Source: http://articles.tracksideview.com/2008/07/08/curlin-headed-to-man-o-war.aspx
It’s official…Curlin is headed to NY! The turf career of the talented 4 year-old son of Smart Strike will begin at Bemont Park in this Saturday’s running of the Grade 1 Man O’ War Stakes. If he proves himself a valiant competitor on the grass, the race could serve as a springboard for an eventual try in the prestigious Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in France.
Thirty five years ago another talented chestnut colt began his turf career in the Man O’ War. Of course I’m speaking of the great Secretariat - the horse whom all others since have been compared to as a measuring stick for greatness. “Big Red” proved he had an affinity for the turf by romping in the Man O’ War. WIth a little bit of magic and a healthy dose of racing luck, Curlin will try to follow in those venerable footsteps this weekend.
The task will not be easy. Several accomplished turf runners will take part in the Man O’ War, including two former Breeder’s Cup Turf winners in Red Rock and Better Talk Now. Better Talk Now in particular is one of my favorite older horses on earth. It’s been a while since he has been on the top of his game, but if there’s one horse that it would not bother me to see prevail against my beloved Curlin, it’s “Blackie.”
Trainer Steve Asmussen has been quoted as saying that he prefers running into a solid field on Saturday so that they are able to get a better read on Curlin’s turf ability before making final arrangements to ship for the Arc. The deciding factor to point towards the Man O’ War was likely the age-for-weight assignments in comparison to the 124 pounds Curlin was assigned to carry if entered into the Arlington Handicap.
In the past I’ve made a habit of badly paraphrasing famous speeches and twisting them to fit Curlin’s situation whenever a major race loomed on the horizon. I see no reason to break from that tradition since Curlin has gone undefeated since I started this blog - largely because of the effect he had on me. I may have done this one before, but what the heck. Nothing beats the famous St. Crispin’s Day speech in terms of getting your blood up for a momentous occasion.
What’s he that wishes so?
My trainer Asmussen? No, my fair trainer;
If we are mark’d to ride, we are enow
To do our fanbase loss; and if to win,
The greater the foes, the greater the share of honour.
God’s will! I pray thee, wish not one foe less.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my oats;
It yearns me not if jockeys my silks wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet victory,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my trainer, wish not a preferential post assignment.
God’s peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one angle more methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish so!
Rather proclaim it, Asmussen, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this race,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
We would not race in that horse’s company
That fears his fellowship to race with us.
This day is call’d the feast of Curlin.
He that outlives this race, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam’d,
And rouse him at the name of Curlin.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say ‘To-morrow is Saint Curlin’s Day.’
Then will he strip his bridle and show his mane,
And say ‘These hooves I ran on Curlin’s day.’
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he’ll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall there names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Jackson the owner, Asmussen and Blassi, Albarado and Pancho
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb’red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Curlin’s day shall ne’er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of horses;
For he to-day that sheds his sweat with me
Shall be my stablemate; be he ne’er so vile,
This day shall sharpen his condition;
And thoroughbreds in America now-a-stable
Shall think themselves accurs’d they were not here,
And hold their equinehood cheap whiles any speaks
That ran with us upon Saint Curlin’s day!!
Although Shakespeare wrote a similar work two hundred years after the Battle of Agincourt , it remains one of the finest speeches and or descriptions of what leadership, strength and honor meant to those men who fought in the Middle Ages, or for that matter, anytime in history.
How befitting to honor “Curlin” The greatest horse of this young American century. He will continue his battle, and willing… he will persevere to greatness never seen before in the world of horse racing.
May Curlin rule through the strength of his conviction to out-run his competition and by force of his personality and courage become that great champion all horseplayers pray he will be and ultimately, become immortalized as a special equine warrior, since every step he places on the track could be his last .
Let’s hope he continues to win his battles against these equine soldiers, but let’s also hope that all return home to their stables safely, to race and battle another day.
Long Live “Sir Curlin”….
BMCRacing
Did you see this?
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2008/July/08/Fen-Phen-clients-file-order-to-sell-Curlin.aspx
Got any money I can borrow?
@BMC - that’s the spirit!!!! Glad to see you enjoyed this. Looks like I’ve got a drive to NY and back looming this weekend. I’ve just got to see him in person again.
@riffkind1969 - wow….here’s what I don’t get - can’t Jackson just buy out that 20%? Seems that would make things so much more simple. I”m hoping that gets tossed out as well- but if it doesn’t, I’d go “all-in” and pony up my life savings for a 1/10th share!
I remember a few month back you gave me a great profile on Curlin. This is SO cool. I’m wishing the best for him!!
Ok, occasionally when a story is developing, TT will update repeatedly on a single link. I can’t find it right now, but i have posted before on a hot topic that “changed” while we were still discussing it.
It’s gone, but I read about how the Stonestreet lawyer said that Jackson DID try to buy the 20%. The Fen-phen lawyer is saying that he didn’t. I guess they are trying to be greedy about maximizing the value of that 20%.
On the bright side, unless there is some crappy little clause in there somewhere, 20% does not wag the dog. Jess Jackson will still be in charge and he has done an excellent job! Whoever gets 20%, no matter what they pay for it, will hopefully be “clean” and able to be liscenced anywhere. Getting away from Midnight Cry may open up a lot of opportunities for Curlin! I hope it does.
Houseonahill- I was wondering where you’d been! Good to see you, my good man. I’m guessing you’re a Saints fan, right? One of my best friends - a young lady who is quite the fantasy football expert - is a diehard Saints fan and I think of her whenever I see your avatar.
Riffkind - I’ve had that happen as well (the story updates changing things around). Frustrating, I know. I did some googling and saw mention of Jackson trying to purchase the 20% as well. The whole thing makes me scratch my head. Let’s just get rid of that Midnight Cry connection and be done with it!
All - though you might enjoy this. I”ve been searching for pictures of “baby Curlin” to no avail recently. Then today, Amy found this video that features Curlin as a yearling at auction. The quality isn’t good - but it’s still sweet to see the big fella before he was quite so big. Enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdPp8T70Dxk
[...] Jump to Comments Kevin Stafford at The Aspiring Horseplayer has officially lost his damn mind. Until now, I’ve made absolutely no mention of Curlin’s upcoming turf debut because I [...]
That was pretty rousing. Maybe because that’s my favorite of Shakespeare’s works (give me his histories over the rest any day). But anyway, very clever, and I hope Curlin proves every word on Saturday. What a horse.
I think Ford wants to force the sale of Curlin as a whole, because 20% of that price would be more than just the straight 20%, since it would have a control premium of sorts added in. Not that it’s going to happen. Anyway, I actually posted about this a little earlier. I will assume this thing links to my blog, but in case not: http://thoroughbredbrief.wordpress.com
Glad you liked that, Kerry. Also would like to say I love how your blog is going. Very refreshing. I know how hard it is to come up with unique material and you are doing an excellent job if I may say so.
Hey, thanks for the feedback on the blog and the welcome to WordPress. I guess the options were blogger or blogspot or whatever it is WordPress, and for some reason this one struck me as more academic … if a blog could be described as such! Anyway, I’ll try to make The Thoroughbred Brief as interesting as possible. The legal issues are definitely what interest me (plus I love horse racing, but am a terrible handicapper, so I had to come from a different angle than other TB blogs), but I was definitely afraid what I wrote would come across as mind-numbingly boring to others. I’m happy if just a couple of people read it and go “oh, ok, that makes sense.”
Win or lose Curlin, unlike some other recent stars, never disappoints. I hope he wins today so he can make history in France. Nobody loved a great story like Will Shakespeare, I think even he would be rooting Curlin on.