Sun 4/23 60 Minutes: segment on timber steeplechasing & horse Senior Senator

[Glimmerglass]

A preview clip of the show is here:

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-preview-americas-steeplechase/

Strategically placed cameras capture the exhilarating action, while Charlie Rose provides the wit and reportage, when 60 Minutes goes to the Timber Races – an American version of the Steeplechase. Rose’s story will be broadcast on 60 Minutes Sunday, April 23 at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

http://thehorseofdelawarevalley.com/news/46-timber-racing-to-be-featured-on-cbs-60-minutes-on-april-23

Senior Senator, trained by Joe Davies, is the featured horse in the segment, and TV crews travelled to Davies’s farm in Maryland not only to interview Davies but also to film Senior Senator at home, where he likes to jump out of his paddock.

“Michelle Boniface-St. John is a producer at 60 Minutes,” said Paddy Neilson. “The Bonifaces are an old Maryland racing family, and Michelle has owned at least one steeplechase horse.”

“She got 60 Minutes to do a story on Zenyetta, which was very well received,” Neilson said. “This segment in about how timber racing emanated from foxhunting.”

“TV crews went to the International Gold Cup and to the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup last fall to tape races,” said Neilson.

[pologirl27]

Very exciting exposure, though I am rooting for Imperial Way to win the Hunt Cup for real this time!

[Gestalt]

Those horses are incredible! Are they mainly thoroughbreds and tbred crosses? Are there many crashes? I don’t follow eventing live anymore because of all the horse deaths. But I love seeing horses galloping across hill and dale.

[Hunter_s_Rest]

100% registered Thoroughbreds.
In ye olde days you could run a part-bred but not for 35-40 years could you do that. .

[Hunter_s_Rest]

There are not ‘crashes’. Occasionally a horse will fall. Occasionally a rider will come unglued. It is far from the norm. Steeplechasing, even at the amateur level, is a strictly professional sport, so to speak. This ain’t the fair-circuit half-mile bullring!

[snaffle1987]

this is so much better than flat racing around a dirt track. These horses actually look like they’re having a blast!

[Glimmerglass]

In the US its the timber jumps - in particular the Maryland Hunt Cup’s fences - to me the most daunting of steeplechase obstacles. A true test of nerves, composure and agility. Those are tall fences!

In case you haven’t seen it before, here is the 2016 edition of the famed race …

[video]https://vimeo.com/164924056[/video]

[Gestalt]

@Hunter's Rest

100% registered Thoroughbreds.
In ye olde days you could run a part-bred but not for 35-40 years could you do that. .

When I see incredible horses like these it makes me wonder why so many people trash talk tb’s. My guess is because they can’t ride such talent.

The speed and power over these fences is fantastic, I’m hooked!

[Gestalt]

@Glimmerglass

In the US its the timber jumps - in particular the Maryland Hunt Cup’s fences - to me the most daunting of steeplechase obstacles. A true test of nerves, composure and agility. Those are tall fences!

In case you haven’t seen it before, here is the 2016 edition of the famed race …

[video]https://vimeo.com/164924056[/video]

Seeing this race live just went on my bucket list.

[Xctrygirl]

@Hunter's Rest

100% registered Thoroughbreds.
In ye olde days you could run a part-bred but not for 35-40 years could you do that. .

Timely thread as 45 years ago “Our Ivory Tower,” the granddam of my mare “Genie” aka “Summa Cum Laude,” won the Grand National, which is being contested tomorrow.

In 1996 I rode and ran my mare, “Summa Cum Laude” in point to points but we had entered (and scratched) one NSA appearance. But she was cleared to run in NSA had I wanted. There was a known missing element to the breeding of OIT that was thought to have been some pony in there, since they were all sub 16 hands. My mare had a Tb sire in Chan Balum by Full Pocket. But this does bring the part Tb’s into the picture as recently as 21 years ago with the NSA’s permission.

You can see the Equibase page for OIT here: http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Res…246&registry=T

And here’s her PQ page:

http://www.pedigreequery.com/our+ivory+tower

Emily

[snaffle1987]

What is 2x winner, Twill Do up to these days? Is he still racing or retired now? He was one of the most stunningly beautiful TB’s I have ever seen and he was a gelding ! Sired by Yarrow Brae (euthanized late 2016) who was a Deputy Minister x Miswaki son and out of Wild Again mare.

[gumtree]

Disappointed with some of the people they chose to feature. Leaving out Billy Meister???

[gumtree]

@snaffle1987

What is 2x winner, Twill Do up to these days? Is he still racing or retired now? He was one of the most stunningly beautiful TB’s I have ever seen and he was a gelding ! Sired by Yarrow Brae (euthanized late 2016) who was a Deputy Minister x Miswaki son and out of Wild Again mare.

He’s 17 now. Got hurt a few years ago when a horse T-Boned him in a race. Broke some ribs if memory serves. Never regained his form. He’s been retired since his last start in the Hunt Cup 2015. I think he Fox hunts. I’ll ask his trainer who is a very good friend of mine. His owners the Goelets are great people and have a beautiful farm.

[Glimmerglass]

Worth noting the central horse focused in 60-Minutes, Senior Senator, won today going 3 1/4 miles over those challenging timber fences and is expected to do it again next week in the 121st Maryland Hunt Cup going 4 miles over timber fences:

Senior Senator roared to a 1 1/2-length win in Saturday’s $30,000 Grand National, the middle jewel of the Maryland timber triple crown.

The 7-year-old thoroughbred, owned by Irvin L. “Skip” Crawford II, looked in prime shape for his second straight Maryland Hunt Cup victory next Saturday.

“We’re very pleased,” Senior Senator trainer Joseph G. Davies said. “Knock on wood, he’ll be ready for the Hunt Cup next week.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/h…422-story.html

[charismaryllis]

-bump-

oh, how i loved bloomberg machines…

[Glimmerglass]

@charismaryllis

oh, how i loved bloomberg machines…

I remember being in awe years ago those people who had a terminal and even with everyone having google (and other tools) today I still am.

[charismaryllis]

Well, that was a good piece; timber racing isn’t something i follow, but i’ll have to check out that race next week.

eta: charlie rose nuzzling SS. -giggle-

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/meet-60-minutes-resident-horsewoman/

[Hunter_s_Rest]

That was REALLY good. Super well done.

[Madeline]

That’s my brother. And my nieces. When I told a friend that they were going to be on 60 minutes, his reaction was " Oh God, what did they do?" Thankfully, nothing scandalous…

[Madeline]

http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/meet-60-minutes-resident-horsewoman/
this is a fun add on.