- Premium Tap is slated to run in Saudi Arabia this weekend in preparation for the Breeders Cup. The Saratogian's Jeff Scott, laments the probable loss to interests overseas of another attractive stallion prospect, this one from the Ribot line, with bloodlines considered unfashionable in North America.
Unfortunately, the Ribot line is in severe decline, the victim of aspects of a commercialized breeding industry that have, according to Thoroughbred Times bloodstock editor John Sparkman, "combined to strangle out almost everything else, even a line as great as Ribot's." Last year, for example, only one percent of the 21,000-plus foals born in Kentucky were tail-male descendants of Ribot.-It is now dinner time! (For strong stomachs only.) (Hat tip to Albany Law School Racing and Gaming Today.)
Despite dwindling numbers, Ribot-line runners have continued to excel at the highest levels of the sport. The World Thoroughbred Rankings rated Premium Tap and David Junior (another son of Pleasant Tap, who unfortunately has been exported to Japan) among the 10 best older horses in the world in 2006. Another Ribot-line runner, Nobiz Like Shobiz, is one of the favorites for this year's Kentucky Derby.
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Perhaps someone would realize that people with the sport's best interests in mind may one day wish at least a few of the best broodmares from this era had been bred to stallions not descending from Mr. Prospector, Storm Cat or A.P. Indy.
- Alan Shuback reports in the Form that the Racing Post reports that Discreet Cat may report to the World Cup without a prep.
Meanwhile, tickets for the event are selling at an astonishing rate, according to the website Gulfnews.com.
All corporate hospitality and dining packages for the Dubai World Cup have now sold out.I still have my doubts. Things like this just don't happen in our sport, do they? (And if they do, they take place thousands of miles away, and beyond the view of those without TVG/HRTV, a local simulcast outlet, or an online account with access to the feed. Do you think a network, say, ESPN, will pick it up?
However, tickets for the International Village are still available.
Safiya Burnell, Head of Marketing and Sales, said: "The Dubai World Cup is now firmly established as the leading social and sporting occasion in the region.
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It is set to be one of the greatest races ever witnessed at the famous Nad Al Sheba track, with Discreet Cat and Invasor - officially ranked the two best horses in the world - likely to run.
6 Comments:
Believe it or not they're racing harness tonght @ Nothfield. Can't tell the trqack from the infield there's so mush snow and it's coming down heavily. Kinda sureal.
Alan,
I believe the Dubai Championship Day will be broadcast on Fox Sports NY. They have bought time the past few years for it. I recall watching Dubai Millennium and every year since then.
You should sign up for the contest they have. I'll hunt for the link, but you pick Godolphin horses for the year. First prize is all-expense paid trip to Dubai .
Harness horses are tough. I thought someone sent me a video of a trotting race in Europe in which the horses were ridden by jockeys, but now I'm not sure if I dreamt it!
And Jim - thanks for that note on FOX Sports. I don't recall that here in NYC, but I know that the West Coast FOX picks up the feed from TVG at times.
To my recollection, Dubai Day has always been on Channel 71 (NYC-OTB channel) in New York. I forget whether or not it was on TVG last year, but I feel like it was.
I think ABC showed the Dubai World Cup last year. It wasn't live, but it was the same day.
Thank you for confirming I'm not crazy - I saw the ridden trotting horses in Europe video too!
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