The White Fox
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Georgerz
- Breeder's Cup Contender
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- Joined: Thu Sep 16, 2004 3:13 pm
- Location: Maple Valley, Washington
The White Fox
Finished third in his debut at River Downs, but according to the article in the Blood Horse, shows a lot of promise.
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Tairaterces
- Grade III Winner
- Posts: 1026
- Joined: Thu Sep 16, 2004 11:27 am
- Location: NorCal
Article courtesy of DRF.
River Downs
Even before debut, The White Fox draws fans
By VANCE HANSON
CINCINNATI - Forty minutes before the first live race on a steamy Sunday afternoon at River Downs, a small group of onlookers congregated outside the stall of a 3-year-old colt named The White Fox, who was moments away from running in his first race.
As trainer Bill Connelly made final preparations before sending him on his way to the paddock, The White Fox was in a serene mood. Your average young colt might have been prone to skittishness with all the activity going on around him, at a time of day that until now had been reserved for relaxation.
But for The White Fox, constant human attention, often accompanied by the clicking sound of cameras, had become routine. From birth, and especially since his arrival at the racetrack several months ago, The White Fox had picked up on the fact that he is something special, a horse that draws stares.
The White Fox is a genetic rarity, one of only 17 white Thoroughbreds ever to have been registered by The Jockey Club, and a fourth-generation white Thoroughbred produced at Warren and Betty Rosenthal's Patchen Wilkes Farm, near Lexington, Ky. His dam, the white Patchen Beauty, was also foaled from a white mare, Precious Beauty, who was a granddaughter of the first registered white Thoroughbred, White Beauty.
Patchen Beauty raced primarily in Kentucky and Ohio in the late 1990's, winning twice, but it was her son who took center stage at River Downs this past Sunday in a six-furlong maiden special weight race.
A larger-than-normal crowd swarmed the paddock area for a glimpse at the white horse, and with the post parade delayed slightly by a stewards' inquiry into the running of the previous race at Thistledown, fans were afforded plenty of time to get a close-up view and pictures. It was then that The White Fox shook off his calm demeanor and began to get keyed up, readying himself for battle.
Perhaps because of what he is, but also due to the apparent weakness of the field and two recent bullet works, bettors made The White Fox the 4-5 favorite. Breaking from post 1, The White Fox started just a beat slow, but quickly settled into fourth behind the pacesetting Here's Louie.
With each passing quarter, it appeared The White Fox was being handed a gift. The opening quarter went in 22 seconds, with the half-mile timed in 44.40, a fast pace rarely seen at River Downs. The White Fox moved up to third around the turn and appeared ready to pounce on Here's Louie and Right Category, who had been tracking close behind.
The records of the leaders suggested they could not possibly sustain that kind of speed.
But just as quickly as The White Fox had moved into striking range, the top two found another gear and began to draw off in the stretch. On this day, The White Fox would have to settle for third, nine lengths behind the winning Here's Louie, who completed the distance in 1:10.60.
"The one hole hurt, but 10 and change killed him," jockey Perry Ouzts said later.
For The White Fox, it was a solid first attempt, yet one that came with a temporary cost. The glistening coat that had been the source of all the prerace attention had become caked in dirt. After a quick hose-down, The White Fox headed back to his stall, where he would await the next round.
River Downs
Even before debut, The White Fox draws fans
By VANCE HANSON
CINCINNATI - Forty minutes before the first live race on a steamy Sunday afternoon at River Downs, a small group of onlookers congregated outside the stall of a 3-year-old colt named The White Fox, who was moments away from running in his first race.
As trainer Bill Connelly made final preparations before sending him on his way to the paddock, The White Fox was in a serene mood. Your average young colt might have been prone to skittishness with all the activity going on around him, at a time of day that until now had been reserved for relaxation.
But for The White Fox, constant human attention, often accompanied by the clicking sound of cameras, had become routine. From birth, and especially since his arrival at the racetrack several months ago, The White Fox had picked up on the fact that he is something special, a horse that draws stares.
The White Fox is a genetic rarity, one of only 17 white Thoroughbreds ever to have been registered by The Jockey Club, and a fourth-generation white Thoroughbred produced at Warren and Betty Rosenthal's Patchen Wilkes Farm, near Lexington, Ky. His dam, the white Patchen Beauty, was also foaled from a white mare, Precious Beauty, who was a granddaughter of the first registered white Thoroughbred, White Beauty.
Patchen Beauty raced primarily in Kentucky and Ohio in the late 1990's, winning twice, but it was her son who took center stage at River Downs this past Sunday in a six-furlong maiden special weight race.
A larger-than-normal crowd swarmed the paddock area for a glimpse at the white horse, and with the post parade delayed slightly by a stewards' inquiry into the running of the previous race at Thistledown, fans were afforded plenty of time to get a close-up view and pictures. It was then that The White Fox shook off his calm demeanor and began to get keyed up, readying himself for battle.
Perhaps because of what he is, but also due to the apparent weakness of the field and two recent bullet works, bettors made The White Fox the 4-5 favorite. Breaking from post 1, The White Fox started just a beat slow, but quickly settled into fourth behind the pacesetting Here's Louie.
With each passing quarter, it appeared The White Fox was being handed a gift. The opening quarter went in 22 seconds, with the half-mile timed in 44.40, a fast pace rarely seen at River Downs. The White Fox moved up to third around the turn and appeared ready to pounce on Here's Louie and Right Category, who had been tracking close behind.
The records of the leaders suggested they could not possibly sustain that kind of speed.
But just as quickly as The White Fox had moved into striking range, the top two found another gear and began to draw off in the stretch. On this day, The White Fox would have to settle for third, nine lengths behind the winning Here's Louie, who completed the distance in 1:10.60.
"The one hole hurt, but 10 and change killed him," jockey Perry Ouzts said later.
For The White Fox, it was a solid first attempt, yet one that came with a temporary cost. The glistening coat that had been the source of all the prerace attention had become caked in dirt. After a quick hose-down, The White Fox headed back to his stall, where he would await the next round.