I’m a little late in wishing Evening Attire a happy 17th birthday–the big day was Valentine’s Day, two days before his namesake race was scheduled to be run. Bad weather scuttled that, so the Evening Attire–formerly the Aqueduct Handicap, which this guy won in 2002–is being run today. And in his honor, his retirement home,…
In his six years on the racetrack, Stud Muffin showed a definite predilection for distance: the bulk of his 14 lifetime victories came at a mile and or more, with the gray guy coming from off the pace, often eking out a win, sometimes winning by a length or so. He seldom won by more…
The euphemism for a horse with both of his testicles is “intact.” The logical connotative sense, then, I guess, is that a horse that is gelded is “broken.” In reality, they are anything but; in fact, they are often the most beloved horses on the racetrack. Generally gelded when they’re young to address obstreperous behavior,…
Given the love that Evening Attire received during his racing career, it seems fitting that his birthday is Valentine’s Day. And this year, the folks at his Akindale Farm retirement home are throwing him a birthday party to which the public is invited. With a name invoking Evening Attire’s sire, the “Black Tie Affair” will be…
Akindale Farm gained national attention in 2008, when it became home to fan favorite Evening Attire. The folks at Akindale had long been committed to Thoroughbred aftercare; Akindale founder John Hettinger established Blue Horse Charities in 2001 to help fund Thoroughbred retirement, and the rescue part of the farm was founded in 2006. But until…
Two years ago, in a generally moribund racing month, winter racing in New York got a blast of attention when 9-year-old Evening Attire won the Queens County on a cold December afternoon. It was his second victory in the race; he’d also won in 2001, at the tender age of 3. Four horses in total…
It’s not surprising that as the holidays and end of year get closer, various charities are reminding us about donations. So if you’re looking for a way to help this holiday season, and get that 2008 tax deduction, I offer the following for your consideration: As I wrote recently, the Belmont Child Care Association is…
Tomorrow will be too late to enjoy what you can today.At the Belmont Breeders’ Cup party yesterday, I was given a fortune cookie, assured that it was meant just for me, and this was my fortune. Though not much given to aphorisms or any sort of truth that can be summed up in one pithy…
I still haven’t watched yesterday’s races. And I can’t decide when I’m going to be able to. Years of Catholicism have taught me that whatever is the hardest, most sacrificial thing to do is the right thing to do, even when–especially when?–it defies sensibility. So even though I was in a bar on Friday afternoon…
Confucius Say just may be the Evening Attire of West Virginia. He’s not grey, but he’s ten years old, and he’s a gelding, and tonight, he goes for the 19th win in his 39-start career. He made his first start on the 28th of September, 2000 in a four and a half furlong race at…
Brooklyn Backstretch 