California Chrome in England

[Josh Lamp I]

Fast horses are typically unsound, it's a byproduct. Horses who sire brittle horses typically also sire fast horses, so one comes with the other. A sire who is known for sound horses usually also sires slow horses, that's okay if you want to pull a plow.

[Melissa Mae]

One thing I will give those horses who break down early but were fast, it's usually because they are so fast that they break down. Their bodies can't handle the speed. But I'd rather the breed be a little slower and have horses last longer than have freaks who break records first time out and never race again (or take a year or two off) because they broke down.

[Johanna Stk]

Chrome is a sound horse so I don't think his confirmation is a big problem. One of the horses I groom has bad conformation but he races well and is sound.

By the way, have anyone of you checked the "Bring Chrome Home" facebook page? It is a really crazy page.

[Stormy Peak]

Chrome is a sound horse so I don't think his confirmation is a big problem. One of the horses I groom has bad conformation but he races well and is sound.

By the way, have anyone of you checked the "Bring Chrome Home" facebook page? It is a really crazy page.

I've never signed up to facebook, so often I can't see things from that site. But based upon some of the comments I've read under various articles I can imagine that the Bring Chrome Home site has to be rather pathetic.

I get it, that people can fall in love with a horse like Chrome, but to me it's parochial in the worse way - and in the long run, I think, detrimental, to just want to keep all our great horses here in the USA.

By getting them out there and exposing them to the rest of their world in their own backyards - letting them prove themselves to be great, those folks can fall in love and see the value of our horses, see that the USA bred thoroughbred can be a solid, versatile, runner and something they can use in their own breeding operations. I think, too, in the long run, it will also help prevent genetic bottlenecks by getting different bloodlines moving through different countries.

They are being very open about showing the world how well Chrome is looking, showing video of his training sessions and it's not like those handling him are amateurs when it comes to taking care of top end thoroughbreds.
So I don't see why there is any need for petitions demanding that Chrome come back home, other than we, here will miss a few races he might have run in - but in return, we might get to see him do something wonderful in Europe, and later, if all goes well, see offspring being born from mares that might not have been sent to him otherwise, increasing his chances of making a mark for himself in the studbook.

Having said all of that, if he turns out to do quite well on the turf, then I would love to see him stand in the states, with the occasional shuttle to Europe or Japan, or other countries with dirt and turf racing that could use his genetics. I hope he does become a successful stallion.

Stormy

[Melissa Mae]

Chrome is a sound horse so I don't think his confirmation is a big problem. One of the horses I groom has bad conformation but he races well and is sound.

By the way, have anyone of you checked the "Bring Chrome Home" facebook page? It is a really crazy page.

It gets better, there's a petition out there to bring him home, haha. https://www.change.org/p/california-chr ... hrome-home

[Nini Panini]

My gosh no one cares like this when other horses journey to England for a race (e.g. Wesley Ward) and they always come back fine! Chrome's welfare isn't in danger; he's probably having the time of his life!

[Lori Hamill]

http://www.raeguest.com/images/Californ ... C_8506.jpg

May 27th picture from Rae Guest's website

http://www.raeguest.com/news/262-chrome-update

[Stormy Peak]

http://www.raeguest.com/images/Californ ... C_8506.jpg

May 27th picture from Rae Guest's website

http://www.raeguest.com/news/262-chrome-update

Thanks for the article. Glad to hear the trainer is happy with his progress. If Frankie Dettori gets a shot at riding him, it will be interesting to hear what he thinks about how California Chrome is moving under him over the turf and if he feels the horse is having to try too hard to make the uphill grades or tackling them with some ease.

In looking at the photo from the article, he sure has some nice muscle definition showing - it's kind of looks too, like he has one ear flicked back, like he's listening to the rider. It could be just the way his ears are flopping, if he's relaxed, but I've seen a lot of photos of race horses in races, or just exercising and love looking to see what their ears are doing - some pin their ears, others have both set forward...etc.

Stormy

[Melissa Mae]

My gosh no one cares like this when other horses journey to England for a race (e.g. Wesley Ward) and they always come back fine! Chrome's welfare isn't in danger; he's probably having the time of his life!

He actually looks better (in better shape/happier) in the pictures from over there than the pictures I've seen the last few years of him over here. Hopefully that translates to how he runs since he'll need to step up to do anything at Royal Ascot (and in the Eclipse, if he runs)

[Johanna Stk]

He looks amazing in the latest pictures, his coat is amazing!

[John Nicholson]

http://www.racingpost.com/news/live.sd? ... category=0

[Charles Bunbury]

William Buick takes the ride in the Prince of Wales's Stakes.

[Melissa Mae]

Smart move, that one.

[Johanna Stk]

William Buick is a great jockey!

[Charles Bunbury]

He actually looks better (in better shape/happier) in the pictures from over there than the pictures I've seen the last few years of him over here. Hopefully that translates to how he runs since he'll need to step up to do anything at Royal Ascot (and in the Eclipse, if he runs)

If he does stop for the Eclipse then Golden Horn is a likely opponent.