Forty Niner

[Northport]

I'm glad that Forty Niner is clearly a pampered pensioner....and also glad that he wasn't shipped back to Old Friends.
With all due respect to Blowen and the dedicated staff at OF, I've never been in favor of shipping senior stallions halfway around the world, just so some fans can see them in Kentucky.
IMHO, Silver Charm could have stayed in Japan, where he was treated like a star, instead of being moved away from a place HE had come to know as HOME. Is a drafty old barn and muddy field in Kentucky really better for him?
Alysheba only lived a few months after he was shipped back to Kentucky. Would it have been better for him to have stayed in the Royal Stables in Saudi Arabia, even if it meant not getting a few cute photos of him with his former jockey or trainer?

I agree completely. After seeing photos of the facilities where Silver Charm lived in Japan vs. Old Friends, plus his age, I thought it may have been kinder to just leave him at JBBA.

[shortlead]

Such a solid looking boy, hope he has some good, happy years in him still. He is well cared for.

[middleground]

How much success did Forty Niner have in Japan?

[tachyon]

On a somewhat related note, is Naoya Yoshida related to the Yoshidas of Shadai/Northern/Oiwake Farms?

Naoya Yoshida is remotely related to the Yoshidas of Shadai Group.
His great-grandfather Gontaro Yoshida, the founder of Yoshida Bokujo, was a younger brother of Zentaro Yoshida.
Zentaro Yoshida is Teruya/Katsumi/Haruya Yoshida's great-grandfather.
But I believe that Yoshida Bokujo and Naoya Yoshida's Winchester Farm's operations have no relationship with Shadai Group now.

How much success did Forty Niner have in Japan?

Please check out the links below:
http://www.jbis.jp/horse/0000337550/sire/record/

[lurkey mclurker]

Between that information & Wikipedia, it seems like from when Forty-Niner was sent to Japan (1995) through his last crop, he sired 525 starters with 395 winners... That doesn't sound too shabby.

[tachyon]

Here's another recent pick of Forty Niner.


at JBBA Shizunai, June 28th 2015

[Private Thoughts]

I'm glad that Forty Niner is clearly a pampered pensioner....and also glad that he wasn't shipped back to Old Friends.
With all due respect to Blowen and the dedicated staff at OF, I've never been in favor of shipping senior stallions halfway around the world, just so some fans can see them in Kentucky.
IMHO, Silver Charm could have stayed in Japan, where he was treated like a star, instead of being moved away from a place HE had come to know as HOME. Is a drafty old barn and muddy field in Kentucky really better for him?
Alysheba only lived a few months after he was shipped back to Kentucky. Would it have been better for him to have stayed in the Royal Stables in Saudi Arabia, even if it meant not getting a few cute photos of him with his former jockey or trainer?

I am one who hates to see these guys leave for Japan or other ports of call, but I agree with you on this one. They are older, set in their ways and that is now their home. I was able to get some awesome photos of Alysheba in Saudi Arabia from his handles there and he looked quite happy. I wish he never would have left in the first place, but what is done is done, and you can't turn back the clock. So I think, unless they will not have a forever home in retirement, then they most likely should stay in whatever country they were exported to.

[Flanders]

Its great to see these old stallions looking awesome in retirement. I always associate him and Seeking The Gold because of their racing days, their affiliation with Claiborne, and both being important sons of Mr. Prospector. Its awesome that they are both living the good life as pensioners at age 30.

[tachyon]

Forty Niner(USA), 31yo

at JBBA Shizunai, July 7th 2016
@NaoyaYoshidaUSA ''He still knows how to pose with lovely appearance''

[sweettalk]

gorgeous old man <3

[TBird]

He looks terrific for his age.

[BaroqueAgain1]

Yes...and, at his age, it's terrific that he's still with us. <3

[Izvestia]

What a grand old man he is. He looks wonderful, thanks for posting!

[tachyon]

Happy birthday Forty Niner (32yo) !!!



at JBBA Shizunai
photo: Shigeyuki Yusa
https://www.facebook.com/shigeki.yusa/p ... 7575075061

[mariasmon]

That is a fantastic-looking 32YO horse. Glad he's still with us and doing well.

[Treve]

Fantastic! Happy Birthday Forty Niner.
He looks healthy and happy, may it be so for many more years to come.

[BaroqueAgain1]

Forty Niner has clearly been cherished and spoiled. His excellent condition (at 32?!) shows why IMHO the aged, pensioned stallions in Japan should be left in Japan...not hauled thousands of miles to a strange environment (Kentucky).

[Squally]

Forty Niner has clearly been cherished and spoiled. His excellent condition (at 32?!) shows why IMHO the aged, pensioned stallions in Japan should be left in Japan...not hauled thousands of miles to a strange environment (Kentucky).

Cause Silver Charm, War Emblem, Geri, Creator all looked so terrible at Old Friends. How long was Gato del Sol at Stone? 10 years? I think we all know you don't like Old Friends by now.

[BaroqueAgain1]

I think we all know you don't like Old Friends by now.

That's inaccurate. I don't just like Old Friends; I LOVE the work they do with retired racehorses.
What I am not a fan of is transporting aged stallions such long distances merely for the sake of us humans getting to see them in Kentucky. If the horse is cherished (like Forty Niner) and the quality of his care is not about to nosedive, he doesn't need to be moved. IMHO, taking him away from the only home and the caregivers he has known for many years, and putting him through the stress of a very long ship, isn't in the best interests of the horse.

ETA: Creator? Isn't Creator standing in Japan ATM?

[shortlead]

So good to see the old man looking so well at his age! I wish all could be loved and cared for like this guy!