Big night for Wise Dan at Eclipse Awards

Since John Henry in 1981, it was only Wise Dan, who ever won three categories at the Eclipse Award ceremony in Hallandale Beach, Fla. He was awarded Horse of the Year, older male and male turf horse last January 19, 2013.

Wise Dan snatched two track records in 2012 finishing his season in the Breeders’ Cup Mile with a fantastic turn of foot.

Wise Dan is known for his victories on mile races carried out on the grass. He is now included in the famous line up of champions such as Round Table, Dr. Fager, Fort Marcy, Secretariat.

In 2011, this horse racing favorite won the Clark Handicap on dirt at Churchill Downs and Fayette Stakes.

In 2012, he covered five victories. He traveled to win in New York, Kentucky, California and Canada and had whooping earnings of $2,622,037. his record of 1:46.63 in 10 1D1 length romp in the 11D8-mile Ben Ali Stakes earned him 117 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest figure of the year and the biggest synthetic Beyer since dawn of artificial grounds.

He marked his legend when he won a three-race streak in Premiere Company going a mile on turf. A record breaking 11D2 length score under John Velasquez was made when he was able to get the distance in 1:31.78 while carrying 126 pounds leaving 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom and European standouts Excelebration and Moonlight Cloud aside. Lopresti never expected it.

At Stephen Foster Handicap on dirt at Churchill Downs, in the closing stage Ron the Greek beat him by a head. In Saratoga Race Course, he won five length in the Fourstardave Handicap. Three Grade 1 victories after those horse races made him the most accomplished runner in the nation.

Wise Dan, foaled in Kentucky on February 20, 2007 is owned by Fink. He belongs to a family of horse racing winners. Wise Dan’s dam, Lisa Danielle is the daughter of Wolf Power.

Wise Dan is now preparing for his debut on April 12 Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland. Lopresti and Fink has planned for another dirt run for him and you’ll definitely see him on various surfaces this 2013.

Spanish Lotteries Now Have Taxes!

A lot of people in Spain started the new year with much festivities as Spain’s very generous lottery gave away €840 million in prizes at its El Nino draw on January 6. 

However, a bit of cloud threw a shadow across the celebrations as, for the first time ever, winnings of at least €2500 are going to be taxed 20 percent in Spain’s effort to drive down its public deficit.

Despite this, winners are still very much thankful for whatever amount is left to them as they feel it will still go a long way towards alleviating their financial difficulties. Since 2008, Spain’s population have been suffering the jarring effects of the global financial crisis and the property market crash which left millions people jobless.

One of the top prize winners said that part of the prize money will go towards helping a jobless son and a younger daughter’s studies, while another one claimed that the prize is a relief for the limited budget. 

The winners of the El Gordo lottery at the December 22 draw, on the other hand, have managed to escape the levy as it will only take effect this year. That means the top prize winners of €400,000 each will be able to keep the whole amount of their winnings. The El Gordo lotto, one of the biggest lotteries in the world, paid out a whopping €2.466 billion.

I'll Have Another 3YO champ

All eyes are on the leader of the clubhouse, not just to cheer him up, but also to beat him.

I’ll Have Another is a known 3 year old champion for running with a roughshod at Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Santa Anita Derby, Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes before finally retiring because of leg injury that happened a day before the Belmont Stakes. He was later joined by Union Rags, Creative Cause, Bodemeister, Hansen and Paynter, all known leading Sophomores. In the second half of 2012, Dullahan’s TVG Pacific Classic had a record breaking achievement by winning over older horses.

Breeder Harvey Clark bred I’ll Have Another in Kentucky. He received the Eclipse Award for best 3 year old male. Among his recorded accomplishments are being second to finish in the Grade II Best Pal Stake and by winning the Lewis Stakes. I’ll Have Another was just another race horse who was starting to win races, he’s just starting to build his name. The only time he got really noticed was when he won the Santa Anita Derby over Creative Cause by a nose. He was still at 15-1 when he broke from the 19-hole in the Derby. I’ll Have Another, sired by Flower Alley, who was moving under jockey Mario Gutierrez wowed everyone when he ran down the front running Bodemeister. The same incident happened again at Pimlico two weeks later.

Owner Paul Reddam and trainer Doug O’ Neill announced I’ll Have Another’s retirement the day before the Belmont Stakes, the Holy Grail of the Triple Crown and marked his name in the history of the sport horse racing and horse betting.

I’ll have Another was chosen by a bloodstock agent, Dennis O’Neill, brother of Doug, his trainer at Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’ s April 2 year old auction for the price of $35,000. O’Neill commented “It’s bittersweet, He was gonna get nothing but better with age. I sure think he’s just starting to get good. The sky was the limit.”

I’ll Have Another received his trophy in the clubhouse because he was already injured, even so, he is still a champion.