Horse Racing: Churchill to sparkle with next year’s stars (Part 2)
The closing weekend of this year's Fall Meet has lined up some of the very prestigious races that will be run at Churchill Downs. The most interested part of these races that are scheduled for the Thanksgiving weekend is the attention that is being given to the young racehorses or the potential champions of the American Horse Racing industry in general and the Classic races in particular. The starts that will be held at Churchill Downs from Wednesday through Sunday include the Grade II Falls City Handicap, the Grade I Clark Handicap, the Kentucky Jockey Club and the Golden Rod.
“Stars of Tomorrow” will also determine the contenders for the 2011 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks. It is important for the sports analysts and fans not to limit their attention on the stakes events when discussing racehorses that are expected to dominate the 2011 racing season. The second place finisher of Belmont Stakes and third place finisher of the Breeders' Cup Classic, Fly Down won his first race yesterday.
Super Saver was the winner of the 2009 Kentucky Jockey Club, and he then went on to win the Kentucky Derby this year. On the other hand, his half-brother, the racehorse who is WinStar Farm's home-bred brethren, was expected to contend that race this season against the thoroughbred Astrology (the winner of Iroquois that took place on the opening weekend of the meet).
The winner of Pocahontas and trained by John Ward Jr., Dancinginherdreams (the best 2 year old filly known in the country) will not be running in the Golden Rod event of the Fall Meet. She is being considered an early favorite of the Kentucky Oaks. With her withdrawing from the Golden Rod, there are chances that more young racehorses will run in the event without fearing any competition from the two year old champion.
The last day of the Fall Meet will not witness any stakes race. However, an on-track farewell will be given to the champion colt Mine That Bird, the 2009 Kentucky Derby winner. The thoroughbred was not able to win any of the nine starts after his 50-1 blow in the Run for the Roses. Nonetheless, it is expected that a lot of his fans will come to see him at his last public appearance this week. Mine That Bird will be retired to New Mexico.
Some critics of the sports consider the loss of Mine That Bird in the Triple Crown races only a matter of luck and are of the view that the racehorse should not be retired since he has no breeding future. Some are also expecting the racehorse to return to the Kentucky Derby Museum.
Mine That Bird's trainer and co-owners Chip Woolley and Dr. Leonard Blach and Mark Allen are expected to be there at Churchill Downs to rejoice before the upset winner of the Derby will be loaded on the van for the trip back home.
Even though Mine That Bird does not have a perfect record, he is still one of the most important racehorses of the industry and should be given importance as the winner of the Kentucky Derby, a goal that is accomplished by only a few talented racehorses. Thus, on this Thanksgiving, the management of Churchill Downs and the connections of Mine That Bird hope that the fan turnout on the closing day of the Fall Meet on the 28th of November will be huge, to celebrate the achievements and contributions of the colt in the racing industry before he is sent to New Mexico.
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