Miscellaneous

For racehorse trainers each victory, no matter how big or small, is a momentous occasion, as the thrill of watching a horse under your guidance cross the finish line in first position never goes away. It is testament of their dedication to the sport and commitment to the horse owners, and most trainers dream of leaving behind a legacy that will be remembered long after they have retired from the sport. There were five trainers who stood in a league of their own with more than 5000 victories behind their name, and on Wednesday, 15 December 2010, Scott Lake made it six.

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Many people in the horse racing industry are involved in the Sport of Kings due to either years of exposure as children that was carried through to adulthood, or because of a lifelong passion that drives them to continue no matter what. But no matter how any of them became a part of the community, they all have one thing in common: the love of horses and the enjoyment of the thrill of horse racing. For Mike Repole, it was a childhood dream which he made reality through hard work, extraordinary marketing skills and his unmatched passion for everything he becomes involved in.

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Secretariat, sired by Bold Ruler out of the dam Somethingroyal, was foaled in the year 1970 and became one of the most legendary horses in the history of horse racing. His is the story of love, dedication, sacrifice and triumph, and still warms the hearts of everyone who learns about the life of this amazing horse. But together with the races he won and the name he made, comes a tale of passion and belief from his owner Penny Chenery of Meadow Stables. On 8 October 2010, the movie Secretariat will be released to the public, capturing the essence and emotion of this magnificent true life story.

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Horse racing enthusiasts in the United Kingdom look forward to the month of September as it is a month filled with horse racing action and stylish events to attend. Throughout September a number of racing festivals are hosted at various horse racing establishments around the country, luring thousands of spectators each year. With festivals such as the St Leger Festival, the Ayr Gold Cup Festival, the Betfred Sprint Cup Day, and many more on the calendar in this month, racing fans are spoiled for choice.

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National hunt horse racing is made up of two major disciplines: steeple chasing and hurdling. While steeple chases receive great attention due to their manic pace and intense meetings, hurdling is an art in its own right. Hurdlers develop an entirely different skill set to steeple chase horses and are therefore rated and judged separately. These three jumpers are currently the top performers on the United Kingdom hurdling circuit.

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Harbinger began to rock the horse racing industry last year with magnificent performances, showing improvement and skill with each event. His talent and ability won the hearts of fans and catapulted him to iconic status. He was also seen as the best flat thoroughbred racing athlete in the world. Unfortunately all hopes and dreams to see him participate in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October were dashed by a fractured leg that has led to his retirement.

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The horse racing community has recently taken a little time out, to fondly remember one of their members who passed away on 14 February 2010. Not only was Dick Francis a celebrated crime writer, but before his career as an author began to take shape, Francis enjoyed a successful career as a jockey for nine years. Drawing from his experiences as a jockey, and by regularly attending live horse racing events after his retirement, he was able to keep his readers spellbound through his page turning plots and attention to detail.

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People often comment on the beauty of a horse’s eyes without even realizing how amazing they really are, how their unique vision assists them as professional athletes, or how their sight abilities can some times hinder them from completing a job. And as one explores the world through a horse’s eyes, you realize just how much trust there must be between a horse and rider in some of the various disciplines horses take part in every single day. Discovering the sight capabilities of the horse opens a doorway into understanding these wonderful animals.

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Horse racing is often referred to as the Sport of Kings, and is a sport that can be traced back to ancient times. Chariot races have been documented during the time of the Romans, as well as in Norse mythology, but in South Korea horse racing was first sparked in 1898. It all started with an athletics day, when organizers thought it would be fun to let donkeys run against each other. The race was merely for entertainment, but during the 1920s horse racing and a betting system began to take shape.

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Summer months can be harsh due to high temperatures, and this can be just as dangerous to horses as it can to humans. Competitive horses are at greater risk, as they are expected to perform at their peak no matter what the weather conditions, and in the jumps racing industry heat exhaustion is the greatest enemy. There is, however, signs to look out for in regard to heat exhaustion, preventative measures and treatments, as if this condition is left untreated it can be fatal.

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