We knew there would be no Triple Crown Champion when Cloud Computing won the Preakness Stakes. I was surprised that neither he, nor the Kentucky Derby winner, Always Dreaming, were in the Belmont. The only horse to run in all three Triple Crown races this year was Lookin At Lee - who finished second in the Derby and fourth in the Preakness.
Twelve were entered in the 149th Belmont; Epicharis could not pass the veterinarian exam in the morning, and was scratched, so eleven horses went to the starting gate. The race is/was 1 1/2 miles on the main dirt track; the purse was $1.5 million, with $800,000 going to the winner. Meantime led the way out of the starting gate and at the first turn, Hollywood Handsome was caught charging up into traffic, clipped heels, and almost lost his rider. Irish War Cry took over the lead in the back stretch, and looked to be the winner, but Tapwrit came charging up, stayed stride for stride, then passed the chestnut, and won by two lengths in 2 minutes 30.02 seconds. Patch was third; Gormley fourth. Lookin At Lee finished seventh. Hollywood Handsome walked off the track, but had surgical staples applied to a laceration behind his left knee.
If you made a $2 bet to win on Tapwrit, you received $12.60; a $2 place on Irish War Cry paid $4.70; and a $2 show bet paid $6.50 for Patch. A $2 perfecta bet paid $45.20; a $2 trifecta paid $624.00; and a $2 superfecta paid $4,486.00.
Tapwrit won by two lengths over Irish War Cry, who was 5 3/4 lengths in front of Patch, who was 4 1/4 lengths in front of Gormley. This is the full order of finish: 1 - Tapwrit; 2 - Irish War Cry; 3 - Patch; 4 - Gormley; 5 - Senior Investment; 6 - Twisted Tom; 7 - Lookin At Lee; 8 - Meantime; 9 - J Boys Echo; 10 - Multiplier. Hollywood Handsome did not finish; Epicharis did not start.
I apologize for having gotten so lax in keeping this blog up to date. I find myself fascinated by the monkeyshines occurring in the 45th administration, and I keep spending more time in front of the television, instead of the keyboard and monitor. My television is in another room, just so I cannot stare at it and try to type and research... Thursday I watched the testimony of James Comey in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee; Friday, I celebrated my birthday by driving over Trail Ridge Road, through Rocky Mountain National Park (where we saw elk, elk, more elk, moose, and a large variety of birds). Yesterday I tried to catch up on household things, and watch the Belmont.
Today, I'm taking care of three houses full of pets, whose owners are on vacation... I have pet duties through the 29th of June, followed by a few days off (if nothing comes up).
And, of course, I'm also trying to keep up with all the new foals on Assateague Island - the ones belonging to the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. As of last night, there had been 54 births (and 2 deaths)... including a palomino pinto baby born on my birthday to Marsh Mallow.
Sunday, June 11, 2017
Thursday, June 8, 2017
Chincoteague Ponies and Views - Photos
Canada geese
Krackers, a five-year-old, by Surfer Dude, out of Diamond's Jewel
Baybe and Prince's colt (Thanks to DSC Photography)
Sea Feather, a 22-year-old pony, who has books written about her
ET and Puzzle's colt (Thanks to DSC Photography)
Chincoteague Channel sunset, 31 May
Surfer's Riptide, 8-year-old stallion; by Surfer Dude, out of Surf Queen
Belmont Stakes On Saturday - Death of Holy Bull
Jonabell Farm announced this afternoon that stallion Holy Bull, at 26, was euthanized today due to the infirmities of old age. Holy Bull will be buried on Jonabell Farm.
Saturday, 10 June, will see the running of the third leg of the Triple Crown races. Neither of the winners of the Kentucky Derby or the Preakness Stakes will be running in the 1 and 1/2 mile race at Belmont Park. Originally, it was thought the betting favorite would be Classic Empire, who was announced to be training for the race soon after the Preakness. However, Classic Empire developed an abscess in the bulb of his off fore foot earlier this week, and was not officially entered.
Eight of the twelve entries in the Belmont Stakes have run in either the Derby or the Preakness. Here is a list of the entries, their morning-line odds, and their sires and grandsires:
1 Twisted Tom 20 to 1 Creative Cause Giant's Causeway
2 Tapwrit 6 to 1 Tapit Pulpit
3 Gormley 8 to 1 Malibu Moon A. P. Indy
4 J Boys Echo 15 to 1 Mineshaft A. P. Indy
5 Hollywood Handsome 30 to 1 Tapizar Tapit
6 Lookin At Lee 5 to 1 Lookin At Lucky Smart Strike
7 Irish War Cry 7 to 2 Curlin Smart Strike
8 Senior Investment 12 to 1 Discreetly Mine Mineshaft
9 Meantime 15 to 1 Shackleford Forestry
10 Multiplier 15 to 1 The Factor War Front
11 Epicharis 4 to 1 Gold Allure Sunday Silence
12 Patch 12 to 1 Union Rags Dixie Union
Nine of the colts were bred in Kentucky, with Twisted Tom from New York, Irish War Cry from New Jersey, and Epicharis from Japan. All are full males, except for gelded Twisted Tom. Tapwrit is the only grey horse in the field, with four chestnuts and seven bays.
Note that Epicharis was being treated for lameness on Thursday morning.
Saturday, 10 June, will see the running of the third leg of the Triple Crown races. Neither of the winners of the Kentucky Derby or the Preakness Stakes will be running in the 1 and 1/2 mile race at Belmont Park. Originally, it was thought the betting favorite would be Classic Empire, who was announced to be training for the race soon after the Preakness. However, Classic Empire developed an abscess in the bulb of his off fore foot earlier this week, and was not officially entered.
Eight of the twelve entries in the Belmont Stakes have run in either the Derby or the Preakness. Here is a list of the entries, their morning-line odds, and their sires and grandsires:
1 Twisted Tom 20 to 1 Creative Cause Giant's Causeway
2 Tapwrit 6 to 1 Tapit Pulpit
3 Gormley 8 to 1 Malibu Moon A. P. Indy
4 J Boys Echo 15 to 1 Mineshaft A. P. Indy
5 Hollywood Handsome 30 to 1 Tapizar Tapit
6 Lookin At Lee 5 to 1 Lookin At Lucky Smart Strike
7 Irish War Cry 7 to 2 Curlin Smart Strike
8 Senior Investment 12 to 1 Discreetly Mine Mineshaft
9 Meantime 15 to 1 Shackleford Forestry
10 Multiplier 15 to 1 The Factor War Front
11 Epicharis 4 to 1 Gold Allure Sunday Silence
12 Patch 12 to 1 Union Rags Dixie Union
Nine of the colts were bred in Kentucky, with Twisted Tom from New York, Irish War Cry from New Jersey, and Epicharis from Japan. All are full males, except for gelded Twisted Tom. Tapwrit is the only grey horse in the field, with four chestnuts and seven bays.
Note that Epicharis was being treated for lameness on Thursday morning.
Monday, June 5, 2017
Latest Chincoteague Foals
Many effusive thanks to DSC Photography for the use of 5 of their photos!
#51 Carol's Little Freedom and Hoppy foal
#50 Pappy's Pony and Riptide foal
#49 Sonny's Legacy and foal
#48 Ella of Assateague and Prince of Tides colt
#47 Destiny Feathering Spirit and foal
#46 Chickadee and Ace colt
#45 Lady Hook and Tornado's Legacy colt
#44 Surfin' Chantel and Maverick foal
#43 Essie and Maverick colt
#42 Miracle's Natural Beauty and Ajax filly
#41 Cinnamon Blaze and Ken filly
Bits and Pieces
We have flocks of birds visiting the feeders, and Bertrando, the squirrel, is sprawled flat across the top of the telephone pole, soaking up the sun. The skies are blue, with a few high clouds, but the view of the Flatirons, less than 1.5 miles away, is already hazy. I changed my hair color yesterday - it is now a deep burgundy, with purple highlights. I'll keep it this color through the summer, and then go back to being a grey, almost totally white, haired old lady again.
It looks like a very interesting field building up for the Belmont Stakes on Saturday - Patch, the one-eyed horse; Tapwrit, Lookin At Lee, Epicharis, Irish War Cry, Hollywood Handsome, J Boys Echo, Senior Investment, and, possibly, Gormley. The post position draw will be held Wednesday.
One of my client's said she'd be staying at home this summer - she told me that in mid-May. I dropped her off at the airport the third week of May, and picked her up the last week of May; then she flew out on 1 June, and back yesterday. I'll take her to the airport on Friday, and she says she thinks she'll be back around the 24th of June... Of course, it isn't "really" summer until June 21 - but I always think of summer as June, July, and August... I'll have to see what happens in later months. The client's gentleman friend, who is also a client, left on 31 May and returns 7 June, only to leave again on 9 June, with his lady friend. I know he has to be in California in late June - but don't know when he'll return from the 9 June trip. Gotta say that this job is always interesting, and never the same any day! The first client's daughter, who is currently living with her Mom, will be going to a wedding the last weekend of June - and I have been asked to care for the family house and critters for that weekend - but the Mom said she'd be back then - but that's the weekend the gentleman leaves for California - I'll just have to wait and see what happens....
Beatrice, my roommate, is African-American. Her maternal grandmother was a Louisiana Creole named Annie DeClouette. I'm working on her family tree, since we've received her DNA results from 23andMe. I've been able to trace her DeClouette line back the Governor of Bienvienido, Cuba in the 1700s. Her paternal line I have been able to trace back to a slave named Priest Trickles, who was born in South Carolina in 1820. We're heading down to the African-American History Library in Denver today to do more research...
Foals are popping out all over the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island. Although we have lost two of the babies, 51 have been born so far (as of yesterday evening, anyway). The latest was a chestnut pinto sired by Hoppy, and out of Carol's Little Freedom. Thetis and Wild Thing's bay pinto colt (born May 14) is as bold as brass - and bugles challenges to the tour boats full of tourists. He certainly give pony lovers' their money's worth! I also double-checked with the intrepid photography couple, Steve and Darcy Cole, who told me that my buy-back filly, Surfer Princess, has apparently settled into Tornado Legacy's herd. Her previous best buddy, Badabing, is now content with Ajax.
My heart goes out to the people of England - first the vehicular attack outside of Parliament, then the suicide bombing outside the concert in Manchester two weeks ago, and now the vehicular attack on London Bridge with three men then going on a stabbing rampage. Most of my ancestors were from England, and I love that small strong country dearly. London is one of my favorite cities to visit and explore. As the old World War signs stated, "Keep calm and carry on," is the country's mantra - and it's perfect in these times of escalating terrorism.
And, again, the current President of the United States is a complete and total asshole.
It looks like a very interesting field building up for the Belmont Stakes on Saturday - Patch, the one-eyed horse; Tapwrit, Lookin At Lee, Epicharis, Irish War Cry, Hollywood Handsome, J Boys Echo, Senior Investment, and, possibly, Gormley. The post position draw will be held Wednesday.
One of my client's said she'd be staying at home this summer - she told me that in mid-May. I dropped her off at the airport the third week of May, and picked her up the last week of May; then she flew out on 1 June, and back yesterday. I'll take her to the airport on Friday, and she says she thinks she'll be back around the 24th of June... Of course, it isn't "really" summer until June 21 - but I always think of summer as June, July, and August... I'll have to see what happens in later months. The client's gentleman friend, who is also a client, left on 31 May and returns 7 June, only to leave again on 9 June, with his lady friend. I know he has to be in California in late June - but don't know when he'll return from the 9 June trip. Gotta say that this job is always interesting, and never the same any day! The first client's daughter, who is currently living with her Mom, will be going to a wedding the last weekend of June - and I have been asked to care for the family house and critters for that weekend - but the Mom said she'd be back then - but that's the weekend the gentleman leaves for California - I'll just have to wait and see what happens....
Beatrice, my roommate, is African-American. Her maternal grandmother was a Louisiana Creole named Annie DeClouette. I'm working on her family tree, since we've received her DNA results from 23andMe. I've been able to trace her DeClouette line back the Governor of Bienvienido, Cuba in the 1700s. Her paternal line I have been able to trace back to a slave named Priest Trickles, who was born in South Carolina in 1820. We're heading down to the African-American History Library in Denver today to do more research...
Foals are popping out all over the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island. Although we have lost two of the babies, 51 have been born so far (as of yesterday evening, anyway). The latest was a chestnut pinto sired by Hoppy, and out of Carol's Little Freedom. Thetis and Wild Thing's bay pinto colt (born May 14) is as bold as brass - and bugles challenges to the tour boats full of tourists. He certainly give pony lovers' their money's worth! I also double-checked with the intrepid photography couple, Steve and Darcy Cole, who told me that my buy-back filly, Surfer Princess, has apparently settled into Tornado Legacy's herd. Her previous best buddy, Badabing, is now content with Ajax.
My heart goes out to the people of England - first the vehicular attack outside of Parliament, then the suicide bombing outside the concert in Manchester two weeks ago, and now the vehicular attack on London Bridge with three men then going on a stabbing rampage. Most of my ancestors were from England, and I love that small strong country dearly. London is one of my favorite cities to visit and explore. As the old World War signs stated, "Keep calm and carry on," is the country's mantra - and it's perfect in these times of escalating terrorism.
And, again, the current President of the United States is a complete and total asshole.
Thursday, June 1, 2017
Various Photos
First century roof tile with cat paw print, found in Lincolnshire, England
Milky Way over Assateague Life Saving Boathouse
Chincoteague Channel sunset
Black Pearl
Checkers
Wild Thing
This and That...
The bunnies are multiplying! I know that's what they do, but this morning I stepped out and counted 16 baby rabbits the size of my fist playing and eating on the lawn. They are so very cute...
I played the mean old lady this afternoon - the birds near our feeders sounded quite agitated and were darting around as if something was wrong. I stepped onto the balcony and spied a girl, about 8 to 10 years old, wielding a butterfly net, and trying to catch the sparrows and finches. I said, "Excuse me," and she stopped and looked up. I said, "Stop chasing the birds with your net. Catch butterflies or insects with it, but stop trying to catch birds." She was still staring into my eyes, and after a few seconds, said, "What?" I again said, "Stop chasing the birds with your net. If you catch one, it will die, and you will have killed something wild." She said, "But they keep putting food in the feeders so I can play with the birds...." I asked, "Who are 'they'?" She said, "Whoever feeds the birds." So I told her that I had purchased the feeders; I bought the seeds, nuts and berries; I kept the feeders full, using my personal income; and I did not do it so the girl could terrorize the birds while they were eating and trying to feed their babies. She told me she liked to do it. I told her to buy her own feeders and keep them filled, and then she could chase the birds at her feeders all she wanted. She kept staring at me, and finally walked away very slowly...... So I've kept checking the feeders since then.
Forty-seven new foals on the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge at last count.
And the winners of both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes will not compete in the Belmont Stakes on 10 June. Other horses who raced in both races will return, along with a few newcomers.
Finally: I have been watching in disbelief as the new Presidency has been bringing wreckage and ruin to our nation. The man occupying the President's office was not elected by a majority of Americans - he lost by more than 3 million votes in the popular election. Then the Electoral College failed to do it's duty and sent this joke on to the Oval Office. After making the United States of America a laughing stock throughout the world with blunder after blunder, after being a boorish bully with NATO, after the Pope called him fat, after the Saudis praised him - after a $110 billion arms deal - and then traveling to Israel and saying that he'd just returned from the Middle East, the orange idiot has declared that the United States is "withdrawing" from the Paris Accord on Climate Change. This person does NOT represent me in any way, shape or form. He, and all of his administration, including his dear family, need to be impeached, tried, and incarcerated. He totally disgusts me.
I played the mean old lady this afternoon - the birds near our feeders sounded quite agitated and were darting around as if something was wrong. I stepped onto the balcony and spied a girl, about 8 to 10 years old, wielding a butterfly net, and trying to catch the sparrows and finches. I said, "Excuse me," and she stopped and looked up. I said, "Stop chasing the birds with your net. Catch butterflies or insects with it, but stop trying to catch birds." She was still staring into my eyes, and after a few seconds, said, "What?" I again said, "Stop chasing the birds with your net. If you catch one, it will die, and you will have killed something wild." She said, "But they keep putting food in the feeders so I can play with the birds...." I asked, "Who are 'they'?" She said, "Whoever feeds the birds." So I told her that I had purchased the feeders; I bought the seeds, nuts and berries; I kept the feeders full, using my personal income; and I did not do it so the girl could terrorize the birds while they were eating and trying to feed their babies. She told me she liked to do it. I told her to buy her own feeders and keep them filled, and then she could chase the birds at her feeders all she wanted. She kept staring at me, and finally walked away very slowly...... So I've kept checking the feeders since then.
Forty-seven new foals on the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge at last count.
And the winners of both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes will not compete in the Belmont Stakes on 10 June. Other horses who raced in both races will return, along with a few newcomers.
Finally: I have been watching in disbelief as the new Presidency has been bringing wreckage and ruin to our nation. The man occupying the President's office was not elected by a majority of Americans - he lost by more than 3 million votes in the popular election. Then the Electoral College failed to do it's duty and sent this joke on to the Oval Office. After making the United States of America a laughing stock throughout the world with blunder after blunder, after being a boorish bully with NATO, after the Pope called him fat, after the Saudis praised him - after a $110 billion arms deal - and then traveling to Israel and saying that he'd just returned from the Middle East, the orange idiot has declared that the United States is "withdrawing" from the Paris Accord on Climate Change. This person does NOT represent me in any way, shape or form. He, and all of his administration, including his dear family, need to be impeached, tried, and incarcerated. He totally disgusts me.
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