Tim Woolley Racing

2003-07-09T16:45:00.000-07:00

Moving

We are moving to our new site at http://timwoolley.raceblogs.com. It would be great if you could update any links to the new site.

2003-07-09T14:07:00.000-07:00

The equine athlete is as prone to injury as any professional sports performer. Maintaining a level of soundness that keeps a thoroughbred at his best can be attained in ways similar to the specialists that keep their human millionaire counter-parts at their peak.

Chiropractors and Massage Therapists have received a lot of praise for the work they can do on racehorses. Sore muscles and stiff necks are commonplace to horses that have a busy racing schedule and by alleviating those problems we can help keep the horses legs sounder.

Swimming therapy can keep a horse fit and reduce the stress on knees and ankles by keeping the weight of a rider off its back.

Acupuncture is another method for helping trainers understand what problems may be aggravating the horse. A horse will compensate one ailment for another and this is when horse psychology and an observant eye from the trainer can pinpoint a problem before it manifests into a major lameness.

This weekend our stable is sending out Anacosta for her first race of the year. This little filly has had some sharp works for her debut and draws the services of Anibal Prado at Philadelphia Park. Anibal’s brother Edgar is one of the countries top jockeys but Anacosta’s pilot seems content to carve a good living around this Pennsylvania track.

Call Me Lightning is going back up to Monmouth to get his feet on some turf and a little more racing distance. This horse has been putting together some nice races and deserves to get his head back in front.

More in a few days!

2003-07-03T13:32:00.000-07:00

Entering a horse in a race where the trainer thinks he is most competitive to win is a frequent dilemma for horse conditioners. Racehorses can improve or decline in their performance from race to race. Running a horse in a race that their previous form suggests is clearly over matched can ruin the confidence of a horse and his efforts, as a consequence, may be sub-par. If a horse can compete with other competitors that have equal talent, then the horse may feel he does not have to exert himself as much, and can still finish with a lot of energy. These kind of races can build the “heart up” in a horse and can improve his racing confidence. A switch in a racing surface can sometimes be a factor in the way a horse performs.

We raced Casino Casey the other day at Delaware Park, which we consider to be a competitive racetrack in this region. “Casey’s” race record on the dirt was very poor, attained at lesser tracks, but the feel of natural turf under his feet produced the effect that had many observers scratching their heads in bewilderment.

Finishing a weakening fourth after contesting the pace for most of the 1 1/16th mile was a dramatic improvement. On paper, this was an illogical place to race the horse but horses cannot read racing charts and can frequently leave the trainer looking like a genius.

More in a few days!

2003-06-27T13:54:00.000-07:00

Now that the weather is cooperating a little here on the East Coast, turf racing has finally been able to resume. The best un-used turf course in the Mid Atlantic is the Fair Hill Racecourse, which is used for one day of Steeplechase racing each year on Memorial Day.

For the remainder of the summer months, the horsemen here at the training center are able to work their horses on this one- mile oval. Apart from this turf providing excellent cushion from the fifty years of foundation that it has developed, the final three furlongs are on a subtle incline, which maximizes the work put on a horse that you are trying to get fit. We took Rick’s Rascal over to the racecourse this morning and after a satisfactory piece of work have decided that we need to start and find a race for him to run.

William DuPont started the racing here at Fair Hill back in the 1930’s and although Steeplechase racing is now considered the red-headed step child of the thoroughbred sport, this racecourse has played host to many elite Steeplechase horses. The Breeder’s Cup came to town on a couple of occasions to hold the Steeplechase division of this remarkable series of championship races. Fair Hill once drew international Steeplechasers where an Eclipse award was at stake. For now this state owned facility is content to draw a local Memorial Day crowd, and not capitalize on a festival of racing that could benefit the Steeplechase community and mirror the spectacle we will see at Santa Anita Park this October.

More in a few days!

2003-06-24T18:33:00.000-07:00

The durability of today's modern thoroughbred has often come under intense scrutiny. With commercial breeding over the last quarter of a century, many breeders have made big money from the summer yearling sales by presenting us with flashy, showroom type products.

With no Triple Crown winners in the last 25 years, and many Graded Stakes winners barely making it to their four-year-old campaign, the racing heroes of yesteryear are now being marketed at the movies to draw people back to the races.

Southern Hemisphere horses are starting to be noticed for their soundness and ability. Bobby Frankel brings several performers up from places where you would not think racing existed, yet these horses race at the highest level over here.

A very remarkable mare about to make her U.S debut is Ipi Tombe. This extraordinary horse calls Zimbabwe, Africa her birthplace but traveled to Dubai to win at Nad Al Sheba in the $2million Dubai Duty Free in March against the boys. Currently at Arlington Park with Elliot Walden, it is ironic that she is exercised by the ex-wife of an old friend, Louise Hatfield (and fellow Fair Hill exercise rider of the past).

This kind of racehorse is what we now need to bring back the race-goers. The performances of the Australian horse Choisir last week at Royal Ascot, England where he won two Group races in four days, and broke the track record in one of the victories, is another tribute to the breeding programs where a horse is bred to race.

More in a few days!

2003-06-22T17:59:00.000-07:00

One of the most picturesque racetracks on the East coast is Monmouth Park in New Jersey. Located close to the shore, this track draws large daily crowds and offers quality horse racing.

Call Me Lightning took us there on Saturday to compete in a Starter Handicap. This type of race is for horses that have raced for a certain claiming price within the last year and it attracted some veteran campaigners. Our horse was a mere teenager compared to the ten- year- old gelding that was the favorite and had over a quarter of a million dollars in lifetime earnings. Lightning has been steadily improving all spring and, what he lacked in age, was made up by our jockey Eddie King Jr. This fine horseman brings a vast amount of experience with the $45.00 jockeys fee that he earned for the mount.

One thing that is value for money is when these guys climb aboard a thousand pound animal and has to get it to cooperate enough to try and win a race. They are sportsmen that don't have rain delays or corked bats, and their livelihood is very much determined by how they perform in the afternoons.

Lightning ran a strong race yet again and picked up third place with the race being run during a thunderstorm. Getting wet sand kicked in your face is discouraging enough but having eight other horses kicking it back, you have to have a brave horse to run through it.

More in a few days!

2003-06-16T18:16:00.000-07:00

Our ten-horse stable increased in size last week with the arrival of two young horses from Florida. The climate in Florida during the winter months is excellent to prepare young horses for their racing careers. The excessive heat this time of the year can be very dehydrating for horses and some owners prefer to have their horses stabled in a cooler climate.

The two fillies are a good size for two year olds, but like with many young horses, have developed physical problems that will inhibit their training. Trying to get a young horse to the races requires a lot of patience from both the owner and the trainer, as you juggle a training program to accommodate each horses capabilities. A horse that is still growing and maturing goes through bone changes and growth spurts, which if pressed too much, can develop injuries that may later limit the horses racing potential.

Perseid is a filly that we had given plenty of time to mature and she won her first race impressively at Penn National the other night. Her twelve- length win was testament to her owner's patience and the filly looks like she can win a few more. The authority in which she won suggests that her confidence is very high. She has never had any soundness problems, which with a filly, sometimes when they are racing while feeling some pain, they do not try to race as hard.

More in a few days!

2003-06-16T13:51:00.000-07:00

Nothing Fancy
2 YO Filly
Breeding: Run Softly x ?
Owner: Equivine Farm
Race Record 2003: NA
Last Race:
Next Race:
Notes: Purchased from the 2YO in training sale at Timonium in May. She is currently galloping, having had a short break after the sale.

2003-06-16T13:47:00.000-07:00

Casino Diva
2 YO Filly
Breeding: Not for Love x ?
Owner: Casino Royale Farm
Race Record 2003: NA
Last Race:
Next Race:
Notes: Arrived from Florida, June 10. Currently jogging and easy gallops for a few weeks. Arrived with the Malibu Moon filly and training together.

2003-06-16T13:46:00.000-07:00

Malibu Miss
2 YO Filly
Breeding: Malibu Moon x ?
Owner: Casino Royale Farm
Race Record 2003: NA
Last Race:
Next Race:
Notes: Arrived from Florida, June 10. Currently jogging and easy gallops for a few weeks. Arrived with Casino Diva and training together.

2003-06-13T13:29:00.000-07:00

Now that the Triple Crown races have been run this year, the public interest in horse racing will diminish. The achievements through this series of Funny Cide have been memorable and we can take comfort in the fact that somewhere out there is a two-year-old colt or gelding, whom has probably not even raced yet, that will win the Kentucky Derby and generate the excitement all over again.

The physical and emotional toll that these races have on the connections of the horses, can take awhile to recover from. Life goes on and other horses have to be trained. Funny Cide I'm sure, will have a well - earned break, but the decisions made on other horses in training can be as critical as the ones made on the Triple Crown trail.

The majority of races that are run on a daily basis are termed "claiming races". This is where a trainer puts a horse in the entries for a set amount of money, which enables other trainers to purchase the horse. These races range in value from as little as $2500 and can go up to as high as $100,000 at some of the larger tracks.

Many trainers operate their business solely from claiming horses in this manner and having horses claimed from them. Allure L'Amour was claimed from our stable the other night at Penn National and although she finished fifth in her race, it can be a test of a trainer's influence as to whether a horse improves when put in the hands of another conditioner.

More in a few days!

2003-06-07T18:58:00.000-07:00

With the whole country focused on the Belmont Stakes this weekend, we concentrated on the horses we were racing at Penn National on Thursday and Friday. Dreams of Triple Crown glory are a long way from reality when attending the races at this level. Many fine horsemen, both trainers and jockeys, have gone through the gates at this country- side racetrack, before obtaining recognition for their efforts. Patching up old sore horses or bringing along young horses through their conditions is the college background for eager trainers. Winning or losing races is what your success is based on and graduation day may never come. The list of people enrolling to participate in this absorbing sport does not seem to diminish when the drama of the Derby, Preakness, and Belmont unfolds on your T.V. screen.

Classy Conveyor was equipped with a pair of blinkers for her third place finish on Thursday. This vital piece of equipment is a hood placed over the horses head and extension cups over the eyeholes, which limits the peripheral vision of the horse during a race. They are intended to make a horse more focused and try a little harder. Classy showed good early speed with these but then faded in the last quarter of a mile.

Better Maid, who has always trained and raced with blinkers, was unable to see the horse that side swiped her as she left the starting gate on Friday night. This caused her to be impeded and to dislodge her jockey from the saddle. The hard luck stories in horseracing are common- place as seen the week before the Derby as Bobby Frankel tried to nurse Empire Makers bruised foot. His luck changed for the better in the Belmont Stakes when his prized horse glided over the sloppy track to spoil Funny Cide's bid for the Triple Crown. Was it hard luck on Funny Cide's part to have to race over a surface that had absorbed over an inch of rain on race day in June? The momentous task of sweeping the series weighed heavily on his shoulders, but racing scripts are not always fairy tale endings.

More in a few days!

2003-06-03T13:17:00.000-07:00

Call Me Lightning ran a solid race to finish third at Delaware Park on Sunday in a tough allowance race. Rallying from off the pace he picked up a nice check for his efforts and provided his owners with a big thrill.

Owners of Thoroughbred racehorses come from all aspects of life. The job of a trainer is to accommodate the needs of each owner in what they want to acquire from racing their horses. All owners realize the financial commitment, some just want to win and to make money with the horse, but other owners are in this sport for the shear thrill and enjoyment of the spectacle. To see their horse at the races with their silks on the jockey, and their name in the program, is a rush of adrenaline for them. The financial aspect is often farthest from their mind.

Some owners have often bred the horse that they have in training, and are trying to strengthen the pedigree of their broodmare. The offspring needs to perform well at the races for the owner to warrant investing in another breeding season for the mare.

We have a broad spectrum of owners in our stable and entertaining them on race day is a responsibility that comes with the trainer's license. We like our owners to have fun and enjoy themselves and when they have the complete faith in their trainer, then even when the unpredictable happens, the headaches that also come with the license are alleviated.

Funny Cide's owners are currently enjoying the ride of a lifetime. These ten lifetime friends that are being taken to places they never dreamed of are becoming celebrities. The Triple Crown bonus of $5 million will enrich their financial status but just to be apart of this historical racing event could be more than enough to elevate them to emotions that just cannot be bought.

More in a few days!

2003-05-31T17:31:00.000-07:00

Perseid ran a good second on Wednesday night at Penn National. The filly certainly stepped up from her previous race and with a little more improvement should get the job done next time.

This weekend we are going after some big money at Delaware Park with Call Me Lightning. Six years ago this track was struggling to stay in business. With legislation allowing slot machines to be installed at the track, the added revenue boosted the purse structure to be one of the best in the country.

With bigger purses come better horses. One of the advantages to racing in this multi-state region is that so many racetracks are running at the same time, the horse population starts to get depleted. Racing Secretaries struggle to put together full cards with full fields. Short fields are good for the trainers because there is a better chance to pick up a check, but larger fields increase the daily amount of money wagered. The racetrack owners are obligated to give a percentage towards the purse distribution. Most racetracks do not have the boost from slot machine revenue and just depend upon the public wagering to support their daily program.

Delaware Park is the closest track to Fair Hill and was called the Saratoga of the South in its heyday with top racing stables training on the grounds. With the large infusion of money from the slots over the last few years the management has been able to make enough improvements to once again be a host to some quality racing.

More in few days!

2003-05-28T06:26:00.000-07:00

With all the rain that has been falling around here just lately, even the Canadian geese that enjoy the ponds around the training center are looking for drier ground. The turf- racing season, which is normally well under way by now, is suffering enormously as the racetracks struggle with the elements. This has caused the switch of several grass races to a sloppy main track.

Many horses have a real fondness for racing on the natural surface and some are poor performers on the dirt track until they get a chance to feel the firm hold of a turf course. The way turf races are run can be quite different to that of races on the dirt in the fact that many distance turf races give a chance for closers to make a late run, and early speed is not always a contributing factor in the result of a finish.

We are taking Perseid up to Penn National on Wednesday night in the hope of improving on her 3rd place finish the last time she ran. The conditions are the same except that we may have a sloppy track as well.

The new 2-year-old filly we purchased at the sale last week goes by the name of Nothing Fancy. She will have a short break to let her recover from the hard training she had to endure to go through the sale. The consignors push the young horses very hard to help sell them so many trainers, upon purchasing them, like to give these young, immature boned horses time to settle down and soothe their aching bodies. This is when rainfall on spring grass is a welcome sight because the nutrition obtained from a fast growing field of grass can make the most immature two-year-old develop into a one thousand- pound mass of fat and muscle.

More in a few days!

2003-05-23T14:41:00.000-07:00

Like with most sports, horse trainers are always on the lookout for fresh talent that can strengthen the quality of their stable. Trying to find that star horse, within the budget of the owners sometimes deep pockets, can require a lot of analysis from studying pedigrees, the horse as an individual, and veterinary intervention for any defects.

We attended the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Two Year Old in Training Sale at Timonium on Tuesday in the hope of finding a diamond in the rough. This is a sale where the prospective buyers get to see un-raced horses train and have workouts before the horse goes through the auction ring. Getting to see how a horse gallops and strides out over the racetrack along with seeing if the horse has any speed in a workout is very useful in assessing an unproven horse's general ability.

If a horse's physical appearance and pedigree are impressive, then like talent scouts at a college football game, horse trainers are pushing their owners to bid a little higher to secure a position for these future champions in their stables.

We purchased a filly for one of our owners on the strength of a sharp workout, adequate conformation and pedigree, and a demeanor that was calm and professional. We spent far less of a price for her than the sale topping colt that bidders went up to $320,000 to buy. Even with a three- furlong workout in a rapid 33 seconds, to recoup the purchase price this horse has a lot of races to win.

A few years ago, a mediocre type filly by the name of Xtra Heat went through the sales ring for $5000 and went on the earn $2.3 million. Her value as a broodmare prospect rocketed to $1.7 million on the strength on her achievements as a racehorse.

A well-bred colt that wins the Kentucky Derby can be automatically valued at several million because as a stallion he can breed many mares, for several years at a very high fee for his services. This is why talented young colts at horse sales are often very highly priced investments. What these young athletes do when they get to race can determine the true value of the purchase.

With Funny Cide embarking on a Triple Crown bid, if he were a colt, then his future breeding career could be unlimited, but as a horse that will never breed a mare, his value is based on how much he can make by winning races and not as a stallion prospect. How much is a gelding worth who is sitting on a bid for Triple Crown glory, with an added bonus of $5 million dollars, if he wins the Belmont? Funny Cide could race for several more years provided he stays sound and healthy winning lucrative prizes, but what price tag do you put on him today?

More in a few days!

2003-05-19T15:24:00.000-07:00

We took a trip up to Penn National the other night with Classy Conveyor. After a wide racing trip we just missed second place by a neck and finished third. Although the purse money was not very much, every little bit helps with the expenses. Racing cheaper horses is not cost effective but if you can put them in races where they are competitive then you hope they will pick up a check. Even the big trainers started from humble beginnings.

The way Funny Cide demolished the Preakness field on Saturday was sweet justice for Jose Santos, yet again showing what a top class jockey he is. The horse proved that their partnership firmly quashed any doubt surrounding the way in which he won the Kentucky Derby.

The Preakness victory was so powerful that the winning 9 3/4 lengths, which he won by is the second widest margin in Preakness history. The third leg of the Triple Crown awaits them in three weeks at Belmont Park plus the prospect of winning a five million dollar bonus put up by the sponsors of the series.

Who will show up to challenge this legend in the making? Both Baffert and Frankel look stunned by the awesome performance of this blue-collar horse, as their million dollar colts ate more of the Pimlico dirt than the patrons ate crab cakes. If Frankel is looking to turn things around with Empire Maker in the Empire state, then his horse needs to show more maturity than he did in the Kentuky Derby. He does not lack the talent but when a colt is put to the test as he was at Churchill Downs he needs to learn to gut it out.

Barclay Tagg came to his newly purchased barn at Fair Hill this morning to check on the younger horses that he has in training here. Does he have another Funny Cide in the making? Time will tell.

Not letting the glamour go to his head, this down to earth horseman who lets the horse do the talking has been very refreshing during this Triple Crown campaign. The showmanship and one-liners that previous trainers sometimes indulge when television cameras are around, tarnish the sport with their own egos and are once again distracting from the performance of the horse.

More in a few days!

2003-05-16T14:48:00.000-07:00

This morning with the half inch of rain that was forecast for the region coming down, the training center management closed the main track. The sand/dirt components of the track are compacted down very tightly with a Track Packer Roller that seals the surface and does not allow too much moisture to penetrate deep into the track. When the storm has passed and the maintenance crew harrow the track back up, the surface will dry out quicker and we will have a good, fast track.

Racetrack maintenance is a very important factor in keeping horses sound. If the track superintendent and his crew do not work the track appropriately and keep a level consistency of track sand that acts as an absorbing cushion, then horses are more prone to break down.

If a horse's stride goes down through the sand too much and hits the clay base of the track, then he could risk bone injury. If the depth of the sand is too dry and loose then a horse could get suspensory or tendon injuries. Racetrack consistency can change from race to race and every horse is different when it comes to its ability in handling different track surface conditions. Each racetrack uses slightly different materials and develops a reputation for a certain bias when horses are racing. Some tracks develop a speed bias which enables horses with natural early speed to have an advantage while other tracks that have a deeper more tiring surface give the horse that has a stronger finish the advantage. Knowing that the training center management is putting the horse's welfare first is very reassuring. Being stabled at the racetrack where live racing is conducted on a daily basis, the welfare of the horse is often overlooked. The betting dollar becomes more important than the product that puts on the show.

More in a few days!

2003-05-12T16:07:00.000-07:00

The two- year-old Tabasco Cat colt that was giving us problems on the track, as we recorded in an earlier blog, had started to get much better this last couple of weeks. As we were only training him to get some racetrack experience we sent him on to his new trainer Carlos Garcia at Laurel Racetrack. Bringing a young horse from the farm to the Fair Hill Training Center for a few weeks is a good introduction to the hustle and bustle he will encounter at the larger track. Sometimes the dramatic change on a horse can be like taking a kid out of his family home in the country and putting him in the middle of Times Square.

Tabasco Cat himself was a very highly-strung horse, and this son of his already showed us some temperamental traits. It certainly did not stop his father from winning the Preakness and with this years running just a few days away all of Maryland and New York must be hoping that Funny Cide can pull off the middle jewel in the Triple Crown.

Barclay Tagg is a popular Maryland trainer based now in New York with his New York bred gelding carrying the banner for their thoroughbred breeding industry. With the recent speculations about Funny Cide's jockey Jose Santos carrying an electrical devise to enhance his chances during the Kentucky Derby, the pressure for the horse to run another winning race has got to be near boiling point.

How reporters can bring up these allegations is a disgrace to journalism. It is not even investigative reporting. Why would they think that an eclipse award winning jockey who was riding in the biggest race of the year, in front of 140,000 people, while being televised nationally, would even contemplate doing something immoral. They need to look elsewhere for sensationalism or leave it to the tabloids at the checkout counter.

Jose Santos switched his whip several times from one hand to the other while encouraging Funny Cide to his Derby victory. If he had an electrical devise in his hand as well, then it was an illusion that David Copperfield would have been proud of.

More in a few days!

2003-05-09T16:23:00.000-07:00

Call Me Lightning ran a nice race Monday to finish third at Philadelphia Park. We were looking to increase his winning streak to three in a row but moving up a condition is always tough and we were happy with his performance.

One of the advantages of being stabled here at Fair Hill is the tranquil atmosphere that we think is very healthy for the horses. Nervous horses can learn to relax here and with the training center situated on four thousand acres of state owned countryside a horse can be ridden for miles without even seeing another horse.

With acres of countryside at our disposal we also share it with the local private fox hunting pack. This consists of the owner of the hunt who tends to follow her prized hounds in a pick-up truck in an attempt to oversee her two most trusted employees in action. The huntsman and the whipper-in are employed to control the hounds from horseback by blowing a horn or calling out various commands. The sight of foxhounds and horses working a wooded covert has inspired many artists to paint this harmonious scene. However, the double-act of the huntsman and whipper-in in this particular pack would make Abbott and Costello very tame when it comes to comedy.

While one tries to control the hounds by blowing the horn, the other attempts to crack the hunting whip to divert the direction that the hounds are moving. Many people enjoy foxhunting for the spectacle of seeing the hounds working and not for controlling the fox population. This private pack has been built through generations of breeding hounds that have stayed in the owner's family. Much like breeding thoroughbreds to get good horses, this pack of hounds has good pedigrees too.

On occasion when we are out on a quiet, peaceful ride trying to relax our highly-strung thoroughbreds, the Abbott and Costello act sometimes runs into us. The two boys are both retired Irish jockeys whose nerves for riding racehorses are now a little frail. They now choose to gallop at a slower pace and always delight in this position they find themselves in. Knowing the precarious situation that we are in on horses that are race fit, they often playfully try to stir us up. However, with all the banter that goes on between us it seems to enable every fox in the county to head back to the safety of the den.

More in a few days!

2003-05-05T12:23:00.000-07:00

The billing of "the greatest two minutes in sports" which the Kentucky Derby is often referred to certainly was a memorable event. The winning horse Funny Cide is trained as I said in a previous blog by our new barn owner Barclay Tagg. The fact that the horse is a gelding, owned by a small operation, and not trained by the triumvirate of Lukas, Baffert and Drysdale gives hope to so many in this business and once again shows the diversity of the people who participate in this sport.

There was a buzz around the training center today generated by the new barn owner and his purchasing of the barn. The exposure that Fair Hill could get from Barclay winning such a prestigious race is good publicity. Although I am sure Funny Cide will never see the inside of our barn, Barclay is going to attract an awful lot of wealthy owners with talented racing prospects. The fact that Penny has connections to Barclay's stable makes the next few weeks very exciting in their quest for the Triple Crown glory.

I ventured to Philadelphia Park on Sunday in an attempt to improve Star of the Valley's race record only to be crushed by yet another poor performance. When Valley weakened dramatically after half a mile I asked the veterinarian to scope him. This is where they pass an endoscopic tube up through the horse's nasal passage past the trachea and down into the lungs. The light that is attached to the endoscope enables the veterinarian to view the area and determine how the horse's airways are functioning. This is how the vet determines if any mucus and blood has been generated by the exertion of a race. When nothing unusual can be detected the trainer has to search other areas for answers and try to figure out the reasons for why a horse has run so disappointingly.

Where is Dr. Doolittle when you need him?

More in a few days...

2003-05-02T13:45:00.000-07:00

The last few days have been very busy, starting with Classy Conveyor's long awaited debut on the turf. This resulted in an unimpressive race where she finished a non- threatening ninth. Better Maid ran a creditable race, closing rapidly at the end to get fourth place. I was very pleased as the race came up pretty tough.

Penny went up to Penn National on Wednesday night with two runners, Perseid and Allure L'Amour. She came home with two third place finishes which was good because when I entered Allure L'Amour to race, the racing secretary asked me if I had a horse to help fill a cheap maiden claiming race on the same night. Obligingly, I put Perseid in the entries thinking that she may not be quite fit enough, but by finishing third she came away with enough money to cover her expenses.

Every trainer at the racetrack is obligated to the racing secretary which enables them to keep their stalls. If a trainer does not run his horses enough then the racing secretary can take some of the stalls away. At Fair Hill, where we train, we are not in that situation as we rent stalls and can race the horses where we feel the right conditions fit the horse. In this case I did the racing secretary a favor so maybe when I need him to work harder to get a race to fill it will be for my benefit.

Just A Falcon ran at Penn National on Thursday night and racing was delayed several minutes as a major thunderstorm went through the area just before racing was to begin. We were unfortunate to have drawn on the wide outside again but I chose not to scratch this time as the track was in better condition. The thunderstorm soon changed the track surface to sloppy and Falcon took a dislike to the wet dirt hitting him in his face and finished last. When a horse runs badly it makes for a long journey home. I arrived home from the races at 1a.m. having started my day at 5:30 a.m. the previous morning. That was a 20 hour day with nothing but a disappointed owner with bills to pay. The trainer is now going to have an empty stall because having a horse that can not pay his way does not make sense economically and the owner inevitably takes the horse home.

Anyway, I can catch up on some sleep in the next few days and a friend of mine Alex is having a Kentucky Derby party on Saturday. Alex is another weekend warrior who has a corporate job and rides out at our barn on Saturday mornings to recapture the thrill of powerful thoroughbreds galloping at speed. The style and grace that Alex exudes from the saddle would make Dick Turpin extremely proud. Alex used to be a freelance exercise rider here at Fair Hill working in unison with Andy Durnin, who now exercises Kentucky Derby prospects. They named themselves the A Team, perhaps using the first letter from each of their names, but to all of their friends a more inappropriate name was derived from the letter A!

More in a few days...

2003-04-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

With the Kentucky Derby just a few days away, every racing barn starts to handicap the big race and give opinions on whom they think should win the Run For The Roses. Well coincidently the barn that we are stabled in at Fair Hill has just been sold in a private transaction to Barclay Tagg who is the trainer of the very fancied Funny Cide.

Barclay came to our barn the other day to inspect his new purchase and is keeping very cool about his horse's prospects in the big race. Penny is very good friends with Barclay's assistant Robin and she thinks the horse has a very good chance if he saves enough in the early part of the race. Robin is also the exercise rider for Funny Cide who in his last race ran the current Derby favorite to within a half a length.

When I got home from training the very same day my weekly edition of the Blood Horse was sitting in my mailbox and on the cover was an advertisement for a stallion with a quote from one of my old friends Andy Durnin. Andy stated that this horse was the best he had ever sat on which is very high praise considering he was the exercise rider for Fusaichi Pegasus through his triple crown campaign. Andy is a very useful hand on a horse and his California based trainers value his opinions highly. This is another example of how important people like Andy are to trainers when they are preparing their horses to race.

Andy must have thought I needed to have some more inside information on this year's Derby as I received an e-mail from him soon after I had read the Blood Horse advertisement. Ten Most Wanted is a horse he has been riding for trainer Wally Dollase and he described the horse as a monster that had breezed extremely well under Pat Day. I hope that by monster he meant the horse was very strong to hold in his gallops and was feeling very well and not something that would eat you alive if you turned your back on him. Some may say that Andy is a racehorse groupie where he gets to hang out at all the big thoroughbred occasions with back stage passes, but honestly he is a very talented exercise rider with a personality that eases the pressures on the trainers involved in such big events.

As we do not have anything in the Kentucky Derby this year my main concern is if Allure L'Amour is fit enough to run for $4,000 dollars claiming at Penn National on Wednesday night!

More in a few days...

2003-04-25T14:57:00.000-07:00

Classy Conveyor drew in on the turf for Wednesday at Atlantic City with Victor Molina in the irons. It is her first race on the turf so we hope she handles it well. Mr. Atkinson, her owner, also owns Just A Falcon, who came out of his last race very well and will probably run again towards the end of next week.

Many racing barns have thousands of dollars of horseflesh in their care. They are expensive to buy, have unlimited potential to earn a lot of money, and can go on and have successful breeding careers. There is one horse in every barn that plays an important part in trying to get racehorses to reach their maximum ability. This is the lead pony. Whether it is rain or shine, the job of a good lead pony is to help relax a nervous filly or to discipline an unruly colt. Sometimes he acts as a perch for the trainer to sit on and look imposing while chaperoning young horses to the starting gate. These ponies are a valuable commodity in their own right, and often do not get the credit they deserve.

Our lead pony is Luke. He is a quarter horse paint that all of our fillies grow to love and the colts learn to respect. He has several frequent traveler miles from accompanying nervous horses to the races.

Well, this last few days Luke showed how valuable he is to our barn. The Tabasco Cat 2 year old colt, after having a few sick days off, decided he did not like his schooling anymore and was giving us some trouble when he started to go back to the track. While the colt was impersonating Silver from the Lone Ranger, Luke was able to give a lead, stop on a dime, turn left or right, and back up all from the commands asked without a bit in his mouth. Finally, the colt realized he had better cooperate and follow Luke around the track like a mannerly scholar while Luke cast the occasional scowl or flick of his tail as if to say see what happens when you step out of line.

More in a few days...

2003-04-21T15:07:00.000-07:00

Training Highlights: April 21
Falcon finished fifth at Penn National on saturday night. From a very slow early pace (51 secs. for the first half) the race did not set up too well for him. He came running late but was not able to get to the leaders when they had saved so much from the first half of the race. The next time, I am sure that with a stronger early pace, he will run better.

Conveyor worked a half mile on saturday and Better Maid worked 5/8ths and both horses are still pointing towards Atlantic City's short turf meet. Call Me Lightning had a maintenance breeze on monday morning and he looks about two weeks away from his next race.

Behind every racehorse training business there are people who are not fully recognized for the work and effort they contribute to make the trainer's life easier. In my case, my wife, Penny, is that person. Being able to fill in as an exercise rider, groom, hot walker and assistant trainer is an asset to any trainer. Then to take care of all the billing, balancing the accounts and looking on the positive side of things when trainer is having a bad day is a position which receives little pay. Giving the level of commitment and dedication needed in this game to make the difference between winning and losing can be a real test of any couple. Penny is certainly the oil that keeps this machine running smoothly.

More in a few days...

2003-04-18T13:37:00.000-07:00

Training Highlights: April 18
The "sport of king's" is a cliche for this game but in our barn the horses are treated like royalty and we are their servants. This is clearly seen when another regular barn visitor by the name of George "the carrot man" arrives.

George is a senior citizen who spends his social security allowance on "quality" carrots, which he feeds to each of the horses as he goes down the shed-row. Every horse demands George's attention by either whinnying loudly, kicking the stall walls, pushing at the stall doors (webbings), pawing at the ground, or in Falcon's case all of the above.

The attention George gives the horses makes them feel special and brightens their day from the repetition of being in training.
Trying to keep a horses mind happy and healthy is as important as keeping it fit and sound. George comes to our barn once a week but is also a regular supporter when we race at Philadelphia Park. The satisfaction this 70 + year old man gets from being around the horses keeps his mind happy and healthy too.

This sport really draws people from all walks of life and 10 people can give you 10 reasons what it is that keeps them so involved in this business but everything starts from the horse itself.

Allure L' Amour's foot abscess disappeared in a hot tub of Epsom salts two days after the race she was supposed to run in. There is always another day however frustrated you may feel at the time.

Falcon runs Saturday night at Penn National. The way he was bouncing around his stall today indicates that he should run well and we will double the dose of carrots in his evening feed to give him that extra edge!!

More in a few days...

2003-04-14T11:32:00.000-07:00

Training Highlights: April 14
The thing about this business is you can not get too confident when things are going well, as you never know when things will change. After Valley's poor effort at Penn National, and Falcon's scratch, Alure L'Amour came up with a bruised foot and came out of her race (for tomorrow). The blacksmith pulled the shoe and we soaked her foot in hot water to draw out the soreness (using some epsom salts). We plan on putting her shoe back on tomorrow, and see if she is sound, so she can resume training without losing too much fitness.

With the cold weather last week, and warmer seasonal weather this week, several of the horses are coughing and running fevers, which interrupts their training.

Yesterday the track was good enough to work Better Maid in readiness for her turf debut at Atlantic City, at the end of this month. This filly is small, but has a lot of heart, which you can see by her race record (she won earlier this year). She does not have a great pedigree, but it does suggest she will like the turf. She worked a half-mile in hand (with me, the trainer, in the irons).

Falcon breezed this morning, a steady 5 eighths (five furlongs) with Perseid. There is a race on Saturday for Falcon at Penn National. I just wanted to keep him ticking over, so I rode him myself to see how he felt. Perseid needs one more work before I think she is fit enough to race, which should be close to the end of this month.

We cannot seem to find anything wrong with Valley (our most recent runner), as we rode him this morning and he seemed sound, healthy and happy. My plan with him now is to train him in the fields up some of the hills for a few weeks to put some stamina into him and build some muscle.

Our good friend Mike comes by the barn each Saturday to help out. He was a hot walker 25 years ago before he got a "corporate" job. Now he drives a BMW but loves just being around the horses. He has to be one of the most educated and underpaid hot walkers at Fair Hill!

More in a few days...

2003-04-14T09:07:00.000-07:00

E-mail List
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2003-04-11T12:52:00.000-07:00

Training Highlights: April 11
Well, the weather turned against us this week, but we ran Valley at Penn National as planned on Wednesday night. The track came up 'sloppy' and he didn't run very well. He showed some early speed after breaking sharply but then faded in the stretch. Maybe the track condition was against us or the horse needs dropping in class. We'll see how he recovers from the race and regroup and plan on running him again in the first week of May.

Falcon was going to race Thursday but was on the 'also eligible' list, meaning that anything in the race scratched out we would draw in but it would mean being on the wide outside going a mile on a bad racetrack. After the way Valley ran I thought the odds were against us running well, so I scratched him out of the race.

I didn't get to work the two horses Pereid and Allure L'Amour from the gate as planned due to the weather but worked Allure L'Amour on Thursday from the pole in readiness for a race on Tuesday. She worked a half a mile easily and seems ready to run after being rested this winter. The jockey Victor Molina who rides for us at Philadelphia Park stopped by the barn this morning. He will ride Allure L'Amour next week when she runs at Philadephia. Apart from being a good jockey he always brings donuts to the barn when he wins a race for you !!!

More in a few days...

2003-04-07T12:33:00.000-07:00

Training Highlights: April 7
We are looking forward to a pretty hectic racing week. We could have two runners, Star of the Valley on wednesday and Just a Falcon on thursday. Valley was entered today for wednesday at Penn National, we will know tonight if he got in, we will enter Falcon tomorrow. Valley is a first time starter, but I think he may run pretty well, he has been breezing well enough to win first time. Of course, we know many things can happen to a first time starter ... Falcon is coming off his first win, so is moving up a condition. This will be a real challenge for him, and he has missed a little training time due to the bad weather we had in february. We had to spend some time jogging him in the shedrow while we had snow everywhere outside, but we think he is ready.

We hope to work Allure L'Amour and Peseid in a couple of days, from the gate. They are both getting close to running, Allure L'Amour in a week, Peseid a week later. Classy Conveyor seems to have come out of her race well, from last thursday (our most recent starter). She was second, which was a good improvement from her previous start. We are thinking she may be a decent turf prospect, so may consider the 3 day meet at Atlantic City May 1, that would be her next outing. The other horses seem to be training well. The fact it snowed today seemed to confuse them as much as it did us ... and cleary one of the grooms is still on winter time, arriving an hour late this morning.

More in a few days...

2003-04-07T07:39:00.001-07:00

Tabasco Cat 2YO
Age / Sex: 2 YO Colt
Breeding: Tabasco Cat
Owner:
Race Record: Unraced
Last Race: NA
Next Race: NA
Notes: Left barn to Carlos Garcia's barn at Laurel, one to follow, named: Prince Harold.

2003-04-07T07:39:00.000-07:00

Casino Casey
Age / Sex: 3YO Gelding
Breeding: Gold Case x Jinger Feathers
Owner: Casino Royale Farm
Race Record: NA
Last Race: NA
Next Race: NA
Notes: Getting close to running, mid June to July for his 2003 debut.

2003-04-07T07:38:00.001-07:00

Anacosta
Age / Sex: 3 YO Filly
Breeding: Roar x Kookie Aunt Alice
Owner: Equivine Farm
Race Record 2003: NA
Last Race: NA
Next Race: NA
Notes: Currently breezing, ready to run the beginning of July. Last year was placed as a 2 YO and ran in one stake.

2003-04-07T07:38:00.000-07:00

Timmy M'Boy
Age / Sex: 4YO Gelding
Breeding: Citidancer x My Friend Kim
Owner: Penny Woolley
Race Record: Unraced
Last Race: NA
Next Race: NA
Notes: Currently galloping, coming off a layoff.

2003-04-07T07:37:00.000-07:00

Rick's Rascal
Age / Sex: 6YO Gelding
Breeding: Allen's Prospect x Lady Rick
Owner: Lushmeadow Stable
Race Record 2003: NA
Last Race:
Next Race:
Notes: Currently breezing 5/8ths, getting close to running (July).

2003-04-07T07:36:00.002-07:00

Perseid
Age / Sex: 4YO Filly
Breeding: Comet Shine x Fast Texas Gal
Owner: Lushmeadow Stable
Race Record 2003: 1 win, 1 second and 1 third in 3 starts.
Last Race: Win, Penn National, Maiden Claiming.
Next Race: Beginning of July
Notes: Just broke her maiden in good fashion (12 lengths). Has improved dramatically in the last 6 weeks.

2003-04-07T07:36:00.001-07:00

Emblishment
Age / Sex: 3YO Filly
Breeding: Our Emblem x Cozy Lace
Owner: Equivine Farm
Race Record: Unraced
Last Race: NA
Next Race: NA
Notes: Still galloping a mile and a half and just started breezing 1/8th miles.

2003-04-07T07:36:00.000-07:00

Allure L'Amour
Age / Sex: 5YO Filly
Breeding: Not for Love x Shakin' All Over
Owner: Penny Woolley
Race Record 2003: Unraced this year
Last Race: Fifth at Penn
Next Race:
Notes: Claimed at Penn National.

2003-04-07T07:34:00.001-07:00

Star of the Valley
Age / Sex: 3YO Gelding
Breeding: Valley Crossing x Angie's Star
Owner: Charles Carlin
Race Record 2003: Unraced
Last Race: Unplaced in 2 starts
Next Race: Left Barn

2003-04-07T07:34:00.000-07:00

Just a Falcon
Age / Sex: 4YO Gelding
Breeding: Imperial Falcon x With Love
Owner: Alex Atkinson
Race Record 2003: 1 Win , 1 Third from 3 Starts
Last Race: Diappointing effort in the slop.
Next Race: Left barn

2003-04-07T07:33:00.000-07:00

Classy Conveyor
Age / Sex: 4YO Filly
Breeding: Conveyor x Pi Lam
Owner: Alex Atkinson
Race Record 2003: 1 Second, 2 third 5 Starts
Last Race: A weakening third, first time with blinkers.
Next Race: End of June, Penn National, Maiden $5k or Turf
Notes: Trying to get her in a less competitive turf race at Penn National.

2003-04-05T16:15:00.000-08:00

Why Fair Hill ?
One of North America's premier training facilities, Fair Hill offers trainers excellent year-round accomodations. It is Situated on 350 acres of beautiful Maryland countryside, the center adjoins the 5,600 acre Fair Hill Preserve. There are 14 secluded barns, easy access to the two training tracks, a turf track and cross-country areas. This environment is essential for developing the mental health of the race horse as it is prepared for a busy racing campaign.
The one mile dirt track with 10% banked turns and the 7/8 mile wood-fiber track with its excellent shock absorbing qualities provide exceptionally safe, all-weather alternative training surfaces. This is of particular importance for young horses receiving their early education (reduces the likelyhood of bucked shins etc.) and older horses needing a kinder surface.

Fair Hill is located just 10 minutes from I 95, 1 hour South of Philadelphia, and 1 hour North of Baltimore, Fair Hill horses frequently run at the following racetracks:

Aqueduct, Belmont, Monmouth, Laurel, Pimlico, Delaware, Philadelphia Park and Penn National

Tim first arrived at Fair Hill in 1987 (its first year) and is therefore fully aware of how to really take advantage of this wonderful environment.

2003-04-05T15:57:00.000-08:00

Call Me Lightning
Age / Sex: 4YO Colt
Breeding: Our Emblem x Vibrant Future
Owner: Casino Royale Farm and Walter Simak
Race Record 2003: 3 Wins, 2 third from 5 starts.
Last Race: Third, Allowance, Never won 2 races, other than a Maiden and Claimer, at Delaware Park
Next Race: End of June
Notes: Training well, improving sort, looking forward to a good summer. Encouraging third when stepping up a condition.

2003-04-05T08:50:00.000-08:00

Better Maid
Age / Sex: 4YO Filly
Breeding: Lijinsky x Old Maid
Owner: Equivine Farm
Race Record 2003: 1 Win, 1 Second from seven Starts
Last Race: June 6 at Penn National, unseated rider coming out of the gate (horse side-swiped her, she had no chance).
Next Race: Beginning of July.
Notes: Cut her foot a little during her last start, may take a little time, but no lasting damage.

2003-04-04T17:56:00.000-08:00

2003 Race Record
Updated June 11
32 Runners
7 Winners (Call Me Lightning 3, Better Maid, Motel Love (left barn), Just a Falcon and Perseid)
3 Seconds
7 Thirds

2003-04-04T17:54:00.000-08:00

Site Design and Purpose
This training log is designed to allow you to keep up to date with the records of each horse Tim has in training. You can either follow each individual horse using the left hand navigation or the daily happenings of Tim's entire stable (updated about twice a week with new entries).

We hope this is useful for current owners to keep up to date with their horses, and share this site with family and friends. We also hope that it has general interest for those not currently involved in ownership, or pondering their choice of trainer. Of course Tim would be happy to discuss training options he can offer (please feel free to e-mail him) and host visits to his training barn.

2003-04-04T16:51:00.000-08:00

Tim Woolley Racing: Background

In 1995 I decided to begin my own racing stable, with my wife Penny, at the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland. This gave us the freedom to train in an environment which has a European atmosphere and a choice in track surfaces which were more suited in the development of young horses and maintaining the soundness of both mind and body to the older campaigners.

Previous to my training career, I began a career as a steeplechase jockey back in England. My early time was spent with Breeders Cup winning trainer Michael Dickinson when he was training steeplechase horses in England. I moved on to a smaller hands-on operation and was involved in the preparation of several Group winning horses in England, with Paul Felgate.

After I moved to the US in 1988, I expanded into the sales field, studying conformation while working for consignors at the Keeneland September Sale. Penny and I wintered in Ocala where we worked with leading pinhookers in the preparation of yearlings for the two-year-old in training sales.

After primarily bringing young horses along for other trainers, we expanded to our own stable of race horses. As a smaller stable, we are able to recognize each horse's individual needs and train them accordingly. The yearlings that we break are given a thorough education. We can quickly assess which horses to push on and which horses to train more conservatively.

For 2003, we are currently enjoying our best season, with six wins from fifteen starts, Call Me Lightening with three wins.