Me with Songster.. who happens to be one of those ridiculously playful and animated type horses...

The whitish stuff in the photo is "patch" and quite honestly I wouldn't be surprised if a part of what was torn off was also "patch." He had more silicone than feet.

Didnt Artax go back in training after being a stud for a season? I dont know if he raced though.

Bertrando took a shot at it.

Yep, he was a total goofball. Good times!

Horses racing after stud duty, didn't Lukas race Spain while she was pregnant? Not sure if that is a good idea normally, however I don't think she did too badly.

there've been several fillies and mares who raced while in the very early stages of pregnancy. many think it helps them to run better with the increase in hormones. there have also been mares who went back to racing when they didn't get in foal.

And if Curlin is not in it what does this mean for a "in the spotlight" or "best bet" horse for the Classic?

Awww, very sweet!

apparently he's coming. as for who the best bet is, hard to say.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...ordinary-horse

Haskin wrote a good piece on Big Brown.

It wasn't a good article by Haskin, like Big Brown it was a GREAT article. He said brilliantly all the things I was trying to say about this horse during his magical journey in 2008. He's not Secretariat, but certainly some outstanding accomplishments and I for one am glad I didn't take those for granted. Now he is retired, and this athlete will be missed.

For those who have not read it yet, I hope you will.

I just e-mailed him my Facebook friend request :)

"Nauseous?" Oh you mean when the article gets to the stuff about Casino Drive? Yeah me too :)

Seriously, what are the holes of contention you have with it? If you wouldn't mind taking the time,

Well I agree on the fluffy stuff like that but I am talking about what he detailed regarding the field Big Brown faced, his accomplishments, and take on speeds that have been a fair degree of negativity by the Big Brown detractors. I could copy and paste but you've read it and I think there are some compelling points.

You come on! You know the "eyed a pigeon on the roof" line made you teary eyed! ;)

I thought it was a good article, but I also do like Haskins' writing.

In most cases, the winner of the KY Derby beats the horses that come back to win the lesser 3YO Stakes throughout the year.

As an aside to the return to racing discussion, Frisco Star ran at 2 and 3, entered stud in 2007, was found to have poor fertility and returned to racing this year. Did poorly at sprints, stretched out to a route at PID and aired.