Some random notes about the Delaware sale.

[LVGaryD]

#79 was named Mr. Mckirgan. Sold for $1700. Must be a rat.  Who would name a horse after my man Don?

Tracy Brainard and Josh Marks bought a bunch of horses. Cimags reported to me that they bought Nicoles Dreamboat for $6000. I think they will win a whole lot of money with him. Tracy (Josh) is one hell of a trainer.    Of course Cimags informed me that the only reason Ms. Brainard and Mr. Marks came up to the sale was to buy Nicole, which is obviously bullshit because they bought up a whole lot more than just Nicoles Dreamboat, including one for $25,000 and one for $39,000. Someone is blowing smoke up Cimags' ass.

Bud Hatfield made one hell of a buy in my opinion, buying Wolf's Jann from the Burke brigade. She is just getting good now and that $22,000 was money that I think was very well spent.

Finally it is apparent that the Amish folks were paying good money for decent looking trotters. I also think very few were sent to the killers from this sale.

 

[Mack Lobell]

Just curious from a fan/small-time owner's point of view...if Wolf's Jann is
'just getting good now" (and I know absolutely nothing about the horse) and is trained by one of the best trainers in the sport, I would wonder why the horse is in the sale in the first place?  Seems like one of the last guys I would want to buy a horse from and expect to improve? 

[LVGaryD]

She won in 1:56.3 her last start and did it pretty easily. A very good horse on my barn would be just another horse in Burke's barn. Thinking they figured this horse was a better horse when they bought her. Maybe she just didn't fit in with the Burke training regimen as well as they thought she would. Ronnie is the first to tell you that some horses just do not like to be trained hard, and therefore will not blossom under him.

[careless hal]

She won in 1:56.3 her last start and did it pretty easily. A very good horse on my barn would be just another horse in Burke's barn. Thinking they figured this horse was a better horse when they bought her. Maybe she just didn't fit in with the Burke training regimen as well as they thought she would. Ronnie is the first to tell you that some horses just do not like to be trained hard, and therefore will not blossom under him.

Wouldn't most trainers adapt the training regimen to fit the needs of the individual horse?
I have a hard time believing that they have a one size fits all training regimen.

[Just Saying]

If you have owners that only want top level horses, you may have to let a 'nice' one go to make room for a potential 'great' one. She certainly is a nice one.

[LVGaryD]

Wouldn't most trainers adapt the training regimen to fit the needs of the individual horse?
I have a hard time believing that they have a one size fits all training regimen.

You stick with what works for you. 90% of trainers no longer train horses hard. The big difference is if Burkes break one down from training hard, they get another horse to take the place of the one that broke down. Most trainers are soft in their horses in an effort to preserve the horse, which often backfires anyway. Might as well get them fit. Of they break down, they break down fit.

[Just Saying]

I always tried to match the regimen to the individual; but also didn't have to have a horse ready to pace sub 1:50 or trot sub 1:55 every start. I'm sure it's a totally game than the one I'm used to. I sure can't argue with Burke's success.

[AmyHollar]

I just keep the pretty ones.