Maurice B. Quirin has been a landscape and transportation photographer since 1972. He's a member of the New Hampshire Aviation Historical Society and National Railway Historical Society. Mr. Quirin is co-author, with Edward W. Brouder Jr., of Manchester's Airport: Flying Through Time (ISBN 0-9721489-9-X). Mr. Quirin also worked as a freelance editor and anchor for The Wall Street Journal Radio Network and was news director at WBNS radio in Columbus, OH.

Monday, September 28, 2015

California Chrome Fan Day at Taylor Made Stallions - September 26, 2015

Thank you to Duncan Taylor, President and Chief Executive Officer of Taylor Made Farm in Nicholasville, KY, for holding three California Chrome fan days for the Thoroughbred's many fans, or Chromies!


Despite an often steady rain, Chrome and his fellow stallions did not disappoint.


First stop was to see Eskendereya, owned by Zayat Stables and trained by Todd Pletcher.


His dam, Alderbaran Light is a daughter of Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew. Eskendereya was a favorite for the 2010 Kentucky Derby but did not race because of a leg injury that ended his career on the track.

Eskendereya's barn mate at Taylor Made Farm is Astrology.



Next, it's up the hill to California Chrome's barn ... Correction, Graydar's barn!


Indeed, at 17 hands, nicknamed Grayde One Graydar has his own page on Facebook, and is an imposing stallion as seen with Brooks Taylor in this January 2014 photo.




Graydar's first progeny as a sire were born in 2015 and could be tomorrow's future stars on the track.

Turn 180 degrees and it's the star (sorry Graydar) of today's show, 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner and 2015 Dubai World Cup runner up California Chrome.  The reigning Eclipse Award Horse of the Year has tallied more than $4 million dollars in race winnings.


Chrome made his way to central Kentucky in July 2015 after Taylor Made Stallions purchased Steve and Carolyn Coburn's interest in the Horse of the Year.
Slated to race in the 2015 Arlington Million, an exam revealed a bruised cannon bone, ending Chrome's racing campaign for the year. A couple of months of rest and relaxation was prescribed by the world famous equine surgeon Dr. Larry Bramlage of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington. 


Chrome ponders how many fans will show up in the rain to meet him today.  He need not have worried at all!






Hey, you got any carrots or mints in that pocket, buddy?

No time for that Chrome, it's time for your buddy Graydar and your highness to parade for the crowd in Taylor Made's center court!  Graydar, you're first.


Duncan Taylor, President and Chief Executive Officer of Taylor Made Farm served as MC with Graydar waiting for his call to 'Come on down.'




 Next up, California Chrome saunters down to center court as fans prepare.



 Geez, couldn't some one grab a big umbrella for the big fella?






And that's it ... a precious hour with precious Thoroughbred winners!


If all goes according to plan, California Chrome should return to trainer Art Sherman's barn in California and return to racing in 2016.  Good luck big guy!


1 comment:

  1. California Chrome returned to training with Art Sherman in November 2015 and could be pointed to the Dubai World Cup at Meydan in 2016.

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