MULE racing...??

[skeenan]

Guess I just fell out of the apple tree, as this was something I've never seen before... I tuned in to TVG last night & saw a post parade... thought, "DANG, that's an ugly horse!"... then I looked more closely...

What a riot that was!

I was more surprised that it was televised on TVG...

[Tairaterces]

Guess I just fell out of the apple tree, as this was something I've never seen before... I tuned in to TVG last night & saw a post parade... thought, "DANG, that's an ugly horse!"... then I looked more closely...

What a riot that was!

They seemed to give the jockeys a good workout, as they were all over the place...

The best one I saw was about 3 or 4 years ago. Was a field of 8 or 9 and a bit after the break one of the jockeys got dumped, the mules must have enjoyed that sight and 3 more proceeded to dump their riders. And you have to realize that while this is going on the mules are weaving in and out . . . . .it was just the most hilarious thing I have ever seen . . . . .
Final score was, Mules: 4, Jockeys: 0 . . . . . . .

One of the main reasons Black Ruby was such a good racer, she ran straight as an arrow. I wish Jim Burns was still riding her.

Tairaterces

[Karie]

is Black Ruby still running? I have missed most of the mule races lately..
I used to see them all the time on TVG...
- Karie

[Tairaterces]

is Black Ruby still running? I have missed most of the mule races lately..
I used to see them all the time on TVG...
- Karie

Yeah, she won her first back this summer but now are all 2nds and 3rds. Being 13yo she may have slowed a bit, her 2 upstart rivals are Sarah Nelson who is 4yo and Smoking Joe who is 6yo.

Tairaterces

[skeenan]

The best one I saw was about 3 or 4 years ago. Was a field of 8 or 9 and a bit after the break one of the jockeys got dumped, the mules must have enjoyed that sight and 3 more proceeded to dump their riders. And you have to realize that while this is going on the mules are weaving in and out . . . . .it was just the most hilarious thing I have ever seen . . . . .
Final score was, Mules: 4, Jockeys: 0 . . . . . . .

That made me laugh out loud!!
Esp. when I think about how serious the announcers were... there is no way I could keep a straight face...!

Do they adopt them out like ex-racers, too? I'll have to do a Google search...

[Sam]

Do they adopt them out like ex-racers, too? I'll have to do a Google search...

Not often since they tend to be family pets. I don't even remember all that many claims being made. Ruby spends her off season poking her nose through her owners' home office window from what I hear. The one I haven't seen recently is Taz (he's the one they cloned a few years back).

[Tairaterces]

Do they adopt them out like ex-racers, too? I'll have to do a Google search...

Not often since they tend to be family pets. I don't even remember all that many claims being made. Ruby spends her off season poking her nose through her owners' home office window from what I hear. The one I haven't seen recently is Taz (he's the one they cloned a few years back).

Basically Black Ruby is on vacation from October to April. At that time she will start intensive training. The owner chases the mules with a dune buggy through the pasture to get in the mood for racing . . . first time I heard this story I almost fell over laughing.

Sam . . they probably have Taz at some lab somewhere involved in cloning.

T

[Tairaterces]

Oh by the way skeenan, Black Ruby's stats are:

89-58-15-11 with earnings of $232,013

She is still the Queen of the racing mules.

[Sam]

Basically Black Ruby is on vacation from October to April. At that time she will start intensive training. The owner chases the mules with a dune buggy through the pasture to get in the mood for racing . . . first time I heard this story I almost fell over laughing.

HA!

First time I've heard that. Sounds a bit like the guy who used to train Rick's Natural Star by ponying him down the road with his pick up.

[Tairaterces]

Here's a nice article from 2002.

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/search ... rdNo=24359

FYI: Mules can race through their 16th year.

[skeenan]

Oh by the way skeenan, Black Ruby's stats are:

89-58-15-11 with earnings of $232,013

She is still the Queen of the racing mules.

That's too bad that she can't reproduce... how do they come up with consistent racing stock...? Breed the same donkey with the same mare...?

Or just chase them around the pasture & see who shows some talent...??

[Tairaterces]

skeenan wrote:
"Or just chase them around the pasture & see who shows some talent...??"


By jove . . . .I think you've got it!!!!!!!!!

T

[Tairaterces]

Basically Black Ruby is on vacation from October to April. At that time she will start intensive training. The owner chases the mules with a dune buggy through the pasture to get in the mood for racing . . . first time I heard this story I almost fell over laughing.

HA!

First time I've heard that. Sounds a bit like the guy who used to train Rick's Natural Star by ponying him down the road with his pick up.

Sam, that's a good trivia question . . . . . . . .whatever happened to Rick's Natural Star . . . . . . . . anybody know?????

T

[Sam]

Sam, that's a good trivia question . . . . . . . .whatever happened to Rick's Natural Star . . . . . . . . anybody know?????

errrr... I remember him starting a few times at Los Al ... I think he was eventually retired and sold to someone who wanted him as a pasture ornament.

[henthorn]

All right, I'll bite. I always thought a mule was a sterile male cross of a donkey and a horse. How does one create a female mule, and what characteristics are similar or different from the male variety?