Features

Dr McDreamy Surprise for Southern Rocketop

Harness racing will be igniting the Du Quoin State Fair on Saturday, 30 August 2008. During the race one of the industry’s hottest two year olds will be trying to redeem himself from a disappointing second place finish during his eliminations race for the Darn Safe final. Setting records and winning races has been par for the course for this magnificent harness racing champion, and the victory of Dr. McDreamy over Southern Rocketop took everyone by surprise.

Harness Racing at Walworth County Fair

The first harness racing event took place at the Walworth County Fair in 1898. Ever since, it has been one of the highlights of the festival and this year will be no different. The Annual Celebrity Harness Race will again attract thousands of spectators who have come to the Walworth County Fair to enjoy the festivities, entertainment, stalls and good harness racing. The Walworth County Fair will kick off on the 27th of August till the 1st of September.

Ocala Breeder’s Sales Co. August Sale

The Ocala Breeder’s Sales Co. kicked off their August Sale on Monday, 18 August 2008. The four day sale has been successful, even though the average pricing has declined when compared to last year. Director of Sales for Ocala Breeder’s Sales Co., Tom Ventura, said that due to the state of the economy at present, it was expected that sales figures would drop and that they had been spoilt with the figures in the last few years. However, when taking the economy in consideration, the sale has gone well and a few noteworthy purchases were made within the first two days.

The World’s Best – Curlin and Duke of Marmalade

The Timeform Global Rankings have just been released and even though Curlin is at the top of the log, Duke of Marmalade has been rated to be the best turf horse in the world at present. Since being established in 1948, Timeform has been accepted as the leading organization to calculate the ratings of horses around the world that are competing on an international level. Not only do they assess flat horse racing, but also turn their attention to hurdlers and chasers. For 2008, Curlin remains victorious overall and dirt champion of the world, while Duke of Marmalade seems to be the king of the turf.

O’Brian Possibly Heading to Australia

Whether or not we see some of the best horses from Aiden O’Brian compete in three of the leading horse racing events in Australia, will all depend on quarantine negotiations. As O’Brian and his horses seem to be an unstoppable combination at present, making headlines almost every week, the Tatts Cox Plate, Emirates Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup, which form part of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, will welcome his presence at the events. Organizers will certainly see to it that the carnival has some of its strongest fields since its inception.

Stem Cells Save Racing Career

Stem cell therapy has been around for years, but recent developments and new scientific research has improved the use of stem cells to repair tendon damage in racehorses. When a tendon or ligament is injured, it does not only mean a very long lay-off for racehorses, but the tendons and ligaments are not as strong as before, after they have healed. This is due to scar tissue replacing the damaged tissue during the healing process, and therefore leading to a weaker tendon. In Australia, Vet Biotechnology Ltd, were able to prove the success of stem cell therapy, after Viz Vitae returned to the racetrack, not just as a healed racehorse, but as a winner.

Henrythenavigator Secures Another Win

Aiden O’Brian could not have asked for a better horse racing season, and Henrythenavigator could not have performed any better. It seems to be a match made in heaven, as Henrythenavigator has not been able to disappoint his trainer in his last four starts. Going into the Grade 1 BGC Sussex Stakes, which was held at the Goodwood Racecourse, as the 4-11 favorite, he once again showed his endurance, strength and speed by winning the racing event in spectacular style.