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Month: August 2021
Tributes Paid To Popular Stallion Man Paddy Meehan
Paddy Meehan, the former head stallion man of the National Stud, died at home on Wednesday, July 28 at the age of 56.
Born in Co Meath, Ireland, Meehan grew up at Ballymacoll Stud where his father Oliver was stud groom. He moved to Newmarket in 1987, initially to work for Lanwades Stud, and remained in the town for more than three decades. He also worked at Stetchworth and Middle Park Studs but was best known for his long association with the National Stud, where he was a popular face for many years and was named as a finalist in last year's Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards.
A natural horseman, he was devoted to the stallions he worked alongside, with his favourites being Bahamian Bounty (GB) and Val Royal (FR). The year that Val Royal moved from Ireland to the National Stud he was represented by the winner of the 2000 Guineas and Irish 2000 Guineas, Cockney Rebel (Ire), who retired to stand alongside his father the following year, also under Meehan's care.
Paying tribute to his colleague, Brian O'Rourke, former manager of the National Stud, said, “Paddy was a superb horseman and all he ever thought about was his horses. He just adored Bahamian Bounty, along with the other horses, but he was his favourite. For the nine and a half years that I worked with Paddy we never had a cross word, and that was a testament to him.”
Meehan's younger brother Gerry followed him across the Irish Sea to work in the British bloodstock industry. He said, “He was just a fantastic horseman and I greatly looked up to him. I learned a lot from him, just by watching him with stallions and how much respect they showed him. The more awkward the horse, the more he excelled with him. It was uncanny how he managed to get them to do what he wanted them to do. He never looked flustered or got angry with the horse; he just made it look easy.
“But apart from being a superb stallion man, he wasn't always perfect but he was always a big brother to me and was always there when I needed him, even right to the end. He loved new people coming into the job and loved to be able to give people a chance.”
Paddy Meehan is survived by his father Oliver, siblings Gerry, Oliver, Sandra and Michelle, and son Adam. His funeral service will take place on Monday, Aug. 16 at 10.30am at Our Lady Immaculate and St Etheldreda Catholic Church in Newmarket. A celebration of his life will follow nearby at the Heath Court Hotel. All are welcome, and those wishing to attend should contact Gerry Meehan on +44 (0)7803 803011.
A GoFundMe page has been launched to help to cover the costs of the funeral. Any additional funds will be shared equally between the British Heart Foundation and East Anglian Ambulance.
The post Tributes Paid To Popular Stallion Man Paddy Meehan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
The Friday Show Presented By Monmouth Park: Kenny McPeek On Swiss Skydiver
Kenny McPeek admits he's not the most conventional trainer in America. Peter Callahan's multiple Grade 1 winner Swiss Skydiver, who McPeek is sending out against colts for the third time on Saturday in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs. N.Y., is Exhibit A.
“European racing they don't think twice about doing this. In Australia they don't think anything about it,” McPeek said. “American racing tends to 'stay in your lane,' per se. You're not supposed to get out of your lane. Well, I'm not always that. I've been known to do things differently anyways, so what the heck.”
McPeek joins Paulick Report publisher Ray Paulick and bloodstock editor Joe Nevills to talk about the Eclipse Award-winning filly's career and how he decided to run her in the Whitney. He also reveals how he approaches the yearling sales with a limited budget and manages to find some of the hidden gems that have led to his career 100 graded stakes wins.
Paulick and Nevills also review the Woodbine Star of the Week, Munnyfor Ro, winner of the Woodbine Oaks, who poses a serious challenge for the Queen's Plate, a race that fillies have performed very well in over the last 20 years.
Watch this week's show, presented by Monmouth Park, below:
The post The Friday Show Presented By Monmouth Park: Kenny McPeek On Swiss Skydiver appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
At The Spa Finds Room In Stretch, Rallies For CTBA Stakes Score
With equal parts courage and fine horsemanship, rider Tyler Baze and his filly At the Spa squeezed through the tightest of holes on the rail in the stretch, then went on to capture the 68th edition of the CTBA Stakes Thursday afternoon at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.
The homebred 2-year-old daughter of Outwork proved a neck the best at the end of the 5 1/2-furlong headliner for California-bred fillies and earned her connections $57,000 from a total purse of $101,500. Final time for the race was 1:06.11.
At the Spa, now undefeated in three starts, is owned by the trio of Terry Lovingier (her breeder), Tom Beckerle or Saul Carillo. Her victory pushed her bankroll to $164,580.
Finishing second was William R. Peeples' Drizella, while third, just a head back, was Lovingier, Madiha or Navarro's Madiha.
At the Spa paid $8.20, $4.40 and $3.60 across the board. Drizella returned $7.20 and $5.40 and Madiha paid $9.60 to show.
For veteran Baze, the score was his 39th stakes win at Del Mar. For trainer Jorge Periban it was his first.
The conditioner said he was looking ahead to a possible start for his filly in the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Debutante on Sunday, Sept. 5.
In the track's Pick 6 Single Ticket Jackpot wager, the kitty rose once again for the ninth straight racing day as multiple tickets tabbed the final six winners on the card. The Jackpot carryover into Friday's eight-race card is now $747,277. The Jackpot is paid out when there is just a single ticket that selects all six winners.
First post Friday is at 4 p.m.
Post race quotes:
TYLER BAZE (At the Spa, winner) – “We've been training her in the morning to run like this; to come from behind, take a little dirt in her face. I think she gets more aggressive when that happens. Today I saw that hole (on the fence) and knew it was my only shot. My filly was up for it; there wasn't much room there, but she got through. She ran like the horse I know she is. She doesn't like to get beat.”
JORGE PERIBAN (At the Spa, winner) – “She showed me a lot today. She showed that she can come from behind. Most of the time she breaks in front. We had a few problems in the stretch but we got lucky to get inside and get the money. We will wait and see about (next race), but maybe the Debutante (Grade 1, September 5) and if we get lucky, maybe the Breeders' Cup.”
FRACTIONS: :21.69 :46.15 :59.39 1:06.11
The stakes win was the first of the meet for rider Baze and his first in the CTBA. He now has 39 stakes wins at Del Mar.
The stakes win was the first one ever at Del Mar for trainer Periban.
The winning owners are Terry Lovingier from Long Beach, CA; Tom Beckerle of Seoul, Korea and Saul Carillo.
The post At The Spa Finds Room In Stretch, Rallies For CTBA Stakes Score appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
