Hmmm, here’s a thought. If it is to be something in the likes of a limited edition wine, what does that do for those of us who have sort of boycotted Kendal Jackson Wines because we don’t like the owner??
Dilemma: get the wine because we love the horse so much? Or skip the wine because we hate the owner so much?
[QUOTE=Kenike;3184473]
If it is to be something in the likes of a limited edition wine, what does that do for those of us who have sort of boycotted Kendal Jackson Wines because we don’t like the owner?[/QUOTE]
Not that I’m a wine snob, but I think his wines are swill, pure and simple just like E&J. I won’t drink it or buy it 
I’m happy with drinking Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc on any given day. Despite the suggestions of it being a family-owned winery in NZ it is actually owned by massive Constellation brands - which acquired it along with Chicago-created Effen vodka. In fact I know a couple of the creators of that latter brand.
Doesn’t sound snobby to me, don’t worry. I’m one who appreciates te GOOD stuff, too. I’m not even sure I’ve ever even had a KJ wine…but given the owner’s, uhh, attributes, I’m fine with that
But what if it IS a Curlin-specific one? hmmm…
As I cited once before, I’ve only found once in a wine store - and that was in Bermuda no less - Steele Stymie - in honor of the legendary horse which made the winery family “wealthy”:
In 1950 Jed’s father, a newspaperman, wagered a bet on Stymie that paid off well. So well, in fact, that the winnings financed the Steele family’s move from New York to San Francisco.
ESPN showed Curlin walking the course - he looked quite lovely.
As for the “news” nothing was cited. Perhaps Jess has reached a settlement on acquiring the minority stake? Nothing is found on the news wires so I can’t think it is anything earth shattering
I guess I’m a wine hick, I’ve always like KJ Chardonnay.
I missed it?? Damn
All because a house in my neighborhood was foreclosed on and the idiots left a cat behind.
Was there actually any big announcement?
It was neat to see Curlin, really like the idea of publicity appearances. But I kept wanting to reach through the screen and straighten out his sheet!
There’s a video of it up on The Bloodhorse, with them rolling out the red carpet and all. 
http://www.bloodhorse.com/videos/Default.aspx?vsid=ED2FF0BE-10C6-4112-9B60-EB466F573DF8
No special announcement that I’ve heard, though.
Interesting bit in the Racing Post about the big red guy. Jess Jackson is starting to sound like the sportsmen of yesteryear. Pretty cool.
CURLIN’S connections are considering an ambitious international campaign for the world’s top-rated racehorse – including the exciting possibility of a trip to Europe to run on the turf in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
The hugely talented four-year-old, last seen inimperious winning form at the Dubai World Cup, paraded in the paddock during Saturday’s Kentucky Derby card at Churchill Downs, where he is stabled with trainer Steve Asmussen’s string.
Curlin, who entered the paddock via a red carpet covering the equine walkway, is likely to run next in the Stephen Foster Handicap, a Grade 1 at Churchill on June 14.
However, owner Jess Jackson raised the idea of trying the best dirt horse in the world on grass, with the Arc one of the targets mentioned.
“I’d love to continue to take Curlin to new places where horses from the United States don’t normally race, like the Arc or the Japan Cup, both for his legacy and well as to plant the US flag just as did in Dubai,” Jackson told the Daily Racing Form.
[B]"I’m a patriot and that was the primary purpose of bringing him to the World Cup. I think we need a little boost for Kentucky, for the USA, particularly in the Middle East. It wasn’t about the money.
“And today I wanted to show him off in Kentucky[/B] ,” added Jackson. “That’s where he was born. Kentucky should be very proud that we’re still the centre of the equine industry worldwide.”
Looks like Curlin will run in the Grade 1, $750,000 Stephen Foster Handicap on June 14 at Churchill Downs … but Churchill is having a very hard time generating any would be foes for the race
Since they’ve announced this over the weekend, I’ve been scratching my head wondering who’s going to show up.
I think the best to hope for is some CA-shippers…
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
Not confirmed he’ll run in the Arc but he’s one of the nominations
DRF 5-10-08 “Curlin tops Arc nominees”
excerpt
The 4-year-old Steve Asmussen-trained Curlin is tentatively scheduled to make his first start since the World Cup in the Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs on June 14, but principal owner Jess Jackson is keen to further enhance his champion’s record by running in more major foreign races. In addition to the Arc, which will be run at Longchamp on Oct. 5 at 1 1/2 miles on turf, Curlin is being considered for the Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse on Nov. 30.
This year is the first time that the Arc, widely regarded as the most important race in Europe, will be sponsored by Qatar, the tiny, oil-rich state on the Persian Gulf 230 miles northwest of Dubai. Their partnership with France-Galop will double the Arc’s purse from 2omillion euros to 4 million euros, which, at Friday’s currency rates, would make the Arc the richest race in the world in U.S. dollars at $6,172,800.
WOOHOO!!!
And did I not say I wanted to see Curlin go to Japan??
I love it when his connections listen to me! :lol:
Jess Jackson deserves a sportsman of the year award. (Never thought I’d utter those words in this lifetime…)
Will Curlin have to run the opposite way in Europe or Japan? And how well do our horses fare when they have to do that?
The Arc is at Longchamp, which is righthanded. It has one big sweeping turn, with a smaller slight turn into the straight.
The Japan Cup (the big one, the one of grass) is run at Tokyo racecourse, which is a 1¼m lefthanded oval, with undulations.
The Japan Cup Dirt moves around, so I’m not sure where it is this year.
I would think that if he went to Japan he would run in the Japan Cup (12f), and not the Japan Cup Dirt(10.5f). The latter does not carry the same cache, he would basically be beating up on Japanese dirt horses which are generally a notch below the the US standard. in the Japan Cup he would be taking on the best Japanese turf horses, which are as good as any in the world, and there are usually top European contenders there also. It’s one of the world’s great races.
Given that few US horses ship, except to Dubai which is lefthanded, there’s not much form to go when it comes to righthanded racing. The Ken McPeek trained Hard Buck did manage a good 2nd in the King George a few years ago going to the right, but he had raced in South America before McPeek brought him to the US, so may have already had experience with running righthanded.
I really don’t think it would be an issue at Longchamp, the turns are very gentle. Here’s a replay of the 2005 Arc to give an idea what it’s like.
A more pertinent question might be how is likely to handle the going. The Arc is often run on soft ground, which would be closer to what would be considered heavy going in the US.
Wasn’t it the Japan Cup where John Henry had the worst performance of his life under trainer Ron McAnally?
I think it is great to continue to race Curlin on the international stage. It far beats doing “little” races like the Foster where he might get at best 2 legit challengers and a few other sacrifical runners.
Solid work this morning before this race a couple weeks out …
June 2, 2008 “Curlin works strongly for Foster”
Working in company with stablemate Sonoma Cat, and with regular exercise rider Carmen Rosas aboard, Curlin was kept closest to the rail when breaking off at the seven-furlong pole on the clubhouse turn. He maintained a slight advantage through splits of 12.95, 25.13, 37.16, 48.92, and 1:00.57, then began lengthening his stride and margin through the final quarter-mile, hitting the furlong pole in 1:12.51 and the wire in 1:24.74 while about six lengths ahead of his workmate. He galloped out a mile in 1:37.74 and 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.67.
The Foster, one of six stakes to be run here June 14, is expected to get only a handful of challengers for Curlin. Among the other prospects for the 1 1/8-mile race are Grasshopper, Jonesboro, Brass Hat, Sam P., and the Asmussen-trained Red Rock Creek. Nominations for all six Foster Day stakes closed Saturday.
Cha’ching
I suppose they’ve bumped this up to keep Curlin on track and also give would-be entrants reason to follow through as the place and show positions still will pay well …
BloodHorse June 4, 2008 “Stephen Foster Purse Could Hit $1 Million”
The Stephen Foster Handicap (1 1/8mi) has carried a purse of $750,000 since 1998. Churchill Downs will supplement the purse for the June 14 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) to $1 million if at least one grade I winner starts in the race.
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