Those beloved battle tested warriors! (Nee "Our Best Man" ..)

[Glimmerglass]

Thread updated as it isn’t just about 10-yr old Our Best Man with over lifetime 100 starts and plugging away with success …

…

For those who have enjoyed “Evening Attire” for still plugging away at his age take a look at Our Best Man (gelding by Runaway Groom).

The big old gray horse’s last race on dirt is avilable on replay (calracing.com/replays.php) from Saturday March 17th at Turf Paradise - Arizona.

The 10-year-old Our Best Man finished a very game third but was leading until the last few furlongs and still came back into it. Yes it was “just” as $4,000 claiming race, but his prior start was less then a week prior - March 11th! In fact he’s already had 5 starts in 2007.

Saturday’s race marked his 109th start. In fact per the DRF, “Our Best Man” began his career in a 3 1/2-furlong race at Canterbury, one day after Lemon Drop Kid won the 1999 Belmont Stakes.

109 starts and he’s still plugging away yet by comparison Smarty Jones retired after just a measily 9 races

[Jessi_P]

We just bought a 10 yo ourselves - Canyon Crook, by Gulch ex a Vice Regent mare. Ran a bang up 2nd Sunday night first time we ran him. Not a lot of wins in his life (only something like 9 wins, but like 17 seconds and 25 thirds). He doesnt like to win but he loves to pick up a check, which is fine with us. Save that condition for next time.

[Texarkana]

That’s awesome, I love to hear about old guys still kickin’ it up out there on the track.

My now 20 y/o OTTB, who basically started my interest and career in racing, ran from 2 to 11. He had 109 starts, 26 wins, 30 some each seconds and thirds. And he was claimed 16 times! :eek: He was a stakes/allowance horse until he was 5. Most of those claims were in the last 3 years of his career. Even at the end he was still running at a claiming price of $12K (and getting claimed)… not bad for an 11 year old with the 2 of the ugliest set bows you’ve ever seen. I was joking that I should enter him in one of the local hunt club’s point to points, after seeing them run last weekend I know he’d still smoke them all barefoot, out of shape, and semi-retired. :lol:

On a side note, I can’t believe the 2 y/os the year Lemon Drop Kid won the Belmont are now 10!! It doesn’t seem like that long ago…

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=Texarkana;2310938]
He had 109 starts, 26 wins, 30 some each seconds and thirds. And he was claimed 16 times![/QUOTE]

That’s a rather good race record if you ask me! He must be a very feisty guy even at 20 today

I’m beating an old drum here but I’m sure some folks look at “Our Best Man” and think the guy deserves a break. Yet what should he be doing other then racing, especially when he likes it and is still competitive? He gets treated well and the respect and applause of fans.

Like the since-retired Rochester, or active Evening Attire, and others there is just something about seeing these old men still putting on a show which makes racing enjoyable regardless if you have a wager on the race or not.

[Barnfairy]

I like to see the older guys keep at it as long as they’re happy and doing okay for themselves.

No plans to bring my “older” guy (the youngest in my barn, actually) out of retirement ;), though I will shamelessly take the opportunity to plug him once more : Rasor D, from 2-10, 130 10-33-21 $214,220 claimed 10 times (from what I can tell)

[Glimmerglass]

110th start with PLACE finish

What can you say - the “old man” still is showing what can be done in race with 9 other entrants and making his 110th start! Fantastic although he was claimed in the race.

Turf Paradise April 14, 2007 Race 9 results

Distance: 1 Mile – Purse: $6,400

Finish , Horse , Jockey , Weight
1 Dances With Eagles , Kenney K 121
2 Our Best Man, Morales A , 119
3 Leading Brave , Vergara D , 121

Claimed: Dances With Eagles by Lebsock Paul J (Lebsock Paul Jr.), Our Best Man by Wern George (Wern Connie), Spider Armstrong by Knudsen Kevin (Racehorse Lonnie C.), Zeetop by Talbot Shawn (Woods Donna Rae)

Also ran: Velziegellaub, Spider Armstrong, Pick Me Buzz, A. K. A. Sparky, Zeetop, Raging Wind and Nice Choice

[Glimmerglass]

Per the race chart from Equibase, the claiming price on Our Best Man was $3,200

[ASB_Stars]

Oldies but goodies…

Many years ago, I rode a hunter named Endow, who had allegedly run 111 times- and his ankles looked like that might have been right. I was told he was by Tulyar, out of a Menow mare…can anyone take a peek? It would be interesting to know… :yes:

Thanks!

[Glimmerglass]

The replay video is available, as are his last 10 or so starts, on:

http://calracing.com/replays.php

Although quirky is the audio track appears to be lost. No really big deal as you just need to look in front for the lovely big gray (‘Our Best Man’) who takes the lead early and only gives it up in the final stretch to ‘Dances With Eagles’, the closer.

[DeeThbd]

One Purpose

Guys, I HAVE to post this one…and as far as I know, he’s still out with the babies at the farm!
http://www.pedigreequery.com/one+purpose (click on the “i” to see his number of starts! Hopefully someone with access would be kind enough to pull up a race record?:lol:
When his owner /trainer was made to retire him, his question was “And what are you going to do about the horses finishing behind him?”
Dee

[flshgordon]

@DeeThbd;2373558

Guys, I HAVE to post this one…and as far as I know, he’s still out with the babies at the farm!
http://www.pedigreequery.com/one+purpose (click on the “i” to see his number of starts! Hopefully someone with access would be kind enough to pull up a race record?:lol:
When his owner /trainer was made to retire him, his question was “And what are you going to do about the horses finishing behind him?”
Dee

WOW!!!:eek:

I love to see stories like that of the good guys racing into their teens and retiring sound. I bet he is quite something in real life!

[Laurierace]

I retired Sylvester Questor mid way through his 13 year old year not because he was sore or uncompetitive but because I got tired of having to claim him back every damn start!

[minnie]

I remember Sylvester. What a grand guy! I didn’t know you owned him. Where is he now? Do you still have him or is he on a retirement farm on a second career?

[BasqueMom]

Back on 2004 or 2005, I saw a horse named Fort Metfield ran at Lone Star
Park. He was drop dead gorgeous and has already $450,000 and won a
$50,000 race that day. Know he raced another year or two–anyone know
if he is still running or what became of him. He was owned by some sort
of partnership out of Arkansas.

[Laurierace]

Sylvester had 9 months of event training while waiting for a spot to open up for him at Lost and Found, the rescue I volunteered for. When a spot never materialized I reluctantly sent him to TRF in Virginia. I say reluctantly because TRF is not very good at adopting horses out and he is definitely a horse who wants a job. Last I heard he was still standing out in the field if anyone wants an event horse…

[suniday]

Old Diesel - another older guy

I had a response typed out and it got eaten, ugh!

Anyway, I got this guy (Old Diesel) just a few weeks off his last race as a 10 year old. He had raced about 70 times and made a modest 90k in his career. He has been a fabulous project! He just loves to work and learn.

He was fortunate to have one owner for most of his racing career who also was known to only race him when he was right. He is so clean for his age and miles.

He and I will begin showing this year. We are hoping to do the Adult Amateurs in a couple of years.

I feel so lucky to have him in my life.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

You think Our Best Man is tough, check out the 11yo Ballycassidy.
As those who watched the Grand National replays will remember he ran in the GN at Aintree last Saturday. He completed about 3 miles before he unseated his rider and then proceeded to gallop on for another mile or so with the pack.
Today, just a week later, he ran in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr, and though he finished down the field coming in 6th out of 23 runners, he still completed the 4m1f, and he was giving away 19lbs to the winner.

In this day and age when the top flat horses seem to need 4 months off between races to recuperate (wimps!!), or their trainers whine like stuck pigs if they have to carry any kind of weight or concede more than 5 or 7lbs, you’ve got to tip your hat to a horse like Ballycassidy.

[catknsn]

I owned Macart, who ran 93 times and had the most perfect, clean legs you’ve ever seen. I rescued her at age 19 and rehabbed her into a short stirrup hunter. She never did take a lame step. Some of them are just built to hold up, and they do!

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Maybe we should change the name of the thread to the oldtimer’s thread, though this guy probably deserves a thread of his own. Spotthedifference won the La Touche Cup over the Banks course at the Punchestown festival today. StheDiff is 14yo and he was carrying 175lbs. He has also won the big the Cross-Country race at Cheltenham, the Sporting Index Chase, on three occasions.

SPOTTHEDIFFERENCE maintained Enda Bolger’s exceptional record in the La Touche Cup with a thrilling victory in the Avon Ri Corporate & Leisure Resort-sponsored marathon.

Bolger was winning the unique contest for the 10th successive year as his popular 14-year-old gelding proved too streetwise for his opponents to justify favouritism at 7-4.

Also successful here in 2004, Spot Thedifference gradually moved into contention and swung for home with a narrow lead over eventual third Star Performance.

Pricking his ears before the last, the JP McManus-owned gelding jumped it safely and kept up the gallop to see off stablemate and 9-1 chance Freneys Well by four and a half lengths, to the delight of the packed grandstand.

Bolger said: "That was great. He is a brilliant horse and I have been very lucky to have had the support of JP over the years.

"I was hopeful coming here, but these are novelty races and anything can happen. He had a good man on board though, and he has plenty of stamina, which is the main thing.
"I was worried at one stage when he was so far back, but the banks slow horses down and once he got into fourth place and was finishing I thought he would be there at the end.

"This is all down to Spot and he has been a great horse for me.

“He might be 14-years-old, but he loves being in training and he loves people - apart from vets - so I don’t see why we should stop with him.”

McManus added: "I have had him since he was five and I have been lucky to have him.

"I’ve had some good horses and they have all been special, but he is very special.

"He had top weight and had to dig deep, but he enjoyed himself out there and loved the ovation he got.

“I’m just pleased to be involved with him.”

Here’s the replay . If you’ve never seen the Banks Course at Punchestown, check it out, it has stone walls, banks and bull finches. Eventers and Foxhunters would find it particularly interesting.

[TB_Fan]

Old Timers - ok, I have to post

I adopted a 17 yr old OTTB six years ago thinking “he’ll be mellow at that age” . I soon learned he had 119 starts (and finishes) and was finally retired at 13. He is now 23 and still going strong. We do little cross rail courses and I swear he aims for the trotting poles. He jumps like they are oxers with ears forward and a spring in his step. I love his spirit and heart. I know why he lasted so long on the track.