We interupt our regular programming for this important announcement. As you may already know for the next month, Kentucky will be the center of the Equine Universe. The World Equestrian Games (WEG) are being held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. This is the first time that these games are being held not only in United States, but North America.
While there will be horses of several breeds compeating in the Games this year, there are also several OTTB (off track Thoroughbreds). One of those horses is Courageous Comet, a former stakes placed New York bred who with his rider Becky Holder will be compeating for the US in Eventing. Eventing is a three part sport. The first part is Dressage, then Cross Country finishing up with Stadium Jumping.
In otherwords, Eventing is the triathalon for horses. Courageous Comet is one of the best, and I believe one of the few Thoroughbreds to compete in this year's games in Eventing (Theodore O'Connor who was one of the most famous if not the most famous Eventing horses before he passed away, had Thoroughbred in him as well. However he also had Shetland Pony and Arabian in his pedigree and was much smaller then the rest of his competors). While on the track, Comet (who is by Canada's 1993 2yo champion Comet Shine) won four races out of thirty six starts and earning $71,880.
Personally, I'm looking foward to the Vaulting (basically Gymastics on a horse), Dressage and the Eventing as well. NBC and Universial Sports are covering the WEG for those who are in the US. I think you can watch it online on WEG's website, but you have to pay to watch. As for Universial Sports website? I haven't looked there yet, but NBC is pretty good about putting up their Equistrian telecasts (non horse racing) online.
After the games are over, focus will shift to Louisville and the Breeders' Cup at Churchill. It will be interesting how many Euros do come over (unfortanly Dar Re Mi, Snow Fairy, White Moonstone, Harbinger and Frankel are either now retired, pointing to a different race, or done for the year (most likely)). I know Midday is coming to defend her title as is Goldikova. It will be a very interesting set of races.
We now bring you back to our programming already progress...
Lots to cover this week as we head up to Super Saturday, but I wanted to talk about WEG today. Don't forget the first BC Live Chat will be Thursday at 7pm EDT.
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