The Canadian Sportsman
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Back To Last Call OnlineAugust 27, 2009
There is sweet poetry to the notion that what will likely be Rich N Elegant’s last foal has been sired by Somebeachsomewhere (Dave Landry photo).
That was the news an hour before the 2009 Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremony courtesy of Dr. Bridgette Jablonsky .
Hanover Shoe’s esteemed Farm Manager was in Toronto to celebrate the induction of both Hanover horses into the Canadian Hall.
On July 6, it was confirmed Rich N Elegant was in foal — sort of — with The Beach’s baby, at least genetically.
“This year, I tell you, I didn’t think we were going to get an embryo from her. We tried and tried and tried and it was July 6. It was our last breeding day,” Dr. J said.
Rich N Elegant, now 18, is the most successful standardbred broodmare in history by virtually any measure. Two years ago, she carried a dead foal for a few months and almost died herself during foaling. That was when Dr. J made the decision to breed her via embryo transfer only.
“We decided it wasn’t worth risking her life anymore. There’s a suckling that she’s not raising. We have another recipient mare that has her baby,” Dr. J said.
Which is a bit of shame considering Dr. J says Rich N Elegant was an exceptional mother.
“Her foals never get hurt. She’s very smart in a herd. She never puts herself or her baby in a position where she’s going to get hurt,” Dr. J said. “If there’s 20 in a field and they’re all crowding around and want to be the first ones to come in, she’s smart enough to hang back and wait. She’s actually a little bit aloof. She’s not one of these real people-friendly horses. She has a certain air, a certain aura around her. Even if you didn’t know she was Rich N Elegant, you would go in a field and know she’s a good mare.”
While next year’s ET foal likely will be Rich N Elegant’s last, Dr. J can’t wait to see what Somebeachsomewhere might add to her legacy.
“I just hope it’s a little boy embryo,” she said.
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