Smarty Jones to Ghost Ridge Farm, PA
 

Wasn't this announced like two months ago?

Great stuff. It read like a Dear John letter.

Even though there was only one letter, it seemed like there was two messages:

We love you Smarty, but...

You're fired.

Racing and Breeding is a business, but we honestly love horses.

You're still fired.

You're from Pennsylvania.

Why don't you go to your home?

Next up, Big Brown.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8pvD_4Pd1A

Did you see Dear John? Dear Rollo I miss you so much it hurts.

Who cares … Louis Quatorze would've 'absolutely destroyed' him on the track … LOL

With that line of thinking Kobe Bryant is one championship away from being equal to Michael Jordan lol

lol lol lol. fruit.

Gotta love the 'LOLs'

They get under nitwits' (like the one just above) skin almost every time



LOL

When the next big quake hits I hope you die.

Don't worry, he'll be on an extended sabbatical in just over 11 days.

He'll slither down to the politics forum if the S&P is up. He's like pancreatic cancer.

Sorry to interrupt the lovefest...

Reasons aside, I think it's nice that he's going home.

Okay gentlemen, carry on. :p

He's " going home " because he's a huge failure as a sire.

I guess that makes his failure " nice. "

I thought Smarty Jones would be an awesome stallion............Just another horrendous call on my part.. As for his turf prowess...I didnt know we had turf horses in this country?

Yes even I can understand that.

My point is that his big fanbase is back home.

Failure or not this horse is adored back at home and always will be (rightly so). I don't think there are too many like him... Perfect Drift, Funny Cide, Evening Attire (and don't correct me cause yes I know they're geldings :D )... horses that have superstar status for individual reasons.

He'll have people wanting to see him in person for the rest of his life so while he might be a failure in one sense he will always be a champion.

Most people won't know why he's back home and I'd imagine the ones that do (know) won't care (as to the reasons why).

Well put.. I know I still wear my "Smarty Jones" cap with pride :)

Not to start anything, but everyone was saying that last year.

He was horribly overpriced at the jump at $100k and was almost assured to not match that lofty expectation. However, he's been successful at siring winners- this year he's hitting at over 50% (59 winners out of 112 runners) which puts him in good company. His downfall has been not siring the "big horse"- only 4 stakes winners this year, whereas other leading 3rd crop sires Speightstown, Medaglia D'Oro, and Tapit have 12, 14, and 11 respectively.

He'll do well in PA at $10k and quite frankly, there isn't much of an incentive to being a KY bred these days.

3 Chimps mismanaged the book.. Ever since they ditched the Jew its been down hill

Horse folks have been telling the legislature this for years and that there would be an exodus of mares and stallions to the states with substantial stallion and breeder awards. This industry creates a lot of jobs in Kentucky, not just from the farms themselves but all the support industries - feed companies, fencing companies, horse goods stores, etc. But the state has been complacent, believing (one guesses) that Kentucky is The Center of the Horse World and nothing will ever change that.

Seems like Smarty will make more money in Pa...That's probably why he's there. He's sired a lot of winners, including black type . What's the problem ?