Churchill 5th.. 12yo mare off 9 year layoff?
 

Anyone happen to notice 12 year old Grand Forks in the 5th at Churchill today? Last seen at Del Mar... in 2000. Owner-trainer Kathleen Costello (first career start as a trainer) with double bug Bishop (0 for 86) aboard. Three non-descript works displayed.

This is what happens when states like Indiana, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia get slots.

I give it 5 years and Churchill will be forced to run arabian and mule races.

Maybe it's like the movie "The Rookie" and the horse lost a bet.

Here are the details from TTimes...

Mare returns after nine-year layoff Wednesday at Churchill
by Ed DeRosa

Grand Forks, a 12-year-old stakes-winning Quiet American mare, will make her first start in more than nine years on Wednesday at Churchill Downs in a $5,000 claiming race.

Kathleen Costello said she bought the mare privately from Rick Trontz of Hopewell Farm this spring after Grand Forks went five consecutive years without producing a foal. She delivered a Skip Away filly in 2004, but the foal died a month later.

“[Hopewell] basically gave up on her because she couldn’t carry a foal to term,” Costello said. “They were looking to give her away this spring, and I got the bug to start riding again, so I bought her.

“She loved to gallop and had so much spirit, so I decided to give her a shot and took her to the track.”

Ian P. D. Jory claimed Grand Forks for Trontz for $32,000 on August 7, 2000, at Del Mar. Trontz retired her soon thereafter. She won three of 11 starts, including a pair of stakes races at Turf Paradise, and earned $80,900.

Grand Forks’ start will not only be her first in more than nine years but also the first of Costello’s career.

“I’m definitely hoping to have more horses, but I’m a little strapped for cash right now,” Costello said. “I intend to bet on her, and she’ll be a big price, so maybe I can grow my stable that way.”

Costello named S. Justin Bishop to ride her mare. The ten-pound apprentice is winless in 86 starts this season, including ten at the current Churchill meeting.

Grand Forks is listed as 50-to-1 on the morning line in the 6 1/2-furlong race that attracted a full field of 12 entrants. She had three published workouts at the Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, including a gate workout in :50 for four furlongs on November 7.

A representative of the steward’s office said on Wednesday from Churchill that the mare is clear to run.

Great story if she wins.

Quite a team . Hope they can do it .

Ridiculous that this horse is allowed to run. A clueless trainer running a 12 year old horse off of a 9 year layoff on a muddy track. Brilliant. 1-9 to not finish. BTW the bug boy begged off and Bonnie Castanada will ride.

:eek:

:wf :wf

besides the situation seeming ridiculous is I guess there is nothing in writing keeping it from running?

Not exactly though the track and stewards have discretion. Told one track official who asked how to keep this from happening, just put in a rule saying that no horses with a layoff of 5 or more years allowed. He thought it was a good answer. Didnt have the heart to tell him I was joking.

dont most tracks not allow horses older than 12

Saw this yesterday when I was working on the card.

Unbelievable. Don't have a 'feel-good' feeling about this.

American Code of Horse Welfare just released yesterday>>>
http://www.horsecouncil.org/pressrel...elfareCode.php

"WE ARE COMMITTED to educating owners, trainers, veterinarians, competitors, exhibitors and recreational riders to ensure that they know and respect their horse’s abilities and limits, and their own, so as to not push the horse or themselves beyond their ability level."

the CD email addy customerservice@kyderby.com in case you'd like to let them know your thoughts.

Taking money, 15-1 with 14mtp lol:tro:

Has now been scratched..

late scratch

What happened? Did Churchill management develop a conscience all of a sudden and didn't have to the heart to take peoples money on the horse??:rolleyes: I guess they'll have to charge $11 now to get into their twilight racing nights!

She'll be back in 2018.

maybe the mare had some stem cell work?

In the 9 years off they could have cloned her