To Virginia and Points North and West...

This summer I put the horses out to grow and decided to travel a little. One of my goals was to make contacts with various horse organizations. Lexington, Virginia was my first stop and I found it a beautiful site to host the Virginia Horse Festival. The facility there is ideal for a variety of horse events and Cathy and Lee Arevian, who organized the Festival should be congratulated for doing a splendid job.


Janet at a recent seminar

One of the pleasures of speaking at the Festival was meeting other horsepeople such as O.J. Peterson, the President of Colonial Downs, who discussed the Festival program with me. At the time, Colonial Downs was getting geared up to open for its first racing season and I wished him the best of luck. Virginia is such a horse-oriented state, I think we could get some genuine interest in racing from the "hunter-jumper" and "eventer" horsemen. The 4-H and Future Farmers of America also are good groups to encourage racing programs within Virginia. There are so many programs that can be developed. For example, one could be to teach teenagers about basic training with yearlings and two year olds. Another might teach people how weanlings can be prepped for sales. There are many exciting possibilities to help our industry grow. I hope to have an opportunity to help with the curriculum.

In July I was at Equitana in Kentucky and shared a booth with Buck Wheeler and his "Stableizer," a humane restraint that really does control and relax horses. At Equitana, I met with horsemen from all over the world. I'd love to speak there next year.

In August I was in California and attended the Yearling sale at Del Mar (by San Diego). What a beautiful area! What wonderful weather! What a race track! I visited with Leigh Ann Howard, who is a major force behind San Luis Rey Downs Training Center. I met her at her beautiful facility. If I were lucky enough to have a talented horse, I wouldn't hesitate to keep it at such a place. Nestled in the hills outside of San Diego it has a one mile track, swimming pool, trails, feed store, tack shop, licensed starter and an official clocker. Not to mention a track kitchen with wonderful home made European cakes! And they offer free shipping to local tracks. What a good deal! Leigh Ann is on the Board of the CTBA and she is very motivated to jump start more interest in racing. If you have questions about California racing and/or the Training Center, call Leigh Ann at 760 414 3273.

October 17th I'll be back in Louiville for a Book Signing at the Hawley-Cooke Bookstore. [Come out and visit if you're in that area!] While there, I plan to visit with the NTRA to see if they're interested in any of my projects. Then I'll concentrate on Seminars at the farm in Florida and getting my little fillies running. After all, in the winter, there's not a better place to be than the Sunshine State!

I'm sorry to hear about the closing of Arlington Park. Is it for real? We're in deep trouble in the Racing Industry. I worry for the trainers who can't afford to pick up their lives and move to other areas. I hope you all hang in there and keep your day job. Race in your area seasonally and turn the horse out on the off time. If you do, he'll be there to run for many years. Older horses tune right up and already know the track routine. It's a less stressful life for everyone. Just a thought. You know I can't stop preaching!

My Backyard... A Point Of Reference

I was at the OBS 2- Year Olds in Training sale in June and saw a filly by Big Stanley. Star Prediction is by Big Stanley so I went to compare. She was a lovely large hunk of a filly, who had a kind eye and had breezed usefully. She turns in on both front ankles but that doesn't interfere. After having her scoped and x-rayed I purchased her for a client, and took her home to turn her out for two months to make sure that she could recover from the stress of the sale. So I now have two lovely fillies with reasonable personalities. They're so kind that I've done some of the trail riding (boy that will strengthen their backs!) and slow galloping myself. I've had to make a route around my property since civilization is moving around me and the orange groves are dissappearing to housing subdivisions. Thus, I've started hauling them to OBS to breeze. When Tampa opens we'll be ready to get gate cards and hopefully race in January...if all goes well.

Since both fillies have crooked front ends I want to make sure they can handle the work I put to them. Star Prediction, after four trips to OBS Training Center, is starting to understand what the track is for but it's too soon to tell if she has the heart and soul of her mama. I also still have a four (going on five) year old filly. She's the one I purchased with the hope that she would grow as she got older. To my horror, she didn't. She is a slight, deer-like, well-balanced athletic horse. She was knocking at the door at Tampa last year so we'll see if the time off has improved her.

My partner Lois has lost her dear husband and is in the process of selling her ranch. We have two yearling colts out there by Gallipiat; one from First Prediction, the other from La Belle. La Belle was the dam of Red Filly (the holy terror!) but fortunately her half brother has a much more moderate personality. Right now, Lois is handling and gentling them. Next year, they will come out to my farm to be broken. I've never had so few horses and enjoyed them more. The fillies travel like old men and don't mind at all if I stop to have coffee and doughnuts! I've never been able to relax with thoroughbreds in my trailer. These girls go to sleep every time I stop! They're also calm in the stalls at the track. Perhaps they won't waste energy fretting before a race, but of course I expect them to run like the wind! I'll keep you informed.