Tin Cup Chalice

My heart is aching.

Tin Cup Chalice, who on Monday was named the 2008 New York-bred champion 3-year-old male, was killed Friday, April 17th in "a freak accident" during training hours at Finger Lakes, according to trainer and part-owner Michael Lecesse.

Lecesse said that Tin Cup Chalice was jogging clockwise on the Finger Lakes main track when a horse who was breezing counterclockwise blew the turn coming into the stretch, bolted to the outside fence, and crashed right into Tin Cup Chalice. A television report out of Rochester, N.Y., identified the other horse as Zany, who also was euthanized.

Lecesse said he thinks Tin Cup Chalice died because of injuries to his spinal cord, but that an autopsy would be performed on the gelding. Lecesse, who owns Tin Cup Chalice along with Scott Van Laer, said the horse was insured.

"He was sort of paralyzed behind," Lecesse said. "He didn't have any movement in his back legs. We couldn't get him up. We worked on him for an hour, hour and a half."

Lecesse said that jockey Pedro Rodriguez, who was on Tin Cup Chalice at the time, was examined at a local hospital for neck pain, but was released. Gennie Cook, who was on Zany, also escaped injury.

Lecesse said he had entered Tin Cup Chalice in a race for Friday's opening-day card at Finger Lakes, but the racing office didn't use the race because it only had five horses.

"If he would have been in today, he wouldn't have been on the track this morning," said Lecesse, who added, "it's nobody's fault."

Tin Cup Chalice, a son of Crusader Sword, won the first seven starts of his career. That included a sweep of the Big Apple Triple, which included the Mike Lee at Belmont, the New York Derby at Finger Lakes and the Albany at Saratoga. In becoming the first horse to sweep the three-race series, Tin Cup Chalice earned his connections a $250,000 bonus.

After suffering his first defeat, by a neck in the Step Nicely Stakes at Belmont last Sept. 14, Tin Cup Chalice won the Grade 2 Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park. Tin Cup Chalice earned an invitation to the Japan Cup Dirt, a race in which he finished 13th.

Lecesse said Tin Cup Chalice had been training "like a superstar."

"I was looking forward to having a great year with him," Lecesse said. "He's the best horse I ever trained."

I'm sorry, Mike. It's tough losing a horse like that, especially one who held so much promise.

Tin Cup Chalice was cremated. His ashes will be spread on Finger Lakes Race Track infield.

Another equine hero gone.

main article by David Grening
Daily Racing Form

Tribute to a Champion

When Barbaro was finally euthanized last year, most people were sympathetic to the stallion's fate.

However, there were a few ignorant cretins who actually said, "Who cares about a horse with a gimpy leg? It's only a horse." If that's your thought and you're within reach of me, you better run. I've worked with horses most of my life, and there is no nobler creature on earth than the thoroughbred.

Bobby" (Barbaro's stable name) epitomized what we, as humans, can only dream to achieve. He was strong, brave and honest; a champion of champions. He gave 150% of his very being, doing whatever was asked of him. All he asked for in return were regular feedings of hay and grain with a possible carrot or two at the end of the day.

Just a gimpy horse; I don't think so! What he gave to his owners, and trainer, was immeasurable; hope for a bright future in the horse racing industry, with earnings of $2,302,200, in a short but eventful career. He gave the rest of world a chance to believe in a hero.

Barbaro never lost a race, being first place in the six races he entered. The seventh race, the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Park, was his final race. Due to a shattered right hind leg, he was unable to finish the 1 and 3/16 mile race.

I watched the tragedy unfold, my heart in my throat, and didn't think the big bay colt would make it from Maryland to New Bolton Veterinary Clinic. But he did. He put up a valiant fight for his life. Eight months later he was humanely euthanized on Monday, January 29, 2007. Barbaro fought to live until the end when his injuries overcame his body not his spirit.

Barbaro will be especially missed by those of us who love and work with equines. He was a hero with no agenda. His courage was something to hang on to in a world of political chaos, violence, corruption, and general malaise. The world needs a hero.

Mine is gone.

Fio Rito Equine Hero

I have a picture of Fio Rito in my office. He was Finger Lakes Race Track horse of the year in 1979, 1980, and 1981. There was a moment today when I looked up from my writing and had a flashback to the '80s.

It was a time when thoroughbred racing was at its peak in upstate New York. I feel privileged to have been able to watch Fio Rito run. In 1996, at age 21, Fio Rito was euthanized. He's buried at the track infield.

Finger Lakes Race Track isn't the same anymore. A casino has been added. The quiet grace of the horse has been replaced by the deafening "ca-ching, ca-ching" of the slot machines. It makes me sad. There is one consolation. When I go to the track now, and look toward the infield, I know a great hero is buried there.