tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6923306023768834171.post3916655775380156942..comments2023-11-14T06:51:09.261-05:00Comments on Classic Champion Thoroughbreds: Louisiana Derby Racing RoundupCalvin Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10135059434890408890noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6923306023768834171.post-51342499571552191932011-03-25T20:08:24.726-04:002011-03-25T20:08:24.726-04:00Bob Bright,
That's some story. And what a luc...Bob Bright,<br /><br />That's some story. And what a lucky horse to have you and Neil Howard attend to his needs.<br /><br />Mr. Bright, thanks again for the commentary. It's always appreciated.Calvin Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10135059434890408890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6923306023768834171.post-39316055338828873662011-03-25T16:40:54.619-04:002011-03-25T16:40:54.619-04:00Calvin Carter
I like MMM and the two Neil Howard...Calvin Carter<br /> <br />I like MMM and the two Neil Howard horses in any order. I want Neil to win the Derby, He is a terrific guy, great trainer and has certainly paid his dues. Started out with Lefty Nickerson as was the long time assistant to Mack Miller where I met him.<br /> <br />I would like to tell a Neil Howard story with your permission.<br /> <br />In think 77 or 78 I had been off the track for about a year living in NJ selling a few OTT horses to chuck wagon racers in Canada. A Grade ! winning NY grass horse who I knew real well and liked was sold to CA connections and entered in the United Nations, Grade 1 at Atlantic City, Anyway the horse in his last start won the Eddie Read but was vanned off after the race. He had won multiple Grade 1's on both turf and dirt. Nice colt.<br /> <br />The colt broke down at the end of the backstretch with Pincay up and was again vanned off. I sprinted over to the backside and there was the colt just off the ambulance being held by a bewildered groom. No trainer, no connection, nobody. just the groom. This went on for quite a while and finally I picked up a hose and started to hose down the right front tendon.<br /> <br />About this time along comes Neil Howard leading the colt who won the race. He asks if I am back at the track and involved with the horse. No. I just came to watch the race and there isn't anybody taking care of this horse so I jumped in. He gives his colt to some of his help and heads over to help me. Neil brings a gell cast and in about 30 or 40 minutes he casts him up, helps me give the colt a bath and do him up. Still no connections. My Giorgio Armani suit and Gucci loafers are trashed but the horse is in his stall munching hay.<br /> <br />I an flying out of Newark to Montreal real soon but I am worried about the horse. Neil tells me to take off and he looks after the horse with missing connections.<br /> <br />I didn't see or speak to Neil Howard for 6 or 7 years until we had a chance meeting at O'Hare airport. He was heading to Arlington Park and I was going to London.<br /> <br />The horse was retired and I visited him a couple of times in Kentucky. He wasn't much as a sire but a bad ass race horse for sure.<br /> <br />I think about that day often and it is time for Neil to win the Derby. I still see his colts connections celebrating at the barn while Neil Howard is taking care of some other horse.<br /><br />Bob BrightAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com