13 year old Stormy Do

[SoLongCharley]

I posted this on another msg board, hoping for some information. I watched him run in the 5th race today at Philly Park. Stormy was in the lead, then abruptly slowed down & faded to the back, never to finish the race. I read that he'd "broken down & had to be vanned off." I don't want to, but I'm expecting the worst for this wonderful old guy. Does anyone know his fate? Thanks.

[BJ]

I posted this on another msg board, hoping for some information. I watched him run in the 5th race today at Philly Park. Stormy was in the lead, then abruptly slowed down & faded to the back, never to finish the race. I read that he'd "broken down & had to be vanned off." I don't want to, but I'm expecting the worst for this wonderful old guy. Does anyone know his fate? Thanks.

It's things like this that make me wish they'd put the owner down!

[SoLongCharley]

I couldn't have put it better. God bless wonderful Stormy.

[BJ]

Philadelphia Park's Racing Secretary can be reached via this email for inquiries:

mailto: [email protected]
subject=Customer Contact From philadelphiapark.com

[freshman]

How terrible for such a warhorse and great campaigner to suffer such a breakdown.

He certainly deserved to go out a winner; he certainly won often, or at least long and enough, for one to think that his connections did not see it that way.

When one looks at his stats--13 years old, 100+ starts, and over $500K in earnings--and the fact that he was still being sent out, the only possible conclusion that I am drawn to is that they were waiting for him to be sent off exactly as he was: in a van.

I fuzzily recall some talk a few years ago about age limitations for racehorses? Back when Swan's Way was still being run at 15? Guess it never came to anything, or was is state or track limited?

Too bad there even has be regulation of this. Kinda like the laws that require people to wear seatbelts and put children and infants in carseats. Laws to protect idiots from themselves.

[BJ]

How terrible for such a warhorse and great campaigner to suffer such a breakdown.

He certainly deserved to go out a winner; he certainly won often, or at least long and enough, for one to think that his connections did not see it that way.

When one looks at his stats--13 years old, 100+ starts, and over $500K in earnings--and the fact that he was still being sent out, the only possible conclusion that I am drawn to is that they were waiting for him to be sent off exactly as he was: in a van.

I fuzzily recall some talk a few years ago about age limitations for racehorses? Back when Swan's Way was still being run at 15? Guess it never came to anything, or was is state or track limited?

Too bad there even has be regulation of this. Kinda like the laws that require people to wear seatbelts and put children and infants in carseats. Laws to protect idiots from themselves.

People who could do that to a horse, could also send him to New Holland instead of putting up the Vet fees to let him die with dignity. One can only hope Philly Park insists the horse be put down and doesn't/didn't have to leave it up to the owner/trainer combo to decide his fate. [/quote]

Perhaps the rescue folks that frequent New Holland should check to be sure he isn't there. Anyone have a description or a picture of him? Is there one one the board?

I'M DEAD SERIOUS. If the injuries were not life ending, he is likely to end up there. I can't believe anyone would be that stupid as to believe he could race and not have that happen to him.

[BJ]

Race Record: Stormy Do

STORMY DO (1993 dk b/ g, by Fortunate Prospect)
(SPR= 91; CPI= 3.8)

Thoroughbred races in North America / USA

Year Age Starts 1st 2nd 3rd Earnings (USA $)
1995 2 4 1 0 0 12,920
1996 3 8 4 1 1 75,530
1997 4 7 1(1) 3 0 57,751
1998 5 5 0 1 1 9,218
1999 6 13 2 3 2 91,676
2000 7 12 1(1) 5 2 78,681
2001 8 2 0 0 0 4,870
2002 9 17 1 1 2 32,090
2003 10 11 2 1 2 20,620
2004 11 13 5 2 3 55,060
2005 12 14 5 3 2 56,790
2006 13 13 4 2 1 36,690

Totals 119 26(2) 22 16 531,896

(Stakes)
1998 turf 5 1 0 0 0 0
1999 turf 6 2 0 0 0 0

Blacktype Total TB Blacktype: 2 wins, 8 seconds, 4 thirds
Fin Pos Year Country Track Race Name Currency in country of origin
(Purse--Value Of Race--Earnings)


1 1997 USA HIA Hialeah Sprint Championship H. (50,000--50,000--30,000)
1 2000 USA GP Bay Harbor Island S. (30,000--30,511--20,780)
2 1996 USA CRC Kenny Noe Jr. H. (100,000--100,000--20,000)
2 1997 USA CRC Glitterman H. (50,000--50,000--10,000)
2 2000 USA CRC Groomstick H. (40,000--43,640--8,728)
2 2000 USA GP Miami Beach S. (35,000--36,200--6,240)
2 1999 USA CRC Thats Our Buck H. (30,000--33,550--5,710)
2 2000 USA CRC Spirited Boy H. (30,000--33,090--5,618)
2 1998 USA CRC Shuttleman H. (30,000--32,800--5,282)
2 1997 USA HIA Coconut Grove S. (25,000--29,500--5,900)
3 1999 USA CRC Kenny Noe Jr. H. (100,000--100,000--11,000)
3 2000 USA CRC Kenny Noe Jr. H. (100,000--100,000--11,000)
3 1998 USA CRC Fortunate Prospect H. (30,000--32,500--3,575)
3 2000 USA CRC Rexson's Hope H. (30,000--27,190--2,991)

[summerhorse]

I read that he was put down.

They can still run as teen agers as long as they are competitive. I think the max. age in most places is 16?

[magic code]

The maximum age here is 12. 14 is the highest age I know of.

This horse was written up in an edition of the Thoroughbred Times earlier this year. I don't believe this is a case of the owners not caring. It reminds me of OK By Me.

[SoLongCharley]

Oh my God! I was so afraid of that!! I didn't even have a chance to contact the racing secretary there. How & where did you find out? I wish someone would put this poor boy's owners in prison - or worse!! God take care of you, beautiful Stormy, you won't be forgotten. Sniff...

[Tairaterces]

Come on you folks . . . . . . . . . stop the hysteria!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sounds to me like this guy LOVES to race . . . . .
Read this . . . .

Updated: April 26, 2006, 3:11 PM ET
Stormy Do still does at 13
By Bill Finley
Special to ESPN.com
Archive

Stormy Do doesn't know when to quit. He's 13 now, has his aches and pains and his owner has promised a cushy retirement for him when he's ready to hang it up. He won't have any part of it. He must love what he's doing. How else do you explain a horse winning 15 races since his 10th birthday?
No. 15 came Monday at Philadelphia Park. He out-gamed a 4-year-old youngster named Final Nickle in the stretch Monday at Philadelphia Park to win a $10,000 claimer. It was his 25th career win, his 113th career start and the seventh race he has run in his 12th season of racing. He might not be that classy or that fast anymore, but you don't necessarily have to be fast or classy to be special. Stormy Do's just a cool old horse. Too bad they don't have a Cool Old Horse Hall of Fame. He'd be a worthy inductee.

"I don't know he keeps doing it," trainer Jayne Vaders said. "I imagine it's just because he has a big heart."

[Tairaterces]

If indeed he had to be put down . . . .God bless him . . .as he died doing what he loved to do . . .being competitive!!!!!!

Tairaterces

[SoLongCharley]

I wouldn't call it hysteria. In my case, I'd call it compassion. I guess we all look at these things differently.

[Jolene]

I wouldn't call it hysteria. In my case, I'd call it compassion. I guess we all look at these things differently.

I think Tairaterces is referencing stuff like this:

"I wish someone would put this poor boy's owners in prison - or worse!! "

[SoLongCharley]

Yes - I know. I'll post no more about Stormy Do here. Sorry if I offended anyone, but I just feel very strongly about this. As I said, we all see things differently. It's "what makes a horse race", right?