Monday News and Notes from Success Equestrian

American Pharoah at the start of the race at Belmont. Photo by Diana Robinson via Flickr/Creative Commons.

American Pharoah at the start of the race at Belmont. Photo by Diana Robinson via Flickr/Creative Commons.

My earliest memory of the Triple Crown was as a 9-year-old watching Silver Charm just barely miss out on the Belmont win. Then Real Quiet a year later, followed by Charismatic in 1999 and on from there. Every year we felt the hype and every year we were disappointed. I admit to having always been skeptical yet hopeful, but I along with millions of others witnessed history this weekend. Nine-year-old me would be delighted, but grown up me definitely squealed and danced as American Pharoah marched down the homestretch.

Weekend Action:

Bromont: [Results]

GMHA June H.T. [Results]

Gennessee Valley Driving & Riding Club Spring  H.T. [Results]

Plantation Field H.T. [Results]

The Middleburg H.T.  [Results]

River Glen June H.T. [Results]

Roebke’s Run CCI/CIC & H.T. [Results]

Texas Rose Horse Park Summer H.T. [Results]

Copper Meadows CIC & H.T. [Results]

Arrowhead H.T. [Live Scores]

Derbyshire Farms H.T.  [Website]

Monday News and Notes:

With the Surefire Horse Trials in Purcellville, Virginia running the same weekend as Great Meadow International in The Plains, Virginia, the organizers of both events are hoping Great Meadow spectators embrace the concept of a “festival of eventing in hunt country” and visit Purcellville to watch the competition at Surefire, and vice versa. Here is the Surefire schedule: Friday 3:00 courses open; Saturday I/P/T 8:00am Dressage; 10:00 am Show Jumping; 10:30 Cross Country; Sunday N/BN 8:00am Dressage; 10:00 am Show Jumping; 10:30 Cross Country. [Website]

Horse hubbies unite! You may know Timothy Harfield, husband of Elisa Wallace, from his fabulously filmed, edited and oft-viral Wallace Eventing videos. In response to high demand, he has just launched a blog in support of Horse Husbands everywhere by offering horse show survival tips, relationship advice and product reviews. The first blog titled “Surviving Your First Horse Show is cheeky and hilarious but absolutely spot on. [Blog] [Facebook]

AP’s A+ Personality. The racing industry hopes American Pharoah passes on his speed and endurance to his progeny. The rest of us are hoping he passes on his apparent fantastic personality (and hidden jumping ability). On Sunday, the newly crowned 3-year-old American hero stood quietly in the yard while a crowd of strangers gathered to pet, kiss and coo in awe. And who says all Thoroughbreds are crazy? [Video: American Pharoah Outside His Barn]

Fantasy Equestrian. A representative from the NBA (yes, basketball) says fantasy sports could bring more interest to Thoroughbred racing because wagers are legal in horse racing and “Americans love to gamble.” Many people are only racing fans during the Derby and when a Triple Crown is on the line, so the idea could potentially bring prolonged attention to the sport. I say Timothy Harfield’s next project should be setting up a fantasy eventing website. [Are fantasy sports the way forward?]

Continuing on with the fantasy theme today… If you could design your fantasy farm, what would be your must have luxuries? Horse and Hound knows how they would splurge on their dream facility, and seriously, some of this technology I’ve never even heard of. There’s an actual machine for mucking stalls? What rock have I been living under? [Fantasy Yard Wishlist]

Monday Video: The latest from Wallace Eventing – Hwin moved up to Training!