Observer
01-02-2002, 12:37 AM
Just wanted to share, from my home-front of NY. One of my sentimental favorites, as he was with many who follow the NYRA circuit, Brutally Frank was euthanized several days ago after breaking down and being vanned off Dec. 19.
This was a really neat veteran gelding. After beginning his career at Arlington in 1996, the son of Groovy made his way around several racetracks, including Churchill Downs and Fair Grounds before settling in at the NYRA circuit in July 1998.
Primarily a claimer, the gelding really turned his game up after ambitiously stepping up to the Fall Highweight in 1999. No match behind Richter Scale, he returned for his 2000 campaign with a pair of runner-up finishes in allowance company. But then, he got even better, rattling off four straight wins, capped by the Bold Ruler, over Kelly Kip, and the Carter, over Western Expression and Affirmed Success.
His record started to become spotty soon after, with just one more win earned later that year. After repeated losses in stakes company, Frankie finally found himself back in with claimers, first high-priced claimers at Saratoga, but when unable to compete, he found himself at his lowest level since Sept. 1999, when dropped to $50k in November.
Unsuccessful at the $50k mark, he made his third and final start at this tag Dec. 19, sadly breaking down in the stretch drive while unable to keep up. This once reformed claimer had been sadly reduced back to his claming past, and now vanned off.
Brief articles written in the days after left hope in the hearts of racing fans that Frankie would be alright, and given a nice home to retire to. Sadly, the good intentions of finding Frankie a good home will not be realized as the decision was made to euthanize him.
I know this is a tough game and break downs happen. It's the sad reality of the game that makes it seem inhumane. And it happens at all levels. But it almost seems unfair that he was dropped back into and down the claiming ladder rather than be retired to a good home when he failed to remain successful. (Not that he's the only one this has happened to).
The impossible does happen in this game, but what chance did a soon-to-be nine-year-old have at rekindling his spark? And what were the chances someone would want to claim him and even try to give it another go at making him into something again? And if the connections felt obligated to find him a good home because he had done so much for them, than why risk him in a claiming race at all, even if it seemed highly unlikely he'd be claimed?
Sometimes, no matter how long you follow this game, certain things will just never get easier.
:(
BRUTALLY FRANK
69-12-12-7
$636,663
This was a really neat veteran gelding. After beginning his career at Arlington in 1996, the son of Groovy made his way around several racetracks, including Churchill Downs and Fair Grounds before settling in at the NYRA circuit in July 1998.
Primarily a claimer, the gelding really turned his game up after ambitiously stepping up to the Fall Highweight in 1999. No match behind Richter Scale, he returned for his 2000 campaign with a pair of runner-up finishes in allowance company. But then, he got even better, rattling off four straight wins, capped by the Bold Ruler, over Kelly Kip, and the Carter, over Western Expression and Affirmed Success.
His record started to become spotty soon after, with just one more win earned later that year. After repeated losses in stakes company, Frankie finally found himself back in with claimers, first high-priced claimers at Saratoga, but when unable to compete, he found himself at his lowest level since Sept. 1999, when dropped to $50k in November.
Unsuccessful at the $50k mark, he made his third and final start at this tag Dec. 19, sadly breaking down in the stretch drive while unable to keep up. This once reformed claimer had been sadly reduced back to his claming past, and now vanned off.
Brief articles written in the days after left hope in the hearts of racing fans that Frankie would be alright, and given a nice home to retire to. Sadly, the good intentions of finding Frankie a good home will not be realized as the decision was made to euthanize him.
I know this is a tough game and break downs happen. It's the sad reality of the game that makes it seem inhumane. And it happens at all levels. But it almost seems unfair that he was dropped back into and down the claiming ladder rather than be retired to a good home when he failed to remain successful. (Not that he's the only one this has happened to).
The impossible does happen in this game, but what chance did a soon-to-be nine-year-old have at rekindling his spark? And what were the chances someone would want to claim him and even try to give it another go at making him into something again? And if the connections felt obligated to find him a good home because he had done so much for them, than why risk him in a claiming race at all, even if it seemed highly unlikely he'd be claimed?
Sometimes, no matter how long you follow this game, certain things will just never get easier.
:(
BRUTALLY FRANK
69-12-12-7
$636,663