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#1
10-28-2007, 10:32 AM
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Gorgeous George - An Appreciation
A lovely piece from Racing Post......
George Washington: the mercurial star who tested all O'Brien's training skills  by Nick Grant and Thomas Deane . WITH the unceremonious passing of George Washington at Monmouth Park, racing has undoubtedly lost one of its greatest equine entertainers. For mighty few horses are blessed with the ability he possessed, and far fewer garner such interest and crowd-pulling power as the mercurial son of Danehill. Racegoers flocked to the track each time he set foot on a racecourse, hoping to witness 'Gorgeous George' in full flight, as he was when winning the 2,000 Guineas and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes last year. Yet all too soon for the Flat-racing cognoscenti, the bluebloods that light up our summersare typically whisked off to stud at the end of their three-year-old careers. And so it was with George Washington. But after apparently being lost to the racing public forever, the colt that tested Aidan O'Brien to the maximum was back for more after failing to cut the mustard in his first attempt as a stallion. This presented the masterful O'Brien with yet another examination, which he openly admitted at a stable open day earlier in the year. Speaking then, O'Brien said: "His mind gets unravelled and put back together again. "I've always thought he was mentally immature, but as (last) year went on he got better. "I haven't had one come back to me from stud before so it will be interesting to see how he takes to it again now." George Washington's dramatic return in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot seemed to indicate he had taken to it extremely well. A closing fourth behind Godolphin's superstar Ramonti suggested the fires were still burning before attention was turned to a clash with Derby hero Authorized in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown. In what proved a slight anti-climax, George Washington finished a close third with Authorized just ahead as Notnowcato ruined the party. O'Brien's star was never again seen in action in Britain, as he took a fast-finishing third in the Prix du Moulin before the bandwagon rolled to America for a second cut at the Breeders' Cup Classic. The 2006 fairytale ended in defeat when he was beaten into sixth, only seven lengths adrift of arguably the best horse in the world in Invasor, on his first attempt on dirt and over 10 furlongs. Yet the 2007 trip ended in disaster, as a struggling George Washington was pulled up by Mick Kinane as they rounded the final turn, having reportedly suffered an open fracture of both sesamoid bones. A sombre Kinane praised the courage shown by his mount, saying: "He did well to stay up. He was brave. He didn't go down. He stayed up on it. He saved me." So as the curtain came down on George's enthralling career, courage was another virtue added to the many already printed in previous articles. After slamming his rivals in the 2,000 Guineas last season, O'Brien's charge famously refused to enter the winner's enclosure, after which the Ballydoyle maestro said: "He saw the other horses going in the other direction and he didn't want to follow. "Physically he is mature, but mentally he is still like a child. He is getting better, but after he had just done so much to please us I didn't want to get into an argument with him. "He's a horse who always thought he was so superior to his companions, from the time he was born. He developed this attitude that he is absolutely different class to every other animal around. It's all part of his make-up. He can intimidate other horses just by looking them in the eye." Sadly, the horse O'Brien proclaimed "unbelievably special" after winning the QEII, and only last week labelled as "the one who can do anything", would not return to unsaddle at all at Monmouth Park. And while the racing world has been robbed of an undoubted darling of the turf, the incredible story of George Washington will never be forgotten. ************************ I thought i would post that here. It deserves to have it's own thread. I will never forget that day at Newmarket after he won the 2,000 Guineas. I was stood right next to the horse when he refused to enter the paddock after the race. I remember seeing him turn his head and seeing his good friend Horatio  getting unsaddled. George stuck his head up in the air and just stopped, as if to say "screw you, if he's not going, nor am i" they tried and tried to push him forward, but there was no way he was moving. They took him to be unsaddled with the others and was then more than happy.I will remember him as a star. The brightest stars burn always burn out quickly. A star, but such a character, which made him different from any other horse. He is reunited with his good friend, Horatio Nelson now, and i'm sure they are having fun 
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Avatar ~ Nicky Whelan  and now we murderers because we kill time 
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#2
10-28-2007, 11:43 AM
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Quote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqy6BmV5po8
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#3
10-28-2007, 11:49 AM
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I love watching that replay, shame there are now two exceptional horses in there that are no more
__________________
Avatar ~ Nicky Whelan and now we murderers because we kill time
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#4
10-28-2007, 12:59 PM
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O'SULLEVAN LEADS TRIBUTES
By Thomas Deane, PA Sport Sir Peter O'Sullevan led the tributes to George Washington following the demise of Aidan O'Brien's star in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Monmouth Park on Saturday. 'Gorgeous George' was put down after being pulled up by Mick Kinane shortly after entering the straight, having reportedly suffered an open fracture of both sesamoid bones. Legendary commentator O'Sullevan says George Washington will be sorely missed and points to his eccentricities amplifying the interest his every move garnered from the public. "He was the sort of charismatic character that racing needs and is a seriously sad loss because he was a proper personality and liked things done his own way," O'Sullevan said. "I think he appealed enormously to individuals because of his individualistic approach, which was very refreshing. "He was a really exciting character and it was great that he attracted the soubriquet 'Gorgeous George' as it seemed very appropriate. He was a lovely horse and it was a terribly sad end." George Washington presented Aidan O'Brien with an unusual test when returning to training earlier this season following an unsuccessful first attempt at stallion duties. O'Sullevan added: "I have such sympathy for those associated with him in the yard because they have a very personal feel for their horses at Aidan's and they are a great team. "They will really feel his loss in their hearts. It was a sad climax to the Breeders' Cup and a shame for the Americans too, as there were some wonderful performances on the night. "It was tough that it should happen through no fault. One often refers to a sad loss in many walks of life, but this really is sad for the racing game." George Washington won six of his 14 races, including four at the highest level, and accrued total prize money in excess of £800,000. Many believe his best performance came in the 2000 Guineas of last year, when the mercurial colt produced a devastating turn of foot to run right away with the Newmarket Classic. Subsequent Derby winner Sir Percy was two and a half lengths adrift at the line, which left his trainer Marcus Tregoning full of admiration for the Ballydoyle-trained conqueror. Reflecting on George Washington's performance in the race, Tregoning said: "Obviously he was a phenomenal racehorse and on the day of the Guineas he was very, very good. "We thought we would go extremely well with Sir Percy but (George Washington) was brilliant that day, and it's obviously very sad that they have lost him. "I know he had been disappointing at stud the first time around but he was a Classic winner after all and it's a disaster really." Tregoning could have been tempted to bid for Triple Crown glory with Sir Percy had George Washington not turned up at Headquarters, but conceded: "George Washington was just phenomenal in the Guineas. "Sir Percy is obviously a horse that I will never forget but we bumped into a very good one that day." Breeders' Cup vet Dr Wayne McIlwraith does not believe the sloppy racetrack was to blame for the irreparable injuries sustained by George Washington. Monmouth Park was deluged with rain for the best part of 48 hours but McIlwraith was not inclined to blame the surface. He said: "There's been no comparative work done scientifically as far as the nature of the track (is concerned). "At times with a sloppy racetrack at the end of the day you could have some concerns because they are running in the base. "Obviously the base is not made for them to be running on directly - it was a very sloppy track. "The rest of the races have gone off well, but it's always a concern." Dr McIlwraith also theorised fatigue could have played a part. "Typically, these injuries occur in the last part of the race," he said. "Horses are more fatigued so they have got less support to the joint. And that's when the injuries normally occur." Dr McIlwraith pointed out that the predominantly turf-raced George Washington might have experienced greater physical stress by switching to dirt. "He could have had trouble with being less coordinated on that, as he's used to racing on grass - those are possibilities," he added. "We generally consider these fractures to start as associated with earlier damage, so they can sustain a small degree of damage and then it can escalate into a fracture. "So it is quite possible, especially when you have a horse that's relatively inexperienced at that surface and racing on a different surface." However, McIlwraith does not believe the decision to run George Washington in the Classic was injudicious. "I was being asked for sort of possibilities, and you can certainly have many contributing factors," he said. "But, no, I certainly did not imply that it's not a wise move (to switch to dirt)."
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#5
10-29-2007, 12:19 PM
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GORGEOUS GEORGE - A TRUE DIAMOND
By Nick Grant and Thomas Deane, PA Sport With the unceremonious passing of George Washington at Monmouth Park, racing has undoubtedly lost one of its greatest equine entertainers. For mighty few horses are blessed with the ability he possessed, and far fewer garner such interest and crowd-pulling power as the mercurial son of Danehill. Racegoers flocked to the track each time he set foot on a racecourse, hoping to witness 'Gorgeous George' in full flight, as he was when winning the 2000 Guineas and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes last year. Yet all too soon for the Flat-racing cognoscenti, the bluebloods that light up our summers are typically whisked off to stud at the end of their three-year-old careers. And so it was with George Washington. But after apparently being lost to the racing public forever, the colt that tested Aidan O'Brien to the maximum was back for more after failing to deliver in his first attempt as a stallion. This presented the masterful O'Brien with yet another examination, which he openly admitted at a stable open day earlier in the year. Speaking then, O'Brien said: "His mind gets unravelled and put back together again. "I've always thought he was mentally immature, but as (last) year went on he got better. "I haven't had one come back to me from stud before so it will be interesting to see how he takes to it again now." George Washington's dramatic return in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot seemed to indicate he had taken to it extremely well. A closing fourth behind Godolphin's superstar Ramonti suggested the fires were still burning before attention was turned to a clash with Derby hero Authorized in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown. In what proved a slight anti-climax, George Washington finished a close third with Authorized just ahead as Notnowcato ruined the party. O'Brien's star was never again seen in action in Britain, as he took a fast-finishing third in the Prix du Moulin before the bandwagon rolled to America for a second cut at the Breeders' Cup Classic. The 2006 fairytale ended in defeat when he was beaten into sixth, only seven lengths adrift of arguably the best horse in the world in Invasor, on his first attempt on dirt and over 10 furlongs. Yet the 2007 trip ended in disaster, as a struggling George Washington was pulled up by Mick Kinane as they rounded the final turn. He had sustained an open fracture of the cannon-bone in the right-front fetlock joint and also fractured both sesamoid bones. A sombre Kinane praised the courage shown by his mount, saying: "He did well to stay up. He was brave. He didn't go down. He stayed up on it. He saved me." So as the curtain came down on George's enthralling career, courage was another virtue added to the many already printed in previous articles. After slamming his rivals in the 2000 Guineas last season, O'Brien's charge famously refused to enter the winner's enclosure, after which the Ballydoyle maestro said: "He saw the other horses going in the other direction and he didn't want to follow. "Physically he is mature, but mentally he is still like a child. He is getting better, but after he had just done so much to please us I didn't want to get into an argument with him. "He's a horse who always thought he was so superior to his companions, from the time he was born. He developed this attitude that he is absolutely different class to every other animal around. It's all part of his make-up. He can intimidate other horses just by looking them in the eye." Sadly, the horse O'Brien proclaimed "unbelievably special" after winning the QEII, and only last week labelled as "the one who can do anything", would not return to unsaddle at all at Monmouth Park. And while the racing world has been robbed of an undoubted darling of the turf, the incredible story of George Washington will never be forgotten. * * * What they said "This horse is class.." by Racing Post staff "Our people liked him a lot and the mare has already produced one very good one." John Magnier. After buying the then unnamed George Washington for 1.15m guineas at the 2004 Tattersalls October Sales "This horse is class and is the best two-year-old around. He has the speed for six furlongs, yet we think he wants a mile already." Kieren Fallon, after winning the Railway Stakes in June 2005 "I've never got a feel like that before, ever.'' Kieren Fallon, after winning the Phoenix Stakes by eight lengths "George Washington has always believed he was so much better than everything around because he was so superior and he's been like that since the time he was born. He has developed a real personality about it. He has this attitude that he is absolutely different class to every other horse around. He doesn't believe any horse or any human being should tell him what to do. We never had a colt that had such a domineering instinct. Other horses get out of his way." Aidan O'Brien, after winning the 2,000 Guineas "We got beaten but no doubt there will be revenge when we get better ground." Kieren Fallon, after his shock defeat by Araafa in the Irish 2,000 Guineas "I couldn't be happier and Mick said that he was very ring-rusty. They went a level gallop and didn't follow the pacemaker - it turned into only a sprint. “ Aidan O'Brien, after George finished only third on his return from injury "Everything he did, he did it like a gentleman today. I've ridden good ones, but none better." Mick Kinane, after winning the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes "It's human nature to be critical and this horse has been open to a lot of stick. But it is because he is so brilliant all those traitscome with it." Aidan O'Brien, after the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes "Unluckily, today he's bumped into an extra-special horse who returned to his best." Jeremy Noseda, trainer of QEII runner-up, Araafa. "I know if he was in the wild, he would be hard as concrete. You deal with this horse and if you reprimand him he doesn't lie down. He is a determined, hard fighter, I would say. If he was a human being I would say he was anything but a softie. In his description I would be calling him 'hard'. That's the way he is." Aidan O'Brien, before the 2006 Breeders' Cup Classic "In the very early stages of George Washington's stud career, his fertility has been questioned. Coolmore today brought in veterinary expert Dr Dixon Varner from the USA to consult on the matter and are awaiting his prognosis. George Washington has been suspended from covering and Holy Roman Emperor, another dual Group 1-winning two-year-old by Danehill and Ballydoyle's leading 2,000 Guineas prospect, has been retired to take his place." Statement from Coolmore Stud with the shock news that he would return to training in March this year "Since he came back here from Coolmore he's been like a horse with five legs and we have to get him thinking that he can't cover everything he sees." Aidan O'Brien, later that month. "He's come back a long way and we were delighted with that." Aidan O'Brien, after his return to action in the Queen Anne Stakes "George is the exciting one. When you know George you can believe anything can happen." Aidan O'Brien, before the 20007 Breeders' Cup Classic
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#6
10-29-2007, 12:20 PM
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O'Brien praises ‘unbelievably talented horse'
by Jon Lees AIDAN O'BRIEN on Sunday saluted the epic achievements of George Washington, the champion miler whose quest for Breeders' Cup honours ended in his death. Ballydoyle's enigmatic star was humanely destroyed after the $5 million Classic at Monmouth Park in New Jersey on Saturday, prompting calls from leading trainer Jim Bolger for an end to dirt racing and drug use in US racing. The son of Danehill had to be put down after being pulled up by Mick Kinane shortly after entering the rain-sodden straight. George Washington incurred an open fracture of the cannonbone in the right front fetlock joint and also fractured both sesamoids. “It was obviously a straightforward decision,” said O'Brien. “The bone had gone through his skin so there was no chance of surgery. “To try to gethim back together, he would have suffered a lot more, so it was the right thing to do.” George Washington won six of his 14 races, including four at the highest level, and accrued prize-money in excess of £800,000. Many believe his best performance came in the 2,000 Guineas last year, when the mercurial colt produced a devastating turn of foot to win the Newmarket Classic. His other Group 1 victories were achieved in the National Stakes and the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh in his juvenile season, and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at three. He retired to stud after the 2006 Breeders' Cup Classic, but was put back into training this year after being found to be infertile. “He was an unbelievably talented horse,” added O'Brien. “He had abig attitude and a big ego. He believed he was the best and he knew he was the best. “He was just one of those freaks that don't come along very often – he was a natural athlete,” the Ballydoyle handler told RTE Sport. George Washington was the tenth horse to be euthanised at the Breeders' Cup and the second from the O'Brien stable following Landseer in the 2002 Mile. The colt began to labour entering the final turn and Kinane had eased off when George Washington stumbled and broke down 100yards from the line. Kinane was quickly off his back and had removed the saddle as help arrived to keep the horse on his feet, but his injuries were so serious he could not be saved. The decision was taken quickly to put him down on the track. Coolmore supremo John Magnier said: “It makes you appreciate the good days. “The vets did a great job in holding the horse up and he was put down very efficiently and very quickly. Nobody could have done anything better than that.” There were uncanny parallels in the life and death of George Washington with Barbaro, who fractured his right hind leg during last year's Preakness Stakes. Barbaro's owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson had also bred George Washington and their colt won the Kentucky Derby on the same day George Washington captured the 2,000 Guineas. Unlike Barbaro, who survived until the following January when he, too, was euthanised, nothing could be done for George Washington, according to Dr C Wayne McIlwraith, the on-call veterinarian of the American Association of Equine Practitioners. “George Washington sustained an open fracture of the cannonbone in the right front fetlock joint and disarticulated the joint at the same time and had both sesamoid fractures broken,” hesaid. “So it was a hopeless injury as far as repair, and he has been euthanised. Bolger, in addition to paying tribute to George Washington yesterday, added: “His legacy, apart from being a very exciting champion, will be that from now on Breeders' Cups will only be run on Polytrack. “The sooner they're all Polytrack and they cut out the drugs, it will be a better competition. “If they had Polytrack and turf tracks without the drugs, it would sort the men from theboys.”
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#8
10-30-2007, 12:32 PM
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I couldn't watch this all the way through but thought I'd post it.....
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...arch&plindex=4
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#9
10-30-2007, 01:36 PM
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Quote:
Thanks for the memories big fella.
__________________
Avatar ~ Nicky Whelan and now we murderers because we kill time
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#10
10-31-2007, 05:19 PM
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Beautiful eulogies.
Thank you, George.
__________________
"Have the clean racing people run any ads explaining that giving a horse a Starbucks and a chocolate poppyseed muffin for breakfast would likely result in a ten year suspension for the trainer?" - Dr. Andrew Roberts
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#11
10-31-2007, 11:05 PM
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Quote:
Sadly I didn't see many of George's races on TV here, but from what I saw of his behaviour before and during the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot this year I got a good idea of what a character he was. And an amazingly talented animal to go with it. My memories of this year's BC are not fond ones, hoping for an exciting and injury-free day on the Cushion Track next year.
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