Monthly Archives: June 2010

Show jumping is a very difficult yet exquisitely exhilarating sport that is played in many parts of the world. The combined potential of a human and a horse at the same time make it an art, which quite frankly is astonishing and unbelievable, the way the horse jumps over the obstacles within a given time limit. In this thrilling sport horses are made to jump through different types of obstacles mainly including ditches, troughs, fences etc. The event may be of a given time limit or may sometimes be without a limit. However, a panel of judges makes the judgment because, just like other sports, show jumping is also played under some specified rules.

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The Pepsi-Cola Handicap is an annual event held at the Emerald Downs Racecourse and is hosted for horses that are three-years-old. It carries a purse amount of $50 000, and is an event that has become popular with local trainers and horse owners. Even though there were only six entrants into this year's race, it still provided spectators with a magnificent showdown of determination and endurance by competitors, which saw Koala Beach walk away victorious. Not only was it a wonderful day for the horse, but trainer Doris Harwood took exceptional pleasure in his winning performance.

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The non-profit organization, Oak Tree Racing Association, has been striving to develop and offer spectacular horse racing events in California and has been operating from the Santa Anita Park Racecourse since 1969. The Oak Tree is known throughout the racing community as one of the most popular racing meetings on the calendar, and they have also hosted the prestigious Breeders Cup for a number of years. Their future at Santa Anita Park Racecourse has now come to an end, with Oak Tree looking at different options for next year.

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The Affirmed Handicap was originally run under the name of the Silver Screen Handicap, and saw its name changed in 1993 to honor the magnificent racehorse Affirmed. Affirmed won the Triple Crown in the year 1978; a year prior to the inaugural running of this race. It is open to all three-year-old horses, and is hosted by the Hollywood Park Racecourse in California. This year the Grade III event was held on Saturday, 19 June 2010, with a spectacular victory by Golden Itiz captivating spectators.

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Paddy O'Prado, who finished 3rd in the Kentucky Derby, then 6th in the Preakness, decided to move back to the turf for the $500,000 Colonial Downs Turf Cup. Saddled by Kent Desormeaux and going off as the 3/2 favorite, Paddy didn't disappoint. He stalked early on the inside in 4th place; then, when they made the final turn, Desormeaux swung outside and asked Paddy O'Prado to go. He responded with a big kick and took the lead half down the backstretch. He drifted back in and won by an easy 3 lengths, could have been more if he needed it.

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In celebration of the 150th Melbourne Cup Carnival, Australia will be welcoming back a horse that made history throughout the world and now stands in the halls of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. The legendary Phar Lap won the Melbourne Cup in the year 1930, exactly eighty years ago, and the museum has granted the Melbourne Museum permission to display this magnificent horse’s skeleton for the duration of the festival. Having this great race horse return to Australia has flooded the horse racing industry with memories of an era when Phar Lap ruled the racecourses.

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Every year a number of top fillies and mares, three years old and older, make their way to the Hollywood Park Racecourse in California to participate in the Vanity Invitational Handicap. This premier Grade 1 stakes race was inaugurated in 1940 and has remained one of the most popular events of the year. The 2010 Vanity Invitational Handicap took place on Sunday, 13 June, and spectators were witness to the seventeenth consecutive victory for the magnificent Zenyatta. Once again delivering a breathtaking performance, Zenyatta proved to the world why she is seen as one of the best fillies to date.

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Churchill Downs Racecourse will once again come alive with celebrity racing action, as Rachel Alexandra has been entered into the 2010 Fleur de Lis Handicap. It is a Grade II racing event for mares and fillies three-years-old and older, and has a purse amount of $200 000. Rachel Alexandra had been nominated for four events by her co-owner, Jess Jackson, and it is no surprise that Rachel Alexandra has been selected as the race favourite for the Fleur de Lis Handicap.

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On Saturday, 5 June 2010, the annual Investec Derby took place with a very surprising outcome. Amongst a host of worthy competitors, a talented horse racing athlete with the name of Workforce took on the competition to deliver one his most spectacular performances to date. Now, with so many options ahead, such as the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the Irish Derby, Sir Michael Stoute will have a difficult decision ahead of him, as his star performer has officially proved his worth.

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With the magnificent Birdstone (winner of the 2004 Belmont Stakes) as his sire, and out of the mare Hong Kong Squall, there were high hopes for race horse Summer Bird. During his career he did not disappoint, winning major stakes races and showing all the qualities of an outstanding champion. Unfortunately his horse racing career has been cut short, and the decision has been made to retire Summer Bird to stud, bringing an end to the hopes and dreams of his owners, trainer and loyal supporters.

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