Why the Maktoums Are Good For Racing

[ratherrapid]

Somebody could write a book about it. Where would the sport be without them is a better question. Personally I welcome the Sheiks to the USA. Bring it your best. It is a competition, after all.

[oliverstoned]

Yeah that should bring the fans out in droves.

[Rokeby Forever]

One thing I can say about the Arabs - they give Kiaran McLaughlin the opportunity of proving what a superior trainer he is.

When he got Henny Hughes back last year, the horse was a mess - and he wound up being the favorite in the BC Sprint. I can imagine what they've done to Day Pass - I pray they give the horse back to KM so he can win stakes once again.

Could any trainer have done a better job with Invasor?

[Foggytrip]

2 guys could have done as well as KM, but not many more

[llbean]

Somebody could write a book about it. Where would the sport be without them is a better question.

Well, Stud Fees would be much less out of control if the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum didn't spend so much at auction (Sheikh Hamdam isn't a problem in this area like his brother, to Sheikh Hamdam's great credit).

And if Stud Fees weren't so out of control they'd be way less financial temptation for the owners of top colts to retire them too soon for the good of the sport.

A better question (at least from the standpoint of making them look good) is where would the Kentucky Breeding Industry be without them?

Given the high price of land in that kind of enviroment these days (Suburban Sprawl makes it far rarer than it once was), perhaps some (many?) Historic Farms would've sold out to (shudder) developers; and that certainly wouldn't have been cool.

Whether the Maktoums saved these big Kentucky Farms just for them to fall apart due to the Sport Imploding under the weight of too many early retirements and too many people lustily angling for a piece of Sheikh Mohammed's money is another question.

-llbean

[ratherrapid]

llbean, i put up this thread to counter the other "bad for racing" thread that apparently has been withdrawn.
I know little about the Maktoums impact on racing except the little we see directly. I've seen the Sheik at the sales and he seems like a really good guy and dedicated horseman who genuinely enjoys the sport. And,last I checked was it Dubai that allowed USA to use their country as a staging ground for Irag and has been a steadfast counterweight to Iran for us for at least 20 years. This part of the appeal of the sport that we should be selling--the opportunity for literally anybody to compete with this great horseman.

And, let's please avoid exaggerating the early retirement thing. Again, I ask, up to the present name more than one three year old stallion prospect that was retired for a reason other than injury.

[Rokeby Forever]

Great horseman? Why was Henny Hughes shuttled off to stud?

How about Laamtara and Shamardal? How about Country Reel? How about Mark Of Esteem? How about Untouchable with 4 starts? How about Ajdal? How about Rule Of Law? How about King's Best? I don't remember....was Shareef Dancer injured?

[bdw0617]

I pleg ignorance to most of thoose horses, I'm young, i can do that.


Henny hughes was injuried I believe..I don't have a problem sending a horse to stud once he has peaked and he is starting on the decline of his career.. which I think was happening iwth HH... I'm not brinign him back as a 4YO to be an allowence/ Grade 3 Calibur horse

[Rokeby Forever]

There was no report of HH being injured...Johnny V said he never grabbed hold of the Churchill surface. His retirement was BS!!!

[ratherrapid]

rokeby im unable to speak to those horses. if the sheik is injuring horses he has plenty of company. may we give an A for effort however misguided in terms of success or injury rate. maybe the sheik's success rate in terms of money spent is pretty close to hilarious. But, if we continue fret about "early retirement" I'd like to know if it's legit or an illusion. your list of horses, how old when retired, injured or healthy?

[Rokeby Forever]

Hiya Rather...all those horses were retired by age two or three without career ending injuries (to the best of my knowledge).

I don't know much about Bin Suroor...did he ever work for a trainer? I think he's a relative of the family, but I know nothing about his background with horses...do you?

[ratherrapid]

yes,bin suuor is a relative. just like Jim Mcinvale's sister (former secretary at Mcinvale furniture) taking over his stable in 1998 from Nick Zito. lol. If maktoums figure out training, look out. so, interesting to watch "why gallop two miles when one mile will do" mcglaughlin. who was assistant trainer for Union City, by the way?

txs for answering the q, and, of course, unknown to me why the Maktoums take young horses off the track. might have to ask them. do they have reasons or is this an irrational expenditure of their billions

[Rokeby Forever]

Beats me, Rather. Maybe the Sheikh retires his stock early when he feels the horses won't improve with age.

I believe that Jeff Lukas was Union City's (un)caretaker - I remember someone once saying, "Union City's soul lives in Tabasco Cat." UC was a West Coast horse and Kiaran McLaughlin trained only the NY string.

[bdw0617]

are you implying that bin suuor is not a top notch trainer? I mean I honestly couldn't tell ya.. it's hard to measure someone when everything that is handed to you is from Royal blue blood stock..

[wallinga]

Great horseman? Why was Henny Hughes shuttled off to stud?

How about Laamtara and Shamardal? How about Country Reel? How about Mark Of Esteem? How about Untouchable with 4 starts? How about Ajdal? How about Rule Of Law? How about King's Best? I don't remember....was Shareef Dancer injured?

Shamardal was injured, Country Reel retired at the end of his five year old season, Untouchable was injured and crazy.

One of the greatest innovation is the flying start, it's not just about horses but horsemen too.

http://www.racingpost.co.uk/news/master ... _id=901885