Goodbye Bold Chieftain, Hello Kyle Frey
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The popularity of a horse can sometimes take over an entire nation. Zenyatta became a household name as she swept the country winning race after race over the past few years.
On a local level, fans from all over the bay area has had its horse to follow and for the last seven years, that horse was Bold Chieftain. The “Chief” rarely disappointed the throngs of fans that would turn out to greet him on race day.
His hard trying style and penchant for big performances on the biggest of stages, made him a fan favorite.
In his illustrious career, the son of Chief Seattle out of Hooked On Music, ran 47 times, winning 18, with 14 runner up finishes and 4 third place finishes. He banked $1,683,181 in just over six years of racing.
He raced primarily in the bay area, running down south just 16 times, but when he did leave, he made a name for himself with the big boys. Lets see, there was a win in the Cal Cup Classic in 2007 (beating favored Lava Man), another Cal Cup Classic win in 2009 topping Lethal Heat by over a length, and of course a win in the $500,000 Sunshine Millions at Santa Anita in 2010, when he beat a field that included Acclamation, the Usual Q.T and Jeranimo.
Yes the “Chief” has had quite a career for trainer William J Morey Jr. But the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and the racing career of Chief is over. He made his final start Monday, losing by a nose in his farewell race. The stretch run was typical for him as he rarely did anything easy, winning and losing many races by the slightest of margins. On his back was Hall of Famer Russell Baze, who has ridden him in 38 of his 47 races.
He was actually retired last year to start his career as a stud, but the farm he was supposed to go to closed down and Morey could not find another place that would take him. So he brought him back for one more run and in 8 starts in 2011, had one win and 6 second place finishes.
On Sunday, Golden Gate Fields will have a tribute to Bold Chieftain by giving away a poster of the horse with his career achievements listed on it. He will also be brought to the track for one final pass by the fans. He will then be brought to Ellen Jackson’s Victory Rose Ranch to begin his career as a stud.
I filmed an up close look at the chiefs last race for those of you who could not be in attendance last Monday. I would like to thank the Chief’s connections for allowing me to document his final race.
Farewell to the Chief. You will be missed.
On a local level, fans from all over the bay area has had its horse to follow and for the last seven years, that horse was Bold Chieftain. The “Chief” rarely disappointed the throngs of fans that would turn out to greet him on race day.
His hard trying style and penchant for big performances on the biggest of stages, made him a fan favorite.
He raced primarily in the bay area, running down south just 16 times, but when he did leave, he made a name for himself with the big boys. Lets see, there was a win in the Cal Cup Classic in 2007 (beating favored Lava Man), another Cal Cup Classic win in 2009 topping Lethal Heat by over a length, and of course a win in the $500,000 Sunshine Millions at Santa Anita in 2010, when he beat a field that included Acclamation, the Usual Q.T and Jeranimo.
Yes the “Chief” has had quite a career for trainer William J Morey Jr. But the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and the racing career of Chief is over. He made his final start Monday, losing by a nose in his farewell race. The stretch run was typical for him as he rarely did anything easy, winning and losing many races by the slightest of margins. On his back was Hall of Famer Russell Baze, who has ridden him in 38 of his 47 races.
He was actually retired last year to start his career as a stud, but the farm he was supposed to go to closed down and Morey could not find another place that would take him. So he brought him back for one more run and in 8 starts in 2011, had one win and 6 second place finishes.
On Sunday, Golden Gate Fields will have a tribute to Bold Chieftain by giving away a poster of the horse with his career achievements listed on it. He will also be brought to the track for one final pass by the fans. He will then be brought to Ellen Jackson’s Victory Rose Ranch to begin his career as a stud.
I filmed an up close look at the chiefs last race for those of you who could not be in attendance last Monday. I would like to thank the Chief’s connections for allowing me to document his final race.
Farewell to the Chief. You will be missed.
Frey Wins Eclipse Award
Congratulations goes out to Tracy native Kyle Frey, who on Monday won the Eclipse award for the best apprentice of 2011. Kyle won by 20 votes over Ryan Curatolo. As fate would have it, the man who introduced Kyle to racing, his grand father Paul Frey, passed away just days before the awards dinner. Paul was a top jockey in the northwest and northern California between 1950 and 1970.
Kyle dedicated the award to him during Mondays ceremony.
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