California Chrome to Japan?

[ASB_Stars]

@LaurieB

I’ve never understood the fascination with this particular horse. Is it because he has a lot of white on him?

Last time the public got behind a Derby winner in a big way, it was Funny Cide. But he had a very appealing group of owners who came to the race in a school bus and were tailor made for media coverage. And his following didn’t approach this level of hysteria.

Can anyone explain to me what I’m missing?

I think that it is the combination of the rags to riches angle, and the second coming of Secretariat- color wise, and of course, hope springs eternal…

[halo]

For them to have sold him so early indicates to me that the foals werent up to expectations. Better to sell him now and have him go to an excellent farm, than to wait a year or two and have his value plummet. They covered all their bases, and will be able to come back here when they decide he’s done breeding, to me is a win win for all involved.

[MadeYaLook]

As a fond farewell, we should bring back the Bring Chrome Home thread. The madness has already started on the group on fb. One person commented that because the Japanese eat sushi that Chrome could be exposed to E Coli or Salmonella- I kid you not! 😂😂😂

[Forego]

@LaurieB

I’ve never understood the fascination with this particular horse. Is it because he has a lot of white on him?

Last time the public got behind a Derby winner in a big way, it was Funny Cide. But he had a very appealing group of owners who came to the race in a school bus and were tailor made for media coverage. And his following didn’t approach this level of hysteria.

Can anyone explain to me what I’m missing?

I think part of it is that the Derby winner becomes the most famous racehorse of the year to most people who follow racing casually.
Because Chrome did not retire in his three year old year he had time to build a fan base.

Of course he is also a pretty color!!

[WildLittleWren]

@MadeYaLook

As a fond farewell, we should bring back the Bring Chrome Home thread. The madness has already started on the group on fb. One person commented that because the Japanese eat sushi that Chrome could be exposed to E Coli or Salmonella- I kid you not! 😂😂😂

:lol:

[findeight]

@MadeYaLook

As a fond farewell, we should bring back the Bring Chrome Home thread. The madness has already started on the group on fb. One person commented that because the Japanese eat sushi that Chrome could be exposed to E Coli or Salmonella- I kid you not! 😂😂😂

No,no…I don’t have popcorn and gave my last box of wine to Palm Beach to replace what she spit on her device over my turd racing observation. Need at least a full days notice before the resurrection of that wacky wreck of a really long freight train. Need to prepare.

And, unfortunately, like most of the classic train wrecks, it got pathetic towards the end.

And as far as why they sold him now, his 2020 book was probably far from full even at a discounted fee… it is a business.

[DLee]

@LaurieB

I’ve never understood the fascination with this particular horse. Is it because he has a lot of white on him?

Last time the public got behind a Derby winner in a big way, it was Funny Cide. But he had a very appealing group of owners who came to the race in a school bus and were tailor made for media coverage. And his following didn’t approach this level of hysteria.

Can anyone explain to me what I’m missing?

Ive always been a fan of his (despite his owners) because he truly is a small time breeder big time success story.
I’ll admit I’m disappointed he’s leaving the country, so many people have loved seeing him.
And yes, he has a lot of white, something seriously lacking in my fields. 😂

[Texarkana]

The California Chrome story is a Lifetime Movie of the Week in itself. You don’t even need to give it a Hollywood spin.

Neophytes to racing get into the business with a cheap mare that no one else wanted and breed her to a “local” stallion. These neophytes also happen to be the perfect cast of characters with a boisterous cowboy and a mysterious silent partner.

The resulting foal is not only ridiculously flashy, but they give him a catchy name to suit. They also give their ownership group an equally catchy name: Dumb Ass Partners, and are unabashed in admitting their greenness and ignorance in an industry dominated by old money.

They hire the curmudgeonly yet kind-hearted old trainer from a bygone era who time had forgotten.

They win the freaking Kentucky Derby!!! (which let’s face it, is the only horse race the majority of Americans know exist)

Adversity strikes: losing the Triple Crown, disagreement between partners. Chrome is whisked off to England by the evil silent partner, only to be injured, leaving his future uncertain.

But wait! Chrome comes back and wins again! He saved the day! Happy endings for all! :applause:

Now we even have a ready-made sequel. :lol:

I’m not going to pretend to understand the minds of kooks on the internet. I lived it firsthand with a different horse in a different time and it’s pretty whacked. But… I did and still do find California Chrome to be tons of fun to follow. Quite honestly, I wish we had dozens like him to inspire the masses. It would be nice if the crazies could tone it down a bit, though.

[JohannaStk]

@MadeYaLook

As a fond farewell, we should bring back the Bring Chrome Home thread. The madness has already started on the group on fb. One person commented that because the Japanese eat sushi that Chrome could be exposed to E Coli or Salmonella- I kid you not! 😂😂😂

How can people even think like that? 😂

I think going to Japan will be good for Chrome, he probably fits the Japanese market better than the American one. I am not surprised because I have always had a feeling the Japanese would like him.

[skydy]

@snaffle1987

cashing in before they could end up with less in the investment if his offspring prove sub par.

I am surprised, to say the least, that he is leaving American soil this early. His books were relatively good and he was moderately affordable. I always thought he was a good looking, well built horse who always tried very hard. I quite like his pedigree hes a bit different; but perhaps he wasn’t rich enough for the Kentuckians. I think his pedigree is better suited for turf and he ran well on turf; perhaps he will have more opportunities in Japan. He gets to start a fresh stud career on the other side of the world despite if his foals are failures here. Taylor Made took the money and ran. But if you were a stakeholder in this horse and part of the ownership but didn’t want him sold overseas; you likely got out-voted by those who wanted to cash in. The investors in this horse were in it for the return on investment in a high profile, extremely large earning stallion prospect. At the end of the day; he’s not a living breathing animal but a business deal. That part of the ownership had greater control over the decisions

@LaurieB I think you saw such a craze with this horse because he was good looking, because he was a rag to riches story, and because his story came about in the era of social media frenzy. Funny Cide didn’t. Taylor Made marketed him hard to that crowd to get the interest buzzing. When you garnish a massive following, they bet at the track and everyone wins, or they participate in naming contests, etc involved with the horse and he quickly becomes a household name.

He may be “good looking” to people that aren’t familiar with breeding stock, but as a breeding stallion he had conformation faults and a fairly lackluster pedigree. He didn’t stamp his get, and the few that I saw while watching the sales online were unimpressive. Apparently racehorse owners and breeders agree.

His “massive following” is composed of many non-horsey people and non-horsey people don’t have breeding stock.(How do you “garnish” a massive following?)

The hype surrounding the horse was pre-Taylor Made. They just gave the Chromies what they wanted. I’ve never understood the fixation either.

It will be interesting to see how his get run. I’m hoping they do well.

[skydy]

@Texarkana

The California Chrome story is a Lifetime Movie of the Week in itself. You don’t even need to give it a Hollywood spin.

Neophytes to racing get into the business with a cheap mare that no one else wanted and breed her to a “local” stallion. These neophytes also happen to be the perfect cast of characters with a boisterous cowboy and a mysterious silent partner.

The resulting foal is not only ridiculously flashy, but they give him a catchy name to suit. They also give their ownership group an equally catchy name: Dumb Ass Partners, and are unabashed in admitting their greenness and ignorance in an industry dominated by old money.

They hire the curmudgeonly yet kind-hearted old trainer from a bygone era who time had forgotten.

They win the freaking Kentucky Derby!!! (which let’s face it, is the only horse race the majority of Americans know exist)

Adversity strikes: losing the Triple Crown, disagreement between partners. Chrome is whisked off to England by the evil silent partner, only to be injured, leaving his future uncertain.

But wait! Chrome comes back and wins again! He saved the day! Happy endings for all! :applause:

Now we even have a ready-made sequel. :lol:

I’m not going to pretend to understand the minds of kooks on the internet. I lived it firsthand with a different horse in a different time and it’s pretty whacked. But… I did and still do find California Chrome to be tons of fun to follow. Quite honestly, I wish we had dozens like him to inspire the masses. It would be nice if the crazies could tone it down a bit, though.

You forgot the part about the horrible display of bad sportsmanship on national television by the then part owner, when C.C. didn’t win the triple crown.

[snaffle1987]

@skydy

He may be “good looking” to people that aren’t familiar with breeding stock, but as a breeding stallion he had conformation faults and a fairly lackluster pedigree. He didn’t stamp his get, and the few that I saw while watching the sales online were unimpressive. Apparently racehorse owners and breeders agree.

His “massive following” is composed of many non-horsey people and non-horsey people don’t have breeding stock.(How do you “garnish” a massive following?)

The hype surrounding the horse was pre-Taylor Made. They just gave the Chromies what they wanted. I’ve never understood the fixation either.

It will be interesting to see how his get run. I’m hoping they do well.

there are a good number of ugly duckling stallions standing in stalls in Kentucky. I am not saying Chrome was perfect. He was slightly toed out on a front leg and he was narrow chested. I too, hope they do well. I think they may surprise some people. I do hope that some owners try them on turf as I think they may succeed there; much like we are seeing success from AP runners on turf despite his success on dirt. Some hidden talent there?

The good thing about Chrome is that his following garnished fans. and a lot of them. Something the sport desperately needed. I think Barbaro did the same after his Derby win but things were quickly shattered with his horrific injury. Horses like Chrome are good for the sport. But with that comes uneducated people crying unfairness and animal abuse when things don’t go their way. Those people are viewing the horse as a living breathing pet and not at all of a business deal.

[LaurieB]

@DLee

Ive always been a fan of his (despite his owners) because he truly is a small time breeder big time success story.
I’ll admit I’m disappointed he’s leaving the country, so many people have loved seeing him.
And yes, he has a lot of white, something seriously lacking in my fields. 😂

@DLee , here’s another small time breeder big success story for you: https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/236918/breeder-jim-power-reconnects-with-storm-the-court

It’s about the man who bred Storm the Court, this year’s Breeders Cup Juvenile winner.

[LaurieB]

@snaffle1987

there are a good number of ugly duckling stallions standing in stalls in Kentucky. I am not saying Chrome was perfect. He was slightly toed out on a front leg and he was narrow chested. I too, hope they do well. I think they may surprise some people. I do hope that some owners try them on turf as I think they may succeed there; much like we are seeing success from AP runners on turf despite his success on dirt. Some hidden talent there?

The good thing about Chrome is that his following garnished fans. and a lot of them. Something the sport desperately needed. I think Barbaro did the same after his Derby win but things were quickly shattered with his horrific injury. Horses like Chrome are good for the sport. But with that comes uneducated people crying unfairness and animal abuse when things don’t go their way. Those people are viewing the horse as a living breathing pet and not at all of a business deal.

Second time the word “garnish” has appeared in this thread, and I don’t understand its use either time.

from Dictionary.com

[h=1]garnish[/h] [ gahr-nish ]

SEE SYNONYMS FOR garnish ON THESAURUS.COM [HR][/HR][h=3]verb (used with object)[/h] to provide or supply with something ornamental; adorn; decorate.
to provide (a food) with something that adds flavor, decorative color, etc.: to garnish boiled potatoes with chopped parsley.
Law.

• to attach (as money due or property belonging to a debtor) by garnishment; garnishee: [I]The court garnished his wages when he refused to pay child support.[/I]
• to summon in, so as to take part in litigation already pending between others.

[h=3][I]noun[/I][/h] something placed around or on a food or in a beverage to add flavor, decorative color, etc. adornment or decoration. [I]Chiefly British[/I]. a fee formerly demanded of a new convict or worker by the warden, boss, or fellow prisoners or workers.

[Palm_Beach]

@findeight

No,no…I don’t have popcorn and gave my last box of wine to Palm Beach to replace what she spit on her device over my turd racing observation.

Now you owe me a Pepsi Max.

[skydy]

@snaffle1987

there are a good number of ugly duckling stallions standing in stalls in Kentucky. I am not saying Chrome was perfect. He was slightly toed out on a front leg and he was narrow chested. I too, hope they do well. I think they may surprise some people. I do hope that some owners try them on turf as I think they may succeed there; much like we are seeing success from AP runners on turf despite his success on dirt. Some hidden talent there?

The good thing about Chrome is that his following garnished fans. and a lot of them. Something the sport desperately needed. I think Barbaro did the same after his Derby win but things were quickly shattered with his horrific injury. Horses like Chrome are good for the sport. But with that comes uneducated people crying unfairness and animal abuse when things don’t go their way. Those people are viewing the horse as a living breathing pet and not at all of a business deal.

This post makes no sense whatsoever to me. Again you seem to have no idea what you are saying.

[Palm_Beach]

@snaffle1987

cashing in before they could end up with less in the investment if his offspring prove sub par…Taylor Made took the money and ran. But if you were a stakeholder in this horse and part of the ownership but didn’t want him sold overseas; you likely got out-voted by those who wanted to cash in. The investors in this horse were in it for the return on investment in a high profile, extremely large earning stallion prospect. At the end of the day; he’s not a living breathing animal but a business deal. That part of the ownership had greater control over the decisions

.

You really need to meet some people involved in racing, and spend some time at the race track and at breeding farms. You are so wrong in so many of your opinions, mostly in that you think anyone who runs their horse business like a business is a heartless money grubbing horse hater. If Taylor Made cannot stay financially sound, it becomes a subdivision. There are tough decisions to be made in the horse business. Why don’t you stop passing judgment on an industry of which you are not a part and about people you don’t know.

[ejm]

But if you were a stakeholder in this horse and part of the ownership but didn’t want him sold overseas; you likely got out-voted by those who wanted to cash in. The investors in this horse were in it for the return on investment in a high profile, extremely large earning stallion prospect. At the end of the day; he’s not a living breathing animal but a business deal.

That’s painting with a pretty broad brush unless you work at Taylor Made and have actual access to the names of shareholders and how they voted.

@nelson

I think it’s pretty unfair to the ownership group to jump to this conclusion. Do you know a significant number of the 50 shareholders?

If you take the statement made by Taylor Made at face value (which I have no reason not to), they got an offer for the horse, decided as a group to sell him, and negotiated a contract that protects the horse both in the event that he is resold (with a first right of refusal) and when he is retired (when he will be returned to Taylor Made to live out his days), and keeps his two principal owners (the Martins) in the mix for the totality of his career in Japan.

Back in the day when I worked for a farm that stood some major syndicated stallions, when a legitimate offer was received for a stallion the farm policy was to inform the syndicate members and ask for a vote.

[smoofox]

More wisdom from the overwrought Chromies…

The “SHAREHOLDERS” VOTED FOR THIS, so Duncan agreed! His remark about Chrome having “Thousands of Fans” was such an insult to Chrome! He Has MILLIONS, HELLO!!! The real concern here is the Radiation issue in Japan, that ALL Citizens are FORBIDDEN TO SPEAK ABOUT. Hope the SHAREHOLDERS enjoy their “quick buck” in this sale, because he will NOT REMAIN the Gorgeous Specimen that he is now!! What the Hell do they think his foals will turn out to be??? They have NO idea what radiation will do to them!! Sickening!!!

Ummm yeah. Okay. Because every TB in Japan is afflicted with radiation sickness and all foals are born grossly deformed.

[Where_sMyWhite]

@smoofox all I gotta say is :rolleyes:

I’m in the camp with others that maybe he’ll find a spot in Japan where he’s a good fit vs here in the US. Time will tell one way or the other.