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Wrapping Up The Season: 2008

Cinch Magazine, J.L. Orchard

  Here's how the boxes have been wrapped this Christmas while we close what
was another outstanding year for thoroughbred horse racing. Amidst the rip and roar of Curlin's four-year-old career we felt Big Brown's ups and downs, watched the foreigners steal the Breeders' Cup and joined together to cheer on the horses that made racing real. We spaced our opinions on blogs, followed up on web searches, and got hooked to the adrenaline and the diapointments. 2008 teemed with stories- stories of match races, and
stories of misuse...stories that will remain hard to equal in the years to come.

For end of year awards, it looks as though both Curlin and Big Brown are definite picks for the coveted Eclipse Awards, as well as filly Zenyatta. When it comes to 2008 Horse of the Year, Curlin's on an uneasy balance with Zenyatta, and it looks as though Zenyatta might win.All in all the 2008-horseracing season has been one of triumph, rush?waiting?and a lot of tears. And at the end of it all, its time to say goodbye to the ones that made it such a great season.

Here's how the top horses stand now:

Curlin: Curlin is set to retire to stud January 1st, and join his sire, Smart Strike, at Lane's End Farm, in Versailles, Kentucky. The stud fee for this all-time leading American money earner is $75,000, half of what Smart Strike's 2009 stud fee will be. There may be one more run for Curlin before the year ends "if an appropriate venue and purse are offered." Otherwise, majority owner of Curlin, Jess Jackson, has described his colt as being "fast, strong, and durable", exactly what racehorse breeders need. Jackson doesn't wish to
waylay Curlin's retirement, or his contribution to horseracing's future, any longer.
If Curlin doesn't race again, he still retires with $10,501,800 in purse winnings, seven Grade 1 victories out of sixteen starts (eleven wins total), a 2007 Horse of the Year title, and his name among the greats -and that accounts for quite a lot. If Curlin can hustle one last win for the fans, Christmas will feel a little bit warmer.

Big Brown: After suffering an injury to his left front foot, Big Brown missed his farewell party twelve days before it happened, the Breeders' Cup Classic. None the less Big Brown's jockey, Desormeaux had hard-felt words of praise for the distinctly unique colt, which he shared with reporters and has undoubtedly recounted a million times or more to family and
friends. Desormeaux described the colt as being one of those horses that wouldn't kick you if you walked between its legs, and for a high-strung breed such as thoroughbreds, and for a stallion, that says a lot about Big Brown's demeanor. Audiences will remember Big Brown's endless curiosity, calmness, and portrait stance leading into each of his performances.
Big Brown finishes his career with $3,614,500 in winnings and five Grade 1 victories out of eight starts (seven wins total). He will be up for stud in 2009.

Zenyatta: For a filly that has only raced once outside of Southern California, Zenyatta's name has carried far. Undefeated in nine starts, she has four Grade 1 victories to her name and a career winning of roughly $2.1 million. Winner of the Ladies' race at the Breeders' Cup this year, Zenyatta carries the likeliest chance of being named 2008 Horse of the Year.

Raven's Pass: On a foreign note, the winner of this years Breeders' Cup Classic has retired to Kildangan Stud in County Kildare, Ireland. Finishing his career with over $3.5 million in purse winnings after a seven-for-eleven victory streak.
 
We wish these horses the very best and hope for the best for the ones to come. Horse racing has taken dramatic turns this year, and we hope they will continue this necessary uphill climb next year that will make horseracing all the better for  the racehorses to come.
So to all that leave us at the end of 2008, thank-you for a great year, and best of wishes in retirement.