Once upon a time, not all that many years ago, there was a Thoroughbred racehorse named Wickerr who called California his home. Much like the fabled Goldilocks, Wickerr was a picky individual with clear-cut preferences. But whereas Goldilocks could verbally communicate her disdain for poorly made porridge or uncomfortable beds, Wickerr – being a horse – could only communicate his preferences with visual demonstrations. We’re left to imagine his reasoning.
Tag: Legends
Saratoga Stories: A Champion in Fifteen Days
In today’s world of Thoroughbred horse racing, the path to winning an Eclipse award as champion 2-year-old is relatively clear. First, you win a maiden race for horses who have never won a race before. Then, you try to win at least one graded stakes race (preferably a Grade 1) and hopefully more; finally, you win either the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile or Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies to become the clear-cut champion of your division.
A Patient and Versatile Craftsman, Jonathan Sheppard Achieved Staggering Success
There are few certainties in life or in the sport of horse racing. But just as you could count on the changing of the seasons, you could count on Jonathan Sheppard sending out winners by the dozen, year after year, in tests of both pure speed and dexterity over jumps. He retired from training in the U.S. before the 2021 season, but maintains a small stable in Ireland.
Triple Crown Turning Point: Count Fleet on the Market
By 1943, the United States was more than a year into World War II, with Allied forces fighting in both Europe and the Pacific. For many, the racetrack served as a distraction, a place to get away from the heaviness of reality and find personalities to root for in challenging times.
