News 4/28/09

Rolex Results
Australian rider Lucinda Fredericks and her 15.3 TB cross Headley Britannia win the 2009 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Second went to Germany's Bettina Hoy and Ringwood Cockatoo, and third went to Buck Davidson and My Boy Bobby.
Story on the USEA website.

Sadly, another horse died at Rolex this year. Kingpin, ridden by Mike Winter, died of natural causes on cross-country.
Story on the USEA website

The Polo Ponies
An overdose of a mineral called selenium caused the deaths of 21 polo ponies in Florida last week, according to the pharmacy that incorrectly mixed a drug meant to alleviate exhaustion, and which instead caused hemorrhaging in the horse's lungs.

This story in last Thursday's Washington Post is chilling, describing a scene where the first horse dies before trainers can even get the trailer open, and veterinarians dressed to mingle at a prestigious polo event struggle to understand and reverse the catastrophic collapse of horse after horse.

Barbaro Statue
A statue of Barbara, the bay colt who drew world-wide attention in 2006 both for winning the Kentucky Derby in a style that excited hopes of a Triple Crown and for his Preakness accident and struggle to recover from a shattered leg, was unveiled at Churchill Downs on Sunday, April 26. Barbaro's owners, Gretchen and Roy Jackson, and trainer Michael Matz were at the dedication of the statue.

AP story and the website of sculptor Alexa King.

Derby News
Two horses slated to run in Saturday's Kentucky Derby have been scratched due to injuries. Quality Road, an Elusive Quality colt, has suffered a quarter crack on a front hoof, while Square Eddie has suffered a shin injury.

Joe Talamo, the somewhat unlikeable star of Animal Planet's series Jockeys is still only a teenager but he's got a mount in the Derby, a colt named I Want Revenge.
Photos on the blog Rock and Racehorses of IWR and Talamo winning the Gotham Stakes last month.

Derby TV
A special called “Run for the Roses; The Kentucky Derby and the Business of Horse Racing" will air on CNBC on Thursday at 9pm.

The cable channel Bravo will air the Kentucky Oaks on Friday at 5pm.
Website for the Kentucky Oaks

Also
A New York Daily News story on safety in Thoroughbred racing, in which trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr. maintains his reputation.

A filly called Raspberry Miss died of shock in a freak accident at Churchill Downs when a runaway colt plowed into her. Graphic video at Backporch.