Good point. I hadn’t thought of that.
[QUOTE=Texarkana;2926365]
But if Curlin’s racing fate is so up in the air because of his Midnight Cry interest, how are the other Midnight Cry horses still running and training?[/QUOTE]
I’m not aware of any ‘block’ placed on Curlin’s training or running and that holds true for other Midnight Cry owned horses. Steve is still getting paid to train etc. If he was ready to run tomorrow and a race was suited for him then they’d just do it without having to get court permission. It is not like the plantiffs looking to seize holdings of Tandy LLC (Midnight Cry) are objecting to the horses going about their business.
What is more problematic is the breeding aspect.
No farm or syndication group is going to touch any disputed Midnight Cry horse (or those with an interest held by them) until it gets resolved. That might very well have been the reason Curlin has all but missed the window to start breeding this year and forced the hand to lean towards racing at 4.
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;2927076]
That might very well have been the reason Curlin has all but missed the window to start breeding this year and forced the hand to lean towards racing at 4.[/QUOTE]
Oh darn! 
Thanks for the explanation, Glimmer.
I just keep finding myself amazed at the messiness of this whole thing. Really, I should be, but I am. How sad is that?
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;2927076]
I’m not aware of any ‘block’ placed on Curlin’s training or running and that holds true for other Midnight Cry owned horses. Steve is still getting paid to train etc. If he was ready to run tomorrow and a race was suited for him then they’d just do it without having to get court permission. It is not like the plantiffs looking to seize holdings of Tandy LLC (Midnight Cry) are objecting to the horses going about their business.[/QUOTE]
But I wonder who is paying for the board and training of the Midnight Cry horses? It seems like with all the legal mess, their assets would be frozen. Hey, maybe Asmussen can file a lawsuit if they owe money for board and training! :winkgrin:
[QUOTE=ravenclaw;2929148]
But I wonder who is paying for the board and training of the Midnight Cry horses? It seems like with all the legal mess, their assets would be frozen. Hey, maybe Asmussen can file a lawsuit if they owe money for board and training! :winkgrin:[/QUOTE]
I presume the executors of the estate are making the payments. Steve Asmussen did sue already but that was in connection to breeding rights tied into Curlin promised by Midnight Cry.
The 415 plantiffs have been advised that one of the problems (if they hold onto the 20% stake and fail to settle) is the hefty cost of training fees + shipping, entry fees, etc. So they are in a bit of a Catch 22 in so far as they cannot get top dollar for breeding and they could be squeezed if they sit tight during the racing season.
Jess Jackson is (IMO) completely in the driver’s seat on this one. He can mandate that Curlin goes to Dubai and while shipping and board is free the cost for Steve and his crew will escalate.
Haha, now I’m more confused. But oh well… doesn’t really matter.
His last recorded workout - Friday Jan 18th: at five-furlongs in 1:04
Per the Daily Racing Form article of 1-18-08 the sale issue could be resolved in court on Tuesday Jan 22nd:
Senior Judge Roger Crittenden, the new arbiter of the civil case against Tandy LLC, will hear a motion for foreclosure of all assets of the corporation.
If successful, the motion could result in the sale of Tandy’s assets, including Midnight Cry Stables and the 20 percent ownership of Curlin. The foreclosure could mean Jess Jackson would have the chance at becoming the sole owner, or that a more functional minority partnership could take over.
I remember him working a little “slower” up at Saratoga last summer/fall-but I still think they were a few seconds faster than this!
As noted in the Eclipse thread - when Curlin won the HOY, Jess Jackson said he’s committed to running him in 2008 as a 4-yr old.
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;2954163]
As noted in the Eclipse thread - when Curlin won the HOY, Jess Jackson said he’s committed to running him in 2008 as a 4-yr old.[/QUOTE]
THANK YOU, Mr. Jackson! What a wonderful gift to racing fans! :yes:
Well, it’s nice to finally have a decision! Here’s to you in your 4-yr-old year, Curlin 
As expected, Curlin was a nominee for the $6-million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) for March 29.
He is joined by 168 other horses globally: The nominees hail from 11 countries: the United Arab Emirates (78); United States (38); Japan (18); United Kingdom (11); Brazil and France (six); Argentina, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia (three); Macau (two); and Bahrain (one).
Despite being the world’s highest rated horse in training he’ll face the exceedingly strong Premium Tap (aka “Allam”) from (now) Saudi Arabia in that race should he go.
Can I give a woo-hoo for Curlin and Co.?
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;2954163]
As noted in the Eclipse thread - when Curlin won the HOY, Jess Jackson said he’s committed to running him in 2008 as a 4-yr old.[/QUOTE]
He actually went even further and said a 5-year-old campaign is entirely possible. :yes: Essentially, he said that racing needs Curlin to, well, race. Imagine that!
[QUOTE=Beezer;2956237]
He actually went even further and said a 5-year-old campaign is entirely possible. :yes: Essentially, he said that racing needs Curlin to, well, race. Imagine that![/QUOTE]
Where/When did he say that?
Any sale of the 20% stake is on hold …
Associated Press 1-22-08 “Judge won’t order Curlin auction”
Special Judge Roger Crittenden left the door open for 418 people to pursue a 20 percent ownership stake in Curlin later.
The judge made his decision during a 90-minute hearing on Tuesday after concluding that the plaintiffs did not have enough information about the assets of attorneys William Gallion and Shirley Cunningham Jr. to force the auction.
Jackson is considering running Curlin in the Dubai World Cup in March.
“I don’t think the horse is training for no particular reason,” Getty said after the court hearing. “The horse is training because we expect to do something with it.”
[QUOTE=miss_critic;2956451]
Where/When did he say that?[/QUOTE]
Monday, at the Eclipse Awards. Per the Blood Horse:
[i]To a full house Jan. 21 at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, Calif., Jackson said the Smart Strike colt would run at 4, and he didn’t rule out a 5-year-old season, either.
Despite lucrative offers to stand him at stud, Jackson told the crowd he and his family decided “to give the fans and the industry what we need, marketing a hero and a horse that’s bred to endure and that brings stamina, quality, brilliance, and speed for a mile and a half or two miles.”[/i]
An interesting bit of spot on commentary from The BloodHorse’s Dan Liebman (Editor-in-Chief):Jan 22, 2008 “Beyond Past Performances”
excerpt
At races in which Curlin ran, the colt delighted fans with his style, tenacity, and tremendous turn of foot, but it was not uncommon to hear those same fans say they were actually rooting against the horse because of his ownership group.
Despite his race record, if the voting for Horse of the Year was conducted by breeders, it is doubtful Curlin would have won. His majority owner, Jackson, has not endeared himself to members of that group by virtue of his claims that the Thoroughbred auction industry is corrupt.
If Jackson was the victim of unscrupulous acts involving the purchase of horses, that is unfortunate, but it does not mean an indictment of an entire industry is warranted.
Jackson has pushed hard for changes in the auction process, and many of the issues he raised, such as more transparency, are right on track. But his methods, termed bullying tactics by some breeders, leave something to be desired.
…continued …
Many will not rejoice that Curlin has been named Horse of the Year. But do not hold it against the son of Smart Strike. A horse cannot determine its owner and trainer. Let’s face it: if they could, many horses would walk out of their stalls and enter another barn.
