It always works. Photo via SmartPak.
Happy Monday, EN readers! The first event of the year is officially over, so if you’re lucky enough to be in Florida, I hope you enjoyed your weekend of competitive action while all of us poor souls in the Northeast are looking at your sunshine laden photos with great jealousy.
Weekend Results:
Monday News:
Buck Davidson rode 11 horses in the first event of the year, which I think sets a bad precedent for the rest of the season. Now when he wants to turn down a ride, owners can say: ‘but you’re only riding 10 this weekend!’ Leslie Law, Jon Holling and Hannah Burnett were other top riders in the mix at Ocala. [Ocala HT results]
Finalists have been announced for the 2012 Eclipse Awards, Fort Larned, I’ll Have Another, and Wise Dan are the three battling it out for HOTY title. Bob Baffert, Dale Romans, and Todd Pletcher are the finalists for Trainer of the Year. [The Examiner]
Researchers have begun looking into fetlock injuries sustained during racing, and whether track surface plays a part. Some results have shown that horses hyperextend more on dirt tracks than synthetic tracks, and overall rotation is more on dirt tracks as well. [The Horse]
Polo competitors are willing to pay up to $2 million for clones of famous polo ponies, and the business of cloning, especially in polo-centric Argentina, is taking off. There have been 60 clones so far, and the demand only keeps going up for clones of ponies like Cuaretera, and world famous rider Adolfo Cambioso has already ordered clones of eight of his ponies. [The Economist]
It’s the second to last day of the George Morris Training Session, and riders rode the whole day without stirrups. Go on over to the Chronicle for the usual George Morris entertainment, and education. [The Chronicle of the Horse]
The Unwanted Horse Coalition counted a total of 208 stallions-turned geldings-that they castrated through their Operation Gelding Program. The program has inspired clinics in Maryland and Texas. [The Horse]
Liz Potter, a rider in England, recounts the harrowing story of the day her horse Clyde got stuck in quicksand. One minute they were on solid ground, the next he was up to his neck in strong muck. Luckily for both of them, he managed to haul himself out with the encouragement of Liz and her boyfriend, but they no longer ride on the beach. [The Guardian]
