Then and Now
Thursday’s feature at Saratoga is the Quick Call Stakes, a mile on the inner turf for 3 year olds. In the late 80’s, if you were at Saratoga, and Quick Call was in the entries, well, betting on him was as close to a sure thing as you could get. Between 1986 and 1992 Quick Call won 16 out of 86 starts. Eight of those wins and two seconds came at Saratoga. The most prestigious of his wins was The Forego Handicap, which he won in ’88 and ’89 and nearly won in 1990, getting beat a nose.
Quick Call is living the good life at the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s Walkill Correctional Facility in upstate New York. If you are at the track on Thursday, the TRF will be there with information about what they do. For more info on the TRF, click here.
Now 26 years old, Quick Call is one of the lucky ones. Though awareness for the health and welfare of retired Thoroughbreds has grown tremendously over the years, it is an ongoing concern. So many horses slip through the cracks. Owners and breeders have a responsibility to be aware and pro-active concerning just where their horses end up after their racing careers are over. As an owner and a breeder, believe me,I know firsthand this is not always an easy task. But there is no excuse for doing anything less than the right thing by the horse, whatever it takes.
"Horses for Courses" are always special. They find a track they love and they “move up” when they run there. Quick Call was special on the track, and in his retirement, he represents all the other retired racehorses that could use our help. There are many equine charities out there. Find one that means something to you, and when you win a little, maybe that’s a good time to give a little.
Quick Call put some change in my pocket at Saratoga, and made me look like a genius to those unknowing - great memories - very glad to hear he is doing fine. I am concerned about the placement of retired racehorses, particularly in these times. Just relocated my not-quite-Saturday Afternoon-Horse I was a partner in, to the barn of a great friend.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your blog - will try your picks, and plan to continue reading along, when time allows.
Hi Peggy,
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by. I have been "chilly" with my picks for this meet, so proceed with caution. And the fact that I haven't seen a post parade when I post my selections is tough for me, as I put a lot into what a horse looks like physically and what his/her mental demeanor is in the paddock and post parade.
Nice that you have a good friend to take your horse!