NEWS
Finish lines: Notes from around the Thoroughbred world
Posted: Saturday, October 05, 2002
-- The Aga Khan Studs recently launched a Web site highlighting its five stallions—Daylami (Ire), Kahyasi, Kalanisi (Ire), Sendawar, and Sinndar—the studs, horses for public and private sale, as well as the current news of the Aga Khan's horses in training.
Clickable horses appear in green throughout the various sections of the site and the hyperlinks provide details of the selected horse, including photos, pedigrees, race records, and progeny. The Web site can be accessed at
http://www.agakhanstuds.com
--Jockeys Robert Colton, William Hollick, and Joe Rocco Jr. are at Universal Studios in Hollywood filming the upcoming movie Seabiscuit: An American Legend. Colton is among ten riders who will do most of the actual race riding in the film, while Rocco and Hollick have more prominent roles. Colton said they would have a fight scene. "They are going to fight on mechanical horses and real horses," he said. "You will probably be able to see their faces and they will probably have a couple of lines." Hollick expressed his excitement about being a movie star and explained his role in the fight scene with Rocco: "I could not believe [I got the part]. I've got to hit him with the whip and the whole works." Said Rocco: "I had to jump at the chance."
--Black Ruby is back. The celebrity mule returns to the racetrack on Sunday for the seventh running of the $10,000 Fresno AMR Gold Cup at Fresno, and Television Games Network will air the race. Ten-year-old Black Ruby will try to improve her 61-win career record in the 440-yard dash. She has lost only twice in her last 29 starts, both times to arch rival Taz, who is among seven rivals expected to take her on. "Black Ruby has progressed from being just a racing attraction to becoming a sports icon," said TVG Vice President and Executive Producer Tony Allevato. "TVG will continue to follow her exploits as she once again continues to demonstrate that she is the best ass in the country."
--Devil's Honor, winner of the 1996 Pennsylvania Derby (G3), has a new career as a steeplechaser and will be honored at Philadelphia Park as part of "Pennsylvania's Day at the Races" at Philadelphia Park on Monday, when the Bensalem, Pennsylvania, track hosts two steeplechase races. He will start in the day's fifth race, a $20,000 optional claiming hurdle. Now trained in Maryland by Jack Fisher for owner Warren Dempsey, Devil's Honor won nine races and nearly $800,000 in his career on the flat campaigning for Noreen Carpenito and trainer Walter Reese. He spent time in a horse-show barn in Kennett Square before being purchased by Dempsey. "It's a second career, and he likes to compete," Fisher said. "He's not done. Obviously, running a horse like him for $5,000 wouldn't be the thing to do, so he's doing this. Monday's race is a little tough for him, but he's got a chance. Maybe he'll realize he's back at Philadelphia Park and win for everybody." Bred in Pennsylvania by Mrs. Henry D. Paxson, Devil's Honor is by Devil's Bag out of the Hero's Honor mare Dancing Heroine. On Friday night at the track, Mrs. Bernard Daney's Docent won the Devil's Honor Handicap, a seven-furlong event race for three-year-olds and older, by 7 3/4 lengths.
--This year's renewal of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) has led some Turf scribes to recall Dancing Brave's win over Bering (GB) and Triptych in the 1986 edition of the race. Garry Owen of England's Daily Record said "the parrot-mouth champion destroyed his rivals with a devastating turn of foot in one of the strongest renewals ever assembled for Europe's richest race." The son of Nijinksy II was trained by Guy Harwood, who has turned over his Coombelands Racing Stables to his daughter, Amanda Perrett. During his career, Harwood, now 63, trained such stars as Warning (GB), Kalaglow, and Rousillon. He now oversees his string of "upmarket vehicle dealerships" in the south of England.
