California Chrome

2023 Hall of Fame Finalists Announced

North America's richest horse Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) is among the nine equine finalists for the 2023 National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame class. Additionally, six trainers and one jockey account for the 16 total individuals who will make up the ballot, which will be chosen by the Museum's Hall of Fame Nominating Committee. The other finalists are Blind Luck (Pollard's Vision), California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit), Game On Dude (Awesome Again), Havre de Grace (Saint Liam), Kona Gold (Java Gold), Lady Eli (Divine Park), Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy), and...

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FTHA Honors 2022 Award Winners

The Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association held its annual General Nominating Meeting and Awards Dinner Jan. 7 at Gulfstream Park, hosting more than 100 guests at Ten Palms. FTHA President Joe Orseno, completing his first term in the role, provided the assemblage with a look back at an eventful 2022. The culmination of the evening was the presentation of the 2022 FTHA Awards. Host Ron Nicoletti announced the winners in 11 categories, including the newly added Champion Tapeta Horse and Champion Tapeta Filly/Mare. Raina Gunderson was chosen as the 2022 "Person...

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R.A.C.E. Fund Auction Opens May 13

The Retirement Assistance and Care for Equines Fund will launch its 2022 fundraising drive with an online auction opening on eBay May 13 at 8 p.m. ET and ending May 20. Featured items include: halters of California Chrome, Mohaymen, Serena's Song, Cairo Prince, Keen Ice, Groupie Doll, Yoshida, Quality Road and Medaglia d'Oro. Other items to be auctioned are farm tours donated by Three Chimneys and Darby Dan, horse shoes worn by Tapit and War Front, and signed pictures by Hall of Fame jockey Calvin Borel. More information about the...

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Duncan Taylor: With Him, You've Been Family, Part II

Taylor had worked Saratoga one summer for the pioneering Lee Eaton and, as early as 1978, dipped a toe in the same water. A first seven-yearling consignment at Keeneland included a first stakes winner—since followed by 126 Grade I winners raised or sold, including 10 last year alone. "It was a natural extension of what we were already doing: a lot of customers you boarded for needed to sell," Taylor says. "And I thought, well, if Lee Eaton could sell a horse for $100,000 and make $5,000, that's more than...

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California Series: Art Sherman, Part II

In part one, Art Sherman discussed his foundational years as a horseman and trainer. Here, he talks California Chrome, managing injuries and the evolving nature of the industry. The large, cobwebbed and straw-scattered stall brimmed floor to ceiling with a pirate's bounty of backstretch riches. Towers of scrubbed feed buckets, a soldier's row of saddle horses stacked high with sheepskin pads and saddles worn thin at the knees, electric fans lacquered with thick dust, patched-up horse blankets chewed at the shoulders, girth sleeves tossed over doors, bridles and martingales and...

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Insights: Half to Bast Debuts at GP

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 6th-GP, $60K, Msw, 3yo/up, 6f, 2:56 p.m. ET Well-related UNEXPECTED (California Chrome) makes his debut here for trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. and the Chu family's Baoma Corporation, which also campaigned his MGISW half-sister Bast (Uncle Mo). A $500,000 FTSAUG '18 yearling, Bast was a frequent visitor to California winner's, scoring victories in the GI Del Mar Debutante S., GI Chandelier S., GI Starlet S. and the GII Santa Ynez S. in her final career start. She was also a stubborn third in the GI Breeders'...

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The California Series: Art Sherman

   In this TDN series, we curry lessons and wise counsel from veteran Californian figures who, like gold nuggets panned from the Tuolomne River in the High Sierras, have unearthed career riches on arguably the toughest circuit in the States.    The series started with John Shirreffs and continues here with Art Sherman, son of a barber who would go on to train, for a period, the richest horse in history. Last month, Sherman announced his retirement. His last runner is expected this weekend. The golf cart plunges out of...

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Sherman to Retire From Training

Trainer Art Sherman, best known for conditioning dual Classic winner California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit), plans to retire at the end of the year. The story was originally published by the Blood-Horse. Upon his retirement, the 84-year-old's horses will likely be split between his sons Steve and Alan. In addition to traveling and spending time with his family, the elder Sherman will do a little bloodstock work. Sherman was an exercise rider and jockey prior to taking up training. He was the regular exercise rider of Hall of Famer Swaps. Sherman's...

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Deep Impact Yearlings In The Spotlight

The foal session of the JRHA Select Sale is normally the headline-grabber, but the presence of four yearlings from the final crop of the late, great Deep Impact (Jpn) during Monday's opening session could just steal the show during the two-day sale in Hokkaido. Deep Impact, the Triple Crown winner and breed-shaping sire, died on July 29, 2019, having missed much of the preceding covering season with the spinal issues that ultimately took his life. His small final crop was expected to contain around 20 foals, four of which will...

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Meah Adding Horsepower to Chrome Finish

She's still only 28, and it isn't three years since she started training. Yet a first graded stakes success for Anna Meah last weekend was welcomed with a depth of perspective extending both forward and back. On the one hand, she has always been a woman in a hurry: however crammed the automobile she drove south from Washington in December 2012, her heart set on finding a backstretch job in California, the years since have been no less packed with experience. Indeed, the veteran trainer of a small string at...

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California Chrome Co-Owner Passes Away

Denise Martin, the co-owner of California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit), passed away June 14 at the age of 61. Martin and partners found the heights of success with the two-time Horse of the Year. The popular seven-time Grade I winner, whose victories included the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Dubai World Cup, currently stands in Japan. Martin was the wife of Perry Martin, who also co-bred California Chrome. The couple split from their partners in the horse and founded Martin Racing in 2016, the same year California Chrome won his second Horse...

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Saturday's Racing Insights: Half to California Chrome Debuts at Keeneland

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 3rd-KEE, $79K, Msw, 3yo, 6 1/2f, 2:12 p.m. ET OXO Equine LLC's Primary Endpoint (Pioneerof the Nile) makes his debut in a salty-looking Keeneland maiden special weight Saturday. The $600,000 Fasig-Tipton November '18 weanling is a half to none other than two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit). Brad Cox has been preparing the bay at Fair Grounds for this. Curlin Lane (Curlin) was a $500,000 KEESEP yearling buy by Albaugh Family Stables. The Dale Romans pupil is out of a SW/GSP mare...

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