Horsebites...

She had her teeth filed earlier this week and didn't like it. Who can blame her ! 

So far so good with her training. She practiced going into the starting gate and did just fine. Now if she can get out we'll be in business.

I have to get my ownership form filled out so we can get setup as a stable. It  looks like it hasn't been changed since 1934. If a form doesn't  ask for an email address...you know it's old. 

I know at some point she'll  run in a real race but right now that seems a bit blurry. Something like training camp for hockey  teams, where everyone thinks they can win the Stanley Cup...until reality settles in . 

I dub thee...

It is now official, the name of our horse is "Northern Cotton"  (Le Coton du Nord ! )

She still needs a barn name , something short, cute and informal . Something like calling Queen Elizabeth "Liz" .

Workin' out !

We discovered that Saturday morning in the stables area is a great place to be . It's even better when the sun is out and the temperature is mild. Seeing our horse run around the track was fantastic.  She looked great ( she looks better live than than in pictures) and  jockey Allison had to hold her back because she really wanted to go . We chatted with trainer Rob afterwards and , so far, everything is going very well. She's not as jittery as she was before , probably because she's used to the place and to Rob.

We should get the name approval this week though we still don't know which of our selections will be picked . I went into the commission office to get an ownership form and I came out with about 5 of them of different colours. Not to worry as Bill will take care of most of them ( partnership, authorized agent,etc...) . I just have to worry about the big decisions...when I have to make one I'll let you know.

No Timmy for you !

 We woke up at 7:45 on a Saturday morning to take a  look at our horse workout. I  didn't realize there was a training track north of the real track at ASD. There's also a cafeteria, appropriately referenced as "The  Kitchen" and the office of the Manitoba Horse Racing Commission, amongst other offices . We made a serious  'faux pas' in The Kitchen when Michel and I brought in our Tim Horton's coffee cups and sat down with Joc at a table . Chef Barrie politely, yet firmly, informed us that he did not appreciate seeing 'foreign coffee' in his kitchen. We apologized for our rookie mistake and Michel left him a toonie for good measure.

I shudder to think what would have happened had we brought in a  latte...

Training Camp Begins

She started working out this week . On Friday she jogged 1 mile and then galloped for 1 mile and a half . According to Bill, she  looked like a pro. I can't wait to see her run, maybe next Saturday .

We need to fill out our ownership forms this week . I think being an owner gives me the right to visit the stables , get free admission at any North American race track, smoke fat cigars and wear outrageous hats. I'll be sure to exercise 3 of those 4 rights...

A Breed Apart

One thing I'm quickly learning is that in horse racing, breeding and past performance of the parents and grand-parents,etc... plays a huge role in buying a horse. When Bill( our horse purchaser) went down to the auction in Florida he was armed with information on the breeding line of hundreds of horses. This information is critical in both choosing a horse as well as the price the horse will eventually sell for. Of course Bill also had to make sure the horse had 4 legs and a tail...we trust him . Here's some pictures of a couple of our filly's relatives .

This is her grand-mother "Happy Tune" on her sire's ( father's ) side

She was sold in November 2007 for almost $2,000,000

Here is a picture of her father High Cotton , I love this image. He was sold for stud ( any male's dream) for over $400,000 .







Of course we all know that just because the parents and uncles and aunts were winners it doesn't necessarily follow the offspring will be ( are you listening Alain, Martin and Eric ? ) . It is an important  prerequisite though.

We finally meet !

Joc and I  drove down to Assiniboia Downs to meet both filly and trainer. She did seem a bit shy and jumpy ( the horse not the trainer ! )  but I sensed some intelligence, as if she was waiting a bit to see what kind of people we were before warming up to us . She had been through a long journey, Florida to Kentucky to Toronto to Winnipeg , about 45 hours. So she was probably undergoing some trailer lag. .As well,   her neighbour , Noble Causeway, has got to be one of the goofiest horses I've ever seen. I think our horse will ask for a new stall ! Trainer Rob Attras is going to take it easy with her for a couple of days , maybe start some light running later in the week. It's odd that I've been to the track since I was a kid but had never been in the stables area, its' like a different world. Here's a pic of her  with Joc and Rob:

Joc is the one on the left !

 

The horse whisperer I ain't

Final name selection

Here are the final selections for our filly's name

1) Northern Cotton
2) Cotton Gin
3) Cotton Quest
4) High Road To Gold
5) Straw to Gold


We should know soon

 Bill indicated that the filly was a bit shy and acts as if her previous handling was not as gentle as it could have been .  She'll be with a gentle groom and hopefully that will help