Steeplechasing 101?

[Glimmerglass]

Looks like 2008 will be a good year for further expansion of the NSA

TB Times 11-30-07 “Steeplechase purses rise to record levels in 2007”

excerpts

Total purses for steeplechase racing in 2007 reached a record $5,357,645, up 10.5% from last season, according to the National Steeplechase Association.

The average race purse of $26,655 was also a record, up $4,112 per race from 2006, according to the organization’s year-end statistics.

Despite a decline in the number of National Steeplechase Association owners, trainers, jockeys, and horses in 2007, Gallo said there is framework for a plan that would boost purses and attract new participants to the sport.

"Palm Beach in Florida is looking to have a meet [March 16] and that would change the dynamic of the early part of 2008.“Kentucky Downs [in Franklin, Kentucky] has expressed interest for next fall, and, although nothing is set, we are hoping to have a few races there on opening day in September. Penn National [Race Course] has shown interest and we would like to have a few more races over the summer at Philadelphia Park, in addition to what we currently have there.”

[Drvmb1ggl3]

@Drvmb1ggl3;2824756

Kauto Star is back to winning ways, taking the BetFair Chase at Haydock on Sat, though Exotic Dancer made him work for it at level weights (161lbs).

Well, he’s got a serious challenger, Kauto beware!

Denman just slaughtered the field in the Hennessey Gold Cup at Newbury yesterday, carrying 11-12 (166lbs) and giving away 10lbs to the next highest weight, and 15-25lbs to the rest of the field. Absolutely dominating performance, the replay.

Such was his performance that several of the top bookies have made Denman joint-fav with Kauto Star for the Gold Cup at Cheltenham. Both horses are trained by Paul Nicholls, who announced post race that both horses will kept apart until the big day in Cheltenham in March. Kauto Star’s next assignment is the King George at Kempton the day after Christmas while his stablemate will cross the Irish sea to run in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown the following day.

Man, it must be some thrill to have two horses of that quality in your yard.

[Glimmerglass]

2007 Eclipse winner Photography

Warrenton, VA based photographer Douglas Lees takes his 2nd Eclipse Award for Photography

Lees is a really nice guy, with great eye for those very engaging shots, who I’ve done business with when I was going to do a magazine a few years ago. Kudos to him!

The 2007 Elcipse Award shot is a rather nasty looking spill.

The photo, taken Oct. 20, is of jockey Will Haynes and his mount, Navesink View, tumbling over a fence at the International Gold Cup at Great Meadow Race Course in The Plains, Va. It appeared in the sports section of the Fauquier Times Democrat on Oct. 24.

[Barnfairy]

Nothing against Douglas Lees or his work…but I don’t care for that photo. Congrats to him all the same on the Eclipse, though. That’s quite an honor.

I prefer these steeplechase-themed photos (which I found in the ST publishing photo gallery, all by Tod Marks):

Footlights

Adam Helders manages to hold on in Springdale

Making sure McDynamo is McDynamo

[Dinah-do]

I have not read this entire thread so maybe this horse has been mentioned - maybe not. I have a canadian filly whose grandsire is Run Softly. I have heard he sires chasers. Anyone heard of him. He stood in Virginia at one time.

[Glimmerglass]

@Barnfairy;2884389

…but I don’t care for that photo. Congrats to him all the same on the Eclipse, though. That’s quite an honor.

I have to concur that while its shocking and an amazing ‘caught’ image I think the Eclipse should be a bit more positive if that makes sense. The one last year I believe was the leaping horse in a fully tucked position - front and rear - in a perfect levitated state about 4’ off the ground after being spooked. It was a true “wow, oh wow” type shot.

I’ve seen some really neat pics this year from one snagged with Rags to Riches edging out Curlin at Belmont to relatively unknows just looking great.

A couple years ago there was a steeplechase shot from a Virginia race where the horse did a full flip while not racing - the image caught the horse in mid-twist with the saddle still on. It was a killer shot but outside of the Fauquier Times Democrat giving it recognition it didn’t get national notice.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

It’s that time of year, the day after Christmas, or St Stephen’s day/Boxing day, when the King George VI Chase, big mid-winter chase is held at Kempton.
Chasing’s crowned prince, Kauto Star will be taken on by 6 rivals in his attempt to repeat last year’s dominant victory, when he firmly announced his arrival as jump racing’s next big thing. This is also the 2nd leg of the Betfair £1m ($2m) bonus, which of course he won last year. Kind of amazing to think this horse is only a 7yo and has over $4m in earnings, he still has a good 3 or 4 years of racing in him so he could be off the charts if continues his winning ways.
The field is small, but full of quality, and includes Exotic Dancer who got to within a half a length of him last time out at Haydock.

King George VI Chase
3m, chasing fences
G1, 4yo+
£220 (~$440k)
All horses carry 11-10 (164lbs)

1. Exotic Dancer
2. Hi Cloy
3. Kauto Star
4. My Way de Solzen
5. Our Vic
6. Racing Demon
7. Taranis

[Drvmb1ggl3]

The King George gets the headlines, but it’s only one of several big races that happen in the holiday period between Chrirtmas and New Years.

KS’s biggest challenger to his chasing crown, his stablemate Denman, is taking a short boat ride and will be in action on Friday in the Lexus Chase (G1, 3m, $400k)at Leopardstown.
Meanwhile on Thursday the Welsh Grand National (G3, 3m6f, $200k) will take place at Chepstow, a Handicap Chase over a 3¾ mile mid winter slog in the mud.

There’s also a couple of big hurdle races on, the Christmas Hurdle (G1, 2m, $220k) at Kempton will include the likes of Harchibald and Straw Bear, while the Irish version of the Christmas Hurdle is run at Leopardstown on Fri.

[Glimmerglass]

spoiler ___ wins King George Chase

I’ll await someone to post youtube.com

[Drvmb1ggl3]

You guys have to see this replay. Just WOW… a class apart. Jumping for fun is about right

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=Drvmb1ggl3;2891413]
You guys have to see this replay. Just WOW… a class apart. Jumping for fun is about right[/QUOTE]

Still not posted on youtube.com - is there another outlet for the replay?

[Parminch]

The picture that won the Eclipse award is of my 17 year old nephew! We watched the youtube of it over and over at Thanksgiving. It is quite a fall. Both he and the horse were fine. He rode in the next race.

[JER]

The replay.

Excellent race. I know Taranis had a career-ending injury but does anyone know if My Way de Solzen is ok?

[Calico]

Thanks for the link, JER. My Way was walking around fairly normal afterwards. I don’t think it’s yet clear why he was pulled up - looked like he never started the race.

But Kauto Star couldn’t have been having more fun, what a treat to see!

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Some info on My Way de Solzen and Tiranis from the Racing Post.
MWdS does seem to have gone off the boil somewhat, he looked to be up and coming star last year. Good news on Tiranis, looks like he’ll make it, though he’ll probably never race again. I’d rather hear career threatening than life threatening, which is what they were saying after the race yesterday.

ALAN KING remained mystified on Thursday as to why My Way De Solzen ran so poorly in the King George VI Chase.

The 2006 World Hurdle winner, who returned to Cheltenham to win the Arkle Trophy this year, was a 13-2 chance to return to winning ways at Kempton after finishing out of the frame for the first time in 13 starts in the Betfair Lancashire Chase.

However, he was to post back-to-back lacklustre efforts and was pulled up before the 13th, having made a mistake three flights earlier.

King initially described himself as “shellshocked” by My Way De Solzen’s disappointing run and on Thursday he said he was no more the wiser as to his poor display.

King, who nominated a left-handed 2m4f race as the ideal next target for My Way De Solzen, said on Thursday: "He seems fine this morning, and nothing obvious has come to light. We have taken blood tests today and we should get the results in a day or two.”

Taranis was on Thursday reported to be “comfortable” after sustaining what are believed to be career-threatening injuries in the King George.

Trainer Paul Nicholls said on Thursday: “Taranis is obviously a bit sore today, but he got back last night, he is in his box and he is very comfortable. As to the extent of the injury, we won’t know until we do a bit more investigation next week.”

[Glimmerglass]

JER thanks for posting the link! A wonderful ride for Ruby Walsh and as was hinted last year, KS has become an excellent runner.

I must admit that Ruby (from Kill, County Kildare) is one heck of a hard person to understand when he talks. Like the interviewer I was straining to understand the lad. None of that matters when he rides as that is understandable in any language!

[Drvmb1ggl3]

In other news, a fantastic finish in the Welsh National at Chepstow, with Miko de Beauchene holding off last year’s winner, Halcon Genelardais by a HEAD, after almost 4 miles. A fantastic performance by the runner up considering he was giving away 21lbs to the winner in this handicap race.

Btw, the number of top French bred horses these days in the Chasing ranks is truly amazing, they really are starting to take over from Irish-breds as the premier chasers. Too much emphasis on speed in Irish National Hunt breeding these days methinks, which is reflected in the Irish domination of the Hurdling ranks. Double edged sword I suppose.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

@Glimmerglass;2894621

JER thanks for posting the link! A wonderful ride for Ruby Walsh and as was hinted last year, KS has become an excellent runner.

I must admit that Ruby (from Kill, County Kildare) is one heck of a hard person to understand when he talks. Like the interviewer I was straining to understand the lad. None of that matters when he rides as that is understandable in any language!

Now you know how people on the right side of the pond felt during Calvin Borel’s post KD interview!! :lol::lol:

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Replay of the Welsh National at Chepstow.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

And then it was Denman’s turn.
Kauto Star’s stablemate, Denman (btw these horses are stabled right next to each other in Paul Nicholl’s yard), dismissed his rivals handily in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.
This is setting up for a juicy Gold Cup at Cheltenham in March.

From the Racing Post…

Denman destroys Lexus rivals

DENMAN led all the way to win the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown in the style of a top-class performer.

Ruby Walsh set only a steady pace on the 4-9 favourite, closely tracked by last year’s winner The Listener, but quickened the tempo with half a mile to run.

Denman soon asserted and was not pressed in accounting for Mossbank by four lengths, with The Listener third.

Walsh was content to make the runningon the Paul Nicholls-trained Hennessy winner, while Daryl Jacob employed slightly different tactics this time on The Listener.

Mossbank, who travelled well throughout, loomed up large on the final bend to lay down a challenge but Davy Russell’s mounthad no answer to Denman’s striking turn of foot going to the last.

The Listener ran like he would be better suited to stepping back down in trip, while L’Antartique and State Of Play were never competitive.

Three-time race winner Beef Or Salmon stayed on after the last and was far from disgraced.

Denman was left unchanged at 2-1 with VC Bet for the Cheltenham Gold Cup while Mossbank was cut to 33-1 from 50s. The Listener was pushed out to 50-1 from 33s.

Stan James opted to cut the winner to 7-4 from 2-1.

Nicholls said: "That is what I expected really.

"Ruby said this is a hard track to go out and make all, but it was fairly obvious after the first that they weren’t going much pace so he let him bowl along.

"I was slightly worried by the lack of pace but I don’t know the track as well as Ruby, so I left it entirely to him and he was always going to gallop all the way to the line.

"When he won at Newbury the last day he knew he’d had a race, but he’s hardly blowing today so he was that much straighter and it was perfect.

"The Aon (at Newbury on February 9) would be a possibility next and he will have an entry back here in the Hennessy (February 10), but nothing is set in stone. I have options and will sort them out later.

“Hopefully he will end up at the Gold Cup and, like Kauto Star, will have one more run before.”

Here’s the replay of the Lexus Chase.