Remote Control

henthorn · Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 3:18 pm Post subject: Remote Control

My 4yo gelding Remote Control, by Alphabet Soup ex Bobo's Trickster, races in a starter allowance at Lone Star Park Saturday 28th, scheduled at 5:47pm CDT. He is running 9f turf; he's in tough Shocked

, and I'm sure will be a longshot Razz

. He had a poor ride last time and was first off a long layoff--came in last Embarassed

. We expect better things this time Rolling Eyes

.
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Rocking H

BenB · Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 3:35 pm Post subject: remote control

Just a clean race and a safe and sound return to all, include the gelding

My best wishes.

Vestal heights was on her toes back again, so the last race took nothing out her.

Ben

henthorn · Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 2:48 pm Post subject:

He's at 20:1 in a field of eleven, some of whom are old war horses. Four of them definitely look better than he, but I'm hoping to get 4th or better to help pay some bills, some idea of his fitness and interest, a clean trip, and potential for future racing ability. He's a front runner that was taken out of his usual game last race.

Addendum: it continues to rain, it's been taken off the turf, the track's listed as SLOPPY, and three adversaries have scratched. Unfortunately none of them are the front-running favorites. So we may have a speed horse win, or a speed duel with a stalker/closer that picks up the pieces. Anything can happen--looks like it's shaping up to be a horse race Very Happy

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Rocking H

henthorn · Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 10:14 pm Post subject:

Poor guy! He had no traction at all on the slick and sloppy track. My trainer had not had a sloppy track at Lone Star before, and was advised by the blacksmith that turf shoes would be fine. They weren't. He began in 2nd and started back-pedalling from then on, finished last when the jockey could tell there was no way to advance with him. He just kept him out of trouble so he can fight again another day. I bet Remote is going to be very upset that he didn't have a chance to run, as he actually is a very competitive gelding. Next time easier company might help, as well. Confused

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Rocking H

BenB · Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 3:21 am Post subject: Remote control

Sorry to hear what has happend, but why they are switching from the turf
to the dirt. Just because of the rain????

Ben

ageecee · Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 8:31 am Post subject:

Im a little bit skeptical about turf shoes on a wet track.

henthorn · Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 9:03 am Post subject:

Before I owned him this gelding had won easily on a sloppy track at Prairie Meadows last summer, but my trainer says the two surfaces are entirely different. I think it must be something to do with the clay content in Texas, makes it stickier if muddy and slippery when sloppy. Prairie is more like a plowed field that takes a lot of rain without being difficult to run on.

Yes, BenB, most of the races in US are taken off the turf if it becomes saturated, to keep from tearing up the surface.

I, too, was skeptical of the turf shoes for a sloppy track, but since my trainer had never raced on that track when slippery, and only started working with this horse in March, he was following recommendations of someone who should know. Apparently Donnie Von Hemel's charge also was fitted with similar shoes from the same farrier, and also ran up the track. It may have been something about the water content on that particular day. Question

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Rocking H

madelyn · Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 9:05 am Post subject:

Ben, once it has rained and the turf gets wet they always switch the race back to the main track. They don't want the turf course to get ruined. The only exception might be a major turf race, and if the course is not that wet. This has given rise to a form of also-eligible horses being entered in turf races "for the main track only" meaning those horses will only run if the race is taken off the turf (moved to the sloppy main track). I like picking "mudlarks".... some horses do their best running on the slop, or maybe it is that most of the others can't or won't...
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So Run for the Roses, as fast as you can.....

henthorn · Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2005 10:34 pm Post subject:

We figured Remote Control would be able to come back quickly to race again, since he couldn't run on the slick track last weekend. We were planning to enter today for a race Sunday. But apparently the horse strained his back trying the slop last time, and now has to have some acupuncture or chiropractic help.

Welcome to the unexpected Rolling Eyes

, which is a normal part of this crazy and expensive game. The horses on TV always make it look so easy to win repeatedly and come back great. Don't anybody believe that that is the norm! Exclamation

The other gelding I have racing, Church Law, strained a suspensory in his last race, and will be taking some more time off. It's going to be quiet and lean for a while.
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Rocking H