Our trainer Brent Lyon paid us a visit on Tuesday. It was such a surprise because no one who has ever been here would just be passing by...unless they were headed to Yakima.
Sparky is doing great and has had three workouts so far. They are scheduled for Tuesdays. This is the final phase of his training and conditioning before he is ready to race. The distance of his rides is increasing to a mile or more to develop the stamina needed for the exertion of the actual race. Many horses are injured every year because of a traning program that progressed too quickly.
The training goal is to have him run a couple of races in Portland and then go to Emerald Downs in the spring. Not much is more uncertain that horse racing and that's why they have the ODDS. So, we'll keep taking it one day at a time and enjoy each step of the way. We are learning to have realistic expectations to go along with the big dreams.
THE WORKOUTS HAVE BEGUN
For those of you like me who don't know the horse racing lingo here is the definition of a work from the Backyard Race Horse by Janet Del Castillo
"WORK: One step up from a breeze and a tad below a real race. This is the timed tryout on the racetrack that gives you the true idea of your horse's ability. When a horse is "worked" he is generally pushed to the limit, against another horse or alone. The rider will use the whip on him and ride him hard"
Below are the results of Sparky's first work of the season on Nov 17. The information comes from the Portland Meadows web site. He has been in conditioning for almost six weeks now to get him in shape for the timed run. There will probably be two more works before he is ready for his first race of the season which we hope will be around the first of December.
Distance: Three Furlongs
Breed Type: Thoroughbred
Surface: Dirt
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Horse Name Sex Age Time Notes Rank Add to
Crafty Reasoning (KY) Colt 2 39.00 b 6/8
Dontbeshort (WA) Gelding 2 39.00 b 6/8
Dots Sparky Dancer (WA) Colt 4 38.20 b 3/8
First Americastorm (CA) Filly 4 38.80 b 4/8
Flood Control (CA) Colt 2 39.20 bg 8/8
Lower Town Lad (OR) Gelding 6 37.80 b 1/8
Super Speedy Cop (OR) Colt 3 38.80 b 4/8
Surelybell (WA) Filly 4 37.80 b 1/8
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"WORK: One step up from a breeze and a tad below a real race. This is the timed tryout on the racetrack that gives you the true idea of your horse's ability. When a horse is "worked" he is generally pushed to the limit, against another horse or alone. The rider will use the whip on him and ride him hard"
Below are the results of Sparky's first work of the season on Nov 17. The information comes from the Portland Meadows web site. He has been in conditioning for almost six weeks now to get him in shape for the timed run. There will probably be two more works before he is ready for his first race of the season which we hope will be around the first of December.
Distance: Three Furlongs
Breed Type: Thoroughbred
Surface: Dirt
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Horse Name Sex Age Time Notes Rank Add to
Crafty Reasoning (KY) Colt 2 39.00 b 6/8
Dontbeshort (WA) Gelding 2 39.00 b 6/8
Dots Sparky Dancer (WA) Colt 4 38.20 b 3/8
First Americastorm (CA) Filly 4 38.80 b 4/8
Flood Control (CA) Colt 2 39.20 bg 8/8
Lower Town Lad (OR) Gelding 6 37.80 b 1/8
Super Speedy Cop (OR) Colt 3 38.80 b 4/8
Surelybell (WA) Filly 4 37.80 b 1/8
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AAAAND THEY'RE OFF! 2009 RACING SEASON DRAWS NEAR!
Sparky goes back to the track next week to start his conditioning for the 2009 racing season. We look forward to an exciting new year still chasing the dream...
In 2008 Sparky ran three races and was in the money in two. A good start for a new racer. He ran against Ziggy Zack who went on to win at Golden Gate in San Francisco in a $50,000 optional claimer, Final Appeal, who went to Emerald Downs, and, One Quick Brew also won at Emerald Downs and then went to California to continue his career.
We hope you will join us by becoming a follower of this blog for photos, workout speeds, racing dates and results. And, you can watch the races on HRTV. Check the channel in your area. Races start in October but we are already getting excited!
In 2008 Sparky ran three races and was in the money in two. A good start for a new racer. He ran against Ziggy Zack who went on to win at Golden Gate in San Francisco in a $50,000 optional claimer, Final Appeal, who went to Emerald Downs, and, One Quick Brew also won at Emerald Downs and then went to California to continue his career.
We hope you will join us by becoming a follower of this blog for photos, workout speeds, racing dates and results. And, you can watch the races on HRTV. Check the channel in your area. Races start in October but we are already getting excited!
Brent Lyon
Brent has been Sparky's trainer since 2008. He has trained horses at Emerald Downs and Turf Paradise and was referred to us by Frank Luccarelli. He worked under Charles Whitenham.Brent has retired at least three times but keeps showing up for work each morning.
Work out times 2007
Here’s what I’ve got;
Nov 30 3F Wet Fast 46.3 B
Sep 23 3F Fast 39.1 B
Sep 15 3F Fast 42.0 B
Aug 31 3F Fast 39.4 B
Nov 30 3F Wet Fast 46.3 B
Sep 23 3F Fast 39.1 B
Sep 15 3F Fast 42.0 B
Aug 31 3F Fast 39.4 B
July 18, 2007
Hi everybody,
It's been a while since I updated about Sparky. I guess I'm kinda holding my breath.
Sparky went down for more training on July 2 so he's been there a couple of weeks. He is on a diet and going through conditioning. Around the first of August they will start breezing him which is the high speed timed workout. Then in the middle of August they will decide if he is a good potential for this year or if he needs another year to grow.
Portland Meadows is an OLD track and quite a shock after going to Emerald Downs. But, it is very calm and peaceful and the horses seem very content and a lot more mellow than E.D. It's really a very good place to start out it seems and then they can graduate to the faster pace later. We are very happy to be working with Jim Fergason who is one of the top trainers there and he is keeping in touch with Frank so we really have a training dream team.
Just taking it one day at a time. Our contined thanks and graditude to our friends and family that are helping to move this dream along. Attached are a couple of pictures of Sparky on the hot walker and his stall buddies.
Jerry & Carol
It's been a while since I updated about Sparky. I guess I'm kinda holding my breath.
Sparky went down for more training on July 2 so he's been there a couple of weeks. He is on a diet and going through conditioning. Around the first of August they will start breezing him which is the high speed timed workout. Then in the middle of August they will decide if he is a good potential for this year or if he needs another year to grow.
Portland Meadows is an OLD track and quite a shock after going to Emerald Downs. But, it is very calm and peaceful and the horses seem very content and a lot more mellow than E.D. It's really a very good place to start out it seems and then they can graduate to the faster pace later. We are very happy to be working with Jim Fergason who is one of the top trainers there and he is keeping in touch with Frank so we really have a training dream team.
Just taking it one day at a time. Our contined thanks and graditude to our friends and family that are helping to move this dream along. Attached are a couple of pictures of Sparky on the hot walker and his stall buddies.
Jerry & Carol
Dots Sparky Dancer
The beginning of a dream for Jerry Weil. Sparky was sired by Dance at Dinner owned by Don Lake from Olympia, WA and Honey Sugar owned by Jerry Weil.
This is our first step at owning a racehorse and hope that you will join us in the adventure of chasing a dream.
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