READERS FORUM - PART ONE

Dear BYRH,

My name is Don Corbett. In the Fall of 1996 I received a call from my nephew, a local police deputy, about some Thoroughbred horses that had been confiscated by Martin County (FL) because they had been neglected and starved. The county had to go out and treat the horses due to various colic's and other problems reported by passersby. Reports to the owner went unheeded. The owner of the horses lived 30-40 miles away and rarely if ever fed them. Two months after the confiscation and being fed by the county I went to see the horses at a private farm in Palm City and they were still quite thin and malnourished. Originally I was going to adopt two 3 year old fillies but there was an old stallion that looked sad and obviously distressed as we took away the fillies so I adopted him as well. I adopted the horses for their feed and vet bills with the county.


Don and Ritzee with a friend

The horses were bred in Georgia and sold to a man here in Florida as two year olds. The fillies were completely unbroken and were difficult to deal with. slowly I started working with them, putting saddles on, and line driving them as soon as they would accept my presence. I got on Prowling for Pennies and she never bucked. Ritzee Royal Crown however, was very difficult-bucking and carrying on like a wild thing. She continued to be difficult to ride for several months. One day she'd be good and the next she would buck. then I started to lunge her for fifteen minutes before I got on her and then she would be fine. I rode them in a western saddle. Most of my life I have ridden in western saddles.

On Feb. 2, 1997 I took the horses to an Indiantown farm with a four furlong dirt track with no rail. Here they were galloped by an Irish exercise rider for approximately 6 weeks. I brought them home and I would take them to various training tracks in the area whenever I thought they needed speed work. They started racing at Calder Racecourse with a surrogate trainer that agreed to saddle the horses.

Ritzee's first race was on 10-13-97 one year after I got her. She ran 7th at a mile and a sixteenth for $12,500 claiming. She continued to run every ten to fourteen days until DEC 30 where she got a second at the end of the Tropical meet. She was useful and nearly always brought home a small check. Penny, on the other hand, didn't take to the racing so we stopped on her after five or six tries. Ritzee was not raced at the Gulfstream meet as she was ineligible due to her age. During the Spring Hialeah meet she ran eight times. Finally, on 5-22-98 , the very last day of the Hialeah meet, she broke her maiden. She was five so she would not have been eligible to run at Calder if she had not won! She ran back ten days later at Calder and was picked to run last-but she can't read and ran a very strong second.

Ritzee was being galloped occasionally at various training tracks during the Gulfstream meet and lunged (gyp-roped) during the week. I also turn my horses out every morning and evening for an hour or so. They roll in the sand I had brought in and play and fight and carry on. Ritzee was turned out the day before she won her race. We believe this makes for happy contented horses and somebody told me that every time a horse rolls over he's worth another hundred dollars. I hope my horses keep rolling and rolling and every now and then picking up a win at the track as well!

Signed Don Corbett (as told to Don Brown)Stuart, Florida

Wow! What a lovely story! Don broke and rode his own horses (in a western saddle) until they went into serious training and now just turns the filly out every day between races with a gallop every now and then! He had saved training fees and is having a great time...and is winning!!! Who says it can't be done!! Congratulations, Don, and keep up the good work! editor

I got your newsletter in the fall and it's taken me this long to find the time to write you. I'm surprised you remember me since you've met so many people on your promotions and in your seminars but I am flattered.

Until this Fall, I had not been training since my gray colt died on the race track in July of '95.

I was so devastated that I put all my efforts back into running my fathers' business up in Canada, set up a new computer system and turned record profits for the year 1996. However I missed my horses terribly and only got down to the farm in Florida for short visits. I had some friends looking after my place in my absence. I know you're not supposed to get too attached to your racehorses but Sprint was more like a pet dog than a horse. His career had looked so promising especially after his last race ( I have a video of it) and the trainer who was running him for me was going to look for a stake for his next race, that's how impressed everyone was. I knew he could do it, I just let another trainer screw him up too badly in his two year old year and it took me that long to get him back on the track. The thing was, he was living on my farm in Canada and we were just shipping into Woodbine to breeze. He was turned out each day and enjoying himself so much. You could see when he went to the track, he just loved it now had finally put it all together. It was such a tragedy. I guess I figured sound horses didn't break down, but I'm told any of them can take a bad step at any time. Anyway, I'll never forget him but it is time to move on.

I finally got the computer system going well enough that I could leave Canada and come back this season to train. I don't know if I'm better off or not since I now work about 11 hours a day on the farm and 6 hours a day on the modem doing work for the business in Canada. That makes for a pretty long day!!! My husband is also down to help me on the farm.

We went to Keeneland in September and bought four yearlings. Then one I resold the next day for a quick $8,000.00 profit (I was pretty impressed). So I am now preparing three two year olds for the upcoming sales. I have a Majestic Light colt (gray of course) in the March Sale at OBS and a Pistols and Roses filly and a Chief Honcho colt in the April sale.

I'm dreaming kind of big here at the farm and preparing to put in an 11/16 mile track (it will have the turns of a 3/4 track but the stretch of a 5/8 mile). We are still using our small sand track to train now and the 12 acre field (when it's not too wet!!!) I'm also putting in a swimming pond in the next month because I've always been impressed with your swimming your horses in the lake and it has been in my plans since I visited you for the seminar. I also plan to have a grass gallop around the main track which will mostly be in the open but will dart in and out among the trees and woods, as well as lots of paddocks. After all, some people never change, and the more I meet the more I see everyone do what's best for them and not what's best for the horses. Like I said, I'm dreaming big and I figure it is going to take a few years to complete.

I always find it hard to let my babies go at sale time. I'd love to keep them all and try running them myself but I know my expertise is more in building a good foundation than in running them I'm not sure I'm ready for that again yet anyway. Of course this brings me to a question I've been meaning to call you about. If one of these babies doesn't sell well then my husband would like to run them. I say him rather than me because he is the one that really likes the competition. It is time one of us got a trainers license so we don't have to depend on any one else (and listen to them tell us how to train). I was wondering if you would have time to give Rob, my husband , a private seminar at your place to teach him the stuff he needs to know to get his license. I remember your telling me at Hialeah when I ran into you with Sprint, that if I wanted to get a license to give you a call. I know with the amount of office work I have to do I couldn't get away but like I said , if Rob could do it instead, it would be great. He has a Standardbred license but has only worked with the Thoroughbreds with me with Spirit and these babies this year. Although we have lots of practical experience in barn work and injuries etc., we have absolutely no experience with race tracks and what you need to know. Do you think this is something you could help him with? Just set your price and let me know when it would be good and I'll manage without him for a few days (as long as it's not during a sale). We are really impressed with the gray colt and if I don't get my price we'll be really happy to run him. He's showing more talent than even Spirit had (and he was heading for some stakes races!!!). I'm sorry I've been rambling but you did ask me to catch you up. Hope all is well with you and the backyard racehorse style of training is gaining ground in this biased business. If you feel you can help us our with this trainers thing give me a call.

Trish and Rob Andros
Andros Farms, Ocala, Florida

It was great to hear from Trish! After I got her letter, Rob came to the farm for a seminar and has complete competency with the horses-since he had trained the Standardbreds that was not surprising. He has taken the barn test and will go for the trainers' exam when his horses are closer to running. Since he is in Florida, I'll let him know when I will be running and he can meet me on the backside and help out anytime-that way he learns by doing and becomes more comfortable with the routine of shipping in...It's not such a big deal. The layout for the farm sounds like a dream-and when completed, will be ideal for training.-editor

Dear BYRH,

I read your book and found it to be very interesting reading. I own a racehorse but unfortunately I so not own a farm. I hope to have a horse farm some day. I would like to breed my own Thoroughbreds some day. (my dream) I like the methods you describe in your book. You are absolutely right about drugs on the race track. Too many drugs are being used. Unfortunately we all have bills to pay and we forget about the magnificent animals who are running themselves ragged to pay their way, or should I say, our way.

On the bright side, I'm blessed to have one of the better trainers on the track. He uses prescribed medications only when the Vet recommends it, but his horses are stabled at the track.

I feel for all the horses there, confined to their stalls like prisoners. I think you're right, they need to be horses, after all, is that not what they are?

I have owned an On To Glory gelding for two years now and he is a joy to have and to race. He has a heart of gold. He gives my partners and me 110% every time he races. I love him to death. Please send me your newsletter. I would love to hear from you. Would you also send me a list of trainers who use your methods.

PS Do you still breed First Prediction? If you are, please let me know.

Sincerely Yours,
Fino Torregrossa Rochester, New York

I've watched the On to Glorys and they seem to have heart and durability. I'm not sure everyone knows that On To Glory was a half brother to Ruffian...nothing shabby about that blood line! I'm sorry to say, First Prediction was put down last summer (see last newsletter) but I have two foals that I will keep you updated on (see In My Backyard). I've put the list of trainers in the mail...hope it helps!-editor

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