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Stunning Stag retired

Earlier this month the great horse, Stunning Stag, was retired. But the true story lies in the prominent career of the racehorse, and the decision by owners, Janice and Sid Attard to retire their horse sound. Stunning Stag is an 8 year-old gelding, bred by multiple sovereign-award winning breeder, Adena Springs. He is from sire Running Stag, out of dam Midday Fun by Prime Minister. Stunning Stag ran to his breeding, doing just enough to join the millionaires club, winning 11 of 38 starts with four stake races, including the G3 Vigil Stakes and the G2 Autumn Stakes.  Stag finished second 11 times, including four runner-up finishes in Graded races, and was third 6 times, including two graded races and back-to-back show finishes in the Presque Isle Mile Stakes.

            Owning a great horse that can achieve such success is the dream of every owner in the horse racing industry. Through first hand testimony of assistant trainer, and personal groom of Stunning Stag, Jamie Attard, one can see how that dream can come true.

            According to Jamie, his father “saw Stag break his maiden for $40,000 and was impressed with the way he ran. So when Stag was back in the entries for the same claiming price of $40,000, Jamie told his dad ‘we should take a look at him’. He was well bred, had good workouts, and just broke his maiden well. So he definitely warranted a look!” The warranted look included the invaluable opinion of Jamie Attard. Whenever Janice or Sid want to claim a horse, Sid will wait in the paddock as Jamie watches the horse on the backstretch before they go through the tunnel and head over to the paddock. Jamie describes, that his father “has always taught Paul and [him] that ‘when you're looking at a horse to claim, your heart tells you when you first look at the horse yes (claim him/her) or no (leave them alone)...’ And I can honestly say when I first saw Stunning Stag my heart jumped yes”!  Right after the claim, Stunning Stag went on to win his next two races, both at allowance, and from that point on Sid says “he never owed them anything”.

             It was in the second year that the Attards owned Stunning Stag that they knew they had a horse that could win a stake race. According to Jamie, “up to September of 2008 Stag had only run 7/8 of a mile or less on the poly and once on the grass. It was not until the end of September 2008 that [Sid] found him a race going 1 1/16 miles (which is the distance he won at when we claimed him). He won that day and his next start as well, again at 1 1/16 miles. After winning those two races we really felt he had the talent and heart to be a stake horse”. The instincts of the Attards proved right again, and Stag became a four-time stake winner, 12 times running top three earning lots of black type.

            Sid Attard has accomplished many milestones in his nearly 40-year career, as one of the most prominent trainers in Canada.  In 2001 he won the G1 Woodbine Mile with Numerous Times, an outstanding achievement for any trainer; but for Sid, winning his first stake race with Stag, a horse he owned with wife Janice, was just as exceptional an accomplishment.  It was dream come true and represented a milestone as an owner. The milestones kept adding up with Stag winning multiple graded races, breaking 1 million in earnings and retiring a great horse sound. Sid sums up Stag’s career with a smile, stating, “He only ran for claiming twice after we claimed him”. Stag ran his last two races for highest level claiming, where he finished second twice, overcoming a very troubled trip to lose in his last race in a photo finish.

            After that race Stag came back to have a routine work, where even though he worked well, and never showed any sign of lameness, he came back to his groom Jamie with slight heat and a small bump in his right front knee. Sid, knowing that Stag was never a horse to show anything to indicate he was less than perfect, told Jamie to call ‘Candace right away’. Sid’s vet of 5 years, Dr. Candace Allen, x-rayed Stag’s knee and found signs of sclerosis in the third carpal bone. Jamie described the problem as if “the third carpal bone had few small holes, and although Stag is sound to run, the holes could worsen and could potentially be fatal to the horse in the worst case scenario”. The Attards decided right then and there to retire Stunning Stag, “as [they] would never risk further injury or possible catastrophic breakdown that would require euthanizing any of [their] horses”, especially one like Stag that has been so good to the Attard family and “is more like family to them than just a horse”.

            When interviewing Sid and Jamie they were so proud to take Stag out of his stall and graze him on some grass outside, showing him off for the interview. Stag is stunning black, has shoulders wide like a Ferrari, and a hind end of a truck. He truly looked like a million dollars! Stag will be "going to a farm for a month to relax and come down off of the track life, and then will be sent to be turned out and relax at a farm of good friends of  [Jamie’s] so that [the Attards] can go visit him”.

            Stunning Stag’s racing career lasted till he was 8-years old and now thanks to great owners, he will enjoy a good retirement. Today Santino’s Canadian Horse Racing News would like to acknowledge Janice, Sid and Jamie Attard not only for their success with Stunning Stag, but for their compassion for horses.  We wish the Attard family continued success in the future. 

           

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Musketier Retired and he will stand at Adena Springs

Multiple Graded stakes winner Musketier will stand at Adena springs Canada in 2013. 

• Starts: 50
• Firsts: 11
• Seconds: 7
• Thirds: 6
• Earnings: $1,130,027

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Jessie Campbell and his magic 5

Jessie Campbell wins 5 races today

Eternal Rule and his loving Owner and Breeder Don Myers

Eternal Rule started his career as a 2yo winning first time out at a price he would never be again 16/1. Eternal Rule came from last on the rail to squeeze up the fence to win his first start by just a 1/4 of a length. Rule showed plenty of talent in his first start running in a quick time of 1:23:00 and beating a future multiple stakes winner in Bear's Chill. 

Rule would come back to run his second race the following year. The gap between his first and second race would be a long seven months. Normally that would be a very long time off to come back and pick up where you left off. But due to an outstanding training job by Mr. Sid Attard Mr. Rule would not disappoint at 3/1 and would win by open lengths - this time going to the lead. 

Eternal Rule would come back to run within a month off his last race where he so impressively won.  He would make his next start in the Achievement Stakes. Rule went off at almost even money and demolished the Achievement field winning by almost six lengths in a quick time of 1:09:43. 

Rule would not come back to race within a month of his last race, instead he would come back in just under a year’s time to run in a NW3 event facing the very much improved and now stake winning Bear's Chill. Eternal Rule fresh off a long lay off would break quick from the gate going right to the lead. The gutsy gelding would have to hold off multiple stakes winner Bear's Chill and a very hard riding Emma Jayne Wilson to win. Clark would ride hard on the fence to hold off an on coming Bear's Chill to win.

Rule's first time overseas would be a winning one sprinting just five and one half furlongs in the Karl Boyes Memorial Stakes at Presque Isle Downs. The big blazed son of Tribal Rule would run five furlongs in a very quick 56:65 and the final for the five and one half furlongs in 1:03:27

Rule thus far was unbeaten in five starts no one could stand in his way of being Canada's Champion Sprinter. Except the Champ himself..... Essence Hit Man.

The stage was set for one of the biggest showdowns between not only Canada's best sprinters but also possibly one of the worlds best. Essence Hit Man the big red chestnut who had won seven stakes races in his career and just shy of a million dollars, not even to mention his track record going six furlongs. Hit Man would break form post one. Rule would break form post four making this one of the biggest showdowns at Woodbine racetrack.

Essence Hit Man would rocket out of the gate to take the lead setting a suicidal half in 44:49. Mr. Rule would sit just off it in third position. Rule would not take his normal spot on the lead instead he would have to yield to the Hit Man's speed and try to make one big run on the outside. 

Eternal Rule was on the out side without his regular rider Jessie Campbell and Essence Hit man was on the rail With Campbell. These two would throw it down in a battle of wills at the furlong mark. Rule would hit the lead just for a moment before a more experienced and game Hit Man would come back on the rail after strong left handed urging to win by a head. 

Rule had been defeated for the first time in his life. It took a Champion and multiple stakes winner to beat him but still he was no longer unbeaten.

That would not be the end for Eternal Rule he would come back at Presque Isle Down in the $250,000 Presque Isle mile. This would be Rules first two-turn event. Rule broke out of the gate on top and moving to the first turn he would kick clear by a length for jockey Jessie Campbell. Rule was on an easy lead, his ears were up and pricked, and his stride was long and fluid. Rule came to the top of the lane after leading the whole way in front by two. Campbell pulled out the stick to keep the gutsy gelding motivated down the lane and he would hold on to win the mile event by a length. 

The gutsy gelding that fought through many battles would have one more battle on his hands.  This time it would be for his life. After the mile Rule fractured his sesamoid galloping out after the race. Watching Campbell come back on Rule you could see that he was not 100%. The track veterinarian prognostic was to put him down so he would not suffer. Eternal Rule who is known for fighting hard and winning most of the time would fight one more time. Mr. Don Myers who bred this amazing horse and owns him could not bare to see his Champion go.

The Love Mr. Don Myers has for Eternal Rule is strong. He would send Rule to the New Bolton Centre where Champion Barbaro went after his catastrophic injury in the Preakness. Eternal Rule is at the clinic now and is still fighting. The Champion colt from Canada will always be a fighter and a Champion.

• Starts: 7
• Firsts: 6
• Seconds: 1
• Thirds: 0
• Earnings: $470,323

First time starter Original Script romps home

The first time started for paul Attard and Chiefswood stable looks like a good thing as she romps home first time out by7

Canadian International winner

Joshua Tree wins second Canadian International all the way on the lead. Joshua Tree will not take the invite and will skip the Breeder's Cup

Champion Niigon euthanized

Canadian Champion Niigon was put down yesterday due to a stall excitant. The Champ was one of Canada's best stallions in 2011-2012 and will truly be missed in Canadian racing. Niigon produced many very talented routers on both turf and dirt. Niigon is best know for his upset over A bit o gold when winning Canada's biggest horse race the Queen's Plate 2004.

Save the racing industry in Canada!

SCHRNews is growing

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Campbell fine after morning accident

Jockey Jesse Campbell is fine after a training accident on Monday morning. Campbell, Woodbine's 6th leading jockey this season was dropped when the horse he was breezing made a sharp left turn out of the starting gate. As a precaution, Campbell booked off his mounts on Monday's card. He saw a doctor on Tuesday and was cleared to ride Wednesday's races.

Well known for his hard work and strong riding abilities, Campbell has gained much respect around the Woodbine backstretch in the short time that he has been here. Campbell's agent, Lindy McDaniel was initially concerned about his jock says that he was banged up a little bit but not seriously injured. McDaniel, who came to Canada last year with Campbell from the United States also has a good reputation. He can be found walking around the Woodbine backstretch at 5:30 just about every morning.

Campbell, who recently rode Cease to a 2nd place finish in the $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup (Gr. 2) has ridden at many U.S. tracks but first started his career riding in the Chicago area. He now rides at Woodbine and during the winter months at the Fair Grounds meet in New Orleans.

Emma Wilson on fire

Emma Jayne Wilson riding Queen at woodbine. Wilson has been the top jockey for the last two weeks racking up many wins.

CTHS article on Horse slaughter in Canada

Horse Slaughter in Canada

killing of 7,500-13,000 horses next year.

Really Sharp is as Game as a horse can be

Really Sharp after smashing into 3 horses down the lane came back on the rail to only lose by a short head. Really sharp was taken down and placed 6th and will most likely not run in the Breeder's Cup.

SCHRNEWS Horse To Watch River Seven takes the Grey Stakes Grade 3

Santino's Canadian Horse Racing News horse to watch and pick for Champion 2yo colt in Canada won the Grey Stakes Grade 3 and now has a chance to run in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile.

Paul Attard Oaks Chance

The 2yo filly Otonabee came charging down the lane to get up for second in this 7F event but galloped out 10-15 lengths on top.