In Memoriam 2013

[Dusty]

Gameboy Luke broke down in the 4th race at Santa Anita - RIP buddy - 3 year old by Zensational - sad

[The Tin Man]

Gameboy Luke broke down in the 4th race at Santa Anita - RIP buddy - 3 year old by Zensational - sad

Luke's breakdown was particularly graphic ... Very demoralizing to see ...

He was a pretty solid horse who seemed to be on the upswing. Damn shame to lose him or any of the kids ...

He always impressed in the paddock and post parade. He was quite the looker. I've attached a few pics of him ... Click on them to make them bigger ...

This is him leaving the track after his prior race to his fateful one. The pic is from March 22nd.

Career Statistics:

•Starts: 5
•Firsts: 0
•Seconds: 0
•Thirds: 1
•Earnings: $13,490




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[The Tin Man]

Luke leaving the track on March 8th ...

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[The Tin Man]

Luke leaving the paddock on March 8th ...

[The Tin Man]

Luke leaving the track after his debut race at Hollywood Park on November 24, 2013 ...



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[The Tin Man]

Vicki Victoria lost her life last Thursday or Friday on the training track at Santa Anita after her workout. Apparently suffering a fatal heart attack ...

I remember seeing her 1st race as a 2 year old at Hollywood Park. She was ALWAYS a tough, gritty runner who always gave her all ... She also had a VERY nice record ... Finishing in the trifecta in 14 of 19 career starts ...

She was set to run in an Allowance/Optional Claiming race at SA this coming weekend after her very impressive win last out.

Career Statistics:

•Starts: 19
•Firsts: 4
•Seconds: 6
•Thirds: 4
•Earnings: $201,580

Here is a pic of her leaving the track after her win in her last race at SA on April 27th ...

[The Tin Man]

Vicki Victoria in the paddock before her last race on April 27th ... She usually wore blinkers ...

[The Tin Man]

Nice frontal of her pretty face while leaving the track on February 1st of this year ... A 2nd place finish ...

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[Dusty]

Vicki Victoria lost her life last Thursday or Friday on the training track at Santa Anita after her workout. Apparently suffering a fatal heart attack ...

I remember seeing her 1st race as a 2 year old at Hollywood Park. She was ALWAYS a tough, gritty runner who always gave her all ... She also had a VERY nice record ... Finishing in the trifecta in 14 of 19 career starts ...

She was set to run in an Allowance/Optional Claiming race at SA this coming weekend after her very impressive win last out.

Career Statistics:

•Starts: 19
•Firsts: 4
•Seconds: 6
•Thirds: 4
•Earnings: $201,580

Here is a pic of her leaving the track after her win in her last race at SA on April 27th ...

This one hurts (A LOT) REST IN PEACE - What a shock

[The Tin Man]

This one hurts (A LOT) REST IN PEACE - What a shock

Sorry Dusty ... 

Did you follow her?

[Dusty]

Sorry Dusty ... 

Did you follow her?

I did... she had heart!

[The Tin Man]

I did... she had heart!

That she did ... Very gritty girl.

A friend of mine owned her. They had high hopes for her.

Glad to know you appreciated her efforts. Sometimes I wonder if some of them even had fans, as they give their lives.

[The Tin Man]

After failing to fire in the 2nd race at Santa Anita today(Very unusual for him) ... On the way back ... Big Note planted his feet ... refused to move ... then kneeled down in front of where I was standing(having taken a pic of him instants before) ... then died ...

VERY heartwrenching to see as he was truly one of my favorites.

Evidently he had a cardiac event ... He just kneeled down on all 4 knees, as they hosed him down and then green-screened and injected him ...

Something I won't forget ... I was hoping it was just that he was over-heated and that he'd be ok ... 

This guy came from Europe ... dropped down the claiming ranks here ... worked himself back up the ranks ... and was in an Allowance/Optional Claiming race today ... He'd hit the Super 14 of 16 races in SoCal ... and the exacta 10 of 16 here ...

He was a true beauty and as honest a horse as you could ever want ... gave his all every time out ...

He will truly be missed. He was a credit to the game and honestly, truly, one of my very favorites out here ... a TRUE REAL racehorse.

It was a horrible event seeing him go like that ... one I won't ever be forgetting.

Career Statistics:

•Starts: 28
•Firsts: 6
•Seconds: 8
•Thirds: 1
•Earnings: $153,644


Of the pics I have, this one captures his true beauty and magnificence best ... (Click on it to make it bigger)

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[The Tin Man]

Here is a pic of Big Note before his prior win on April 6th ...



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[Catalina]

After failing to fire in the 2nd race at Santa Anita today(Very unusual for him) ... On the way back ... Big Note planted his feet ... refused to move ... then kneeled down in front of where I was standing(having taken a pic of him instants before) ... then died ...

VERY heartwrenching to see as he was truly one of my favorites.

Evidently he had a cardiac event ... He just kneeled down on all 4 knees, as they hosed him down and then green-screened and injected him ...

Something I won't forget ... I was hoping it was just that he was over-heated and that he'd be ok ... 

This guy came from Europe ... dropped down the claiming ranks here ... worked himself back up the ranks ... and was in an Allowance/Optional Claiming race today ... He'd hit the Super 14 of 16 races in SoCal ... and the exacta 10 of 16 here ...

He was a true beauty and as honest a horse as you could ever want ... gave his all every time out ...

He will truly be missed. He was a credit to the game and honestly, truly, one of my very favorites out here ... a TRUE REAL racehorse.

It was a horrible event seeing him go like that ... one I won't ever be forgetting.

Career Statistics:

•Starts: 28
•Firsts: 6
•Seconds: 8
•Thirds: 1
•Earnings: $153,644


Of the pics I have, this one captures his true beauty and magnificence best ... (Click on it to make it bigger)

I am so very sorry you had to witness Big Note's agony, TTM.  He was a very handsome horse who always gave his best.