Broken reins and yet still victorious

[Glimmerglass]

I didn’t know that Kent Desormeaux flew into Saudi Arabia for the race no less. Premium Tap (now “Allam”) continues to be an impressive runner who we can expect to be the favorite for the Dubai World Cup in 2008. I saw him in person last year run in the Woodward Stakes (against the late Second of June) and he was a gritty runner then.

Dec 9, 2007 BloodHorse “Premium Tap Wins Despite Mishap”

What made his victory remarkable was the fact that his reins broke some 50 yards out of the gate, according to the colt’s former co-owner George “Bud” Kline, who still follows Premium Tap’s career closely.

Despite jockey Kent Desormeaux only being able to grab on to one side of the reins for almost the entire mile and a half, Premium Tap still prevailed over Impossible Ski, who now races in Saudi Arabia under the name Radae.

Son of Pleasant Tap, “Allam” has won 10 of 22 career starts, with earnings of over $2.5 million.

[Cammie]

Name change?

Saw this earlier on Bloodhorse as well. Pretty impressive that Kent managed to stay on, much less win.

Was very curious about the name changes for both horses though. How would that be handled by the Jockey Club and in Past Performances? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a name change on a horse that was still actively racing. Anyone know?

[Laurierace]

Every horse that races there has his name changed. It will change back if he runs somewhere else, like when he wins the Dubai world cup! (I have all my hopes and dreams riding on the back of my Pleasant Tap yearling colt, so I am a big fan of all his babies)

[Glimmerglass]

I’d love to see video from this race!

[miss_critic]

In searching the internet for this video, I found this picture…I must say, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai looks quite snappy here!

http://www.sheikhmohammed.co.ae/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=13f621ae7c045110VgnVCM1000007064a8c0RCRD&vgnextchannel=cf454c8631cb4110VgnVCM100000b0140a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default&date=1182543411000&type=sports

(btw, didn’t find the video)

I wish they would elaborate on “his reins broke”

[Drvmb1ggl3]

@Cammie;2857273

Saw this earlier on Bloodhorse as well. Pretty impressive that Kent managed to stay on, much less win.

Was very curious about the name changes for both horses though. How would that be handled by the Jockey Club and in Past Performances? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a name change on a horse that was still actively racing. Anyone know?

Horses change names all the time. It’s especially popular in Hong Kong, where all the horses are imported and arrived already named. For some reason the locals more often than not change the names. I think it’s a combination of superstition and the fact that some of the names may sound phonetically improper in Cantonese or Mandarin.
The name change has to be approved by country where the horse was originally registered.
In the case of Allam/Preium Tap, I don’t believe that is a permanent name change, just what he’s called while racing in SA.

[Glimmerglass]

It begs an interesting side question: does Alysheba go by a different name at Janadriyah Stud Farm in Saudi Arabia? I don’t mean a pet or barn name either. On this page is one of the more recent pictures of him from 2005.

[miss_critic]

Thanks for posting that link of the picts.

I wonder if I emailed JERE SMITH, JR. if he could help us find video of the race in question. I’ll give it a try.

[DeeThbd]

I wonder if it would be the same as the following scenario…
Someone I know was tattooing horses at one point, and was once given two bay fillies with no markings to do. The farm told him that this is Horse X and Horse Y. Tattooing takes place. Horse Y goes to race, at some point a racing official realizes this is NOT the horse on the papers. Turned out the farm had mixed them up from day one.
In the racing form, it identified the horse, and in brackets said (raced as *****), I believe with the start date.
SO…perhaps they will identify the former racing name - I think the same thing happened with a horse whose owners greatly disliked his name here in NA (Brocco??? Broccoli??)
Dee

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=DeeThbd;2858819]
I wonder if it would be the same as the following scenario …[/QUOTE]

No, or at least that’s my view of it.

Horses race in Saudi with Arabic names, nothing really else to it. I thought it was something to do with religious respect, etc. When Premium Tap (aka Allam) raced in Dubai in the Spring of 2007 he was entered and raced under the name of “Premium Tap”. (A name which always seemed to suggest alcohol connections a big no no of course.) When he returned he went back under Allam. Nothing terribly sinister or odd if you understand their position on the matters. He’ll race under Premium Tap again if he comes to the 2008 Breeders’ Cup too.

The only time in history someone could’ve been really hurting is if Man O’War raced there under some alias. “I’m racing against who?”

[dressagetraks]

Thanks for that link with the pic of Alysheba. He looks good. One of my all-time favorites, as Derby Day 1987 at Churchill was my first day ever at the races.

Wasn’t there somebody who won the English Grand National once with broken reins?

[Drvmb1ggl3]

@dressagetraks;2859023

Thanks for that link with the pic of Alysheba. He looks good. One of my all-time favorites, as Derby Day 1987 at Churchill was my first day ever at the races.

Wasn’t there somebody who won the English Grand National once with broken reins?

You’re thinking of Fred Winter who won the Grand Steeplechase de Paris in 1962 on Mandarin with no bridle, 4 miles on a figure of eight course with stonewalls, and 8ft bullfinches. Rightly voted the no.1 in the Racing Post’ “100 Greatest Ride” poll.

[dressagetraks]

Holy cow! Yep, the name Fred Winter sounds awfully familiar. Is there video anywhere of that race?

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=Drvmb1ggl3;2859062]
You’re thinking of Fred Winter who won the Grand Steeplechase de Paris in 1962 on Mandarin with no bridle, 4 miles on a figure of eight course with stonewalls, and 8ft bullfinches. Rightly voted the no.1 in the Racing Post’ “100 Greatest Ride” poll.[/QUOTE]

Do I dare say that would be the all-time refence entry if you looked up the phrase “push button horse” Yikes - grab mane and kick on.

[Timex]

@Glimmerglass;2859182

Yikes - grab mane and kick on.

you ain’t kidding!

[Poll_Evil]

I wish I had my programs from the racetrack in Riyadh. I lived there in 2003-2004 and I went quite often that year. Maybe there would be something about name changes in the programs that I could look up and share with everyone. I do remember seeing some English names, but of course I am not sure if those were original names or not.

[WhiteCamry]

@dressagetraks;2859112

Holy cow! Yep, the name Fred Winter sounds awfully familiar. Is there video anywhere of that race?

Not on the net, as far as I know - not even on Youtube!

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=WhiteCamry;2863382]
Not on the net, as far as I know - not even on Youtube![/QUOTE]

Considering it was at the Grand Steeplechase de Paris in 1962 any broadcast footage very likely would be controlled by one of the large European government owned [at the time] media companies - like a BBC. They don’t embrace youtube.com [BBC has been aggressive in having its content yanked] as giving away content on the web is like laying off union employees … it doesn’t happen. Sadly film capturing the grand heroics and amazing test of valor is likely hidden deep in the vaults somewhere, just wasting away.

Amazingly the BBC news report of Red Rum’s death, for example, found on their website is missing (read: the video has been blacked out!) the exceptionally brief clips of him winning the Grand Nations.

[miss_critic]

Premium Tap and Alysheba:
I got an email from Jere Smith and here is what he said:

"The race should be up by sunday.What a race kent rode, showed courage and precents of mind to keep PT focused.The horse seems to be a stone runner too that helped all of us that night.
Ally is doing good. The old boy will get mabe 10 mares this year.Have some three yr oldes that or ok this season.Keep in trouch "

That was really nice of him.
So check back to that site Glimmer posted earlier (post #7) on Sunday hopefully!

[Texarkana]

[QUOTE=miss_critic;2867548]
Premium Tap and Alysheba:
I got an email from Jere Smith and here is what he said:

That was really nice of him.
So check back to that site Glimmer posted earlier (post #7) on Sunday hopefully![/QUOTE]

Wow, that WAS nice of him.