Alumni Hall to stand in Ontario

[Jane]

As I recall, this horse was to stand at Lanes End in 2007 but was pulled out of service for either lack of interest, health or fertility issues.

Anyone know anything about this horse?

[Indychase]

They tried to make him a 'chaser this year -- guess it didn't work, because I don't think he ever entered a race.

If they can get his problems solved (it was lack of interest) he might be a useful horse.

[Mood Swings]

I hadn't heard this .... do you now where he is scheduled to stand?

[Gallop58]

Norse Ridge, $5K

http://www.heste.net/NRF/stallions.cgi?Breed=2

KH

[Jane]

Standing at Norse Ridge won't help this horse any. They have a beautiful facility but some management issues. I think they currently stand 5 or 6 stallions owned by guys like Melnyk and Knob Hill and I'd be shocked if they got over 50 mares between the whole lot of them this year.

I am expecting Windfields might try and come up with a replacement for Cat's At Home and also try and fill the big void left by D'Wildcat. I have my fingers crossed that they will find something.

[Jenny]

We were recently up at Windfields talking to Simon Cassidy and he did say they had something in the works for a new stallion. But he did not say who. I just looked at the link for Alumni Hall and he was a 5 year old starter!! Nice to wait, but that is a bit long don't you think? Especially for a stallion prospect.

[Mood Swings]

Yeah he won his first stake at 5 but his full sister won a grade 1 at 3 and his half sister was a stakes winner at 3 as well. I am sure his late rise to fame is the only reason Ontario is getting this stallion. I agree Jane that the location will hurt him .... makes you wonder why Lanes End didn't do a little more investigating

[Gallop58]

I might make a call to them to see why they think they can do something that KY couldn't....

Off the 'net:

"Alumni Hall, winner of the $100,000 MAXXAM Gold Cup at Sam Houston Race Park in 2005, was retired last March to stand stud in Kentucky at Lane's End. In addition to his victory in the MAXXAM, the son of A.P. Indy won the Grade 3 Ben Ali at Keeneland. His stud fee was $5,000, but after several months, it became clear to the powers that be at Lane’s End that Alumni Hall had absolutely no interest in impregnating mares! W. Temple Webber, who owns Alumni Hall in partnership with Will Farish and James Elkins, commented that while most stallions have no problem adjusting to stud duty, Alumni Hall was a challenge."

[aurora]

My understanding is that Alumni Hall suffered from a back problem prior to his first start at 5.

I had a mare booked to him last year and that didn't work out. Fortunately for me since the mare is now in foal to Posse.

[Gallop58]

2008 Mares bred shows 50 lady's went his way. ... Anyone know how he did? I suppose I could pick up the phone and call them, but thought I'd ask here first...

KH

[Mood Swings]

I've heard that he managed to get a lot of his mares pregnant. I'll see if I can get you the actual number but if I recall correctly it was quite high.

[Gallop58]

His fee looks steady at $5K I think, so I figured he must have gotten some tips from War Emblem or something and gotten down to business. Either that or the Norseridge water supply has got it going' on.....