bbit

runn

ers a

re fa

r les

s lik

ely

to ta

ke th

e da

y.T

his i

s a m

ost e

galit

aria

n co

ncep

t:a

Tho

roug

hbre

d do

es-

n't w

in a

race

bec

ause

s/he

is li

ked

bette

r by

the

stew

ards

or ra

ce a

nnou

ncer

.No

one

vote

s on

who

sho

uld

win

—or

the

Trip

le C

row

n w

ould

be

achi

eved

eve

ry y

ear.

A T

horo

ughb

red

mus

t cro

ss th

e fin

ish li

ne fi

rst t

o w

ina

race

.A

nd ju

st a

s Fa

sig-T

ipto

n's

eleg

ant,

reno

vate

d fa

cilit

ies

are

both

mag

nific

ently

love

ly a

nd s

erve

a v

ery

prac

tical

purp

ose—

the

two

conc

epts

are

ine

xtric

ably

bou

nd u

pto

geth

er—

conc

ern

for

equi

ne c

onfo

rmat

ion

is a

mat

ter

offor

m fo

llows

func

tion.

Whe

ther

a h

orse

's m

ain

func

tion

is to

run

fast

to w

ina

race

or t

o es

cape

pre

dato

rs o

n th

e ra

nge—

its fo

rm h

asbe

en "

fear

fully

and

won

derf

ully

mad

e" to

acc

omm

odat

eth

at m

ost b

asic

of

inst

inct

s.T

he m

achi

nery

tha

t gi

ves

a T

horo

ughb

red

her

loco

-m

otio

n—th

e sel

f-pow

ered,

patte

rned

moti

on o

flim

bs o

r oth

eran

atom

ical

parts

—is

vita

lly e

ssen

tial,

from

the

cor

e.A

hors

e m

ay b

e ap

peal

ing

to th

e ey

e,bu

t if

the

part

s ar

en't

hung

toge

ther

in a

way

that

faci

litat

es sm

ooth

act

ion

and

a lo

ng s

tride

—be

auty

mea

ns n

othi

ng.

The

legs

,hin

d en

d,ne

ck,w

ither

s an

d ab

dom

en m

ust

all w

ork

toge

ther

like

a m

achi

ne,c

reat

ing

a rh

ythm

that

isea

sily

mai

ntai

ned,

right

'til

the

end

ofth

e ra

ce.T

he r

un-

ners

may

spe

ed u

p in

the

stre

tch,

but t

he o

rigin

al s

tride

and

way

of

mov

ing

ofea

ch h

orse

rem

ains

ess

entia

lly th

esa

me. Man

y fa

ctor

s go

into

the

stud

y of

conf

orm

atio

n:it'

sab

out

mus

cula

ture

;ske

leta

l str

uctu

re a

nd m

ass.

But

the

way

thos

e ph

ysic

al at

tribu

tes c

ome

toge

ther

with

the

spir-

it of

the

hors

e—th

at o

ne u

nqua

ntifi

able

fac

tor—

dete

r-m

ines

the

hor

se's

chan

ces

ofbe

com

ing

a ch

ampi

on.

Ene

rgy

mus

t ove

rcom

e dr

ag,i

nert

ia a

nd g

ravi

ty,an

d th

atis

achi

eved

by

the

mec

hani

cal w

orki

ngs

ofth

e bi

olog

ical

attri

bute

s of

the

hors

e.E

ven

the

fact

tha

t ho

rses

are

ungu

ligra

de—

they

are

of

a cl

ass

ofan

imal

s w

ho w

alk

and

run

on th

eir

toes

—co

ntrib

utes

to th

e re

lativ

e pe

rfec

tion

ofth

e an

imal

.O

fco

urse

,hor

ses l

acki

ng e

xcel

lent

con

form

atio

n ha

vem

ade

mon

ster

na

mes

fo

r th

emse

lves

in

th

e sp

ort:

Seab

iscui

t w

as s

mal

l,so

mew

hat

bone

y an

d w

as o

ver

atth

e kn

ees.

The

mig

hty

Seat

tle S

lew

was

sle

w-f

oote

d:w

hen

he w

alke

d,hi

s rig

ht-f

ront

hoo

ftu

rned

out

.He

ran

stra

ight

as a

strin

g,bu

t as s

oon

as h

e w

alke

d ba

ck o

ffth

etra

ck,

that

rig

ht h

oof

turn

ed a

nd f

aced

Eas

t.B

oth

Seab

iscui

t and

Sea

ttle

Slew

est

ablis

hed

them

selv

es in

the

Pant

heon

of

Tho

roug

hbre

d ra

cing

,the

ir co

nfor

mat

ion

prob

lem

s no

twith

stan

ding

.Se

cret

aria

t,th

e m

ight

y w

arrio

r w

ho

won

th

eB

elm

ont—

ther

efor

e,th

e Tr

iple

Cro

wn,

by a

n ot

her-

wor

ldly

31

leng

ths—

is co

nsid

ered

by

mos

t to

be

the

mos

t pe

rfec

tly-c

onfo

rmed

T

horo

ughb

red.

NY

RA

'sH

ead

Star

ter,

Roy

Will

iam

son,

cite

s th

at S

ecre

taria

t was

the

mos

t pe

rfec

t ho

rse

he's

ever

tou

ched

—an

d he

'sto

uche

d hu

ndre

ds o

fth

ousa

nds

ofho

rses

in h

is lo

ngan

d ill

ustri

ous

care

er.

The

lege

ndar

y C

hick

Lan

g re

spon

ded

to S

ecre

taria

t'sB

elm

ont w

in b

y st

atin

g th

at,

"It i

s as

ifG

od d

ecid

ed to

cre

ate

the

perf

ect h

orse

." In

deed

,Sec

reta

riat w

as a

s per

fect

as p

ossib

le.To

det

er-

min

e a

"per

fect

ly"

conf

orm

ed T

horo

ughb

red:

a pe

rfec

tsq

uare

sho

uld

be f

orm

ed b

y its

legs

,bac

k an

d di

stan

cebe

twee

n th

e ho

oves

.A d

istas

tefu

l tho

ught

,but

ifyo

u ca

nen

visio

n a

Tho

roug

hbre

d w

ith i

ts h

ead

cut

off

at t

hene

ck—

that

squ

aren

ess,

or la

ck th

ereo

f,w

ill b

e re

veal

ed.

Secr

etar

iat

form

ed a

per

fect

squ

are,

to t

he n

aked

eye

usin

g th

at y

ards

tick.

Leon

ard

Lusk

y of

ww

w.Se

cret

aria

t.com

,sh

ares

thi

str

uth: "Sec

reta

riat t

ruly

was

a S

uper

-Hor

se,n

ot o

nly

in te

rms

ofat

hlet

ic a

bilit

y bu

t in

his l

ooks

.His

conf

orm

atio

n an

dm

uscu

latu

re w

ere

unpa

ralle

led

in th

e T

horo

ughb

red

rac-

ing

wor

ld."

And

tha

t,of

cour

se,

indi

cate

s th

at h

is ac

cele

ratio

n,sp

eed,

and

abili

ty to

def

y dr

ag a

nd g

ravi

ty w

ere

faci

litat

edby

his

perf

ectio

n of

conf

orm

atio

n an

d th

e ex

traor

dina

rym

echa

nics

of

his

biol

ogy

wor

king

tog

ethe

r w

ith h

isfo

cus,

driv

e an

d w

ill to

win

.H

orse

sal

es a

nd r

aces

con

tinue

long

afte

r Se

cret

aria

t's19

73 T

riple

Cro

wn

win

bec

ause

this

is th

e sp

ort i

n w

hich

hope

spr

ings

ete

rnal

.The

re m

ay b

e an

othe

r ho

rse

out

ther

e who

se co

nfor

mat

ion

com

es to

geth

er w

ith h

er p

edi-

gree

to

crea

te a

noth

er w

inne

r of

exce

ptio

nal

prop

or-

tions

.Con

form

atio

n w

ill b

e st

udie

d an

d re

spec

ted

as a

key

fact

or a

s lo

ng a

s ho

rsep

eopl

e ke

ep h

ope

in t

heir

hear

ts,an

d sc

ienc

e on

thei

r min

ds.C

onfo

rmat

ion

is no

tth

e on

ly d

eter

min

ing

fact

or,b

ut it

's th

e fir

st th

at b

uyer

san

d se

llers

not

ice—

and

the

one

that

has

the

mos

t clo

utw

hen

doin

g th

e ph

ysic

s,th

at s

wee

t sci

ence

that

aid

s an

dab

ets t

he q

uest

to w

in at

this

spor

t tha

t off

ers m

ore

inta

n-gi

ble

rew

ards

than

any

ath

letic

end

eavo

ur o

n E

arth

.

More Than Just a Pretty FaceC

on

fo

rm

at

io

n:


Pedigree:A Science,

a History,

a Story Told in DNA

Merriam-Webster's defines pedigree as: "a distin-guished ancestry" and "the recorded purity of breed of anindividual or strain." Without going deeply into a studyof enzymes and molecular structure, we can discuss pedi-gree and the Thoroughbred. Pedigree plays a large role inthe hopes and expectations of buyers, breeders and racefans, alike. It is an everyday occurrence to see a fan hold-ing aloft her Daily Racing Form, excitedly racing to thewindow to bet on "…an Empire Maker."

In racing parlance, that means that EmpireMaker was the sire of our bettor's choice. AndEmpire Maker was proclaimed by the late BobbyFrankel to be the best horse he ever trained: hetook the 2003 Belmont in a driving rain, which

showed a great deal of his tenacity and penchant forthe mud of Big Sandy.

Fans of Empire Maker hope that his progenyshow the same grit, leading to similar glory.

Interestingly enough, the achievements of a horsedetermine the projected value of its descendants onthe auctionhouse stage—or the track. But thereverse concept is also a truism, in that a horse whodoes extraordinarily well can raise the price for itssire in the breeding shed. Pedigree, it appears, is atwo-way street.

None of the biases of human culture come intoplay in Thoroughbred breeding and sales: a horse isnot considered to be undesirable because of hiscolor or place of birth. The actual genetic structureof the horse do not denote any particularly good orbad trait. That speaks to conformation, not pedi-gree.

For a horse who has made it to the auctionhouse,It all boils down to pedigree: the accomplishmentsof parents (both sire and dam) are a major consider-ation for those who hold the sales catalog.

And speed, as they say, comes from the dam's side.With this in mind, we'll study two great

Thoroughbreds, and follow their pedigrees back totheir foundation sires, those Arabians who started anempire. And, inasmuch as it's true that ultimately allThoroughbreds are related—still, our two meteorsshare some compelling background.

Rachel Alexandra is a contemporary star. She willbe inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame the firstyear that she's eligible. In 2010, she's the reigningHorse of the Year, and for good reason: her racerecord for 2009 was unmatched by any horse, ofeither gender. She beat males thrice in 2009, clinch-

Seattle Slew was apure-breeding bay,

meaning that healways threw

bay babies.


ing her Eclipse when she crossed the finish line inthe Woodward in Saratoga, to the hysteria of thou-sands of fans. Her win margin averages 8 1⁄2 lengths.She won the Kentucky Oaks in 2009 by a staggering20 1⁄4 lengths. She continues her campaign in 2010,showing them how it's done: at Churchill Downs inJune, she won the Fleur de Lis by 10 1⁄2 lengths.Rachel is not an anomaly, she's a Champion.

Seattle Slew is the only undefeated Triple CrownWinner. That sentence, alone, should be adequate to

describe the mighty Slew. The dark bay—nearlyblack—colt showed the world what he had onSeptember 20, 1976 when he won his first race by fivelengths. The race was preceded by Slew's "war dance,"as fans would name it—the sure sign that the man wasready to put on a show. The following year Slewwould create hysteria as he raced toward Destiny andhis Triple Crown win. Yet he was not done, even afterbecoming the 10th Triple Crown winner: at age four,he recovered from a serious viral infection to win theMarlboro Cup, and in so doing became the only TripleCrown Winner ever to defeat another Triple CrownWinner, Affirmed. Seattle Slew is one of the greatestThoroughbreds ever to grace an oval: he was inductedinto the Hall of Fame in 1981 - Hail the mighty SeattleSlew.

In 1978, Seattle Slew beat the late, great Exceller to take theWoodward—and thus begins the study of the similaritiesbetween our two Champions.

Looking at the pedigrees of Rachel Alexandra andSeattle Slew side-by-side, we witness some fascinatingplaces at which their pedigrees—and their destinies—cross paths:

Credit Cathleen Duffy


Seattle Slew, 1974.

Sire, Bold Reasoning, b. 1968.Dam, My Charmer, 1969.

Rachel Alexandra, 2006

Since speed comes from the dam's side, we're going to start with the dams of these two leaders.

My Charmer back 4 gens to Hall ofFame filly, Busher, b. 1942, who

defeated males twice in her career.

Lotta Kim's grand-sire 4 gens backwas the inimitable Dr. Fager, b. 1964.

Photo Provided by NYRA Credit Cathleen Duffy

Sire, Medaglia d'Oro, b. 1999Dam, Lotta Kim, 2001.

Busher's sire was a superstar, the first sharedbetween our two subjects

on the dam's side:

5 gens after Rachel Alexandra's

Dr. Fager came

Rachel 24th generation20th generation

War Admiral, b. 1934

From here Seattle Slew and Rachel Alexandra follow the same path all the way back to the foundation sires.

Man O'War, b. 1917

10th generation Saint Marguerite, b. 1879 14th generation

11th generation Devotion, b. 1869 15th generation

15th generation Phantom Mare, b. 1816 19th generation

And here, wonderfully and Synchronistically, our two heroic Championsshare a common Grand-dam who was foaled in 1763:


Rachel was the grand-daughter of theGodolphin Arabian. (b.1724) on both sides, andof the Darley Arabian b.1700 on her sire's side.There they are: thefounding sires of oneline of the dams' sidesof Seattle Slew andRachel Alexandra. FromWar Admiral in 1934 tothe Darley andGodolphin Arabians inthe 1700s, that one line isprecisely the same. It isinteresting to note thatfor this study, an excep-tionally strong pedigreeline could be traced based solely on their dam'ssides. Speed, Hall of Fame inductees with super-star traits. Did all those ancestors will their mostpositive traits to these two horses? Seattle Slew'sdistinctive, dark bay—pure, almost black—israrely seen except in his descendants. But RachelAlexandra is a very dark bay, and one must won-der…how much do these two horses have incommon? Similar colors, yes. Identical dams'heritage on one line. The other aspects, such asguts, determination and profound self-awareness:can those things be predicted by studying pedi-gree, or are they the stuff of which only the spir-it can speak? Perhaps Man O'War inherited hisgrit from his great-grandmother, who got it fromhers. The intangibles cannot be studied by unrav-eling a strand of DNA. But that is precisely whythese horses are studied from all angles—fromthe biological to the mystical—because there mayvery well be something we've missed, or don't-yetunderstand. Until the day that we get it, pedigreeas a predictor of future success will be contested,studied and revered in this, the Sport of Kings.And, on the bottom line—of Queens, as well.

The Godolphin Arabian


"The wind of Heaven

is that which blows

through a horse's ears."

Photo by Hanan Al Muhairi


The Bedouins were nomadic tribes of people wholived in the stark Arabian landscapes: tight-knit commu-nities of herders who took entire towns on the sandyroad, necessary for the grazing of the animals in theircharge. Their existence was dependent on the loyalty oftheir horses, to whom they turned for transportation,strength, shelter and companionship.

Those horses were Arabians, the oldest-known breedof riding horse: archaeological evidence of Arabiansgoes back 4,500 years. Horses very closely resemblingcontemporary Arabians have been found in digs, indi-cating that the breed has not changed much in almostfive millennia—testimony to the Bedouins' carefulbreeding practices and reverence for the purity of theline.

From the very beginning, Arabians have carried meninto battle. For Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan,George Washington and Napoleon—Arabians were thesteeds of choice for those soldiers who requireddependable, loyal horses who had no fear, whose leg-endary endurance was common knowledge. Theirtremendous lung capacity, working with their uniqueconformation, gave them the stuff of which true war-riors are made. This breed has not survived for 4,500years simply because humans love them—Arabians arealive and well in the 21st Century because of their sheerwill to carry on, to endure and excel.

Fast-forward to today: the Arabian horse is prized forits exceptional, otherworldly beauty, and for its versatil-ity as a sport horse. For those who admire the confor-mation and facial structure of Thoroughbreds,Arabians are a horse of a different concept. Dishedfaces; more forward-facing eyes, small, curved ears andlarge nostrils give Arabians what they need for the manyendeavours in which they participate. The large nostrilsfacilitate breathing, which makes the breed well-equipped for endurance riding and living in a desertenvironment. Arabians are by far the most successfuland desirable horse for endurance riding, a sport popu-lar in the Middle East and growing in interest in theUnited States.

Their affinity for human companionship is a con-tributing factor: one cannot dismiss the extraordinary

intelligence that the breed brings to their assessment of theworld, including humans. This desire to relate to peopleaids Arabians in their sporting endeavours: an enduranceride can last for days, and the people and their horsesinvolved must be able to read each other, intimately. Trustis essential for an endurance team: Arabians are uniquelysuited to work with their humans to develop trusting rela-tionships.

Arabians are coming into their own in many arenae onthis side of the Pond: A great enthusiasm is growing for thefoundational breed of Thoroughbreds. Dialogue is com-mencing between fans of each breed. The Kentucky HorsePark has mounted a spectacular exhibit, "A Gift from theDesert: the Art, History and Culture of the ArabianHorse." The exhibit runs through October 15th, and issponsored by the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation.Working closely together, the two entities have created ashow that both fascinates and piques the imagination.

They Race Arabians, Don't They?The Kentucky Horse Park exhibit is not the only foray of

Tested and Tempered byTime and Destiny

The Arabian Horse:


the Arabian horse into the Blue Grass of Kentucky: this year,the esteemed Keeneland Association will present the first-everrace of Arabian horses on October 9th, during its annual FallMeet. The race will be part of the President of the UAE CupSeries announced in April by the Emirates EquestrianFederation. It is an exceptional honour that Keeneland wasapproached to participate: it is the only American track to par-ticipate in this particular Series. Moscow, Paris, Newmarket,Ascot and The Curragh round out the Series, Lexington beingthe last stop on the tour.

Arabian racing is nothing new to the operators and fans atDelaware Park: the track conducts Arabian races several timesduring the course of every meet, and has done so for severalyears. On July 17th, the Park presented The Sheikh Zayed BinSultan Al Nahyan Arabian Cup. Del Park is growing into a forcewith which to deal, and Arabian racing is contributing to thatemerging status.

The Dubai World Cup, the world's richest series of races, fea-tures an Arabian race on Dubai World Cup Day, itself. TheKhayala Classic is a race for the world's brightest and bestArabians. This race is a very real tie to the Bedouin heritage ofthe hosts of the event. The luxurious and technologically-supe-rior Meydan Racecourse is the most cutting-edge racing facilityin the world—and yet, those who built the place and set therace cards recognize that without the ancient Arabian breed—horse racing as we know it would not exist today.

IFAHR: The World Comes Together to Celebrate the Racing ArabianIf more Arabians are racing in more locations these days, it

can be attributed to the mission of a dedicated group of pro-fessionals whose love of Arabians and racing compelled themto formalize the relationship. These minds came together in1999 to give birth to IFAHR, the International Federation ofArabian Horse Racing Authorities. IFAHR is the voice forArabian racing internationally, and it is fueled by the unbridled

passion.The intelligent promotion of the sport and the breed is the

sacred trust of IFAHR, and of Mats Genberg, the Secretary ofthe organization. A seasoned PR professional and horse breeder,Genberg is also Chairman of the Scandinavian Arabian RacingAssociation. He works diligently with IFAHR Board members topromote the international embrace of Arabian racing. Purses aregrowing, as are the number of days and races at tracks aroundthe globe. The prestige associated with Thoroughbred racing isfinding its way to the ancestral breed, as Arabian racing takes itsrightful place alongside our Thoroughbreds on the world stageof racing.

Every Thoroughbred is Part Arabian. Bet on it.Now and then, an unusual Thoroughbred is seen on a track:

unique in that said horse shows something in his conformation,head shape or design that indicates the direct relationship withhis ancestors from 400 years ago. Many Thoroughbred race fansbelieve that a dished face is indicative that a Thoroughbred pos-sesses the positive characteristics of its Arabian grandsires.These fans and bettors see a dished face and run to the windows.A horse raced at Saratoga Race Course in 2009 who possessed arather prominent dish, easily noticed from the stands. Those bet-tors who recognized the strength, endurance and fearlessness ofthe Arabian put their money down on the history in their midst.They were not disappointed.

Every Thoroughbred carries Arabian genetics. It may not be asnoticeable as that beautiful face in 2009—but it's there. Swab anyThoroughbred, and Arabian DNA appears: it is impossible toregister as a Thoroughbred unless it can be proven that a horsecan be traced on both sides to at least one of the FoundationSires. Those sires were the Godolphin Arabian, the DarleyArabian and the Byerly Turk.

Arabians are the very core of Thoroughbred strength: theywere chosen in the hopes that the ancient, hardy and heartybreed would pass on any of a number of myriad desirable con-

Photos Courtesy of Darla Ripley


tributions to the new breed. Loyalty; the ability to run longdistances without tiring; self-awareness; unearthly beauty;physical and emotional strength; companionable to humans;fearlessness.

With each passing generation, the Thoroughbred breedbecomes firmly established in its own "breed-ness." That is,the traits of a Thoroughbred were firmly established longago, but each succeeding generation strengthens the charac-teristics: it looks like this; it behaves in this way, etc.

But without the foresight of Messrs. Darley, Godolphinand Byerly, the revolutionary Thoroughbred breed wouldnot exist today. They created a horse that had the need forspeed; unspeakable beauty of original Creation and theintelligence to interact well with humans. They knew thatonly one breed possessed a bloodline noble enough to man-ufacture the Thoroughbred—and that was the extraordinaryArabian.

From the Deserts of the Arabian Peninsula……to the prairies of Texas. Eighth-generation Texan,

Darla Ripley has raced Arabians for 18 years. Originallyintroduced to the Arabian via the show world, she soughtmore immediate gratification, and to share the love of thehorses with her husband. Dreamfield Arabian Horses, Inc.

was foaled in 1992. She concentrates on quality ofbloodlines, and shows great insight: Dreamfield is hometo three broodmares and one handsome stallion,Santana HF. Dreamfields also owns Thoroughbreds: theappetite for racing Arabians inspired them to ventureforth. In 2007 the Ripleys retooled the ranch into a racetraining facility. They did this with the help of a giftedyoung former Thoroughbred jockey and Eclipse nomi-nee, Jeremy Beasley, and his wife, Kara, their trainer.They are in the process of building their string ofThoroughbreds: their most recent winner is the hulking,gorgeous Good to Great by Successful Appeal -Emeraldforaldady by Air Forbes Won.

Ripley considers the benefits of breeding and racingboth breeds, and sees this as the key to a bright futurefor racing in Texas. This formula works in Dubai,Delaware and soon, Kentucky, and may well become themodel for horse racing internationally. The two breedsare forever-bound together by genetics and DameFortune. Hosting races for members of each breed—not racing against each other, but sharing the card—maybe the marketing concept that grows interest first, andeventually passion, for both breeds and the sport.

Ripley sums it up in a most poetic fashion:"In an ideal world, because the Arabian racehorse

embodies the historic breeding of the Thoroughbred, itwould be my wish to see Arabian and Thoroughbredracing…at all race tracks. A good racing Arabian is [onlevel ground with] a good racing Thoroughbred. It takesthe same talent, mind, heart and attitude to be a greatathlete no matter the breed. It also takes the same exem-plary teamwork on the part of the owner, trainer, jock-ey, vet, farrier and grooms to build a great horse's racingcareer whether it be an Arabian or a Thoroughbred.


After all, it is a great sport andtruly the Sport of Kings—dat-ing back to the Pharaohs."

The Pharaohs, Alexander theGreat and George Washingtonloved Arabian horses. Millionsaround the world are rediscov-ering this strong, deceptively-sturdy breed and its other-worldly charm, beauty anddurability. As horse racingmoves into the 21st Century,the breed will continue to makeinroads: the places at whichThoroughbreds and Arabianscross paths began 400 yearsago, in the minds of threeEnglishmen. Moving forward,their paths and destinies seemto be tied together, once andfor all, a secure omen for thefuture of the sport of racinggreat horses. Photo by Mats Genberg / IFAHR


Fans of football, basketball, hockey—of all profession-al sports—can love "their" team with great devotion.They can spend thousands of dollars on tickets to games;jerseys; blankets and other items festooned with theirfavorite team's logo.

They cheer from a place of deep passion and expensiveseats and, when the team loses, they are down. When theteam wins, they celebrate.

But there is a very real line drawn between fans and thelives, victories and financial gains of professional sportsteams: no one can own a professional athlete.

Except in Thoroughbred horse racing. This is the sportin which the equine athletes are, by necessity, owned byhumans. And those humans can choose to divide upshares in the horse, thereby spreading around the respon-sibilities and the joys.

Fasig-Tipton Racing Club, All Play Stable and

Whitehall Stable Offer Something for Everyone

Enter racing partnerships. Whether you call it a partnershipor a syndicate, it means the same thing: shares in aThoroughbred are divided equally after the managing personor entity has taken their part. Monthly costs are divided(training, boarding, feeding, veterinary and farrier bills), there-by reducing the sting. Winnings are divided in proportion tothe number of shares owned by each individual. Not every-one wins—but not everyone wins when a horse is owned byan individual, either.

Racing partnerships are the only means through which afan can become an owner in an athlete. Other than winnings,the benefits of membership are the same whether someoneowns 6% of a horse or 100%: owners' licenses, parking per-mits, membership to Clubhouses and entrée to the winner'scircle are available to anyone who owns a piece of a horse viaa syndicate. Three groups show that it can be done in a vari-ety of ways: how a potential owner enters the racing game isdetermined strictly by how much can be invested, and thegoals of the participants.

Racing

Partnerships:

Photos Courtesyof Fasig-TiptonRacing Club


Fasig-Tipton has taken its 112 years ofsales experience and business acumen, andpartnered with three of the most success-ful and visionary owner/breeders in theindustry: Darley, WinStar Farm andBobby Flay. The Fasig-Tipton RacingClub leases horses from these three super-stars of the sport and teams the horseswith four famous and extravagantly-wellestablished Trainers: Tom Albertrani,Kieran McLaughlin, Todd Pletcher andJames Toner. This winning combina-tion—Fasig-Tipton's deep knowledge andmission to help grow the sport; theirPartner's track records for brilliance inbreeding and racing and the Trainers' pen-chants for giving a horse all the tools itneeds to bring it home—makes the Fasig-Tipton Racing Club one of the mostimpressive racing syndicates in contempo-rary Thoroughbred racing. Those whochoose to become members of thisexquisitely-conceived syndicate will enjoyall the benefits of owning world-classThoroughbreds, created by international-ly-renowned breeders and trained by thebest in the business. No one can guaran-tee that a horse will win, but if any has achance—it's those owned and adminis-tered by the Fasig-Tipton Racing Club.For more information, contact KatyMoore: [email protected].


All Play Stable believes that everyonewho wants to, should have the opportu-nity to experience all the fun, adventureand camaraderie of Thoroughbred own-ership. Manager Paul H. Rothfuss con-ceived of All Play Stable many years ago,when he observed that most horses wereowned by individuals who had deeppockets, and that the majority of peoplegoing to the track got to watch thoseprivileged few having a great time. Thatdidn't seem right to Rothfuss, so he tookhis mother's beautiful red, white andblue silks and created All Play Stable—precisely because he knew that all whowanted to play this game—should be

able so to do. While membership in many syndi-cates can be cost-prohibitive to all but a few, theAll Play Stable method keeps costs down—eventhose of initial investment and monthly fees—in

order to grow an ownership base that feels gen-uinely good about their affiliation with the syndi-cate. A conscientious communicator, Rothfusssends emails to every member of All Play StableLLCs almost daily. Open lines of communicationguarantee a satisfied member, and lifelong friend-ships. The adjectives that best-describe All PlayStable and its leader for whom transparency iskey, those descriptors would be "enthusiastic,""honest," "forthright" and "companionable." AllPlay Stable's horses are the products of his owncareful breeding—2008's New York ChampionFemale Sprinter, By the Light, was the result ofRothfuss' savvy pedigree analysis and excellentdecision-making skills. For more information onhow to have a great time as a Thoroughbredowner, and enjoy the company of others of likemind, contact Paul H. Rothfuss:[email protected].

Photos Courtesy of All Play Stable


Whitehall Stable came into being because upstate NewYork's James Pippo felt the deep need to share his love forhorses with others. He grew up in a family thoroughlyentrenched in equine sports—western, harness racing and far-riers. Eventually Pippo started purchasing Thoroughbreds ashis knowledge of the breed took on new levels of intenseunderstanding. Owning horses by one's self can be a solitaryendeavour, so Pippo turned his individual ownership into apartnership, and Whitehall Stable was foaled. Trainer LindaRice—the first woman to win a Saratoga meet, in 2009—is thenewest addition to the roster of professionals who work withPippo to develop Whitehall Stable into the best it can be.

Trainer Seth Benzel works closely with Pippo to assurethat the training team is in tune with the goals of theadministration. Dr. Barry Eisaman takes every horsewho is purchased by Whitehall to his lush training cen-ter in Ocala. This remarkable team of individuals, eachbringing some new layer of flavor to the dish, is creat-ing a racing partnership that's exciting, affordable andeasy to love. Whitehall Stable is a fascinating study ofcombined talents, experience and the synergy thatbuilds when like minds and intentions come together tocreate something of lasting value. All who seekThoroughbred ownership with Whitehall Stable willfind adventure and companionship in a company thatvalues each horse as a unique being and every member-owner as a friend and colleague whose opinion matters.To contact James Pippo: [email protected].

Racing partnerships—syndicates—have become the new wayto do business in a sport that is almost as old as the equinespecies, itself. Our three subjects all offer a different perspectiveand merits that may one day find its way into the annals of rac-ing history. Three syndicates, three concepts of the business.Each as unique and valuable as the other: consider your racinggoals, and choose the option that works best for your finances andsense of adventure. You are one email away from being an ownerof a real, live athlete. Even the NFL can't promise that.


Year after year, Fasig-Tipton’s Saratoga stage presents the world’smost well-put-together Thoroughbreds. Their conformations will beestablished as they grow, but their pedigrees are extraordinary anddesirable. Beautiful, elegant and dressed for success on that legendarystage, these infants have the potential to become racing royalty.

The humans involved in the breeding and racing of horses come inall shapes, sizes, economic means and social position, but by far themost fascinating of racing colleagues are those who are royal.Whether royal by birth or assigned that status as the result of

achievements in the industry, these people are all to the manner born.One thing they share is that they are examples of genuine concernfor horses, devotional love of the sport and for the equine athleteswithout whom the sport would not exist. They are role models ofextraordinary business savvy; they have faith in themselves and intheir destinies and in the future of Thoroughbred horse breeding andracing. It is an honour to be in the same room with any of our hon-ourees, more so to share this sport with people who are “royal” bytheir very natures.

Royally BredPurpose, Passion & Pedigree


Penny Chenery graduated from Smith College in1943, and brought into the world all the attributes withwhich she'd been born, honed and nurtured by thatexquisite women's college education. Her innatestrength, savvy, intuition, intellectual brilliance, self-knowledge and will to move forward were all therewhen she arrived at Smith—but were given a platformon which to develop into the powerhouse of American

Thoroughbred racing who gave the sport two of its great-est equine athletes, Riva Ridge and Secretariat.

Penny Chenery is a genuine heroine of American racing.When called upon, she rose to the occasion to take overthe administration of Meadow Farm, founded by herbeloved Father, Christopher Chenery. She and Riva Ridge(whom she loved dearly) went all the way to victory in theKentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes in 1972. She nexttrumped herself by recognizing that Secretariat was once-in-a-century—perhaps in a millennium. She and Big Redteamed together to win the Triple Crown in 1973, the firstTriple Crown victory in 25 years since Citation wore thecrown in 1948. Her memberships and awards are toonumerous to mention, but among her many accolades arethat she was the first woman admitted to The Jockey Club,with colleagues Martha F. Gerry and Allaire duPont in1983. Also, from 1976 – 1984, she served as President ofTOBA (Thoroughbred Owners' and Breeders'Association).

Penny Chenery has nurtured many women in their rac-ing careers over the years, encouraging them, often provid-ing a first opportunity to ply their skills and talents in asport that, in years past, was averse to the notion ofwomen as turf writers, jockeys, trainers and owners. She isgenuine and generous, working long and hard to rescueand retire horses who've served so well. For these and somany other reasons, Penny Chenery should be crowned,for surely—she is racing royalty, in America and recog-nized internationally, as well.

American Racing RoyaltyNo discussion of racing's most

extraordinary participants would becomplete without highlighting the livesand achievements of America's racingroyalty. These two women stand out,even in a field of excellence.

Helen B. (Penny) Chenery

Photo Courtesy of www.secretariat.com


Saratoga's favorite and most dedicated resident isbeloved, not only for her generosity of spirit, but also forher profound kindness and unwavering fidelity to thesport. Volumes have been written about MarylouWhitney, and yet her commitment to horse racing israrely found in those pages. When her second husband,Cornelius Vanderbilt (C.V. or Sonny) Whitney died in1992, Mrs. Whitney did not miss a step: even as shegrieved the loss of her mate of 34 years, she intended tohonour his great love of the sport of Thoroughbred rac-ing, a love which he had inherited. (His Father, HarryPayne Whitney, owned Greentree [farm] on NelsonAvenue in Saratoga. The lush farmstead is now gentlyowned and managed by His Highness SheikhMohammed's Darley America.)

Mrs. Whitney picked up the reins of Sonny's racingoperation, slimmed it down a bit; created her own silksand made her own decisions. Her Birdstone won the2004 Belmont, thereby denying Smarty Jones the TripleCrown. Mrs. Whitney showed her class that afternoon asshe apologized to the crowd at Belmont and to the rac-ing world in general—she, too, had hoped to see a TripleCrown Winner that year. Her grace was lovely to observe:it should have been a moment of sheer joy and celebra-

tion for her, but precisely because she is a woman of dig-nity—she strove to make amends for winning, perhapsto ease the pain of the Chapmans and Smarty Jones'fans.

A story in the New York Times several years backreported that Mrs. Whitney and her trainer, Nick Zito,were at a black-tie affair when she received word that amare was foaling. The two went to the barn, where sheremoved her opera gloves, hitched up her flowing gownand got down on her knees to help that mare deliver herbaby. This was not for the benefit of the press, this wasfor the benefit of the horse who was in labor—and Mrs.Whitney, as her owner—her Mother—had to be surethat her girl was all right, and that the foal made it health-ily into the world.

These two stories are certainly not the entire story onMarylou Whitney, but they do illustrate why she is a leg-end in horse racing. She's not afraid to get in and do thedirty work in order to assure a happy ending, and she'snot too proud to apologize—even if she's done nothingfor which to be sorry. She is the very model of graceunder fire, the epitome of community spirit. Whetherthat community is Saratoga Springs or her horse racingfamily, she gives without prejudice and shares of herwealth without thinking twice. Mrs. Marylou Whitney isAmerican racing royalty, indeed. We are blessed to sharethe same space as this great woman who loves dearly andis loved in return.

Marylou Whitney


His Highness Sheikh Mohammed holds many officialtitles, each of which comes with duties and responsibilitiesthat he takes very seriously: Ruler of Dubai; Prime Ministerand Vice President of the United Arab Emirates. He's alsoa member of distinguished sodalities such as the IrishThoroughbred Association Hall of Fame; The Jockey Club(US) and The Jockey Club (UK). Memberships in theseinstitutions are by invitation only. His Highness' recognitionby these esteemed groups and others too numerous to namein this space emphasize the fact that he is a horseman parexcellence, a star even among his peers.

Sheikh Mohammed has been involved since before hisbirth, as his cultural heritage and Bedouin roots instilled adeep respect and love for the species centuries ago. Hebegan riding as a small child and visited a racecourse inEngland in 1967. Ten years later, his first horse, Hatta, wonat Brighton, giving Sheikh Mohammed his first taste of thejoy of the winner's circle. Thirty-three years later, he isestablished as a leader in the sport as a breeder, owner andvisionary. An exhaustive list of the stars of his racing stablesmust include the names of such overachievers as DesertParty, Electrocutionist and two standout homebreds:Bernardini and His Highness' much-beloved, the late DubaiMillennium.

In 2003, His Highness founded Darley Flying Start, anInternational Management Training Program specializing inThoroughbred breeding and racing. The unique conceptbehind Darley Flying Start is to give the next generations ofracing and breeding professionals the in-depth academicknowledge and practical, hands-on experience to graduatefrom the program and have the tools to tackle any positionwithin the equine industry with confidence. Darley FlyingStart is just one of the many concepts instituted by SheikhMohammed to help grow the Thoroughbred industry, a fieldin which his experience and insight are profoundly valuable

His Highness

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

and necessary as the sport grows fully into the 21st Century.His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoumowns hundreds of Thoroughbreds, and yet he maintains anintimate and knowledge-based relationship with each one,and works diligently to assure the graceful retirement of eachhorse in his care. Truly he is a role model for everyone in theindustry of breeding and racing horses, greatly admired byrescue and retirement groups and industry professionals andfans alike. He is always on the lists of Forbes and Fortune forhis business acumen and worth, but as Saratogians and otherAmericans in racing know—he is the royal who lives andworks next door.

Photo Courtesy ofDubai Racing Club


HRH Princess Haya is a daughter of the late, greatly-missed King Hussein Bin Talal of Jordan—a peacemakerand diplomat of the highest degree. The Princess followsin her great sire's footsteps: among her many humanitarianaffiliations is her role as a UN Ambassador of Peace, anappointment she received in 2007 by United NationsSecretary-General Ban Ki-moon. This is but one such pas-sion into which the Princess throws herself with a sense ofdedication that originated in her Amman upbringing.

Like her husband, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin

Rashid Al Maktoum, the canvas of her life is painted withthe colors of horses since early in her life. An Olympic ath-lete, she represented Jordan in Show Jumping at the 2000Summer Olympics in Sydney. In so doing, she became thefirst Arab woman to compete in equestrian at theOlympics, world and continental championship levels. In2007, the International Olympic Committee elected her asa member of the IOC. In May of 2006, Her RoyalHighness was elected as President of the InternationalFederation (FEI = Fédération Equestre Internationale),and has actively overseen the events leading up to theAlltech FEI World Equestrian Games, which will be held inLexington in September 2010.

Her equine ambitions don't begin and end with equestri-an sports: Princess Haya races Thoroughbreds under herown silks. In 2008, her three-year-old colt, New Approach,won the Derby Stakes at Epsom Downs. That same year,Raven's Pass won the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anitafor the Princess' stable. Surely, this is a woman whose pro-found love for horses has led her into victory in more thanone arena. The encouragement she receives from HisHighness Sheikh Mohammed is a stellar example of howone couple can approach the same sport—even competingagainst each other on the racetrack—and come out feelingmutually happy about the results.

In all her endeavours, HRH Princess Haya serves bothhumankind and the equine world with focus and vision,and that combination speaks to her upbringing in thehousehold of one of the world's great men of action. Hermarriage to another great man, with whom she shares thelove of horses and intellectual endeavour, is a match madein the very heart of racing's center stage. She moves withgrace and genuine class, whichever hat she wears at thetime: a Royal Ascot chapeau or equestrienne's helmet fit herequally well and genuinely on this royal, this woman ofmany talents.

Her Royal Highness

Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein

Photo Courtesy ofOffice of HRHPrincess Haya


Sallee Horse Vans has beencarrying racing's stars for over50 years. The key word is, "commitment."

The deep black of midsummer pre-dawn envelops theknights as gingerly they move up the mountain highway.Navigating their enormous white steeds past tall pinesand foraging deer, their convoy intimidates onlookingwildlife. They share a mission, that of delivering pre-cious cargo safely to the appointed destination, with aslittle stress as possible. Their passengers shift and nickeras they rouse: they know that the long trip is at its end.

The knights line up their white steeds the entire lengthof the famous thoroughfare. They are at the end of atrip that took them from rolling hills to ancient moun-

tains, traversing hundreds of miles in an overnight.Perhaps the most compelling part of their story is thatthey took this roadtrip in record time, the silence bro-ken only by the occasional tune wafting from the radioand the low "Hmmm, Hmmm, Hmmm" of theirrevered packages.

These knights are the horsemen-drivers of SalleeHorse Vans, and this is their annual trek to Saratogafrom Lexington to deliver the 900-pound yearlings tobe sold at the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Sale inAugust. Every year they make this same trip, the sameroute in identical, reliable vehicles: only the horsesinside change with each time. The steadfastness of theteam—drivers, dispatchers, owner, mechanics—assuresthat every yearling will arrive in Saratoga with not ascratch on a sacred limb. No angst nor upset: thesehorsemen-drivers are professionals, men whose voca-tions meld two very differentand yet complimentary skillsets. They drive big rigs withdexterity and insight, but theyalso know horses, intimately.They are chosen for theirunique combination of talents,and for their passion for whatthey do.

They, along with the ownerand staff of Sallee Horse Vanstreat every horse as if s/he istheir own: The pre-SaratogaSale trip is an annual ritual thatis absolutely magnificent tobehold: the long, clean, whitetractor-trailers festooned with

Ride,

Ride


the comforting Sallee Horse Vans logo course up theNorthway toward Exit 14 in pitch-black, the Fridaybefore the first night of the Sales. Carefully maneuver-ing around the curved exit and onto Union Avenue, theyline up the entire length of the boulevard, from wherethey will thread their way down East and onto Georgeand Case.

There's something beautiful about the relative silencewith which the horsemen-drivers control their trucks.Neighbors on Union and the environs aren't awakenedby the downshifting of gears, unless they'd already settheir clocks to witness this annual delivery by the indus-try's most-careful couriers.

Sallee Horse Vans makes its homebase in Lexington,Kentucky—but the highway is its turf. No one knowsthe fastest and most efficient way to truck horses acrosscountry like these contemporary cowboys and their sea-soned leaders. For more than half-a-century, SalleeHorse Vans has transported hundreds of thousands ofhorses every year, criss-crossing the United States andCanada. It's one of the largest equine transportationcompanies in the world, with ample reasons. NicolePieratt, third-generation owner of Sallee Horse Vans, isone key reason, but she graciously gives full credit to herdrivers and staff. There are many similarities between asemi and a Thoroughbred: both must be finessed, nothandled carelessly or with malice. The team is aware ofthis, from the first phone call to the signing off upondelivery.

The overall comfort, safety and emotional well-beingof both horses and clients are of primary concern forMs. Pieratt and the team of so many who make Sallee

Horse Vans the well-respected company that we see today.Humans and horses are considered equally by the concerned,conscientious team that occupies the space at Buck Lane inLexington—that is, when they're not on the road. And they'reon the road a lot, because service, safety and accessibilitymake this one of the best-run and most ethically-centeredcompanies in the United States today. Sallee Horse Vans isbuilt for comfort, safety and, ultimately, the well-being ofevery horse whom it serves. The very foundation of theindustry is in good hands, with Sallee Horse Vans at the driv-ing wheel.


... is celebrating its fifth anniversary as a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit equine charity. Amaryllis isbased in the Hamptons, Long Island whereseveral active farms accommodate horses fromall former service areas, mostly racing.

Hundreds of horses have been assisted byAmaryllis. These horses were lesson or camphorses, show horses, race horses and mustangs.They simply couldn’t find another job instantlyand so were purchased by a killbuyer to trans-port across the borders for slaughter. We havefound fantastic new homes for over half of thewell over one hundred horses we took in per-sonally. We saved these horses so they couldreceive the quality of life they deserve and eachhorse gets just that! Those not adoptable aregranted forever sanctuary at Amaryllis. Horseswho have worked for their humans and arenow in trouble are the first horses we acceptand where our heart lies.

We are volunteers and we are working around the clock car-ing for these beloved horses. We need your support. We sup-port over 50 horses at any time. We do not breed or show. Wejust take care to meet their every need.

When a pregnant mare pushes her head into your chest andsighs knowing she is finally safe; when a starved, ulcer ridden,misunderstood young racehorse puts his head on your shoul-der and remains there for minutes after being pulled from thekill pen; when a 27 yrold Thoroughbred ex-racehorse brings hishead to yours andlooks deep into youreyes for a very longtime with pure grati-tude because his futurewas not accounted forwhen his owner tragi-cally died…..then youknow you have suc-ceeded in your missionto change the worldfor a horse. Pleasehelp sustain us. Godbless you

Amaryllis Farm Equine Rescue and Sanctuary...Amaryllis Farm Equine Rescue and Sanctuary...


Festival of Racing:The intersection of Union and East Avenues in the historic

horsetown of Saratoga Springs, New York is more than a place atwhich fans dash across the old boulevard to enter America’s oldestand most beautiful race course. It is also the place at which well-heeled and beautifully pedigreed Thoroughbreds cross the road ontheir journey into the paddock and, more often than not—into thehistory books.

Saratoga is the only track in America, perhaps in theworld, at which the horses walk through the throngs onthe grounds to the paddock to be saddled. It is a privilegeto be in a car, gridlocked in the sweltering Adirondackhumidity, watching these most-graceful of animals danc-ing across Union, heads and spirits high. It is a ritual thatis played out myriad times a day, adding to the allure ofthis mystical and romantic equine Xanadu.

Union and East are also the streets on which sit twoentities that are forever bound, but that rarely conspire toput on a show together. Fasig-Tipton, the esteemedThoroughbred auction company on East and the Saratoga

Race Course on Union, the track at which fortunes anddreams are realized—together are producing the second-annual Fasig-Tipton Festival of Racing the weekend ofJuly 31 – August 1, 2010.

The walk between the two front entrances is symbolic:yearlings come into the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion atFasig-Tipton. Young, shiny and new, their racing careers

Where

Breeding

Meets Victory

Photos Courtesy of Fasig-Tipton


won’t begin for at least another year. They strut onto thestage, the objects of desire. They walk off, and the firstleg of their journey to racing fame has begun. So, too, thewalk down East from that Pavilion toward the track isrepresentative of the path that these young athletes willmost likely take if the stars are in their favor.

The Festival of Racing is the celebration that leads tothe 2010 Saratoga Selected Yearlings Sale on August 2ndand 3rd, and the New York-Bred Preferred YearlingsSales on August 7th and 8th. Fasig-Tipton and NYRAhave created a partnership that will show off the finestThoroughbreds in races that are Saratoga traditions,some of the oldest races in the world.

The 2009 (inaugural) Festival saw thrilling wins in theWhitney (Bullsbay); The Test (Flashing); Alfred G.Vanderbilt (Fabulous Strike) and the Honorable Miss(Game Face).

2010’s Festival will feature the $70,000 William B. FasigStakes on Saturday, July 31 and the $70,000 Humphrey S.Finney Stakes on Sunday, August 1. Additionally, themuch-anticipated Grade 1, $500,000 Diana and Grade 2,$500,000 Jim Dandy will be contested that Saturday. TheGrade 1, $250,000 Ruffian, Grade 2, $150,000Fourstardave Handicap, named for the Sultan ofSaratoga, and the new $75,000 Curlin will be contestedon Sunday.

Fasig-Tipton will once again offer a prize – $500—tothe grooms who do the best job preparing their chargesfor the Fasig Stakes and the Finney Stakes, as part of the“Best Turned-Out Horse” contest. The “Best Turned-Out Filly” prize will be awarded on July 31st and August1st to the woman who is best-dressed for racing success.

Track patrons will be invited to participate in the Follow theFasig-Tipton Grads contest during the Festival. Whenever aFasig-Tipton Sales graduate competes, one name will be drawnand the lucky winner will be invited to watch that race from a


VIP area of the Race Course. If the horse wins, the con-testant will receive a gift bag.

The following weekend the Festival continues, with theFasig-Tipton 5K and one-mile Fun Run, to benefitNYRA’s four charities equally: Anna House, BackstretchServiceTeam, Race Track Chaplaincy/New York Divisionand the Backstretch Education Fund. Registration for therace is available at www.fasigtipton.com.

On Sunday, August 8th, Fasig-Tipton will host“Weanling to the Winner’s Circle,” a free seminar at theFinney Pavilion. The seminar, sponsored with NYRA andNew York Thoroughbred Breeders, will feature recently-retired jockey Richard Migliore (“Mig”), trainer Nick Zito,consignor Becky Thomas and a special guest star.

The Festival of Racing will for-mally wrap up when a $100,000prize is awarded to the owner of thefirst horse sold at last year’s SelectedYearling Sale who wins a gradedstakes race at the 2010 Saratogameet. This award is part of theJuvenile Jackpot, an exciting newpromotion designed to encourageand nurture that connectionbetween sales and racing in the SpaCity.

The physical intersection of these tworoads is symbolic of two facets of the sameindustry: the place at which breeding andracing meet. The Fasig-Tipton Festival ofRacing is a celebration of shared goals,values and ideals. Working together,Fasig-Tipton and NYRA can continue togrow the sport as they encourage the breed-ing, selling and racing of the most exqui-site Thoroughbreds on Earth—all withina 50-yard stretch of flower-strewn street.

…the most exquisite

Thoroughbreds

on Earth


The mission of Equine Advocates is to rescue, protect and preventthe abuse of horses through education, investigation, rescue opera-tions and the dissemination of information to the public.

"My initial inspiration for founding Equine Advocates was the horseslaughter issue. After having spent 15 years working in the racingindustry in different capacities and then rescuing my first horse fromslaughter four years later, I felt I could bestuse my experience by dedicating my life'swork to the rescue and protection of abusedand slaughter-bound equines."

So begins Susan Wagner's declaration oflove for all the horses, donkeys—and evengoats—in the loving care of Equine Advocates,a unique rescue organization in upstate NewYork.

Since their inception in 1996, Susan, her sis-ter, Karen and their committed team ofemployees and volunteers have aided and res-cued thousands of equines from slaughter,abuse and neglect. In 2004, they establishedSafe Home Equine Rescue and Sanctuary, a140-acre equine sanctuary in Chatham, NewYork. The Sanctuary built the HumaneEducation Center in 2006. is an extraordinaryplace, unlike anything in the rescue world.Lectures, meetings and classes take place in thecontinuing effort to educate and inform thosewho work together to end slaughter and abuse.Coming to the Center, these good souls canshare ideas and goals, and exchange informa-tion.

Their main mission is to instill a sense ofresponsibility in people who have horses orwho want to. "Sending any equine to slaughtershould never be an option," states Wagner: "There is a saying, If youcan afford to shoe a horse, you can afford to humanely euthanize thathorse.”

The Equine Advocates team feels strongly that humane euthanasiais the better alternative to slaughter. Wagner continues: "Sufferingmust be prevented. If horse slaughter were no longer an option, theneveryone who had horses would be forced to take responsibility forthem and that's how it should be.”

This passion and insight foaled Equine Advocates, one of thenation's most respected and respectable sanctuaries. An equine who isbrought to the beautiful farm in Chatham will never again need to fear.He will never go hungry, or be neglected. That animal will live out hislife surrounded by loving hearts, helping hands and watchful eyes.

Equine Advocates has scores of friends whoagree with their philosophies: many of thesefriends will gather on July 29th in SaratogaSprings, when the organization hosts its annu-al gala at the Canfield Casino.

Three special guests will be commended fortheir extraordinary work in the name of savingequine lives:

• His Highness Sheikh Mohammed BinRashid, the Ruler of Dubai and Prime Ministerand Vice President of the United ArabEmirates, is a man of exceptional charity andunbridled affection for horses. He has put hismoney, time and energy into the assurance thathorses—his and those of others—are respect-ed, loved and cared for their entire lives. Inrecognition of his willingness to go above andbeyond in the name of kindness, he will receivethe Ellen and Herbert Moelis Equine SaviorAward for Philanthropy. His Highness hasworked diligently to guard, protect and pre-serve every horse of which he is aware. Hischarity extends far outside the border of hisnative Dubai: his work is international, andgratefully appreciated by those who hold thesame values of responsible horsemanship andhorsemanitarianism.

The Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) is credit-ed with the saying, "…if your neighbour owns a horse and you do not,open a window in the wall to allow the Blessings to reach you fromnext door."

Those blessings go in reverse, as well: His Highness SheikhMohammed sees the opportunity to bless the lives of horses, and heacts upon the Prophet's documented respect for the noble equine. Amore suitable recipient of the Award cannot be conceived.

• Actress and activist, Bo Derek, will receive the Equine Advocates'

Equine Advocates:A Haven for Those Who Need it Most


Safe Home Equine Protection Award for her dedication to ending thepractice of horse slaughter. Ms. Derek has spent a great deal of timeon Capital Hill, campaigning for anti-slaughter bills and fearlesslyapproaching members of Congress to sway their votes. A horse loverand riding enthusiast since childhood, she owns Andalusian horses,and is a spokesperson for the Animal Welfare Institute's national cam-paign to end horse slaughter through passage of federal and state leg-islation. In 2002 she published her autobiography, “Riding Lessons:Everything That Matters in Life I Learned from Horses”. Ms. Derekis admired for her assertive campaign to end the madness of equicide,a campaign that she will not cease until slaughter is no longer in thelegal lexicon in the United States and Canada.

• Herb Moelis, the visionary founder of Thoroughbred Charities ofAmerica, will receive a special tribute for creating this unique organ-ization that sustains and supports the work of so many other groups.The TCA mission: "To provide a better life for Thoroughbreds, bothduring and after their racing careers by supporting retirement, rescueand research and by helping the people who work with them."

Herb Moelis is the very soul of Thoroughbred Charities of America:without his insight and determination, many worthy equine organiza-tions might have died on the vine before they gained sure footing.Equine Charities is happy for the opportunity to honor Mr. Moelis ashe retires from his formal role in the organization that he founded. Hewill not sit idle, but find other ways of expressing his profound love forhorses and the community that supports them.

Equine Advocates is unique for it is a gathering place for refugeeequines, and for those who share the vision of a world without slaugh-ter or cruelty. This organization is worthy of support by the gratefulequine community: the Wagners and their staff and volunteers bringtheir entire selves to the barn every morning, and the racing worldthanks them, on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves.

Liv

e N

at

io

n c

on

cer

t s

ea

so

n a

t S

PA

C

Renee Jenkins (Right) and daughter Jacqueline, with Bandit at The Equine Horse Sanctuary.

As Director of Sales for Live Nation – the largest producer of liveconcerts in the world – Renee Jenkins loves her job.

This summer, Jenkins will revel in a variety of performances duringthe Live Nation concert series at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center(SPAC), including shows from the one and only, Sting, and the legendsof rock, Kiss.

“We have a great variety of artists coming through SPAC this sea-son,” Jenkins said. “There really is a concert for everyone this sum-mer.”

As a VIP Premium Seat client, you will have some of the bestseats in the house for these shows. A truly exclusive experience,the VIP Premium Seat Program includes premium location boxseats to all Live Nation concerts during the season, parking in aprivate lot and access to the VIP Club featuring complimentaryhors d’oeuvres and a full cash bar.

“Renee has put together a truly VIP experience,” Jim Rossi, man-aging partner at Saratoga Polo said. “What she has been doing atSPAC is in line with what we’ve been offering our sponsors at Polo –premium hospitality. Live Nation has been a great sponsor of oursthrough the years, and we have seen a lot of crossover in the clienteleat both venues.

Full and partial packages are still available, so call today.For more information about the VIP Premium Seat Program, or

the Live Nation concert schedule at SPAC, please call Jenkins at 518-583-3045, ext. 13 or e-mail [email protected]

VIP Premium Seat Program



Bill Nack thinkshe's the lucki-est turf writer

who ever lived. In 1972,two months after he took on the horseracing beat forNewsday, Nack was introduced to Secretariat, a power-ful two-year old Thoroughbred he calls "the most out-rageously gorgeous athlete I ever saw and a lot of fun."

He followed Secretariat from track to track, where, herecalls, "he ran like lightning. He was a star and peopleloved him for his physical talent. He didn't do drugs, hedidn't demand more money and he didn't threaten toquit. He just wanted to be fed and turned loose."

The journey was a thrill for journalist Nack, who says,"I hitched my wagon to that horse. I was emotionallyinvolved. My kids thought of him as part of the family.I hung around him every day." As Secretariat's chroni-cler, Nack spent days with larger-than-life racing lumi-naries, including the horse's jockey Ron Turcotte, ownerPenny Chenery, trainer Lucien Laurin, groom EddieSweat and exercise rider Jim Gaffney.

The next year, the record-breaking horse triumphedat finish lines in the Kentucky Derby, the Pimlico and atBelmont, taking the Triple Crown in 1973.

"He was a Cadillac among Volkswagons," Nackrecalls. "He announced himself. He went from beingunknown to being the top racehorse in the country."

One of the places Nack watched Secretariat run wasat Saratoga Race Course, the journalist's favorite track inAmerica, where, he says, "the winds of history blowthrough the town. I love the atmosphere, I love theawnings, I love the porches and I love the feeling that Iam in the presence at the track of the ghosts of thegreat runners. I'm into the story of the sport andSaratoga is the repository for all its history."

Nack - a former race horse owner - has authoredSecretariat: The Making of a Champion; My Turf: Horses,Boxers, Blood Money, and the Sporting Life and Ruffian: ARacetrack Romance. He is also well known for his years asa reporter for Sports Illustrated and is a seven-time win-ner of the prestigious Eclipse Award for outstandingwriting about the Thoroughbred industry.

These days, Nack is throwing his considerable energybehind Michael Blowen's Old Friends, praising theorganization for its achievements in providing compas-

sionate care for retired racehorses. "Old Friends exempli-fies heightened sensitivity to the plight of pensioned race-horses, giving them the life they deserve. I am a big sup-porter of their efforts."

Recalling his relationship withthe horse, Nack described himselfas "exultant" at the beginning, then"awed" and finally "devastated"when the fatally ill horse was euth-anized in 1989.

"I threw myself with a passioninto writing about that horse,"Nack says, "I remember his great-ness. It was right in front of me. Iyielded a piece of myself to thathorse forever."

Bill Nack:

Photos Provided

Story By Helen Susan Edelman

Secretariat's Chronicler Recalls the Champion


Saratoga Saddlery, SabineRodgers' lushly-decoratedstore on Broadway in SaratogaSprings, is a symphony for thesenses: rich tapestries of colors– clothing, fabrics, pottery,footwear – blend in with therustic-sophisticated furnitureon the second floor. Thismélange of flavors is a gift tothose who are discouraged bythe mass production of con-temporary retail society.Walking through the door ofthis temple to equine-centrici-ty, the sensuality which theunconscious mind associateswith horses is in your face –and yet invites you in toexplore more.

Simply put, Saratoga Saddlery offers products thatare unique, often one-of-a-kind, because each piece ismade with commitment. Whether pottery, richly bur-nished in metallic reds and rich clay; a sofa made ofexotic materials from Australia or jewelry in golds, sil-vers and rich leathers – this beautiful store is testimo-ny to the notion that, when quality is more importantthan quantity – the everyday becomes art.

The pottery on the rough-hewn shelves on

Saratoga Saddlery:Riders up, with Style

Photos by Sharon Castro


Broadway are so delightful to the touch thatone hesitates to put fluid into them – and yetwe are eager to get that mug home and expe-rience our favorite lager, hosted by this newtreasure.

Every item in the store has been carefullyand thoughtfully considered and shopped forpersonally by the owner. Nothing slips inthat has not become an object of admiration.If Rodgers doesn't love it, why would a cus-tomer buy it?

Her insight into the deep desires of dis-criminating horsepeople has proven to be aformula for success: Del Mar, California –that town on the left coast that featuresanother rather-lovely racetrack – is host totheir own Saratoga Saddlery. When fans ofthe Spa City visit Del Mar for the first timeand see the familiar Saratoga Saddlery sign,they know that the quality is there beforethey walk through the doors.

Saratoga Saddlery is a welcome addition tothe delightful collection of shops and restau-rants on Broadway in Saratoga Springs. Theirstore in California keeps the Saratoga allurealive, 3,000 miles away. The two stores aretestimony to the fact that, when an owner isconscientious, aware of her clients' desiresand needs and refuses to accept less than thebest – a great retail environment can be cre-ated. If all stores that came in multiples hadthe vision and style of Saratoga Saddlery'sSabine Rodgers – society would be far-betterdressed; decorated with more personalizedflair and far-more comfortable in their ownshoes.


Wo

men

’s

Polo

SUMMER 2010

COMPLIMENTARY

Equicurean 2010 | 3

4 | Equicurean 2010

Saratoga Springs - Where Horses Rule 6

Understanding Polo 13

Polo Traditions 16

In Memoriam; Bill Ylvisaker 18

Women's Polo 19

A Sport for Warriors 22

Women's Week 26

Meet Neku Atawodi 30

Veuve Cliquot Polo Classic 34

World Equestrian Games 38

Retired Thoroughbreds find a Home 40


PublisherChad Beatty

Editorial DirectorMarion E. Altieri

General ManagerRobin Mitchell

Art DirectorTiffany Garland

AdvertisingChris BusheeCindy Durfey

Pre-Press CoordinatorSam Bolles

Contributing PhotographersCreative Photo and GraphicSharon Castro PhotographyStock Studios Photography

Head WriterMarion E. Altieri

Contributing WritersBob Bullock

Helen Susan EdelmanRuth Fein Wallens

Copy ProofreaderAnne Proulx

PrintingFry Communications, Inc.

Published bySaratoga Publishing, LLC

Five Case StreetSaratoga Springs, NY 12866

tel: 518.581.2480 fax: 518.581.2487

saratogatodayonline.com

Equicurean is brought to you by SaratogaPublishing, LLC. All information containedwithin this publication is based on data collect-ed from a variety of sources at the time of pub-lication. Saratoga Publishing, LLC shall makeevery effort to avoid errors and omissions butdisclaims any responsibility should they occur.No part of this publication may be reproduced,stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted inany form or by any means without prior writtenconsent of the publisher Copyright (c) 2010,Saratoga Publishing, LLC

Cover photo by: Mark Bolles ofCreative Photo &Graphic

Welcome to Equicurean…and welcome to theheart-stopping worlds of Thoroughbred horseracing and world-class, high-goal polo.

When we began this journey we had no ideathat it would take us around the world and back.But whether we were laying out pages on theancient Arabian horse or writing about ourneighbors at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga, we alwayshad one goal, and it was a high goal indeed: toentertain and inform the mind and inspire theimagination of those whose lives and lifestylesare the products of diligence, insight and savvy.

This is your world, and this is your magazine.As you will soon find out, this is a flip-sided magazine, meaning it has two

front covers and two mutually-exclusive editorial focuses. Since you arereading my introduction, you are about to dive into the world of Women’sPolo, the fastest-growing segment of polo in the country. The flip side takesyou into the fast-paced world of Thoroughbred and Arabian horse racing– steeped in history and tradition, and filled with characters larger than life.

Whether you are thirsting for Thoroughbreds or have a penchant forpolo, I urge you to explore it all and experience everything that the equineworld has to offer. Horses are your world, and Equicurean is your magazine.

Chad BeattyPublisher

Equicurean 2010 | 5

6 | Equicurean 2010

Equicurean 2010 | 7

Where

Welcome to Saratoga Springs

Horses rulePhotos by ©stockstudiosphotography.com

Equicurean 2010 | 9


I still remember my first polo match. It was nearly 30 yearsago at a low-goal club in Camden, South Carolina. I was in theAir Force and indulging in my passion of participating in any-thing that involved horses. As I watched the players race fromone end of the field to the other (with no announcer to help meunderstand what I was seeing), I remember thinking that thismust be the most complicated sport in the world to under-stand.

Several years later, I was asked to help kill the time lead-ing up to a match at Saratoga Polo, while we waited forthen-announcer Frank Dwyer to come from theSaratoga Race Course, where he was back-up announc-er for the Thoroughbreds.

As I began my polo announcing career, I thoughtabout what people would care to hear. At first, I toldthem about upcoming events. Then I told themabout the sponsors. Finally, I began talking aboutthe rules. This became an immedi-ate hit.

As I studied the rules in detail, I discovered most were easyto understand. What a newcomer needs to know to followwhat’s happening on the field and enjoy it was pretty simple toexplain.

Here is some of what I said, so that you too can understandand enjoy a match.

Good afternoon and welcome to Saratoga Polo onwhat will, no doubt, be a beautiful afternoon for worldclass sport in the Spa City.

For those of you who are new to the sport, let’s takea few minutes and discuss what you will see today.

The sport of polo is the ultimate warrior sport. Firstplayed more than 2,500 years ago in the kingdom of Persia, polo has been practiced by military figures like Alexander

the Great, Genghis Khan,W i n s t o n

An Announcer’sPerspective

By Bob Bullock, Voice of Saratoga Polo

Understanding

Polo


Churchill, George Patton and Dwight Eisenhower, and corporate warriors includingAverill Harriman, Will Rogers and Walt Disney.

The sport was re-discovered in India by British military officers in the 1800s andimmigrated back to England. From there it crossed the ocean and began to be playedby the wealthy in the United States. Early in the 20th century it found its way toArgentina and, owing to the incredible horsemanship of the Argentines and the flat-ness of the land around Buenos Aires, it was perfected. Today, some of the greatestplayers in the world come from Argentina. You will see many of them playing here inSaratoga.

This afternoon, you will see six chukkers of polo. A chukker is a period of playseven minutes and 30 seconds in duration. Play begins at mid-field with a throw in orbowl in by the mounted umpire. From there it goes end to end, only coming back tomid-field after a goal is scored. Watch the goals. If a goal judge waves the flag in theair, it is an apparent goal. If he waves it down at the ground, it, in his estimation, hasgone wide. He can be overruled by the mounted umpire.

After a goal is scored, the teams exchange goals. This is the great equalizer in poloand erases any advantage that might occur due to wind, sun or playing conditions.

At seven minutes, a first warning horn will sound. If there is no score and the ballremains in play, the remaining thirty seconds will be played until the double hornsounds, ending the chukker. Play is continuous and only stops when a whistle is blownfor a penalty or safety condition. If a penalty occurs within five seconds of the end ofthe chukker, the five seconds are put back on the clock.

There are four players on each team. Players carrying the number one on their backwill typically stay out in front of the play by the goal. Players wearing number two orthree are typically your highest rated and best mounted professionals. It is their job tobe the playmakers, moving from end to end and feeding the number one. The playerwearing the number four will remain behind the action. He is frequently the last lineof defense and, if he moves up, he will have to pass the responsibility for that num-ber four position to a colleague, lest he not leave a hole on defense.

As for player ratings, players are rated from minus two to a possible 10 goals, as


determined by the U.S. Polo Association. To get a team rat-ing, the player ratings of the four players are added. Theteam with the lower rating at the beginning of the matchwill start out with that difference on the scoreboard.

There are six shots used in polo. When a player mounts,he or she mounts from the left side of the pony, just as withany equestrian sport. Shots taken from that left side areknown as near side forehand or backhand. An offside fore-hand is the power shot in polo. It is taken on the right sidegoing forward and can travel more than 100 yards easily.The offside backhand is on the right side going to the rear.Neck shots are taken underneath the neck of the pony andtail shots are taken underneath the tail of the pony. Notethat the manes of the ponies are clipped close and the tailsare wrapped to enable the players to easily work on all sidesof the pony without getting tangled up.

When a player touches the ball, he or she establishes theline of play. An opposing player crossing that line at anyangle will most likely incur what is known as a crossinginfraction. Depending upon the severity of the cross orwhere it occurs, one of two mounted umpires can assess apenalty, from an automatic goal (penalty one), to a penaltyfive from mid-field, or from the point of infraction. If aplayer knocks the ball over his or her own end line while try-ing to defend, a “safety” is assessed and the ball is broughtout sixty yards.

Penalty one, two and three shots are undefended. In otherwords, no opposing player can come between the shooter and thegoal until the ball is struck or struck at. On a penalty four, five orsafety, the opposing team can line up but not closer than thirtyyards from the shooter.

Once the shooter touches the ball, remember that he or she hasestablished the line of play and the rule on crossing is still inforce. An infraction here can result in a penalty upgrade.

Other penalties are assessed to ensure the safe play of thegame. There is no dangerous riding, two-on-one defenses thatwould sandwich a player, bumping behind the saddle or reachingin front of a player’s pony to attempt to get at the ball. When oneor both of the mounted umpires see a penalty, they will blow theplay dead. If the two cannot come to consensus on a penalty, theywill look to the sideline where a referee or third man will assistwith the call.

How do you defend? If two players are operating on the sameside of the pony, that is to say the nearside of one pony and theoffside of the defending pony, a defender can try to steal or hookthe ball away from the attacker. The defender can also bump orride off the opposing player. Here the bump must be clean withthe defender not hitting in front of or behind the saddle, creatinga dangerous riding condition.

That is all you need to know to knowledgeably watch the sportof polo. Remember to listen to the announcer. It is our job toreinforce these rules and make sure you have a wonderful time.We’ll see you at the field.


Sabre a Champagne After the match, join in the celebration of the trophy presentation, as

spectators, players, sponsors and friends come together on the field tocongratulate the winners and enjoy the ceremonial sabrage or “Sabre aChampagne.”

Sabrage is the art of opening a bottle of Champagne by using a smalltraditional sword called a “sabre.” Sabrage originated in France duringthe Napoleonic Wars.

The story says that after her husband’s death, the legendary BarbeNicole Ponsardin, known today as Veuve Clicquot (veuve in French iswidow), took over his company and became one of the largest exportersof Champagne for the royal courts in theRussian Empire and France.

She began to organize parties for offi-cers and high society. After the party, shegave a bottle of Champagne to the offi-cers to enjoy before battle.

As the soldiers were riding on horse-back, it was difficult to open the foil andcage and take the cork out. So one day,a young officer took out his sword andbeheaded the bottle with a stroke of hisblade – and the celebratory traditionstuck.

Stomp the Divots At half-time, all are welcome on the field for the traditional “divot stomping.” Duringpolo play, small patches of grass and dirt are torn up by the polo ponies’ quick starts,stops and turns, creating divots that can be dangerous for the horses. Fans make an experience out of “stomping” the divots back in place, while helping to keep ponies and players safe.

Polo Traditions Polo Traditions


Trying to sum up the life’s workand play of William T. (Bill)Ylvisaker in one page or so isimpossible. His obituary in PoloZone, following his death inFebruary, was four pages long.Reams have been written about hisvisionary business acumen—asCEO of Gould Electronics from1967 – 1986, he turned a $100 mil-lion battery manufacturer into a$2.3 billion diversified technologycompany. His Midas touch atGould was not a grand feat, mere-ly representative of his approachto life, itself—for everything thatBill touched, or attempted, or even

thought about turned to platinum. He had vision,and that vision was not restricted to the boardroom.

Bill Ylvisaker was larger-than-life, and at the sametime made life richer and more real for everyonearound himself. He did everything right: he gradu-ated from Yale with a Baccalaureate in Engineering,following two years in the US Naval Reserves dur-ing World War II. From his first professional job atBank of New York to his founding of the PalmBeach Polo and Country Club and subsequently, hispurchase of the Saratoga Polo Association—hesought to create, to do and to be the best that hecould. He found others of the same ilk, and encour-aged colleagues and youths to strive for their best.

Nothing can be written about Bill that will sur-prise you—for if you knew him, you knew that youwere among the fortunate. If you didn’t know him,you knew of him. The communities in which hehad homes were the better for it, for he saw oppor-tunities for enrichment and seized the moment.Saratoga was among those neighborhoods enrichedby his presence and his presents.

When he purchased Saratoga Polo in 1999, hehad already established himself as a player on thefield and member of the Board. He knew SaratogaPolo intimately, and he wanted to make it the best itcould become. He poured in excess of $1.5 millioninto upgrades on the facility’s fields and buildings.He established events that became fixtures of theSaratoga summer. He sold it in 2003, not becausehe’d tired of the place, the play or the people, butsimply because he wanted more time for his familyand other businesses. Saratoga was always close to

the heart of Bill Ylvisaker, and he will always be partof the warp and weft of the lush field and the spir-it of the Saratoga Polo Association.

Bill Ylvisaker lived large. He gave generously, ofhimself and of his resources. His insight and wis-dom, and desire to teach others the art and scienceof playing polo and living fully were his best gifts,of all. Indeed, he was a brilliant businessman; pas-sionate horse lover and polo player and dedicatedfather whose commitment to his children was aslegendary as his full-tilt expression of joy when heplayed polo.

Bill died having lived exquisitely, beautifully andas an example. His focus is to be emulated; his greatloves, envied. William T. Ylvisaker died in 2010, butthe legacy he left his family, his businesses and hissport—the thing that mattered so much, thatinformed the very foundation of his thinking andactions in other arenae—will live on forever. Thankyou, Bill, for all you gave the world—thank you,especially, for giving Saratoga Polo a direction, amission and a very, truly high goal: that of being aworld-class polo association where the finest,brightest and best come to play, to strive and toachieve. Thank you, Bill, for these gifts and oh, so-much-more.

Bill Y

lv

isa

ker

• Top-rated at 7 goals, 1957• U.S. Polo Association, Chairman, 1970-75; and

Governor or Officer, 1950 to present• Polo Training Foundation, Founder and Chairman,

1966-1980; Director 1980 to present• Started first Polo Newsletter, 1959 which

subsequently became Polo Magazine• Initiated first polo schools after World War II• Palm Beach Polo and Country Club, Founder and

Developer• Played on U.S. team winning Coronation Cup in

England, 1973 and 1974• Played on U.S. team winning against Australia, 1976• Played on teams winning U.S. Open (3),

National 20-Goal (4), Monty Waterbury Cup (1),National Inter-circuit (2), National 12-Goal (1),International Open (1) and Continental Cup (2)

Bill loved polo, and polo loved Bill right back.He achieved more on the field than can berecounted—among his achievements as a poloplayer and administrator:

In Memoriam:


The Polo Girls are not a new band comprisedof daft females who carry pocket-sized dogsin their purses. They are not models forRalph Lauren. They are strong, smart,driven young women with a very sim-ple mission: to grow the sport of polo,one girl at a time.

Each Polo Girl has a story, of howshe fell in love with the sport of polo.For Elizabeth (Libby) Scripps, it wasthat she grew up in Wellington, Florida,and had been on horses since age three,and was involved in hunter and show jump-ing by age six. She found it to be stressful and

Women’s Polo:

Taking the Reinspainstaking, but when her young eye spied polo play-

ers—riding like the wind, holding on like cowgirlsin jodhpurs, taking no prisoners—she found her

calling.Libby Scripps knew who she was, in that

moment of seeing horse and rider united forthe purpose of charging head-first into thefray. She had found polo—and polo tookover her thoughts and energy, henceforth.

The sport of polo—and all equinesports—are better for that moment of self-

realization, for Libby Scripps is a genuine moverand shaker, whose Polo Girl Society is making

waves not just in the US, but around the world.


The Polo Girls bring tremendous business acumenand street savvy to their organization, and to the girlswho benefit from their labors.

Multiply this academic, intellectual, athletic and spirit-ed woman times several, and you get an idea of the pureenergy that brought about The Polo Girls Society andtheir single-minded desire to convert the world.

This unique group is exceptionally well-organized,because Scripps attracts others of like mind, abilities andpassions. The Polo Girls Society is a registered, non-prof-it organization created in order to introduce polo tothose who might not otherwise know that the sport isavailable to all, regardless of circumstance. To providescholarships to women around the world, females whowant to play polo. Simply put, their mission as stated on their website(www.thepologirls.com) is: to develop and prepare a newgeneration of polo players by providing polo develop-ment, scholarships, resources, opportunities and advoca-cy to the Polo Community.

The Polo Girls have teamed up with AmericanCharities Foundation, a non-profit organization thatholds a brilliant and commendable primary objective: toinspire and influence children through the magic ofhorses by teaching them how to skillfully build a produc-tive, successful life through leadership.(http://www.acfchildren.org/index.html )

The Polo Girls Society has the support and admirationof four of America's leading educational institutions:Harvard, University of Virginia, University of SouthernCalifornia, Texas Christian University, and Texas A & M.

One need not wonder about the pedigrees of theseexceptional young woman: Libby Scripps is representa-tive of The Polo Girls, and her bio reads like that of abrilliantly well-rounded, accomplished woman. It's diffi-cult to comprehend that she's only 28. This means thatshe's been playing polo for 21 years, but also that, at anage when many peers are still figuring out their life direc-tion—Scripps has been living hers for more than twodecades. (A sample of the exhaustive and fascinatingresume: As the President of Development and Founderof the Polo Girls Society, and Street Soccer Productions,Scripps is an entrepreneur and experienced producer.Working as writer, producer, director and editor, Scrippsworked with her husband to create the street soccermovies, The Squad and Street Sessions, which wonawards for Best Action Sports Film at Cannes and LosAngeles Film Festival. Prior to founding Street SoccerProductions, Scripps worked for DreamWorksAnimation and Heartbreak Productions, LLC. Sherecently launched a production company, LibbyProductions, which specializes in development of TVcontent and production services. Libby Productions isbased in Pittsburgh and Palm Beach. She holds aBaccalaureate in Organizational and Non-Profit

Elizabeth (Libby) Scripps


Leadership from Duquesne. She is a member of theDarlington Polo Club; Chair of Education and Career forthe Propel Board.)

"Driven" is such an inadequate word to describe thefearless founder of The Polo Girls Society. Other adjec-tives that may begin to say it include, "visionary," "com-munity-minded," "gifted" and "organizational diva."Without Scripps' extraordinary ability to see the big pic-ture and logically dice out the steps required to make ithappen—The Polo Girls Society would be a nice idea ona drawing board, somewhere in Wellington. One look atLibby Scripps' resume and achievements, and you realizethat all the members of The Pony Girls Society are sharp,focused and on-target. They have goals, and they intendto reach them—one new polo player at a time.

When passion is driving the car—or riding the horse,in this case—clarity of vision takes over and goals areachieved. The Polo Girls Society is a group of brilliant,gifted athletes and businesswomen who are determinedthat anyone who wants to play polo should have thatopportunity. Mallets in-hand, these women go out acrossthe field not just for their own pleasure or to win a match:every time a Polo Girl leaps upon her steed, all girls, allwomen, everywhere, benefit. That's a heavy responsibili-ty, but one which Libby Scripps and her colleagues bearwith joy.

The warriors mount their horses, and fly headlonginto battle. One hand gripping the leather of the reins,their weapons firmly grasped in the other, they takeon the facial expressions and ferocity of their steeds.Necks arched, veins pulsing as they charge forward—defeat is not an option. Blood courses through theirveins in rapid-fire, as the very thought of the compe-tition ahead stirs their hearts and rallies the troops.This is not a meeting for the weak-kneed, but only forthose females for whom blood, sweat and adrenalinare the chemicals of choice. These warriors, thesewomen of mighty spirit, have come together from allover the world to compete against worthy opponents.This is the stuff of which legends and lore are born,and of which history is made.

These contemporary warriors are women who playpolo, and do so with all the gusto, blaze and discipline

Strongest of Warriors

A Sport for only the

of the most-famous of ancient female fighters. These womencome from every corner of the globe to compete on the bat-tleground known as a polo field. Only one platoon can win anygiven match—and neither is willing to concede.

This is not a Sport for Sissies.This sport is populated by females who live and breathe for

that rush of pounding down the field astride their ponies; Ofbeing that one player who, with a whack of her mallet, smash-es the ball with enough force to shatter a windshield and makesthe goal. The physical and mental requirements to be a suc-cessful polo player of either gender are demanding beyond theimagination.

The speed of the game—the fact that horses tire after 7.5minutes and fresh horses are brought in to replace them—istestimony to the strength and energy that is required to suc-ceed in this game. The women don't get a break: no "freshwomen" are brought in to ride out the remainder of the match.


They're in it to win it, from the first moment until the finalhorn.

No official programs will utilize adjectives that denoteany particularly feminine traits, such as "perky," "diminu-tive," "blonde" or "cute." Such language would serve onlyto aggravate a polo player of the female gender, who wantto be judged for their talents and bravery on the battle-field. Their skills and mental acuity must be equal-to thoseof their male counterparts. Think instead of describersthat aren't loaded with build-in prejudices: "gritty," "pow-erful" and "driven" are almost adequate to depict the innerguts of these athletes who have worked long and hard toearn a place on the team, and in the world standings. Whilethese words may indicate masculine traits if read or heardthrough the lens of culture, they are, in fact, used to por-tray polo players of either gender.

Virago: Claiming the Insult.In the Middle Ages in Europe, women who were strong,

smart, educated and who had a vision were called a Virago.This was not a compliment, but rather indicated that such


a brilliant individual was masculine. The "positive spin"on it was that she was almost good enough to be a man.Women such as Saint Catherine of Siena and Trotula, an11th Century doctor of great influence—were Viragae.Christine de Pisan, Boudicca—indeed, the same.Women from every walk of life were subject to this label-ing if they didn't tow the line. Athletes, medical profes-sionals, theologians, entrepreneurs. No walk of life wasexempt from the use of this word which was intended tocause enough of a sting to make a female think twicebefore stepping out and changing her corner of theworld.

But any negative word can be turned around, andclaimed by those it's intended to hurt—thereby making ita good thing, even a rallying cry. A women's polo teamshould be named, Virago—if none already exists. Orperhaps the entire league of worldwide female polo play-ers are, already Viragae by the fact of their participationin this magnificent sport. Truly they are strong, smart,


capable, gifted athletes. They take no prisoners, and are respect-ed and admired by their male counterparts on polo teams aroundthe world.

As you watch women's polo in Saratoga this year, close youreyes as you sit enthroned like a royal at a Medieval jousting tour-nament. Take in the scents and sounds around you. Hear theathletes on the field—equine and human, alike—as they grunt,yelp and shout directions to each other. Close your eyes, andenvision these women of tremendous strength and focus, com-ing on horseback to defend you. In that moment, know that—if that were the scenario—you would be safe, indeed, for all thetraits of a great polo player—which happen to be the sameattributes necessary for success in war—are embodied in thesemounted soldiers.

Women's polo is the thrill of victory—the notion of defeat isnot entertained by any on the field. This fact, alone, makes for athrilling match—a match made in Heaven. And on WhitneyField.

S


Women’s WeekatSaratoga Polo

David Yurman andFrank Adams Jewelers

present

Women’sWeek

at SaratogaPolo

July 28 - August 1

By Ruth Fein Wallens

S


ome of the best women polo players in the worldarrive in Saratoga this week, from around thecountry and across the globe. And with them

comes all the excitement of a world-class polo tourna-ment – the Veuve Clicquot Women’s Challenge.

All of the players may not don colorfully ribbonedponytails, pulled up and under. But the ponies do. Theirtails are tied narrow and neat and doubled up short – notfor the fashion but for function. A loose, billowing tailmight get in the way of a player’s mallet or vision.

As the players fly in with their gear, polo ponies pullinto town without even a notice. After all, it’s summer inSaratoga, where horse trailers aren’t exactly traffic stop-pers, where thoroughbreds have the pleasure of people-watching.

More than 30 female polo players will fill out eight all-female teams, beginning Wednesday, July 28 and culmi-nating in a finals match Sunday, August 1. Some teamssport women who play together regularly. As is typical inpolo, many teams are assembled for this specific tourna-ment, with women who may never have played side-by-side before they arrive here.

Truly an international tournament, this second annualVeuve Clicquot Women’s Challenge draws key playersfrom across the U.S. and Canada, as well as fromEngland, the Netherlands, Argentina, Kenya, Dubai andWest Africa.

The athleticism of the horses is matched only by theskill of the players – each dependent on the other forcontrol, knowledge of the sport, and the anticipation socritical to the jolting starts and stops and plays that raiseleaders to the top of their game.

Each player is likely to ride three to four different

The Veuve Clicquot Women’s Challenge

At Saratoga PoloWednesday, July 28 – Sunday, August 1

Historic Whitney FieldsCorner Denton and Bloomfield RoadsFive minutes from downtown Saratoga

Springs

Gates open 4 p.m.Matches begin 5:30 p.m.

Clubhouse Admission $25 per personGeneral Admission $25 per carload

S


ponies during a match. It is the equine sport of a differenttraining. And after a typical seven-minute period, or chukker,even these premier ponies are ready for a rest.

While the women players captivate spectators with the actionthey bring to the field, Women’s Week sponsors will present anumber of special events, including a Veuve ClicquotChampagne reception, and a showcase from designer DavidYurman’s collection of contemporary jewelry and watches, pre-sented by Frank Adams Jewelers.

If you come for the final match, be prepared to stay for thetrophy ceremonies, complete with the “Sabre a Champagne” inhonor of tradition and Saratoga Polo sponsor Veuve Clicquot.Also called “the Sabrage,” this is the art of beheading a bottleof champagne with the quick stroke of a small sword or“sabre.”

Players and spectators come together for the ceremony toshare in the revelry of the winners and the glory of the age-old“sport of kings.”

For tickets and information about Women’s Week at SaratogaPolo, contact Saratoga Polo at 518.584.8108 or online atSaratogaPolo.com.


"Well-behaved womenrarely make history."

- Eleanor RooseveltNeku Atawodi is a rock star. She doesn't possess

the rock star attitude or travel with an entourage, butwhen she enters a room or a polo field—her presenceis noted. And not because she's the only black femalepolo player currently plying her trade in the UnitedStates. One cannot help but detect Neku because sheis interpersonally powerful—and that is rare in a 22-year-old. At least in America.

She carries herself with a confidence and self-awareness that's uncommon, even among those whohave lived half-a-century. It's rare to encounter any-one, anymore, who embodies aplomb, serenity andintellectual savvy in one package—but these traits areall evident in the athlete from Africa who has landedwith a thump on the doorstep of the Saratoga PoloAssociation.

Neku is from Nigeria by way of the UK, and isspending the summer of 2010 as Assistant PoloManager and house player at Saratoga Polo. Saratogais blessed to have Atawodi on the team and in thehouse, for this is a singularly unique woman.

She epitomizes a grace and quiet self-assurance thatoozes out of her pores—until she is in the saddle.Once astride a polo pony, she rides with strength and

focus, holding her pony with one hand while belting themallet into the ball with such force that we wait to see ifthe small plastic orb explodes.

She isn't self-absorbed or unkind. She doesn't use sub-stances that would negatively affect her ability to playpolo. She's centered and single-minded. She's not elitist,an image with which many in polo are strapped. She'squite un-elitist, in fact: she states that she is

"…all about getting polo to more people, to widen thedemographic."

This is a woman who has a vision, and that vision wasborn the first time her parents told her that she couldn'tplay polo. Anyone who's spent time with her will testifythat it makes complete sense that that edict fueled herdesire and steeled her resolve. She is a self-confessedADHD patient, and declares that merely riding (English)could not hold her attention. At age 16 she turned herenergies and innate need to move, and to move swiftly, topolo.

She was Born to do This.As a child, she was allowed to take riding lessons—but

these lessons consisted of doing figure 8s for two hours

Nigeria's

Gift to

Saratoga

Polo

Neku Atawodi:

Photos by Sharon Castro


at a time, a repetitious exercise that droveNeku to distraction. She turned her atten-tion to polo: the speed, daredevilish one-handed riding and challenge was far moreinteresting than doing infinity signs forhours on end. A love affair was born, andher parents were terrified.

With alarming candor she reveals thather parents came close to disowning herbecause of her stubborn insistence thatthis sport was her destiny: it was onlyrecently, after seven years in polo, that herfather told Neku that he was proud of her.Her countenance softened, her smilebeamed as she recounted this story. Sheloves her parents deeply: their approvalwas the brass ring which she'd sought theentire time.

Educated in the UK, she received herBaccalaureate in Science (Equine SportsPerformance, with Honours) fromPlumpton College (University ofBrighton) in 2007, and a Masters inInternational Business from Regent's UKin 2009. With a string of chuckles sherecalls that, during her final tests, she cried

Bella Matata =

"Beautiful

Trouble"

Bella Matata is thename of Neku's all-

Africa women's poloteam, a name that is

both tongue-in-cheekand deadly serious.

"Bella Matata," you see, is Italian

and Swahili for, "Beautiful Trouble."


because riding polo-style was notallowed: she had to ride using bothhands, and it frustrated her so muchthat her teacher, Brenda Smith, wasconcerned. Neku told ProfessorSmith through her tears that shehated riding with two hands. Shepassed with flying colors, two handsand all.

An afternoon spent with this polostar is time spent in another land: herNigerian heritage can be heard andfelt, even through her English accent.An ancientness, a connection to hersport and her horses is knownthrough her fond recollection of herbeloved steeds who are on a farm inBerkshire, UK, while she is inAmerica. She chirps that America iswonderfully embracing, a great discovery early-on.Apparently the British are a tad more serious aboutmany things, including even a pick-up polo match.

One cannot help but wonder: if Neku Atawodi is soon-target, so determined on the fields of Saratoga(which she claims to be a more genial atmosphere thanalmost anywhere else in the world) how much moreintense could she be? Is it possible that she's evenmore driven in other places? She's played in Kenya,Dubai, Morocco and India—and in every place, thegirl who thought she'd die doing figure 8s shows her-self to be strong, smart, capable and—a trailblazer.

Neku Atawodi is a star. This star shoots across thesky over Saratoga for just one season, and then she willbe trotting, cantering and galloping full-out across theworld. Do not miss the opportunity to witness this tal-ent, this gift to American polo, while her star shines inour corner of the Universe.


The ferry docks only 800 yards from Lower Manhattanto a transformed Governor’s Island. The celebrity photoextravaganza begins just through the gate, then a calmingwalk through an aisle of pines, atop a cocoa-scented pathof bark. Before you, a sea of yellow, unmistakably signa-ture Veuve Clicquot ; fields of yellow picnic blankets andbillowing umbrellas; and the legendary yellow labelchampagne, everywhere.

The famed “royalty” of the performing arts, and ofthe design world, and high society have come togetherwith thousands of enthusiastic New Yorkers for whathas become one of the most unique and celebratedevents of the year, the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, June27, 2010. And while the hats are extraordinary and the

Veuve Clicquot

Polo Classic

Story by Ruth Fein Wallens

Draws Royals, Rockers and Revelry

to New York’s Governors Island

His Royal Highness Prince Harry


star-gazing is certainly at play, it is the excitement of polo,and the face-off of His Royal Highness Prince Harry andworld-renowned Argentinean polo player Nacho Figuerascaptivating conversation.

As the action begins, it is clear why polo is not just thesport of kings. History and glamour aside, it is a fast-pacedgame in which skilled players ride atop trained thorough-breds, balancing reins and mallet with the speed and agilityof an athletic “pony” adept at starting, stopping and chang-ing direction in a split second, all while working to hit a smallball to a teammate and position a goal.

By half time, while the traditional divot stomping drawshundreds of VIP guests to the field, waves of cheers comefrom the public admission sidelines. Thousands of fans jug-gle position for a chance to high-five the extended hand ofa charismatic Figueras as he runs past, offering his ownbrand of exhilaration to the scene.

During the Veuve Clicquot Women’sChallenge, July 28-August 1 at SaratogaPolo’s historic Whitney Fields, matchesare scheduled for Wednesday, Friday andSunday. Scheduled matches begin at 5:30 p.m.

For more information, and for updates onadditional matches and special events,visit www.saratogapolo.com.

Veuve Clicquot

Women’s Challenge

Schedule

Team Black Watch


Alexis BledelJosh Lucas

Ivanka Trump & Rachel Roy


With sold-out attendance at 12,000 spectators, doublelast year, and broad national press coverage, this thirdexhibition charity match for the American Friends ofSentebale is designed to expose more Americans to itscause.

“Every day, at least 100 more children in this beautifulcountry have their lives devastated by the loss of a par-ent,” Kedge Martin, CEO of Sentebale, tells the crowd.“They must drop out of school to become caretakers fortheir relatives, getting exposed to abuse, vulnerable toexploitation.”

Sentebale, which means “forget me not,” was foundedin 2006 by Britain’s Royal Prince Harry and Prince Seeisoof the Lesotho Royal Family. Lesotho is a land-lockedcountry completely surrounded by the Republic of SouthAfrica, where extreme poverty and the third highest rateof HIV/AIDS in the world has left an estimated 400,000orphans and vulnerable children.

“Iconic events such as this are crucial to raising aware-ness,” says Martin, “and supporting our mission to make areal difference in the lives of the most needy children.”

“I’m honored to meet Prince Harry on the field onceagain for this spectacular New York event,” said NachoFigueras before the match. Figueras is captain of the

defending Black WatchTeam and the face ofRalph Lauren PoloFragrances. “This is aunique opportunity tobring my passion for thesport of polo togetherwith the worthy cause ofSentebale, a charity veryclose to my heart,” hesaid.

By the end of the final“chukker,” or quarter,Figueras is also honoredto win. Final score: 6-5.

Veuve Clicquot has a long association with polo inEngland with the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup, and now inthe United States with the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic.

The second annual Veuve Clicquot Women’sChallenge comes to Saratoga Polo July 28th – August1st. This year’s world-class tournament sports eightteams and more than 30 female players from around theglobe.

Starshell & Mary J. Blige

As flags unfurl, bands play and horses prance at the open-ing ceremonies for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games,hearts and spirits will soar far above the famed Blue Grassfor which Kentucky is known, for 2010 marks the first yearthat the World Equestrian Games will be held outside ofEurope. FEI—the Fédération Equestre Internationale—chose the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington as the locationfor the international gathering of the world's greatest eques-trian athletes—and Lexington has risen to the occasion.Alltech—a Lexington-based, international company thatproduces exceptional nutritional products for horses andother animals—stepped up to the plate as sponsor for theevent, and Kentucky exhaled. Then they began the two year

process of planning the world's biggest party for partici-pants of equestrian sports.

This is a singularly enormous achievement for theadministrators of the Kentucky Horse Park; the city ofLexington and the government and tourism offices thatcame together to participate in the delicate dance ofcourtship. FEI could have chosen any location in theworld, if they were just looking to get out of Europe for afew weeks. But they chose Lexington and the Horse Parkbecause of Alltechs commitment to create an environmentthat is absolutely up to regulation, as well as being an invit-ing place to which athletes and fans from all over the worldwould come in droves.

FEI was founded in 1921 in Lausanne, France—but theorganization rightfully traces the importance of horsesportto the year 680 B.C.E., when the Ancient Olympic Gameswere first played.

Clearly, equestrian sports have long been an enterprisethat captured the imaginations and competitive drive ofhundreds of thousands of Ancient and contemporaryOlympians for many millennia. FEI has kept careful watchon equestrian sports since its inception, and assures thatnot only is the history of equestrian athletics carefullyguarded, but also that the future is assured—willing the


Kentucky Hosts the WorldPhotos by Bob Langrish

passion to new generations of horselovers who take up the mantle.

FEI's elected President is the gra-cious Olympic athlete, Her RoyalHighness Princess Haya Bint AlHussein of Jordan—wife of HisHighness Sheikh Mohammed BinRashid Al Maktoum of Dubai. HRHPrincess Haya has worked diligentlyand with great sense of gravitas—toassure that this WEG (as the gamesare known in shorthand)—is far-and-away the most spectacular, ever. Atthe same time, the President is watch-ful to assure that every horsesportrepresented at the event is well-repre-sented and meets all official stan-dards. A large job for a woman who,herself, is involved as a competitor;Thoroughbred owner and ambassa-dor for world peace. Each job thatshe approaches, Princess Haya doeswith great grace and seriousness ofintention—and her role as President of FEI is no different.

Eight disciplines will be represented during the 16days of competition from September 25th throughOctober 10th: Dressage, Eventing, Driving, Jumping,Vaulting, Reining, Endurance Riding and Para Dressage.Each sport has its own set of rules, regulations andenormous fanbase: it is anticipated that 600,000 ticketswill be sold, and sold-out. It is anticipated that some 57countries will be represented by over 800 athletes. Thegames have been held every four years, halfway betweeneach pair of consecutive Summer Olympic Games,since 1990. Before 1990, all ten of the FEI's individualdisciplines held separate championships, usually in sep-arate countries.

It is a great honour for Kentucky to host the series ofcompetitions that together comprise the Alltech FEIWorld Equestrian Games. It is a privilege to providewithin the pages of Equicurean, this outline of the greatfestival of equine athleticism and the humans who pairwith their faithful steeds to do, to be and to compete atthe highest levels in their respective arenae.

To find out more about the Alltech FEI WorldEquestrian Games visit:

http://www.alltechfeigames.com/



The vision of a retirement farm for racehorses, where they could livetheir post-career years with dignity, first came to Michael Blowen in 2001.

“I was on the porch of the Washington Inn on South Broadway forthe opening day of the track, which I celebrated like a religious holiday,”says Blowen, a former writer for The Boston Globe, “and I realized thiswas something that had to be done and I had to do it.”

The inspiration was the impetus for Blowen to found Old Friends,Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing safe harbor forthoroughbreds whose glory days are behind them.

“You can accomplish a lot if you don’t mind failing,” he remarks. “AndI set out to prove that the horses could earn money even after theyretire.”

The spectacular concept first became Dream Chase Farm in Kentucky,where the animated Blowen and his wife, Diane, now live. Indeed, morethan 90 horses on his property earn their keep, drawing visitors whomake donations to tour the facility, stay on the premises in a bed and

For Retired ThoroughbredsHOME SWEET HOME

Photos by Connie BushStory By Helen Susan Edelman

Connie Bush has a small photography business," Tiger Eye Photo." She sell her images locallyat Art shows and some galleries. Her work will soon be in the Sorelle Gallery. Her images havebeen published in "Saratoga Living Magazine," "The Saratoga Special," "The SteeplechaseTimes." and other publications. Find her at Art in the Park on August 24, during Travers week.She specializes in images of the track and Saratoga. She can be reached at 581-7212 and [email protected].

“When youlook into a

horse’s eyes,you realizehow much

they bring.”

breakfast, buy souvenirs and purchase shares in theproud, beautiful animals.

With Dream Chase Farm secure, last year Blowenestablished Old Friends’s first satellite in GreenfieldCenter -- Cabin Creek Farm-The Bobby FrankelDivision, owned and operated by area natives JoAnnand Mark Pepper, who got involved when they heardabout Blowen’s work in Kentucky and contacted himto ask about replicating the model. The facility wasnamed to honor a man ESPN called “one of themost respected trainers in thoroughbred racing his-tory” and a National Racing Hall of Fame inductee.Ten retired thoroughbreds live in felicitous comfortat Cabin Creek, including: Travers winner ThunderRumble; stakes winners Watchem Smokey and NewExport; America’s loveable loser, Zippy Chippy;Saratoga favorite Karakorum Patriot, the resilientand successful Midnight Secret, headlinerMoonshadow Gold, the beloved Red Down South,Whitney Stakes champion Will’s Way and the memo-rable Cool N Collective.

Cabin Creek is a verdant, hilly and wooded 40-acreexpanse, of which Mark Pepper has virtually single-handedly cleared 12 for paddocks. He also construct-ed an immaculate and spacious barn to house thehonored equine guests, each in a well-ventilated 16-by-16 stall. The property is leased by Old Friends forthe purpose of caring for pensioned horses, and thePeppers are wholly absorbed by the project.

“When you look into a horse’s eyes, you realizehow much they bring, individually, to a relationship,”says JoAnn Pepper. “The trust these 1,200-poundanimals have in you is just awesome.”

The horses are immeasurably breathtaking.Cavorting, muzzling, grazing, posing for photo-graphs, sidling up for a rub on the nose or a carrot,alert in concentration or in repose, the animals movewith the confidence and grace of athletes. It is not astretch to imagine – or remember -- these icons ofspeed galloping to the shouts and cheers of theirfans the world over, once upon a time. But they arewithin reach, now, calm and gorgeous in the grass,approachable, even asking for attention.

The miracle of their accessibility is made possibleby individuals and groups that provide funds to carefor the retired thoroughbreds.

Visit Cabin Creek Farm-The Bobby FrankelDivision at no charge at 483 Sand Hill Road,Greenfield Center. Donations gratefully accept-ed to support the ongoing operation of the facil-ity. For more information or to arrange a grouptour, call JoAnn Pepper at 518-698-2377. Detailsat www.oldfriendsequine.org.


equicurean 2010

Documents

saratoga saddlery

complimentary equicurean

llcthe horses

welove horses

equicureanthe horses

bysaratoga publishing

creative people

racing dreams