"I'm in." By Jude T. Feld     Rush Rush at the 2004 Keeneland September Yearling Sale   Joe D'Orio Photo   One night, in 1955, my dad is sitting in a bar in Glendale, California, having a post-softball game beer with his teammate, Ed Deter. The subject turned to horseracing, as it most often does when a Feld is present. Deter said, "Jack, have you ever thought about owning a horse?" Believe it or not, the thought had never really crossed Dad's mind. He loved to go to the races, but he also went to the World Series every year, played softball twice a week, was the Boy Scout master at St. Bernard's Catholic Church and had a day job as a structural steel engineer for United States Steel. "Sounds interesting," Dad said. "Tell me more." "My aunt is a trainer at Agua Caliente, Deter said. "She bought a two-year-old out of the L.K. Shapiro dispersal. He is three thousand bucks. I really want to buy him but I need a partner. You're the only guy I know with the money and the love of the game." "I'm in," Dad replied. "I'll give you a check right now." (He always kept at least one in his wallet.) At a later trip to the bar, the men would design their silks - brown jacket (Deter's favorite color), blue sleeves (Dad's favorite color) and a white diamond with a blue, stylized, lower-case " df " that Dad drew on a cocktail napkin. The colt, who Shapiro cleverly named Rush Rush (by Count Speed out of Quicklime), raced several times for the partnership, finishing in the money a few times, but never winning. Around the same time, Dad proposed to Mom, and later on expressed to her his desire to have a large family. "You can have kids or horses," Mom told him. "You can't have both." Rush Rush would have to go. Dad sold his interest to some of trainer Mary G. Ellis's other clients, who would win with Rush Rush as he matured and the distances increased. The California-bred even set a track record for a mile and nine-sixteenths at old Rillito Park. He wasn't the greatest horse that ever lived by any stretch of the imagination, but in our family, he was a legend. We painted pictures of him in school, drew his likeness on my Dad's birthday cakes, and we bought Dad blue and brown sweaters, blue and brown shirts and blue and brown neckties for Father's Day and Christmas, all in honor of Rush Rush. This little known horse, who ended up running in $900 claiming races in New Mexico, spawned three generations of racegoers, with no doubt countless more to come. Almost half a century later, my brother Bob and I came across a More Than Ready colt at the 2004 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. We both really loved his presence. He had a great walk and was very correct. We were ecstatic when the hammer fell to Bongo Racing Stable at $100,000. Bob had secretly saved the name Rush Rush with the Jockey Club, waiting for a special horse to honor our father and our family mascot. "I think we should name the More Than Ready colt Rush Rush," he said to me during an afternoon phone call. "I got a feeling he's gonna be a good one." I had that feeling too. One night, when friends Mike and Michelle Penna came out to the farm for dinner, Mike mentioned that he really wanted to buy a piece of a racehorse. "Look out the back door," I said. "That's the horse you should buy. He's a running son of a gun and handsome sucker to boot. I love him." The Pennas went out and spoke to the colt who would become the next Rush Rush and when they came back in, Mike said, "I'm in!" Five wins and $210,000 in earnings later the current Rush Rush has been a joy to all of his owners, but the Mike Machowsky trainee could step into a different dimension on Saturday, when he takes on some of the best turf marathoners in the country in the Hollywood Turf Cup (G1). It is a tall order, but there is reason for optimism. "Machowsky says the horse is doing better than ever," Bob told me. "I think Victor Espinoza really knows how to ride this horse and we were lucky enough to get him. We all thought Rush Rush could have won the Sunset Handicap (G2) with a better trip. This field is a little deeper, but we know he likes the course and can get the distance." If Rush Rush wins the Grade 1, it would be a 53-year dream come true for everyone in our family and a very special victory for Bongo Racing Stable.        Majormotionpicture fires a game effort in his racing debut at Del Mar   Benoit Photo   Like Father Like Son? Del Mar, California (August 29, 2008) Majormotionpicture was a heavily supported 9-5 favorite in his Del Mar debut Sunday, after a string of solid works "Where the turf meets the surf." Under a masterful ground-saving ride by Martin Pedroza, the handsome chestnut colt squeezed through a seam along the rail turning for home and outgamed Empire House at the finish to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:10 1/5 over the fast Polytrack. The half brother of Grade 1 winner Liquidity was purchased for $55,000 by Bob Feld and trainer Mike Machowsky at last year's Keeneland September Sale on behalf of Bongo Racing Stable. Machowsky put together a partnership of his top owners including the Kagele Brothers Inc., Mel Schwartz and Lo Hi Stable - his own account, to secure a 55% interest in him. The colt's purchase represented another successful partnership Bongo Racing has orchestrated with Machowsky, who has a really good eye for a racehorse. "We worked the sale together a little bit," said Feld. "We both had him on our short list. The fact that Mike liked him got me pretty excited about him because we don't always agree. I think the bargain price came from the fact that he was average sized and was out of a Rahy mare. That scared some people off who were thinking that he wouldn't grow much more. But, he grew a lot. The other consideration was that Action This Day, being a first-year sire, probably had people on the fence. We thought he was a really nice individual with lots of presence so we took a shot." Majormotionpicture did little to dispel the men's confidence as he trained like a good horse from day one.  "He really is special," Feld said. "He does things so effortlessly. He's got great action and a great mind. The amazing thing is that Mike really didn't have him fully cranked up and he wasn't even tired when he came back to the winners' circle. He should move up a ton off this race." Oak Tree's Norfolk (G1) has been penciled-in for Majormotionpicture's next start with an eye on the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) later in the Oak Tree meeting. Feld, who has purchased three Breeders' Cup winners, joined trainer Ron Ellis in recommending the purchase of BC Juvenile winner Action This Day to owner B. Wayne Hughes. "Wouldn't that be something," Feld said. "To win the Juvenile with the father and the son." Everything Goes Swimmingly at Del Mar Del Mar, California (July 20, 2008) As promised, Bongo Racing Stable runners were ready to score during Del Mar's opening weekend. The stable posted three winners from three starters, two at the track "Where the turf meets the surf," and one at the Solano County Fair meeting. Stable favorite RUSH RUSH kicked off the festivities Saturday afternoon, winning his fifth race in the Bongo red, black and yellow, splitting foes at the top of the Jimmy Durante turf course and drawing away to win by 1 ¾ lengths under jockey Victor Espinoza. The son of More Than Ready stopped the teletimer in a quick 1:41.26 for the mile and one sixteenth over the firm turf course and returned $8.40 in a mild upset. Mike Machowsky trains RUSH RUSH for Bongo and Dr. John Waken. A few minutes later, Bongo, Bambury, Barraco and Bernardi's BUILDING TRUST launched a power stretch kick to mow down the leaders in a maiden special weight race at Solano County Fair. The two-year-old son of Trust N Luck benefited from a perfect ride by Catalino Martinez, running the five and one-half furlongs in 1:04.17 over the fast main track. The Armando Lage trainee returned a whopping $17.20 to his backers. Sunday, recent claim SENSATIONAL SCORE won his second start in the Bongo silks, cruising to an easy four-length victory with hot-riding Joel Rosario in the irons. The son of Wild Rush ran a flat mile on Del Mar's Polytrack in 1:36.37, paying $11.60. Mike Mitchell conditions the gelding for Bongo and longtime client Carl F. Van Burger. Bongo En Fuego Arcadia, California (July 3, 2008)     Bongo is looking for the fireworks to continue this summer "Where the turf meets the surf!"   Bongo Racing Stable has started 55 times in the first half of 2008, winning 14 races, finishing second nine times and third nine times. That gives the syndicate a 25% win percentage and an in-the-money percentage of 58% prior to the All-Star break. Our trainers have done a magnificent job with our horses and Bongo Racing looks forward to continued success with our loyal partners as we race an exciting stable of live horses at Del Mar. Cat Dreams' First Winner Breaks Hollywood Park Track Record Inglewood, California (May 8, 2008)     California Sire Cat Dreams   When billionaire horseman B. Wayne Hughes purchased Cat Dreams, a son of the great stallion Storm Cat and the talented mare J.J.'s Dream, at the Keeneland Yearling Sale, he had standing a stallion in mind. Cat Dreams impressive debut victory at Churchill Downs couldn't help but make Hughes dream Kentucky Derby. Then, Cat Dreams came out of the race injured. It was back to the original plan. "I have been wanting to stand a stallion in California," says Hughes. "But I was waiting for the right one. I know Cat Dreams has it all." Bongo Racing Stable partnered with Hughes to promote the stallion and manage him. "It was a great opportunity for Bongo Racing to venture into the stallion market," said Bongo's Bob Feld. "Cat Dreams is a Kentucky-style stallion - one with a great pedigree and excellent confirmation. He was certainly cut out to be a top racehorse." Cat Dreams stands at Tommy Town Thoroughbreds in Santa Ynez, California for a fee of $4,000. Now Cat Dreams has a winner - and a track record holder as well! In Thursday's second race at Hollywood Park, Cat Dreamer, a two-year-old son of Cat Dreams from the Boundary (Sire of Big Brown) mare Silent Alarm, broke running and blitzed his opponents under jockey Martin Pedroza, stopping the clock in :50.84, establishing a new track record for four and one-half furlongs in the process. Trained by Adam Kitchingman, Cat Dreamer was bred in California by Patricia A. Youngman and races for Shustek or Stanley or Firsthome Thoroughbreds. Bongo Stable Notes RUSH RUSH is back at Mike Machowsky's barn and training super. Can't wait 'til the handsome son of More Than Ready hits the entry box. Speaking of More Than Ready, his Australian stud fee is over $100,000 U.S. Kentuckysoldierboy will be heading to the Kentucky stable of Paul McGee soon. His progress reports from Florida have been great. The Feld boys - Bob, Sean, Jude and Miles - were all at Churchill Downs to watch Big Brown's big victory. A good time was had by all. Bongo Bob's birthday is Mother's Day. Bongo partner Mike Penna will be broadcasting the Preakness live on the radio. Check out horseracingradio.net for your local station. Bongo Racing Stable had a tremendous 2007-2008 Santa Anita meeting with Bongo horses posing for pictures nine times in 34 starts! The record for the meet was 34-9-6-4. Thanks to all our Bongo trainers and partners. Derby Dreams and 'Destiny By Jude T. Feld I was in the sales pavilion at Keeneland on Wednesday, September 20, 2006, when my cell phone rang. It was my brother Bob. "Did you look at number 3528?" "I looked at all of them." "What are your notes?" "Handsome, tall, good walk. I gave him a star." "I love him. He's really nice. Can you come up here?" "I'm on my way." Heading over to barn 14, the Darby Dan consignment, I was smiling a bit. Even though Bob and I had been going to racetracks together for 33 years, we seldom bet the same horse and we rarely try to buy the same horses - but when we are on the same one, our record is fairly amazing. The colt was out and walking and Bob was watching him traverse the ring. "He's a good looking S.O.B.," I said. "Yeah, he's a little big, maybe too big, but I really like his eye and his manner. He has a great presence. I think we should buy him if he vets." "Go on with it. I love him. I only give a few stars a book." We got him for Bongo the next day for $40,000 - cheap at twice the price. Bob liked him so much, he used one of his precious, reserved with the Jockey Club, 18-letter Derby names - Meetingwithdestiny. Now, two years later, the big ol' chestnut is entered in Saturday's Santa Anita Derby (G1). Talk about a turn of events. Wouldn't it be something if the son of Belong To Me was "aptly named?" Sure it's a moon shot with three-year-olds like Colonel John, El Gato Malo and Yankee Bravo entered, but Meetingwithdestiny's trainer, Doug O'Neill, has been down the Derby road before and he thinks the Bongo Stable star has a decent chance to surprise a few folks and that's a good enough reason to run. We'll see what happens this Saturday. But until then, we can dream of a meeting with destiny on the first Saturday in May. Like Bob always says, "Dreams are free!" Bongo Hits Big on Big 'Cap Day Arcadia, California (March 3, 2008)     Kentuckysoldierboy   Sean Feld/Bongo Photo   Meetingwithdestiny, under a finely timed ride by Jose Valdivia Jr., got up in the final strides to break his maiden in the first race on Santa Anita Handicap day. Sitting third, just off the early leaders for the first six furlongs, Valdivia swung the big son of Belong to Me out at the top of the stretch and he wore down the front runners to win by a nose, paying $28.40 to his backers. Later in the afternoon, Heatseeker (Ire) won the Santa Anita Handicap (G1), instilling a great amount of hope to shareholders of Bongo's Kentuckysoldierboy, as the two horses share three grandparents.                                                                              Storm Cat                               Tumblebrutus                                        Mariah's Storm Kentuckysoldierboy                                                                            Defensive Play                                 Offensive Threat                                       Threat                                           Storm Cat                               Giant's Causeway                                       Mariah's Storm Heatseeker (IRE)                                                                            Defensive Play                               Rusty Back                                          Chain Fern     Kentuckysoldierboy Galloping in Ocala, Florida   Sean Feld/Bongo Photo   Hopefully, Kentuckysoldierboy can follow in Heatseeker's footsteps and become a Grade 1 winner. Bongo's Sean Feld, recently drove to Ocala, Florida from his post in Lexington, Kentucky to see how Kentuckysoldierboy has progressed in his early training and offered the following update: "Kentuckysoldierboy has grown up and is training great.  He lowers his head and gallops very strongly.  Raul Reyes, the trainer who is breaking him, says he doesn't need company to gallop because he travels so well on his own.  We are very excited for him to come to Kentucky this spring, where he will be trained by Paul McGee."   Shares are still available in Kentuckysoldierboy.  Please call or email Sean at (859)519-9665 or seanmfeld@uky.edu for pricing and availability. Get Down Now and Avoid the Rush Las Vegas, Nevada (January 24, 2008)     Meetingwithdestiny 250-1 at Wynn, Las Vegas   Robert Kieckhefer Photo   Bongo Racing Stable partners Gretchen Kieckhefer and Michael Penna, both in town for the DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship, report that Bongo's Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful, Meetingwithdestiny, is currently 250-1 to win the "Run for the Roses" according to the odds makers at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas. The handsome hunk of a horse by Belong To Me broke his maiden at Santa Anita on March 1. His next race is pending.  Check Out Bongo Sean's Tribute to Late California Owner and Breeder Eddie Nahem in Blood-Horse Magazine  Lexington, Kentucky (November 15, 2007) Bongo junior partner Sean Feld shares a heartfelt moment with one of racing's greatest characters, Eddie Nahem, who recently passed away. Nahem was best known as the breeder of the popular and supremely talented California-bred Bertrando. You can access the article with the link below: http://www.bloodhorse.com/articleindex/article.asp?id=42019   Bongo to Sponsor Two-Day Breeders' Cup Radio Broadcast Lexington, Kentucky (October 16, 2007) Bongo Racing Stable is pleased to announce that they will be a proud sponsor of the Horse Racing Radio Network's exclusive national coverage of the 2007 Breeders' Cup World Championships to be run at Monmouth Park in New Jersey, on October 26 and 27. During the three-hour Friday broadcast and the six-hour Saturday broadcast, Bongo principals and partners will air their "Bongo Pick to Click," featuring a selection for each Breeders' Cup race. "This was a great way to give back to racing fans all over the country," said Bongo principal Bob Feld. "We know not everyone has the luxury of going to see the Breeders' Cup live and many have to work Friday and even Saturday. This will give fans - coast to coast - a chance to follow the races on both afternoons and enjoy the excellent coverage the Horse Racing Radio Network has become famous for." "Win a share in Kathy's Garden" Yields Chaplaincy $2,800 Del Mar, California (August 29, 2007) Nearly 700 backstretch workers and their families attended the Race Track Chaplaincy Association picnic at Del Mar, Tuesday, August 28. They were treated to an excellent meal as well as games, prizes and giveaways for the kids. Hall of Fame jockey and chaplaincy advocate Pat Day was in attendance and expressed his appreciation for the $2,800 raised by Bongo Racing Stable through the "Win a share in Kathy's Garden" drawing. Bongo would like to thank all who donated, as the $2,800 will directly benefit the Southern California chaplaincy. Chaplain Ed Donnelly drew the name of Rita Closson, who is now Bongo's newest partner. Bongo Racing Stable and partner's Sun Boat (GB) featured in "Travers" painting in the Saratoga Race Course paddock Saratoga Springs, New York (August 25, 2007)     Bongo's Sun Boat (GB)   John Edwards Photo   Renowned artist Susan Sommer-Luarca of Springfield, Missouri, spent Travers afternoon putting the finishing touches on a painting titled "Travers" in the paddock area prior to the 138th running of the historic horse race at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Saturday, Aug. 25. The truly amazing thing about the painting is that it depicts Bongo Racing Stable's Sun Boat (GB), as he wins the San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar, super-imposed on a backdrop of the Saratoga grandstand - artistic license at its finest! The spectacular "larger than life" painting can be purchased for $20,000 plus a $5,000 donation to the Disabled Jockey's Fund. Ms. Sommer-Luarca is known globaly for her nature murals, especially the ones commissioned by the Bass Pro Shops across the United States. She has provided official paintings for the PGA Tour and will be an official Olympic artist for the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing.     Sommer-Luarca's "Travers" painting next to Sea Hero's statue in the paddock garden at Saratoga   John Edwards Photo                 Bongo Captures San Diego 'Cap (G2) and Wins Late Double Del Mar, California (July 21, 2007)     Sun Boat coasting to his San Diego (G2) victory under Michael Baze   Benoit Photo   Under a perfect ride from talented young jockey Michael Baze, Bongo Racing Stable, Capen and Tjosvold's Sun Boat captured the mile and one sixteenth San Diego Handicap (G2) stopping the clock in 1:45.39 over the Poly Track. Breaking from the outside, Baze reserved the British-bred son of Machiavellian until the half-mile pole until he allowed Sun Boat to gain ground on his own. Sitting behind a wall of horses nearing the quarter pole, Baze shot Sun Boat through a narrow opening straightening in the stretch and drew away to win by a length over Awesome Gem. Salty Humor finished third, followed in order by Raise the Bluff, Heat Seeker, Arson Squad, Soul City Slew, the 3/2                                                             favorite Buzzard's Bay and C'mon Tiger. "The last time I rode him, I didn't know him so well," said Baze. "It turned out he wasn't a big fan of the right-hand stick. I hit him left handed that day, and he responded; but when I switched to the right, he changed leads 'cuz he didn't like it and I got beat a nose. "So today I wasn't going there again, but the way he exploded when he turned for home, it didn't matter. This was a way better race for him. There was dramatic improvement. Even galloping out he was still strong. I think he'll like that mile and a quarter (Pacific Classic (G1)) even better." Interviewed before the race by TVG's Christina Olivares, trainer Mike Mitchell indicated that between the six pound weight shift Sun Boat received from Buzzard's Bay and the fact that he breezed so well over the Poly Track might be enough to turn the tables on the millionaire favorite. Mitchell reiterated his opinion post race. "He just ran super," Mitchell said. "The six pounds is great, but he just blew out so nice over this track and I was so happy with the way he worked on it and the way he galloped out. I've worked a bunch of horses on this track, and he's handled it better than anybody else has handled it. It looked like Michael had plenty of horse, he moved in time and, when it opened up, he got through. That was great because he didn't have to go around anybody." With his San Diego (G2) victory, Sun Boat improved his record to 12-4-3-1 and his bank account to $314,345, most of it for Bongo Racing Stable and partners. He paid $15 to win, $7.20 to place and $5.00 to show. Bongo Racing Stable's Mananan McLir, owned in partnership with Mike Atkinson and Carl Van Berger, followed stablemate's Sun Boat's victory with one of his own in Del Mar's nightcap. Also trained by Mitchell and masterfully ridden by Baze, the son of Royal Academy mounted his patented closing charge to win in a waltz, covering the mile and one eighth in 1:49.42 over the firm Jimmy Durante turf course. He returned $7 to win, $4.40 to place and $3.20 to show. The Bongo-Mitchell-Baze late daily double returned $32.80 - much less than the $52.50 parlay price - indicating the Bongo partners and their friends hammered the combination. Sun Boat Narrowly Beaten In Californian (G2) Inglewood, California (June 3, 2007)     Sun Boat and Buzzard's Bay fight to the wire   Benoit Photo   Favorite Buzzards Bay wrested the lead from A.P. Xcellent at the sixteenth pole and held off late-charging Sun Boat to win the $250,000 Californian (G2) by a nose on Saturday, June 2 at Hollywood Park. Nine Californian winners have gone on to win the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1), the most recent Lava Man in 2005, but trainer Ron Ellis has decided against running Buzzard's Bay back that quickly. Buzzards Bay sat third as A.P. Xcellent and Kip Deville battled for the lead through much of the 1 1/8-mile Californian. Buzzards Bay wore down the leaders before fighting off Bongo Racing Stable and partners' game Sun Boat in the final yards to win in a time of 1:49.72 under jockey Jose Valdivia. "When he made the lead, he went to looking around a little," Valdivia said. "I got a little worried with that horse (Sun Boat) flying on the outside of him, but once he saw him coming he was able to hold him off." Sun Boat, claimed two starts back by Mike Mitchell for $50,000, just failed to manufacture a huge upset, finishing 1 ½ lengths clear of A.P. Xcellent and jockey Richard Migliore in third. Second choice Boboman finished fourth, followed by Jack's Wild, Saint Stephen, Wilko, Kip Deville, Hockey the General and Perfect Drift in the largest Californian field since ten started in 1991. Buzzards Bay, owned by Gary S. Broad, was making his second start of the year. He finished third in the Mervyn LeRoy here May 5 following a ten-month layoff. The victory was the sixth in 18 starts for Buzzards Bay. The winner's share of $150,000 raised his earnings to $1,325,507. Sun Boat came close to giving Mitchell and Baze a stakes double as they clicked earlier on the card with Sindy With an S in the $83,125 Manhattan Beach Stakes. "He ran great," Baze said of Sun Boat. "He had a great trip, inside, saving ground the whole way. Then when we hit that final turn, I took him out and he came running. He had so much momentum, I thought I had that other horse." Big Weekend With Back-To-Back Bongo Wins Inglewood, California (May 13, 2007)     Mike Penna and Bob Celebrate Rush Rush's Big Hollywood Park Victory   Michelle Penna Photo   Bongo Racing Stable kicked off a magnificent weekend with Rush Rush romping to an easy win over allowance foes in Hollywood Park's third race on Saturday, May 12. The handsome four-year-old bay gelding, trained by Mike Machowsky, received a super ride from leading rider Michael Baze, who settled Rush Rush nicely in the early stages and then allowed him to stalk the early pacesetters before setting him down for a visually impressive stretch charge. A Kentucky-bred son of Vinery stallion More Than Ready, Rush Rush covered the mile and a quarter in 2:02.98 over the firm Inglewood turf course and returned $13.60 to his backers. Sunday, trainer Mike Mitchell saddled Sun Boat (GB), for a clever victory in a $40,000 claiming race at the Inglewood track. The five-year-old son of Machiavellian, grandsire of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Street Sense, traveled the mile and one-sixteenth over the fast cushion track in 1:42.87 under jockey Martin Garcia. Overlooked in the betting, despite being haltered by Mitchell, Sun Boat (GB) paid a whopping $29.00 to win. He's The Rage In Tough Tiznow Beat Inglewood, California (April 30, 2007)     He's The Rage Looks Sharp Prior to the Tiznow   Jennifer Reynen Photo   Bongo Racing Stable, Belmonte and Cohen's He's The Rage earned back $30,000 of his $50,000 claiming price, with a second-place finish in Sunday's $150,000 Tiznow Stakes at Hollywood Park under jockey Richard Migliore. Haltered on behalf of the partnership, by trainer Mike Mitchell, on March 28, it was the first start in the Bongo red, yellow and black silks since the claim. The six-year-old California-bred son of Soft Gold (Brz) was beaten a diminishing half-length by heavily favored Bing Crosby (G1) winner Greg's Gold, who ran the seven and one-half furlong distance in 1:28.90 over the fast cushion track with David Flores in the saddle. Sweet Ambition Upsets Shesa Private I in Cactus Flower Handicap Phoenix, Arizona (April 21, 2007) Bongo Racing Stable's Sweet Ambition captured the $45,000 Cactus Flower Handicap, run Saturday at Turf Paradise. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Menifee stalked the early pace set by Boy Toy and and 1-2 favorite Shesa Private I, accelerated to the front nearing the sixteenth pole and drew away in the final stages to win by three lengths under jockey Wilson Dieguez. Sweet Ambition stopped the clock in 109.04 over the fast main track. Shesa Private I held second with Boy Toy fading to third. Sweet Ambition, trained by Peter Miller, earned $27,000 for her victory and returned $8.80 to her backers. Cactus Ridge Colt Bought Back In Ocala Ocala, Florida (March 30, 2007)     Cactus Ridge Colt In the Ocala Ring   Joe DiOrio Photo   Bongo Racing Stable's pinhooking group bought back their Cactus Ridge colt entered in the Ocala Sale for $90,000. The racy, correct colt breezed in :10 3/5, while although plenty quick, was about one or two fifths from being fast enough for him to garner his true value through the auction ring at a very tough sale. As similar past situations (Rush Rush for example) have dictated, Bongo will syndicate this lovely colt as a racing prospect. "I personally have always loved the colt and when I saw him again at the Ocala Sale this week I fell in love with him all over again," said Bongo's Bob Feld. "He is a great mover and I think he'll be a wonderful racehorse." Partners in the pinhooking partnership will have first crack at keeping their shares in the son of country star Toby Keith's stallion, from the Mr. Greeley mare Beach View, who hails from the family of sensational sire Giant's Causeway. Any remaining shares will be available to Bongo Partners and then open for general sale. This article first appeared in the Los Angeles Daily News and is reprinted here courtesy of the author. See www.dailynews.com for more racing coverage from Kevin Modesty. LIFE ENDS, THEN BEGINS By Kevin Modesti     Debie Ginsburg   CTBA Photo   Horse racing, and horses, lift the heart as sure as they break it. What's true of all sports, and many sportsmen, is truer of a game in which animal athletes serve people as mute symbols of devotion and destiny, living symbols worth more than their 1,200 pounds in gold. When the seemingly inevitable news came that Barbaro had lost his fight for life Monday, the jolt was harder for those who watched racehorses grant new life only two days earlier. I'm thinking of an extraordinary Saturday at the races, the afternoon of a multi-million-dollar event known as the Sunshine Millions, whose unique format matches horses bred in California and Florida on a card split between Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park. At Gulfstream, a filly named Shaggy Mane, whose old owners showed what they thought of her prospects by letting her go for $12,500 at a Northern California fairground, won a $250,000 race. New life. And this was just an appetite-whetter in a banquet of miracles. Fifteen minutes later at Santa Anita, a gelding called Smokey Stover won the biggest race of his career and made a winner again of Harry Aleo, an 87-year-old one-time Dodgers minor league pitcher whose time in the spotlight as a horse owner had seemed to end when the national-champion sprinter Lost in the Fog was killed by cancer. New life. And more to come. Not a half-hour later at Gulfstream, the old California-bred horse McCann's Mojave, a 33-1 long shot on the tote board, won the $1 million marquee race of the day, putting $550,000 in the pocket of his owner Mike Willman. Even in the press box - especially in the press box - it was an emotional scene, because Willman is Santa Anita's publicity director. When friends rushed to congratulate Willman, they found him in tears in his press-box office, in front of the TV showing his horse. "I've been through a divorce," Willman said in a surreal press conference in which the emcee also starred. "I'm trying to raise two little boys. My life has been a nightmare since last summer. (The prize money) stabilizes things greatly for me and my boys." New life. And still, the day was not over. Long after the last Sunshine Millions race, in a Santa Anita sprint for horses seeking their first win, a 3-year-old filly going by the name Debie Ginsburg rallied from mid-pack to win her competitive debut in a photo finish at 11-1 odds. Debie Ginsburg was re-named in honor of an admired writer for the California Thoroughbred magazine who died in June at 51. Ginsburg's family, friends and co-workers led a bittersweet celebration in the winner's circle. "Some people believe naming horses for people is bad luck," Bob Feld, managing partner among the filly's owners said. "Some people say, `Never change a horse's name.' I was defying superstition on two counts." Feld got to know Debie the writer when she interviewed him for an article on how owners name their horses. Debie never put the article on paper, always had more urgent work to do, and Feld used to tease her about it. After she died following a short illness, Feld thought this would be a fitting honor, and Debie's family in Fresno said they'd be delighted. New life. Every time Debie Ginsburg runs. "They really feel Debie is still living through the horse," Feld said from his Monrovia home. What contrast. Barbaro is gone now. The Kentucky Derby winner was euthanized Monday morning in Pennsylvania after one last medical setback in the colt's battle against his Preakness injuries led to discomfort too dramatic to medicate away. Barbaro's owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson (he a former president of baseball's Pacific Coast League), and his chief vet, Dr. Dean Richardson, gave him every chance for these past 254 days to overcome the original fracture and related hoof conditions. But to watch the colt walk on that splinted leg was to know he would never lead the life of the normal retired racing star, let alone stand sturdy enough to contribute the bloodline of the most convincing Kentucky Derby winner in 60 years to the improvement of the breed. On the first Saturday in May, in front of the second-largest crowd in Churchill Downs history (157,000), Barbaro had kept his record perfect (6 for 6), winning the Derby by 6 lengths (the most since Assault), blowing through the last quarter-mile in 24.34 seconds (the fastest since Secretariat). On top of the objective measures of his potential greatness, Barbaro carried the aura of destiny. His trainer, Michael Matz, had been blessed before, the life-saving hero of the 1989 United Airlines crash in Sioux City, Iowa. Barbaro's Triple Crown promise, his veterinarian thinks, begins to account for the national following he achieved as a medical marvel. "It think the horse was loved because he was a great athlete, and people love greatness," Richardson said in Kennett Square, Pa. "That and the story of his bravery. Those two things, probably." Bob Feld, gladdened by Debie Ginsburg's victory on that fairy-tale day at the races, was struck by the sport's emotional swing from Saturday to Monday. "It was a heroic effort," Feld said of the attempt to save Barbaro. "This (death) is one of those stark realities of racing. The highs and lows are just incredible." Horse racing, and horses, give and take away. Sports' swiftest circle of life is an oval. "This Filly Is A Freak" By Jude T. Feld     Debie Ginsburg Wins Despite Being Bumped   Benoit Photo   The much chronicled, much anticipated debut of Bongo Racing Stable and partners' Debie Ginsburg finally took place on Saturday, January 27. It was fitting that the lovely daughter of Delaware Township, named for California's most beloved turf writer, first appeared under silks on Sunshine Millions Day at Santa Anita, a furlong from the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association office, where Miss Ginsburg wrote most of her racing stories. She would have had a field day with this cast of characters. Trainer Mike Machowsky had said all along that Debie Ginsburg, the filly, was a major star in the making. Several years working with amazing horses in Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella's stable means Machowsky is hard to impress, but he never wavered in the superlatives he would heap on his charge. Then there was hot-riding jockey David Flores. It was pretty impressive when a guy who could go head and head with Rip Van Winkle showed up unannounced at the Machowsky barn at 5:30 a.m. to work Debie Ginsburg after bumping in to the filly's exercise rider the day before and finding out she was slated to breeze. Bongo Bob Feld, regarded as a "crepe hanger" by his notoriously optimistic family, considers himself a "realist." Purchasing several Breeders' Cup winners has given him an insight into Thoroughbred talent that few others possess. So like E.F. Hutton, when he speaks, people listen. "This filly is a freak," he said on a bi-weekly Bongo conference call. After all the hype, the Bongo e-mails to the partners, the national coverage in Blood-Horse magazine and the countless friends and family in attendance for Debie Ginsburg's debut, the racing writer herself would have told you, it would probably lead up to a big letdown. She had seen some of racing's best falter at short prices. It was a talented group of three-year-old fillies that loaded into the starting gate, six and one-half furlongs from the wire, and like her turf writing namesake, Debie Ginsburg had to overcome some adversity. There was a 4-5 shot to beat and some well-bred and no doubt talented first-time starters from important stables entered, so on paper, it was no easy task. But Debie Ginsburg broke alertly, as most of Flores' mounts do, and stalked the torrid pace up front until the jockey asked her for run turning for home. Still four and a half lengths behind at the eighth pole, she dug in gamely and despite being bumped repeatedly in the final strides, got her head in front at the wire. There were tears and laughter, high fives and hollars, praise and thanksgiving in the Santa Anita winners' circle and at racing emporiums and simulcast facilities across the country. After the picture was snapped and the "Official" sign went up, there were also lots of $25.40 tickets to cash. What a day for Debie Ginsburg...in heaven and on earth. The following story was originally published in the January 13, 2007 edition of the  Blood-Horse and appears here courtesy of the Editor-In-Chief, Raymond S. Paulick   Copyright © 2007, Blood-Horse Publications. Reprinted PEOPLE by Leslie Deckard REMEMBERING DEBIE     Debie Ginsburg   CTBA Photo   Even though California Thoroughbred magazine writer Debie Ginsburg is no longer combing the backsides of racetracks in search of the perfect story, her name will not be lost to family and friends who enjoyed her writing.  To honor her memory, Bongo Racing Stable has named a 3-year-old filly in her honor. Ginsburg died in June 2006 after a short illness.  She was 51. Bob Feld, managing partner of Bongo Racing, said the decision to name a horse in honor of Ginsburg was born out of conversations the two shared while talking inside the California Thoroughbred Association's Carleton F. Burke Memorial Library. "Debie and I always talked about the naming of horses and she always said that she wanted to do an article about how people name their horses and asked if she could interview me," Feld said. "A lot of time passed and the story never got written.  It became a big joke between us.  I would always ask her when she was going to interview me and she would say, ?soon.' She never got the opportunity to do the story. "When I found out that she had passed away, I thought about how much I had teased her about that naming story, so I decided I would name a filly for her." Feld said the equine Debie Ginsburg is currently in training in Southern California with Mike Machowsky and is on target to make her first start Jan. 14 at Santa Anita. "This filly is beautiful and she really acts like she can run," Feld said.  "Mike has said he has a good feeling about her and I do, too.  She acts like she could be stakes quality." A native of Fresno, Calif., Ginsburg joined the staff of the California Thoroughbred in October 1985 and continued her work through April 2006 chronicling the careers or the state's best-known horses, trainers, owners and breeders. "She was just a fantastic lady," said Rudi Groothedde, California Thoroughbred managing editor.  "She was so happy to be working in the game and loved everyone involved with it.  Debie was like a walking encyclopedia of horse racing knowledge.  You could ask her anything and she knew the answer.  Everyone just loved her." Groothedde said several staff members have been to Santa Anita to watch the filly's morning workouts and look forward to following her career on the racetrack.  "Everyone around the office is really excited about keeping up with this horse and we hope that she will be very successful." Debie Ginsburg the Thoroughbred, is a daughter of Delaware Township out of the Tactical Advantage mare Thunder Wonder. The filly was bred in Florida by Tim James Mawhinney and was originally consigned as a weanling by Beth Bayer, agent, to the 2004 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s October mixed sale, where Michelle Redding purchased her for $18,000. Redding, as agent, consigned the filly to the 2005 OBS August yearling sale, where Nick De Meric, agent, bought her for $40,000. DeMeric then consigned her to the 2006 OBS March select 2-year-olds in training sale, where Machowsky purchased her for $90,000. Symphony Sid Runs Off With Carleton F. Burke Handicap Arcadia, California (October 20, 2006)     Symphony Sid and Mike Baze winning the Carleton F. Burke (G3) at Oak Tree at santa Anita   Benoit Photo   Symphony Sid, a 6-year-old horse claimed for $50,000 in July by trainer Mike Mitchell for Bongo Racing, Tighten 'er Up Racing & Tjosvold, simply ran off with Oak Tree's $100,000 Carleton F. Burke Handicap (G3) on Saturday. In the process, the front-running chestnut set a stakes record of 2:24.18 for the mile-and-one-half turf event, won by the widest margin - 5 1/2 lengths -- in the race's 39-year history and provided 19-year-old jockey Michael Baze with his first Santa Anita stakes victory as well as the first graded win of his career. Symphony Sid took control just after the marathon's start and widened his lead to as many as a dozen lengths during the lengthy journey. Pat Valenzuela, riding 4-5 favorite Artiste Royal, tried to make a run at the leader turning for home. But after the margin was narrowed to four lengths, the winner widened again. Irish-bred Artiste Royal, who has been competitive with some of the nation's leading turf distance runners, finished 1 1/4 lengths ahead of third-place Runaway Dancer, who had won the Burke in 2003. The final time bettered the stakes record of 2:24.24 that had been established by Prussian Blue in 1997, one year after the race was extended in distance by one-quarter mile. Symphony Sid, who carried 111 pounds, paid $12.80, $4.40 and $2.60. Artiste Royal, the 119-pound high weight, returned $2.80 and $2.10. The show price on Runaway Dancer, ridden by Alex Solis, was $2.40. Michael Baze -- a cousin of Santa Anita jockey Tyler Baze, who won three races Saturday and a second cousin to Hall of Famer Russell Baze - said the race played out as it had looked on paper. "There was not even stalking speed," he said, "so I figured he'd get an easy lead and just relax and hopefully go on. I told Mike (Mitchell), 'We're probably better off letting him go a little bit early, sprinting away from them, and then rate him home.' And that's what happened." "I wanted him to get an early lead like he did and not press like in the previous race when he stopped a little bit (fading to second after leading by nine lengths)," said Mitchell. "I knew he could rate and that the others would play catch up." Valenzuela said his hands were all but tied while aboard the favorite. "There was no pacesetter to go with the leader," he explained. "Everybody took back. I couldn't go rush him." Symphony Sid earned $60,000 for his victory. The winning purse elevated the Kentucky-bred son of Unbridled's career earnings to $191,240 from an overall record of 5-5-3 in 22 starts. "We expected a huge race from 'Sid today and that's what we got," said Bongo Racing Stable's Bob Feld. He's a half-brother to High Cotton and with a Grade 3 win on his resume, he could be a nice stallion prospect. Hopefully, he'll continue to blossom under Mike's care and we'll have some fun with him in the San Juan series next year." Bongo Partner Penna and Rush Rush To Make Racing Debut Lexington, Kentucky (October 17, 2006)      Pete Kules and Bongo Partner Mike Penna    HRRN Photo   Bongo Racing Stable partner Mike Penna's passion for Thoroughbred racing spans more than 15 years.  In 1989, he stood alongside the rail at historic Saratoga Racecourse and watched as Easy Goer won the Travers Stakes.  After cashing his winning ticket on the heavy favorite, he was hooked for life. A native of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Mike and his wife, Michelle, who works at InCompass, provider of racing information and technology to racetracks across the globe, relocated to Lexington, Kentucky in 1997.  Mike worked at The Jockey Club, Thoroughbred Times, and Keeneland's racing office before pursuing his interest in broadcasting. In May of 2003, he joined Pete Kules, known as "The Doctor of Trackside Commentary," on his popular Thoroughbred racing radio show, "From the Backstretch to the Winner's Circle," the longest continuously airing radio program about Thoroughbred racing in America - a span of more than 17 years. Now dubbed "The Lexus Equine Forum," their show has established a unique niche and following that has helped make it the signature radio program of the equine industry in the horse capital of the world. It can be heard every Saturday morning from 8 to 10 a.m. (ET) on WLXG ESPN Sports Radio 1300 AM in Lexington. Out of town listeners can now access the show anywhere in the world via podcast. In June of 2005, Mike, known to his listeners as "The Baron of the Backstretch," launched an exciting new endeavor when he began to establish the Horse Racing Radio Network, with 10 live broadcasts, covering more than 15 major stakes races, at Churchill Downs, Arlington Park, and Turfway Park.  The broadcasts feature pre and post race interviews with jockeys, trainers, and handicappers, and include the track announcer's live call of the races.  Mike and Pete doubled their feature race coverage for 2006 to include major Grade 1 events such as the Donn Handicap, Florida Derby, Stephen Foster, Arlington Million, Beverly D, and the Clark Handicap as well as daily coverage at Keeneland. On Wednesday at Santa Anita, Mike will have another of his equine dreams come true, when Rush Rush makes his racing debut in the eighth race at The Great Race Place. "I really wanted to fly out to California for his race," Penna said. "But Pete and I will be broadcasting live from Keeneland and 'the show must go on' as they say. I've invited a few friends to the house for a Rush Rush party Wednesday night. We'll have a few cocktails and watch the big race on TVG. I've wanted to own a racehorse for a long time. Michelle and I fell in love with Rush Rush when we saw him at Chestnut Farm after the Keeneland sale, so we bought a share. It seems like he can run a bit, so we are really excited this day has finally arrived." Bongo Racing Stable Hot All Summer Long Arcadia, California (September 26, 2006)     Even the Del Mar breeze and Pacific surf couldn't cool off Bongo Racing Stable.   After winning races at a torrid pace during the 2006 Del Mar meeting, Bongo Racing Stable and partners continued their winning ways, capturing the chrome in both starts at Fairplex Park during the Los Angeles County Fair meeting. Khouri Jill (two wins), Chester's Choice and Papillion Rouge posed for pictures "where the turf meets the surf," with Surf and Saddle (named for a local Del Mar hangout) and Hot Off The Bench posting victories in Pomona. The Bongo Racing Stable stats read: 11 - 6 - 1 - 1                                              since the start of Del Mar. Bongo Racing Stable has named a two-year-old filly "Debie Ginsburg" to honor the beloved Thoroughbred of California racing writer who passed away during the summer at the young age of 51. A Dream Come True By David Ginsburg     Delaware Township - Sire of 2YO Filly Debie Ginsburg   Joe DiOrio Photo   I was in L.A. on Wednesday last week and went by the CTBA to collect some items from Debie's office. It was fortunate I did not go earlier in the week as they told me the horse they were naming in Debie's honor was transferred to Santa Anita on Tuesday. Debie's office has a window that overlooks Santa Anita and as I peered out the window, I decided to venture over to the track in search of a horse named "Debie Ginsburg". Arriving at Gate 8, I was told most of the horses were at Del Mar since they are currently racing there and besides I was told, most of the staff had departed after the 4:00 feeding, so most likely I would not be able to enter the stables. After telling the guard I learned "Debie Ginsburg" had just been transferred to Santa Anita for training and that I had come all the way from Sacramento to see "Debie," he made a few calls and provided me a map to Barn 98 where trainer Mike Machowsky stables his horses. He said I would need to find the stall of the Delaware Township filly and that name tags would be on the stall doors. I was a bit confused since I thought I was looking for Debie Ginsburg, but later learned "Debie" was sired by Delaware Township and her dam was Thunder Wonder.  She was foaled in Florida on April 28, 2004, so they refer to her as the '04 Delaware Township - Thunder Wonder until her name becomes official through the Jockey Club. I finally arrived at Stable 98 where I hopped out of my car and started to look for the horse named "Debie." As I walked down the shedrow, the fans were blowing and the misters were spouting in an effort to keep the horses cool, as it was close to 100 degrees that day. Many of the horses stuck their heads out over the webbings, appearing to be interested in who was walking through the barn?maybe expecting a snack. I felt a great sense of excitement to be walking next to 10 Thoroughbred race horses, wondering which one was "Debie".  As I looked at the names on the stalls, I did not see the Delaware Township filly amongst those who were looking out at me.  Was she tall? Short? A dark bay or a light chestnut? Finally, toward the end of the stable, I found the tag that read "Delaware Township filly" on the stall, but this one did not have a horse peering out. Just like Debie, my sister, "Debie" the horse would have nothing to do with the intruder peering through her stall door.  She was much more interested in eating and focusing on things in the stall.  It reminded me of my sister, focused on reading one of her books.  No matter how hard I tried, the filly kept her tail end pointed toward me and would not even turn around so I could see the markings on her head. She was dark brown and had bandages on her front legs from the workout she had that day.  She was not very tall, but sleek and strong. She was very uninterested in me, but the horse next to her peered between the stalls and they both took bites at one another. Wow, what a lot of spunk she has! When I started to leave, "Debie" decided to turn around and peer out her stall.  She had a white spot on her head and as I walked back she kept her head out and let me rub her neck and nose.  It was great to stand next to this beautiful race horse, wondering what might become of her career and thinking how special she was and how special we are to now have a horse to follow and watch over the next few years. It is hard to imagine what may be or what might have been had my sister Debie been able to experience the excitement of having a horse named after her. As I see it, Debie Ginsburg the race horse is my sister's dream come true. Bongo Pinhooks Named And Ready For Action Ocala, Florida (February 15, 2006)     Al Ain Road by Street Cry   Joe Di Orio Photo   The Bongo Pinhooking Partnership's colts have been named and their selling schedule has been approved. All four of the two-year-olds have been progressing nicely through their early training. Mike Mulligan, the master of Leprechaun Stable, will be consigning the colts to sales in Florida and Kentucky. Sensational young sire Street Cry's handsome son Al Ain Road is named for the address of Nad al Sheba Racecourse in Dubai. He is blessed with size, scope and class with the "look of eagles" in his eyes. Al Ain Road will sell at the Ocala Selected Sale on March 21.     Limber by Tactical Cat   Joe Di Orio Photo   Already a sale topper as a yearling, Tactical Cat's leggy son Limber, owns all the qualities of a successful equine athlete. His great family underlines this colt's potential. "Keeneland really wanted this colt back," Mulligan said. "They know a good thing when they see it. We'll sell him there on April 18." Hotel Circle, a son of Deputy Commander, has perfect balance and an athletic build. With all the earmarks for speed, his pedigree should allow him to carry it. He will sell at the Ocala Spring Sale, April 25 - 28. A son of Stormy Atlantic, who is coming off a sensational year for his progeny, Eastern Seaboard is a racy individual. "He's a late foal," Mulligan said. "He continues to improve with age and the Ocala Spring Sale will be a perfect spot to showcase his talents."  Cat Dreams Has First Two Babies
Colt out of Ascalon by Two Punch   Bob Feld/Bongo Racing Photo         Filly - Really Hard by In Excess   Bob Feld/Bongo Racing Photo       A Bongo of a different color - Jude at the "bongo" exhibit in Chicago's Field Museum. The bongo is the world's largest antelope, usually chestnut in color, and is found from the West African rain forest to Southern Sudan.    Gretchen Kieckhefer Photo

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